Michael Keshani
@michaelkeshani.bsky.social
Someone already took @/Kesh, so this platform is off to a bad start for me.
Most I’ve liked Hincapie yday. Dealt with shifting positions v well, def see him as more LB than CB though. Unfortunately nothing is deterring me from the view that Gyok is poss the worst player to have 20+ starts for us post the year 2000 and he wasn’t even awful yday by his low standards.
December 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Most I’ve liked Hincapie yday. Dealt with shifting positions v well, def see him as more LB than CB though. Unfortunately nothing is deterring me from the view that Gyok is poss the worst player to have 20+ starts for us post the year 2000 and he wasn’t even awful yday by his low standards.
Odd game. Fulham feels like the natural point of comparison but I’d say we were much better going forward yday, particularly in the second half (after 65’ even…). Lots of openings, we just didn’t kill it, but the openings were there and that’s an improvement in and of itself from similar games.
December 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Odd game. Fulham feels like the natural point of comparison but I’d say we were much better going forward yday, particularly in the second half (after 65’ even…). Lots of openings, we just didn’t kill it, but the openings were there and that’s an improvement in and of itself from similar games.
Too much narrative this week from people like me. The Gyöker to bag 1-2. Getting towards make or break territory for him in pecking order terms; The Discourse needs it.
December 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Too much narrative this week from people like me. The Gyöker to bag 1-2. Getting towards make or break territory for him in pecking order terms; The Discourse needs it.
Reposted by Michael Keshani
How can you be 6'2, clearly spend hours of your life in the gym, and be that weak in every single challenge? As a mate said, he plays like he's 5'7. But he also moves like a man in a rubber shark outfit trying to run. Abysmal.
December 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
How can you be 6'2, clearly spend hours of your life in the gym, and be that weak in every single challenge? As a mate said, he plays like he's 5'7. But he also moves like a man in a rubber shark outfit trying to run. Abysmal.
Reposted by Michael Keshani
He'll be fourth choice by Feb if the main two can stay fit. He can't pass, his first touch is hilarious, he can't hold the ball up, he can't make separation from defenders, his box presence is crap, he can't do a single thing back to goal, he can't win an aerial, his movement doesn't open anything.
December 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
He'll be fourth choice by Feb if the main two can stay fit. He can't pass, his first touch is hilarious, he can't hold the ball up, he can't make separation from defenders, his box presence is crap, he can't do a single thing back to goal, he can't win an aerial, his movement doesn't open anything.
Reposted by Michael Keshani
We play with 10 every time Gyökeres is on the pitch.
December 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
We play with 10 every time Gyökeres is on the pitch.
Hate to be a broken record but maybe I’ll do an apology form on the Substack for when The Positive People realise having a striker with no discernible talent is a bad idea.
December 14, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Hate to be a broken record but maybe I’ll do an apology form on the Substack for when The Positive People realise having a striker with no discernible talent is a bad idea.
Also really like Madueke's unpredictability. Part of why he can be inconsistent/frustrating but in a team where things can be a bit regimented at times, him adding some weirdness and variation is a real tonic. Changes the ways teams approach us and I'd argue brings it out of other players too
December 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Also really like Madueke's unpredictability. Part of why he can be inconsistent/frustrating but in a team where things can be a bit regimented at times, him adding some weirdness and variation is a real tonic. Changes the ways teams approach us and I'd argue brings it out of other players too
Idk how much Jesus has in him for the season but really liked seeing so much zip in his game today. Obv game state, opposition, etc, but he's a really joyful player when he's playing well.
December 10, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Idk how much Jesus has in him for the season but really liked seeing so much zip in his game today. Obv game state, opposition, etc, but he's a really joyful player when he's playing well.
Had been considering Milan in the away end but with the kind of rotation I want to see, I should be making the bench at least.
December 10, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Had been considering Milan in the away end but with the kind of rotation I want to see, I should be making the bench at least.
Gabriel Jesus came on 17 minutes ago, his first game back from 11 months out. He's managed 9/10 passes, 2 shots, 12 touches. In 63 minutes Gyökeres managed 5/6 passes, 3 shots and 12 touches.
December 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Gabriel Jesus came on 17 minutes ago, his first game back from 11 months out. He's managed 9/10 passes, 2 shots, 12 touches. In 63 minutes Gyökeres managed 5/6 passes, 3 shots and 12 touches.
If Wolves can be relied on to play anything like they did on Monday I want to see:
Raya
White-Norgaard-Merino-Martinelli
Rice
Saka-Odegaard-Eze-Madueke
Jesus
Raya
White-Norgaard-Merino-Martinelli
Rice
Saka-Odegaard-Eze-Madueke
Jesus
December 10, 2025 at 9:29 PM
If Wolves can be relied on to play anything like they did on Monday I want to see:
Raya
White-Norgaard-Merino-Martinelli
Rice
Saka-Odegaard-Eze-Madueke
Jesus
Raya
White-Norgaard-Merino-Martinelli
Rice
Saka-Odegaard-Eze-Madueke
Jesus
That Zubimendi assist, wow
December 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
That Zubimendi assist, wow
I know I've called him crap in about 15 different ways in the past few days but I'm backing Gyökeres to score 6 on Saturday. Wolves look like the Liga Portugal defences did on all those comps.
December 8, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I know I've called him crap in about 15 different ways in the past few days but I'm backing Gyökeres to score 6 on Saturday. Wolves look like the Liga Portugal defences did on all those comps.
As much as I’ve lost that mind about that useless galoot, I’m fairly balanced on the rest. Lots of tough aways done but we need a margin by the time the FA Cup weekend comes around.
December 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
As much as I’ve lost that mind about that useless galoot, I’m fairly balanced on the rest. Lots of tough aways done but we need a margin by the time the FA Cup weekend comes around.
We play with 10 every time Gyökeres is on the pitch.
December 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
We play with 10 every time Gyökeres is on the pitch.
Never look forward to playing Brentford but there's something I really like about them and how they almost always make it really difficult for us. So many changes and versions of them down the years but each version of them is serious. Thought Van den Berg was great today in particular.
December 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Never look forward to playing Brentford but there's something I really like about them and how they almost always make it really difficult for us. So many changes and versions of them down the years but each version of them is serious. Thought Van den Berg was great today in particular.
Afternoon everyone, if you’re at a loose end this evening, the Paddington area is accessible to you, and you’re interested in football, sustainability and how they can be brought together, this will be very enjoyable and interesting:
mason-fifth.com/event/paddin...
mason-fifth.com/event/paddin...
Paddington Development Trust Presents Nature Of Things: A Salon For Curious Minds
mason-fifth.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Afternoon everyone, if you’re at a loose end this evening, the Paddington area is accessible to you, and you’re interested in football, sustainability and how they can be brought together, this will be very enjoyable and interesting:
mason-fifth.com/event/paddin...
mason-fifth.com/event/paddin...
Last week I wrote about Leandro Trossard, his adapted role this season and how he just keeps going and going.
He’s not always the most fashionable option but there’s always room for a very smart, very adaptable player who knows how to make things happen.
open.substack.com/pub/ballisst...
He’s not always the most fashionable option but there’s always room for a very smart, very adaptable player who knows how to make things happen.
open.substack.com/pub/ballisst...
In Leandro We Tross
Leandro Trossard was high on many expected lists of Arsenal departures this summer, but as he has so often done, he's been given an opportunity to prove his worth and really taken it.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Last week I wrote about Leandro Trossard, his adapted role this season and how he just keeps going and going.
He’s not always the most fashionable option but there’s always room for a very smart, very adaptable player who knows how to make things happen.
open.substack.com/pub/ballisst...
He’s not always the most fashionable option but there’s always room for a very smart, very adaptable player who knows how to make things happen.
open.substack.com/pub/ballisst...
Reposted by Michael Keshani
Reposted by Michael Keshani
Main thing I’ve enjoyed this year how much we control games. Not as much verve yet but the control may be even stronger than the back end of 23/24, which I hold as the benchmark.
Wrote in the summer about what needed to change re control, and I’m really delighted with Zubi off the back of it.
Wrote in the summer about what needed to change re control, and I’m really delighted with Zubi off the back of it.
October 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Main thing I’ve enjoyed this year how much we control games. Not as much verve yet but the control may be even stronger than the back end of 23/24, which I hold as the benchmark.
Wrote in the summer about what needed to change re control, and I’m really delighted with Zubi off the back of it.
Wrote in the summer about what needed to change re control, and I’m really delighted with Zubi off the back of it.
Many were seemingly very offended when I said we played poorly last week but similar this, though against a very good side. Lacking our best attacking midfielder and centre forward, losing three starters during the game, just had to dig in and get it done. Didn’t enjoy it but few complaints.
October 26, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Many were seemingly very offended when I said we played poorly last week but similar this, though against a very good side. Lacking our best attacking midfielder and centre forward, losing three starters during the game, just had to dig in and get it done. Didn’t enjoy it but few complaints.
You can't play like that regularly if you want to win the league but if you do play like that, you have to win. Hated pretty much every second of that.
October 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
You can't play like that regularly if you want to win the league but if you do play like that, you have to win. Hated pretty much every second of that.