@henrycolvine.bsky.social
methodical and physical more like, and at times very difficult to stop. but a steamroller by choice. the arteta project in microcosm: 70 million on califiori and merino when forward options were needed and miles lewis skelly was in the academy.
May 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
methodical and physical more like, and at times very difficult to stop. but a steamroller by choice. the arteta project in microcosm: 70 million on califiori and merino when forward options were needed and miles lewis skelly was in the academy.
Not at the same ages though. Or the same intensity. Gerrard much more entitled after multiple seasons of carrying - physically/emotionally as well as ability-wise. Palmer super talented, but not [i]that[/i]
May 2, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Not at the same ages though. Or the same intensity. Gerrard much more entitled after multiple seasons of carrying - physically/emotionally as well as ability-wise. Palmer super talented, but not [i]that[/i]
murmurs and a few grumbles as another arsenal grock tries and fails to close down a psg midfielder.
April 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
murmurs and a few grumbles as another arsenal grock tries and fails to close down a psg midfielder.
tallest dwarf territory
April 29, 2025 at 7:08 PM
tallest dwarf territory
Clever trick Liew has pulled. Somehow seen as a bard of the form, but just Martin Samuel in a dress.
March 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Clever trick Liew has pulled. Somehow seen as a bard of the form, but just Martin Samuel in a dress.
And often in these games Liverpool score late because opponent has had to put so much into dominating them.
March 6, 2025 at 9:08 AM
And often in these games Liverpool score late because opponent has had to put so much into dominating them.
Liverpool have played like this. Reminiscent of first halves at Emirates this season (+ FA Cup tie last year) and St James’ Pk (last two years) amongst others… people still underestimating LFC’s ability to take punishment and find response. Continues to be framed as ‘luck’/‘football Gods’ etc.
March 6, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Liverpool have played like this. Reminiscent of first halves at Emirates this season (+ FA Cup tie last year) and St James’ Pk (last two years) amongst others… people still underestimating LFC’s ability to take punishment and find response. Continues to be framed as ‘luck’/‘football Gods’ etc.
european royalty old bean.
March 5, 2025 at 9:47 PM
european royalty old bean.
Well done Don. Thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read of yours.
March 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Well done Don. Thoroughly enjoyed everything I’ve read of yours.
He’s compromised on a sort of LFC 19/20, Madrid 11/12 hybrid, with Havertz as a pseudo Firmino/ Benzema… but then no Salah/Ronaldo/Mane/Higuain really, although Saka a massive loss. So then cautious with who he releases behind. Odegaard not doing Ozil numbers. No Trent. Over invested on solidity.
February 28, 2025 at 10:08 AM
He’s compromised on a sort of LFC 19/20, Madrid 11/12 hybrid, with Havertz as a pseudo Firmino/ Benzema… but then no Salah/Ronaldo/Mane/Higuain really, although Saka a massive loss. So then cautious with who he releases behind. Odegaard not doing Ozil numbers. No Trent. Over invested on solidity.
who are you casting as leeds united in this analogy?
February 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
who are you casting as leeds united in this analogy?
Schedule clearly ludicrous, and understand players gripes. Less sympathy for managers. Ange irresponsible around for eg. MVdV + Romero given the obvious strain of calendar and style. Arteta also made questionable choices in squad building and (lack of) rotation over 3 seasons that are impacting now.
February 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Schedule clearly ludicrous, and understand players gripes. Less sympathy for managers. Ange irresponsible around for eg. MVdV + Romero given the obvious strain of calendar and style. Arteta also made questionable choices in squad building and (lack of) rotation over 3 seasons that are impacting now.
For sure. But also think there’s a difference between the end of a cycle, where legs go, as with City now, and what Arsenal are going through where you’re almost burning out through the effort of chasing without reward. LFC probably experienced both over Klopp’s tenure.
February 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
For sure. But also think there’s a difference between the end of a cycle, where legs go, as with City now, and what Arsenal are going through where you’re almost burning out through the effort of chasing without reward. LFC probably experienced both over Klopp’s tenure.
Thought solidarity payments had gone up? Not here to defend longstanding iniquities, but from a pure 24/25 v CL history point of view this doesn’t yet feel more egregious. May still do. But for Celtic, say, involved throughout + big knock out tie in Feb, must represent an improvement over the norm.
January 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Thought solidarity payments had gone up? Not here to defend longstanding iniquities, but from a pure 24/25 v CL history point of view this doesn’t yet feel more egregious. May still do. But for Celtic, say, involved throughout + big knock out tie in Feb, must represent an improvement over the norm.
ok. but the point here is the format is obviously different. if your contention is that this is the super league by stealth or even just designed to further cocoon the most wealthy/powerful than i'm not sure how that can be said for certain half way through the first edition.
January 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM
ok. but the point here is the format is obviously different. if your contention is that this is the super league by stealth or even just designed to further cocoon the most wealthy/powerful than i'm not sure how that can be said for certain half way through the first edition.
eh?is this hot take not a little premature? bayern, dortmund, madrid, city, ac milan, psg, and juve are not yet qualified for the round of 16.
January 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
eh?is this hot take not a little premature? bayern, dortmund, madrid, city, ac milan, psg, and juve are not yet qualified for the round of 16.
Not to dismiss injury, but clear Djokovic also good at turning problems to his advantage. Strategy I think was not to give Alcaraz anything emotionally or in terms of ability to counter strike from wide. Almost too passive at times (thought he’d gone full Murray early on), injury helped adjustment.
January 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Not to dismiss injury, but clear Djokovic also good at turning problems to his advantage. Strategy I think was not to give Alcaraz anything emotionally or in terms of ability to counter strike from wide. Almost too passive at times (thought he’d gone full Murray early on), injury helped adjustment.
Comparison to be made in how well ethos established, and Arteta particularly excellent at building structure. But also part of both jobs to do with a fortune of inheritance… last steps obviously the hardest, but think Arsenal should be concerned with Arteta’s clear desires on recruitment process.
January 15, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Comparison to be made in how well ethos established, and Arteta particularly excellent at building structure. But also part of both jobs to do with a fortune of inheritance… last steps obviously the hardest, but think Arsenal should be concerned with Arteta’s clear desires on recruitment process.
Would you sell him to Arsenal for that money?
January 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Would you sell him to Arsenal for that money?
Van Dijk wanted the move throughout. If a player suddenly at the end of the process says he’s not sure, for whatever reason, of course your valuation and commitment to sign that player would also then change.
January 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Van Dijk wanted the move throughout. If a player suddenly at the end of the process says he’s not sure, for whatever reason, of course your valuation and commitment to sign that player would also then change.
Haven’t watched enough of Brighton to know, but anecdotally and the bits I have seen, is Pedro’s best work not all been done behind the striker/wide forwards?
January 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Haven’t watched enough of Brighton to know, but anecdotally and the bits I have seen, is Pedro’s best work not all been done behind the striker/wide forwards?
Arteta had a few choices to make with the enthusiastic, but naive, side that first challenged in 22/23 and, (empowered), basically chose a Mourinho 2012 template for beating Pep. The strategy and recruitment since then always risked this kind of suffocation. + at a time City falling off.
January 13, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Arteta had a few choices to make with the enthusiastic, but naive, side that first challenged in 22/23 and, (empowered), basically chose a Mourinho 2012 template for beating Pep. The strategy and recruitment since then always risked this kind of suffocation. + at a time City falling off.
This Arsenal regression was foreseeable and is entirely tied in with decisions the manager has made with impunity. Much closer to the decisions Houllier or Benitez made around transfers/style that led to drop offs, and without cups in the bank to compensate.
January 13, 2025 at 8:20 AM
This Arsenal regression was foreseeable and is entirely tied in with decisions the manager has made with impunity. Much closer to the decisions Houllier or Benitez made around transfers/style that led to drop offs, and without cups in the bank to compensate.