Jonny
@jonnywol.bsky.social
COYS. Socialist. Twitter is a hell hole.
Big on the Unitary Executive. Without that there'd be no Project 2025.
November 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Big on the Unitary Executive. Without that there'd be no Project 2025.
But my big complaint with Arsenal is their predictability, and supplementing their attack with a player slightly better than Kai Havertz or Mikel Merino doesn't account for more teams cottoning on to Arsenal's approach.
So yeah, I have my doubts about a big boy striker being Arsenal's panacea.
So yeah, I have my doubts about a big boy striker being Arsenal's panacea.
August 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
But my big complaint with Arsenal is their predictability, and supplementing their attack with a player slightly better than Kai Havertz or Mikel Merino doesn't account for more teams cottoning on to Arsenal's approach.
So yeah, I have my doubts about a big boy striker being Arsenal's panacea.
So yeah, I have my doubts about a big boy striker being Arsenal's panacea.
The talk all of last year was "If Arsenal had a no.9, they'd win the league" and I never bought it. Plenty of teams have won titles without no.9s after all. What I'd say in agreement would be the type of chances Arsenal were creating may benefit from having a big guy upfront for crosses and corners.
August 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The talk all of last year was "If Arsenal had a no.9, they'd win the league" and I never bought it. Plenty of teams have won titles without no.9s after all. What I'd say in agreement would be the type of chances Arsenal were creating may benefit from having a big guy upfront for crosses and corners.
How does Zubimendi, Madueke and Gyokeres change that dynamic if this continues? Well it doesn't. There'll be matches where teams grab a goal, and there's plenty of teams that are built largely to withstand crosses and corners.
August 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
How does Zubimendi, Madueke and Gyokeres change that dynamic if this continues? Well it doesn't. There'll be matches where teams grab a goal, and there's plenty of teams that are built largely to withstand crosses and corners.
Where my doubts are is the extent of which Arsenal's playing style has changed in the last two seasons, and how that makes them a less compelling threat to other teams in the division. When I watch Arsenal have to chase a result, I see them opt to two tactics:
1. Saka back post crosses
2. Corners
1. Saka back post crosses
2. Corners
August 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Where my doubts are is the extent of which Arsenal's playing style has changed in the last two seasons, and how that makes them a less compelling threat to other teams in the division. When I watch Arsenal have to chase a result, I see them opt to two tactics:
1. Saka back post crosses
2. Corners
1. Saka back post crosses
2. Corners
So yeah, assuming they haven't regressed in any capacity, they'll win a few more matches than they did last year, and they'll compete for the title. Simple, right?
Well, yeah, assuming they haven't gotten worse, which... well... they have, right?
Well, yeah, assuming they haven't gotten worse, which... well... they have, right?
August 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
So yeah, assuming they haven't regressed in any capacity, they'll win a few more matches than they did last year, and they'll compete for the title. Simple, right?
Well, yeah, assuming they haven't gotten worse, which... well... they have, right?
Well, yeah, assuming they haven't gotten worse, which... well... they have, right?
Positives: Zubimendi adds to the defensive core and adds a deeper possession player to the team.
Gyokeres is a versatile box finisher with strength, height and bags of energy. Goals will win them more football matches.
Gyokeres is a versatile box finisher with strength, height and bags of energy. Goals will win them more football matches.
August 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Positives: Zubimendi adds to the defensive core and adds a deeper possession player to the team.
Gyokeres is a versatile box finisher with strength, height and bags of energy. Goals will win them more football matches.
Gyokeres is a versatile box finisher with strength, height and bags of energy. Goals will win them more football matches.
I like the Frank team's approach to football, it's meticulous, holistic, very team-based, very grounded. It doesn't capture the imagination particularly but it's refreshing and most importantly it produces results.
August 17, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I like the Frank team's approach to football, it's meticulous, holistic, very team-based, very grounded. It doesn't capture the imagination particularly but it's refreshing and most importantly it produces results.
5. Finally, I reckon Frank will find it hard to win over fans passionately but by the end of the season, if it's trophyless and outside CL places, I think there'll be enough general good will.
A trophy though? Ridiculous amounts of good will.
A trophy though? Ridiculous amounts of good will.
August 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
5. Finally, I reckon Frank will find it hard to win over fans passionately but by the end of the season, if it's trophyless and outside CL places, I think there'll be enough general good will.
A trophy though? Ridiculous amounts of good will.
A trophy though? Ridiculous amounts of good will.
4. Tottering between saying 5th or 6th, but I'll say 6th on the basis of I'm not sure Solanke-Johnson-Tel will put up the numbers.
August 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
4. Tottering between saying 5th or 6th, but I'll say 6th on the basis of I'm not sure Solanke-Johnson-Tel will put up the numbers.
3. Romero will walk Club's Player of the Season. Without Son or Maddison, he will attract so much attention as captain and that'll do him wonders. New defensive mentality will put tonnes of focus on him too.
August 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
3. Romero will walk Club's Player of the Season. Without Son or Maddison, he will attract so much attention as captain and that'll do him wonders. New defensive mentality will put tonnes of focus on him too.
2. Spurs will come close to either the FA Cup or the League Cup, or both, and win one of them. Big teams around us, but I reckon Spurs have a real taste of it and have a manager who could pull off one-off knock out games.
August 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
2. Spurs will come close to either the FA Cup or the League Cup, or both, and win one of them. Big teams around us, but I reckon Spurs have a real taste of it and have a manager who could pull off one-off knock out games.
Something from the Europa League final surely???
June 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Something from the Europa League final surely???
I would have loved Season 3. It's romantic and could have offered a beautiful complete redemption arc.
But it would've been a huge gamble. Ange has not built a sustainable foundation for success, and I don't blame Levy for believing it probably wouldn't be redeemed by May 2026.
But it would've been a huge gamble. Ange has not built a sustainable foundation for success, and I don't blame Levy for believing it probably wouldn't be redeemed by May 2026.
June 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I would have loved Season 3. It's romantic and could have offered a beautiful complete redemption arc.
But it would've been a huge gamble. Ange has not built a sustainable foundation for success, and I don't blame Levy for believing it probably wouldn't be redeemed by May 2026.
But it would've been a huge gamble. Ange has not built a sustainable foundation for success, and I don't blame Levy for believing it probably wouldn't be redeemed by May 2026.
I can't be certain that this pattern would replicate itself, but I am even less certain that we would be a resounding success. You wouldn't want to ride it out with the risk of even a half-as-poor season. Then suddenly we no longer can make good on our regained CL status.
June 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I can't be certain that this pattern would replicate itself, but I am even less certain that we would be a resounding success. You wouldn't want to ride it out with the risk of even a half-as-poor season. Then suddenly we no longer can make good on our regained CL status.
We were beyond fragile. We were resigned. We expected to concede goals, expected to make mistakes, and every team knew and delighted in taking points off us. Suddenly WHL became a venue for away teams to take a great win.
June 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
We were beyond fragile. We were resigned. We expected to concede goals, expected to make mistakes, and every team knew and delighted in taking points off us. Suddenly WHL became a venue for away teams to take a great win.
Each season has a roll on effect to the next. Common themes become anxieties, anxieties will form fragility, and fragility will cost you success.
Even if I except Ange was powerless to prevent our winter injury defeats, and the league results still made his job untenable.
Even if I except Ange was powerless to prevent our winter injury defeats, and the league results still made his job untenable.
June 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Each season has a roll on effect to the next. Common themes become anxieties, anxieties will form fragility, and fragility will cost you success.
Even if I except Ange was powerless to prevent our winter injury defeats, and the league results still made his job untenable.
Even if I except Ange was powerless to prevent our winter injury defeats, and the league results still made his job untenable.
Thankfully, I do reckon that players like Maddison, Bergvall, Porro, Tel and Van de Ven are so expressive and fearless that, even on a pragmatic level, the best approach is to let them loose.
June 11, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Thankfully, I do reckon that players like Maddison, Bergvall, Porro, Tel and Van de Ven are so expressive and fearless that, even on a pragmatic level, the best approach is to let them loose.
I'm a massive Ange advocate, because I buy into shooting for the stars, playing the way we want to, and making Tottenham fearless. Frank is a choice based primarily on fear, and that's a change of juncture from Ange's appointment.
June 11, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I'm a massive Ange advocate, because I buy into shooting for the stars, playing the way we want to, and making Tottenham fearless. Frank is a choice based primarily on fear, and that's a change of juncture from Ange's appointment.
What I would say is that it's a turn away from the Postecoglu project of idealism. Frank is quite the opposite of attacking idealism. He's forged his path through compromise and collaboration. Perhaps it's simply a recognition from the club of a brutal reality of Premier League football.
June 11, 2025 at 7:50 AM
What I would say is that it's a turn away from the Postecoglu project of idealism. Frank is quite the opposite of attacking idealism. He's forged his path through compromise and collaboration. Perhaps it's simply a recognition from the club of a brutal reality of Premier League football.