Piece of piss, group stage done

[Peter]

We can forget about this crap for now.

And a free week next week.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

We can forget about this crap for now.

And a free week next week.

We could still lose out on a top 8 place if we get battered in both games and all the teams on 12 points or more win both {other than BM who just need a win or a win and a draw.} Though LFC and AM have GDs of +3 compared to our +16.

Also we want to be top seeds, I reckon, so winning the group would be a touch.

[Peter]

We could still lose out on a top 8 place if we get battered in both games and all the teams on 12 points or more win both {other than BM who just need a win or a win and a draw.} Though LFC and AM have GDs of +3 compared to our +16.

Also we want to be top seeds, I reckon, so winning the group would be a touch.

I haven't checked the fixtures but wouldn't be surprised if some of those teams are playing each other. And the goal difference thing is just ridiculous. It's done, and where you finish in the top 8 means nothing.

Also, we finish at home to Slavia Prague. Our second or third string would be capable of scraping a point off them if absolutely essential.....

Time to wheel out the crap for the Inter game. If I was Arteta I wouldn't even go myself. Send the coaching staff and the kids.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I haven't checked the fixtures but wouldn't be surprised if some of those teams are playing each other. And the goal difference thing is just ridiculous. It's done, and where you finish in the top 8 means nothing.

Also, we finish at home to Slavia Prague. Our second or third string would be capable of scraping a point off them if absolutely essential.....

Time to wheel out the crap for the Inter game. If I was Arteta I wouldn't even go myself. Send the coaching staff and the kids.

But I want us to win in the San Siro again. We used to spend a lot of time in St Martin in the French West Indies. One of our French mates - Alban, a PSG fan - had a Manc gf, Corina. They came over to Blighty and I took Alban to AFC-Inter.

They went 2-0 up, Titi missed a pen and they scored a third all before HT. When I came out, Alban said to me "That's great cos I'm a MU fan." I thought that's bang out of order. If it mate takes you to a game, your duty bound to support their team. Especially when we both flown out 3 years before to watch the France-Italy Euro 200 final with them.

Two months after the Inter game, we were back in St Martin and I found this tiny Internet caf? to listen to radio commentary of the second half of the return fixture. I had my headphones on and when the fourth and fifth went in I was jumping up screaming yes, getting disapproving looks from the lady who ran it and the two schoolboys there.

So I want us to win again. As it will bring back the memories. I think we were the only team then who would ever lost their first three games in the group stages and then went on to qualify. Would be lovely to finish this league stage with a 100% record.

[redgunamo]

Time to wheel out the crap for the Inter game. If I was Arteta I wouldn't even go myself. Send the coaching staff and the kids.

Right. Arteta and Heinze might even fancy a game, not to mention the set piece coach and the kit man.

[PSRB]

We could still lose out on a top 8 place if we get battered in both games and all the teams on 12 points or more win both {other than BM who just need a win or a win and a draw.} Though LFC and AM have GDs of +3 compared to our +16.

Also we want to be top seeds, I reckon, so winning the group would be a touch.

Liverpool are the only side on 12 points not in top 8. It would need a 13 goal swing and the 7 teams below us to not **** up either, it's a done deal.

[Rich]

We can forget about this crap for now.

And a free week next week.

How good did Gabi Jesus look when he came on?! Oh my.

So refreshing to have him back and it looked like he's never been away. He should be able to play through the middle until Havertz is back (maybe after Everton).

Think we all need to be honest that Gyokeres' style is a really poor fit for Arsenal and it's not likely to work.

[Peter]

How good did Gabi Jesus look when he came on?! Oh my.

So refreshing to have him back and it looked like he's never been away. He should be able to play through the middle until Havertz is back (maybe after Everton).

Think we all need to be honest that Gyokeres' style is a really poor fit for Arsenal and it's not likely to work.

I think we need to give Gyokeres time to settle in and get fully fit. Then we will have a fair assessment of just how **** he is

Jesus looked like is old self- a very good footballer and a **** finisher.

[Rich]

I think we need to give Gyokeres time to settle in and get fully fit. Then we will have a fair assessment of just how **** he is

Jesus looked like is old seof- a funeral footballer and a **** finisher.

Gyokeres is fully fit now. Jesus has been out for a year and looked significantly better. I'm willing to nail my colours to the mast and say Gyokeres will never suit us / score any volume of goals for us.

Thankfully his wages aren't huge and he wasn't too expensive. Sold in the summer imho.

[Peter]

Gyokeres is fully fit now. Jesus has been out for a year and looked significantly better. I'm willing to nail my colours to the mast and say Gyokeres will never suit us / score any volume of goals for us.

Thankfully his wages aren't huge and he wasn't too expensive. Sold in the summer imho.

I suspect you are right. But as someone who didn't want him in the first place I am going to give him longer to prove me wrong.

[Rich]

I suspect you are right. But as someone who didn't want him in the first place I am going to give him longer to prove me wrong.

As you know; I also saw that he was clearly a poor fit and nothing has changed my mind. Hope I'm wrong but unless he starts to do things he's never done in his career; I'm not sure how that will work.

Alvarez in the summer would be glorious.

[PSRB]

Gyokeres is fully fit now. Jesus has been out for a year and looked significantly better. I'm willing to nail my colours to the mast and say Gyokeres will never suit us / score any volume of goals for us.

Thankfully his wages aren't huge and he wasn't too expensive. Sold in the summer imho.

It would of course help if certain midfield players actually watched his runs. I feel sorry for him, his movement last night was excellent but no one actually ever seems to see his runs. Our horseshoe play seems too ingrained to change.

[Peter]

It would of course help if certain midfield players actually watched his runs. I feel sorry for him, his movement last night was excellent but no one actually ever seems to see his runs. Our horseshoe play seems too ingrained to change.

I think that is the key point. Rich above says he feared that he wouldn't be a good fit for us. And he isnt.

But we all assumed that was precisely why we wanted him, that we hoped that he and Eze (who also isn't a good fit) would be a big part of changing the way we play and would add new dimensions to our creativity.

As you say, we aren't seeing this. We are basically playing the same way and expecting them to adjust.

Last night was a good example. Even when we get behind a team's press our first ball is always wide. We never look to play through the centre. I cant think of a single instance last night where we did.

Gyokeres is left with very little to do, and none of it plays to his strengths. I think that is another reason why he needs more time.

[redgunamo]

Gyokeres is fully fit now. Jesus has been out for a year and looked significantly better. I'm willing to nail my colours to the mast and say Gyokeres will never suit us / score any volume of goals for us.

Thankfully his wages aren't huge and he wasn't too expensive. Sold in the summer imho.

Gyokeres is still injured, R. One of his fingers is broken.

A real trooper, imo.

[redgunamo]

I think that is the key point. Rich above says he feared that he wouldn't be a good fit for us. And he isnt.

But we all assumed that was precisely why we wanted him, that we hoped that he and Eze (who also isn't a good fit) would be a big part of changing the way we play and would add new dimensions to our creativity.

As you say, we aren't seeing this. We are basically playing the same way and expecting them to adjust.

Last night was a good example. Even when we get behind a team's press our first ball is always wide. We never look to play through the centre. I cant think of a single instance last night where we did.

Gyokeres is left with very little to do, and none of it plays to his strengths. I think that is another reason why he needs more time.

We are certainly less predictable now