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Club Come here to laugh at Gooners

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_mehstg said:
Nah, utter cretins... the lot of them...
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I wouldn't even mind their cuntiness if they didn't constantly portray themselves as the butter wouldn't melt in their mouth club.

They put themselves out as "oh aren't we the wholesome, family club" while putting an accused rapist out on the pitch for months , or "look at the great football we play" while also being one of the biggest cheats in matches with diving and injury simulation at least ever since I was a preteen while getting away with it constantly.

Sometimes I wish our arch-rivals were Millwall or Leeds, at least they don't pretend not to be cunts.
 
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Brian Fantana said:
Easy life I suspect.
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There’s no reason for any of their players to not believe they’re on the verge of something. CL semis, consistently 2nd etc. Not remotely surprising they want to stay there. People think that players listen to fan banter.

Lots of top players committed to long term careers at Atletico etc too. If you are a team staying in the CL and competing and giving good wages, players will often stay.
 
Woolwich manager Mikel Arteta on outside noise: "I am aware the moment that I step into this chair, what I want with this football club is to win major trophies. Nobody else has to put that line in to us. That's the ambition. Excuses have never been a part of my life."

Also Arteta:

  • 2020 (Post-Burnley draw): "The grass was long... They didn’t water it. It was difficult to play football."
  • 2023 (Post-Aston Villa loss): "The wind was a big factor... It affected our passing and made it impossible to control the game."
  • 2023 (Post-Newcastle defeat): "It’s embarrassing... a disgrace. I’ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed."
  • 2023 (Post-Newcastle, on VAR): "You cannot imagine the amount of messages we’ve got saying this cannot continue. I feel sick to be part of this."
  • 2024 (Post-Europa exit, on fixtures): "The schedule is unfair... We were exhausted after the congestion, it left us no chance against the big teams."
  • 2024 (On winter transfers): "Not signing an attacker in January cost us points... The board didn’t back us enough when it mattered."
  • 2025 (Post-PSG semi-final): "100% I don’t think there’s been a better team in the competition... but we are out. It’s heartbreaking."
  • 2025 (On injuries): "We live every day with what we have... That’s a starting line-up sitting in the dressing room, but we haven't had them for months."
  • 2025 (Post-Carabao Cup loss): "The matchballs were bizarre, no grip... They fly a lot, it’s tricky, and it made a big difference."
  • 2025 (On VAR penalty vs. Newcastle): "Unless it’s clear and obvious, VAR shouldn’t intervene... It’s another decision that’s gone against us."

Frequently cited external factors for Woolwich's setbacks during his tenure, often focusing on officiating inconsistencies, fixture demands, and squad vulnerabilities. While praised for transforming Woolwich into title contenders, critics argue these have become repetitive justifications amid a five-year trophy drought. Below is a succinct timeline of major examples, grouped thematically for clarity.


Officiating and VAR (Most Frequent Grievance)​


  • 2020–2021: Early-season woes: Blamed "bizarre" stats showing Woolwich deserved more points than earned, calling results "unfair" after a poor start (e.g., Everton win with "25% chance").
  • 2023–2024: Red cards and discipline: Protested multiple sendings-off (e.g., Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard for delaying restarts), claiming Woolwich faced disproportionate punishment; led to 17 points dropped from reds since 2020.
  • 2024: High-profile VAR rants: After a 1-0 loss to Newcastle, unleashed a viral tirade on refereeing "incompetence," calling it "embarrassing" and "disgraceful"; club issued a supportive statement, prompting FA charges for bringing the game into disrepute.
  • 2025: Ongoing VAR frustration: Fumed over overturned penalty vs. Newcastle (Viktor Gyökeres incident), insisting "unless it's clear and obvious, VAR shouldn't intervene"; also hit back at "handbrake" criticism after 1-1 Man City draw, defending tactics as dominant (City held to 33% possession).

Injuries and Squad Depth​


  • 2023–2024: Injury crisis: Highlighted a "disrupted" season from key absences (e.g., Gabriel, William Saliba), blaming it for failing to capitalize on opportunities; noted Woolwich's injury rate as among the league's highest.
  • 2024–2025: Persistent toll: Cited 12 months of injuries as a core issue in pre-season losses (e.g., Villarreal friendly), urging deeper analysis to reduce recurrence; post-Newcastle win, praised bench impact amid "difficult situations."

Fixtures, Schedule, and Playing Conditions​


  • 2021–2022: Pitch complaints: After a loss at Brentford, blamed "long grass" for hindering play ("They didn’t water it... difficult to play football"), adapting "in some moments" but not others.
  • 2022–2023: Fixture congestion: Ranted about "unfair" scheduling post-Europa League exit, claiming it left Woolwich "exhausted" against title rivals.
  • 2025: Carabao Cup debacle: Following 2-0 semi-final loss to Newcastle, criticized the "bizarre" matchballs for poor grip, despite 23 shots; called it a key factor in failing to break through.

Transfers, Board, and "Dark Arts" Tactics​


  • 2023–2024: Window regrets: Lamented not signing a winter attacker, costing points; implied board support lagged behind ambitions.
  • 2024: Rival mind games: Defended Woolwich's "dark arts" (time-wasting, bus-parking) vs. City, retorting to Pep Guardiola: "I've been there for four years... I have all the information. Believe me."
  • 2025: Squad maturity: Admitted early caution (e.g., not starting Eberechi Eze vs. City due to "load management") but hit back at overcautious labels, citing praise from "managers, CEOs, presidents."
 
Deuterz said:
There’s no reason for any of their players to not believe they’re on the verge of something. CL semis, consistently 2nd etc. Not remotely surprising they want to stay there. People think that players listen to fan banter.

Lots of top players committed to long term careers at Atletico etc too. If you are a team staying in the CL and competing and giving good wages, players will often stay.
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Real have likely cooled on Saliba as well. If they were keen, they'd be in his ear about sign on bonuses to go there as a free agent and he wouldn't be extending.

Saka is unlikely to ever leave woolwich tbh.
 
WinterWarrior said:
Kind of crazy how both Saliba and Saka are signing new contracts, there's one view of Brenteta by fans another by pundits and clearly another by the players who he manages.
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There are two options:

1 - They are fully aware that he's a massive weirdo, but view him as their weirdo.

2 - They are both also massive gimps.

Pretty sure it's option 2, major question marks over the personality of someone who meets Arteta in person and remains willing to work with him, side eyeing you right now as well Eze...
 
Richard Arlison said:
Real have likely cooled on Saliba as well. If they were keen, they'd be in his ear about sign on bonuses to go there as a free agent and he wouldn't be extending.

Saka is unlikely to ever leave woolwich tbh.
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Wouldn’t be surprised to see the interest switch to Gabriel soon. He’s established himself as the more dominant of the pairing and is borderline a world class CB with his contributions at both ends.
 
Deuterz said:
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the interest switch to Gabriel soon. He’s established himself as the more dominant of the pairing and is borderline a world class CB with his contributions at both ends.
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If it means I don't need to see his face as much, I'm all for it.

Thing is, they don't have many Haaland's in La Liga who will expose his flaws and at Real he will get away with even more cheating.

Not sure La Liga want their league headed where ours is though with so much reliance on set pieces and physicality, they might whistle him more in those situations.
 
Richard Arlison said:
If it means I don't need to see his face as much, I'm all for it.

Thing is, they don't have many Haaland's in La Liga who will expose his flaws and at Real he will get away with even more cheating.

Not sure La Liga want their league headed where ours is though with so much reliance on set pieces and physicality, they might whistle him more in those situations.
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Madrid will love him, they love winners and line crossers .. they had ramos ffs and they have Carvajal. Cheating and dark arts are built into Spanish football.

I don’t think they will ultimately lose any of their stars. They’re very good and consistently show ambition in the market and will pay good wages. These sort of prem teams rarely lose their best players.
 
Deuterz said:
Madrid will love him, they love winners and line crossers .. they had ramos ffs and they have Carvajal. Cheating and dark arts are built into Spanish football.

I don’t think they will ultimately lose any of their stars. They’re very good and consistently show ambition in the market and will pay good wages. These sort of prem teams rarely lose their best players.
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Not sure Gabriel is even close to Ramos' level. He's definitely a cheat but Ramos was nobody's bottle job.

Tbh i'm fine with woolwich keeping Saka and Odourguard. Rice will stay as well, and I'm ok with that too. it's hard to see what club out there would have the means and also really want him. His style is unique for the PL tbh.
 
Richard Arlison said:
Not sure Gabriel is even close to Ramos' level. He's definitely a cheat but Ramos was nobody's bottle job.

Tbh i'm fine with woolwich keeping Saka and Odourguard. Rice will stay as well, and I'm ok with that too. it's hard to see what club out there would have the means and also really want him. His style is unique for the PL tbh.
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Rice would be great anywhere. He’s a box to box, Madrid have a similar player in Valverde who is all energy and physicality and chips in with a handful of g/a a season. They won’t control a game for you but they do everything else in midfield. Not sure how he could be unique in midfield when he was in the CL TOTY. His corners are a weapon for anyone.

Odegaard has fallen off massively - there was one season he was unreal and since then he’s just been a tidy 10.
 
Deuterz said:
Rice would be great anywhere. He’s a box to box, Madrid have a similar player in Valverde who is all energy and physicality and chips in with a handful of g/a a season. They won’t control a game for you but they do everything else in midfield. Not sure how he could be unique in midfield when he was in the CL TOTY. His corners are a weapon for anyone.

Odegaard has fallen off massively - there was one season he was unreal and since then he’s just been a tidy 10.
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Yeah but buying Rice would take 100m ish

Teams that can pay 100m will pay it for a Vitinha or Neves type. A Pedri. There are plenty of Valverde types they can get for half that.

Rice is probably trapped at Woolwich by his value to them, even if he wanted out, it’s not happening til the end of his contract
 
Hampshire Spur said:
See the gooners won sunday. Stoke goals though.
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They count the exact same on the scoreboard..

I’m massively hoping Frank delivers similar things here. Make us set piece monsters and the long throw a weapon. Seen improvements here already.

Super pleased Tuchel wants to do this stuff with England too. It’s horrid to watch as a neutral or rival but when it’s your team I love it.
 
Deuterz said:
They count the exact same on the scoreboard..

I’m massively hoping Frank delivers similar things here. Make us set piece monsters and the long throw a weapon. Seen improvements here already.

Super pleased Tuchel wants to do this stuff with England too. It’s horrid to watch as a neutral or rival but when it’s your team I love it.
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Personally I prefer champagne football. Skill and craft. That seems to be coached out of players these days.
 
Hampshire Spur said:
Personally I prefer champagne football. Skill and craft. That seems to be coached out of players these days.
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Well yeah that’s the ideal but much harder to achieve without unlimited funds and the players are much rarer these days who do it. The modern game is more about physicality - a side like Barca produce the Yamal’s and Pedri’s soon but they are so rare.

Even City have become a transition side with a big lump up top, direct physical wingers and a bit of steel in midfield.
 
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