Quite interesting to see the fightback for hearts and minds going on in the Man City influencersphere. It’s like watching American politics: a whole group of fans that are usually the reply guys for OnlyFans models and fierce debates over who was their favorite Avenger are now tweeting deeply researched lines that feel as scripted as they do soulless and out of touch with who they are as creators.
The combination of fed press lines and automated bots has really been on the struggle bus in terms of gaining traction. It’s making things worse. One of the saddest traits of the modern era is that people aren’t open to changing their minds, even when drowning in a tar pit of evidence. But what is particularly interesting here with Manchester City is that they have occupied a unique place in British culture, being both extremely famous whilst not really eliciting any sort of emotion about who they are. They’re kind of like the Blackwall Tunnel. I am aware of the importance and its existence… but do not ask me to get angry on behalf of said existence.
But… if you found out the Blackwall Tunnel had a secret tunnel for insanely rich commuters, and I had been commuting through that tunnel for 20 years, I might find it in me to DESPISE that tunnel. Nothing more middle-aged than raging against a tunnel. Anyway, that is where the world is at with City right now. I had no opinion or real feelings towards them before, but now I know the lengths of what they were up to, it has been an easy pivot.
A long-winded way of saying I think the army of influencers that have popped up from nowhere with Robinhood defenses, which seem to resemble tightly defined case studies of sportswashing methodologies, are largely going to be ineffective on a public that is very unforgiving when it comes to cheating.
News from around the world has been looking good when it comes to Arsenal’s one fit striker… Viktor Gyokeres is having a good time away with Sweden, with 3 goals in 3 games and the WORLD RECORD for most consecutive goals in the Nations League. He tends to be very good for his home country. I know his superfans want to believe Graham Potter has some magical powers of observation and tactical insights Mikel Arteta doesn’t have, but I hate to break it to you, Viktor is just really good against weaker opposition, and you tend to have more of that in the Nations League.
The big question is whether those goals will count for Premier League form when he’ll be facing defenders who won’t give him 15 seconds of free time to trap and turn on the ball. There isn’t a Premier League that is going to suit his preferred game of space, time, with slow defenders chasing him as balls go over the top. Most of his superpowers are nullified in a league that has his number. The question is whether Arteta wants to play the same game as last season, or whether he wants to send a message about January and opt for Mikel Merino as the focal point for a few weeks?
I suspect we’ll be watching Gyokeres again, and I’ll be there, with a bane mask cheering him on, but I will be thinking that it is diabolical that our striker options are not suitable to a very rugged league and a squad that has intense requirements of it.
In other news, it has been interesting to watch the hoopla around Cristiano. They just can’t get rid of him at a national level, and the player somehow managed to create a drama out of not getting on the pitch as an unused sub… he quit and told the world he’d reveal what happened at a later date.
‘Bro, you’re old’
That’s it. It’s as simple as that. He’s a traffic cone at 41 years old and the Portuguese teams should be ok making way for someone younger. There is something very unedifying about people getting older and not wanting to accept it… at the cost of younger people. Cristiano was a great for many years but he’s having to make his cash in the Saudi Pro League for a reason these days. Those legs can’t do what they used to do on the regular. That is life. We are all replaced in the end. I read it’s the same in law, the big firms can’t get the older guys out, so there’s a huge retention issue in BIG law in America. Did I just compare CR7 to big law? If I speak…
Chelsea apparently lost a closed-door friendly to… Portsmouth. Quite incredible that they seem to be having so many problems at the moment. I do really like Xabi Alonso, but that man has to get it right in this new, very challenging job, because two bad runs back-to-back start to make big clubs question the magic.
What’s that you hear? The sweet sound of Saka haters SHUTTING THE HELL UP. The Arsenal winger was in HAAAWT form for two goals in an action-packed decimation of Croatia. He looked really good, had 69 touches, 4 shots, two nice finishes. It kind of felt like a continuation of his form, but with the final actions. I’m really not sure how we’ve landed in some of the dreadful conversations about him this season. Those chats have been so bad, I have wondered: is this an influence campaign, the likes of which they use in Eastern European countries to sway voters in rich democracies? It must be. The idea of using a bot army and pliant ‘influencers’ to create destabilizing campaigns against professional athletes feels like the sort of thing I’d accept as a reality in 2026. Because you’ll never find a real human, who was there through the Theo years, putting him in the same league as dearest Bukayo. Again, extremist views in an international break to keep you on your toes (though if you read the story about Geese, you might be with me on this one).
Extremist views… or a viable business plan with a £200m exit before they regulate? I hear your brain cogs whirring. Get in touch, let’s make it happen.
David Raya started for Spain after Unai Simon shockingly conceded actual goals. Spain, not used to that sort of thing, put the Arsenal number one in. He conceded one goal, which was a bit of a worldie, and dropped a cross that led to an offside disallowed goal. Not sure why we get the bot armies trying to make a case for Raya being anything other than the best keeper on the planet.
Just a reminder for those in the cheap seats. This is Gradient data for the best keeper in Europe right now.
And for those in the cheap seats dialed into Spanish FA content who are wondering why 29-year-old Unai Simón is still at Athletic Club even though he’s starting for Spain, for a manager he’s worked with since he was a young man. Here’s where he stacks up.
And for those who like keeper that look like basketball players.
Oh, you want last season’s grades as well?
David Raya, for me, is the only Galáctico keeper on the planet right now. The shift from keepers who can do it all has thrown up a lot of players who do the footwork piece really nicely, but can’t do the other bits. David Raya’s bravery when catching crosses is unmatched, his abilities on the ball are mesmerizing, and he’s a world-class shotstopper.
It is amusing that we seem to constantly be in a battle over the talents of our players… who won the Premier League and made a Champions League final. Unless it’s striker-related.
Ok, that’s all I have for you… it’s going to be a slow grind to the Leeds game, but I’ll be here with you every step of the way. x