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GamePass is really cool tbh. I started Persona 5 Royal on there, but will certainly buy it now that I know I will keep playing. A great service really.

That is an insane comparison and it just shows absolute ignorance of all things team related. We tend to focus on specific points in time where the table looks a certain way and then pass judgement. This is about the trend. Of course part of it is tactical. Part of it is mental amongst the club as a whole and the players. Part of it is individual skill on multiple levels, from tactical to technical and everything in between. Thinking all of it is tactical is simply as ludicrous as forcing a choice between our squad and Fulhams just because they happen to sit higher up the table than us. Let's say Emery gets this squads tactics right, that should definitely push us upthw table some. How much? No-one knows, but even if we pip Fulham and for a while sit at 7th, that does not mean much more than that we are, at that point in time, above Fulham. More important is the longer trend shown in performance over time, and currently that is trending downward under multiple different managers. We can still get something out of this squad, and I might be proven wrong in my suspicion (that is all I am voicing) about this squad being overrated if Emery manages to lift the performances of the team. But he needs way more that tactics to do that. Time will tell. This squad still has it all to prove in my very humble opinion. They need to show the stuff on all levels. Emery is a great appointment, and if anyone can do it I believe he is the best equipped.

I feel you both. In my case it's more that games have become so formulaic. Devs tick boxes for things that 'should be in a successful AAA game' rather than try and innovate or even noticeably iterate on established ideas. RDR2, The Witcher 3 and games bybthat ilk provided such a great story they did manage to hold me, but I feel few game manages to provide that sort of narrative experience that can shake my cynicism and grab me by the neck and force me to finish. I have grown old and jaded, but so has gaming. It has established itself, and while I not claiming good storytelling and innovation is dead, the business is no longer the cocky, growing youth ot once was. It's now a well established market that suddenly has something to lose, and consequently winds its neck in first a bit, then noticeably. There are still some amazing games and series out there, but I just feel the games biz could be so much more, and definitely much more provocative than it currently is. Pushing the medium even further. Still, this is just and old, irrelevant man's ramblings.

If that turns out to be true, we might as well let the club fold or drop down the system until we find a place where we can at least compete and give the place to some other club. They obviously have a plan even if you can’t see it. And the fact that they approach different types of managers certainly fits with us being a club looking for identity and a true footballing philosophy. We need that last part to originate from someone that actually knows football, and I think they thought Gerrard might be able to do that, especially considering his own playing career. Yes, I agree there is great chance nothing changes, but we must realize it is not always up to what we do. On this level, small differences matter when competition is fierce, and not all clubs can make it to the top. Emery might just be more of the same, but I think his appointment speaks to us having a plan and actually wanting to succeed. He needs time from us and the board. If they sack him this time next year if we are hovering in the same position as now, I think that is more of an indication that they lack not only plan, but requisite knowledge to run a football club. Of that happens they should sell us.

I have felt this (minus Emery) for some time. That we at best are doomed to perpetual mediocrity due to wasting our potential on wrong managers, players and staff, with no hope of ever entering the top 6 consistently ever again. Emery currently acts as a counterpoint to this thesis as he is the best managerial appointment we have made in my lifetime. You thesis might still hold, but for my part I view this as a possible alteration point of our projected trajectory, one that COULD, if built upon be just what we need. Emery focuses a lot on analytics, and this will do us a world of good in the recruitment department. Well, it could at least. So while I do think there is a high chance we will remain the AI in this FM save that is played by the top 6 (and possibly Newcastle) players as humans, there is still hope of joining that group for us. But the window for joining that group is closing fast.

Despite what I said he’s our best CB. He’s probably not going anywhere soon.

Not only that, but in 10 minutes they’ll be on the phone asking their agent to find them a new club. It’s the players market, and if they feel hard done by, agent goes to work.

Bet he wishes he took the Newcastle job now lol

Just keep us up gaffer, lmao!

Today I am convinced. I mean I knew it would happen, but not quite as fast as it looks. I say that considering they still maintain form despite injuries. Granted, they have to show they can bounce back after things turn against them in terms of results, because sooner or later that will happen. Bright future for sure, and they seem to be set to take a place I had hoped we could take in due time.

The amount of shit I have gotten for even suggesting we might be overestimating this squad… Still, the jury is out. Indications are we need some work, even with Carlos and Kamala back, but more patience is needed for now.

As has been my suspicion for quite some time. However, Emery might get quite bit more out of these lads. Worrying about all these injuries though. I fear Martinez might be out a while, and sometimes people just don’t return to normal after concussions. Thankfully it didn’t look like he went unconscious, which is good. I just hope he didn’t fracture his scull, because that was a hard knock.

I told you this would happen.

I’m not faulting Young for that, it’s just impossible to keep hands close there. Bang on penalty, but really just random bad luck.

That might actually be more than just a concussion. I truly hope he’s ok.

I definitely think we can, but 7th is too ambitious. I don't think we are even close to be able to compete for that. I predict a bit of a humbling tomorrow, that will probably brings us back to earth a bit. I also predict a bit of a rough start for our new manager as he tries to get his ideas across, feels out the squad and implement his coaching methods. These predictions might fall way short of the mark, but we are on a bit of a high now after the sacking of Gerrard, the amazing reaction against Brentford and the appointment of one of the most successful manages in our recent history, and we tend to let the pendulum swing wildly between utter pessimism and pure optimism. We should do well to temper ourselves a bit, if nothing else for our own mental health. For that reason I say 7th isn't just too ambitious, it's somewhat insane to even suggest it currently. Then again, I've been here a while now, and we are all utterly nuts.

Thank you! Wil have to try some day. FM23 will be on GamePass, so I'll probably give it a shake once it's out there.

An absolutely bonkers game! Only about 3 hours in so I haven't really been let put to do stuff on my own initiative, which is good since there's a lot of stuff to absorb lol

Just started both Victoria 3 and Persona 5 Royal on PC. Persona is my first in the series, and after a few hours I am **** hooked! Art style, music, story, it just appeals to me massively. And I am essentially in the tutorial still. Victoria 3 looks very promising, but as with all paradox games, it will get better with time.

I am still chuffed to **** bits that Unai Emery is our new manager.

I mean, it depends I suppose. The Arsenal squad back then was a bit all over the place, wasn't it? I think it's hard to judge him too harshly in either direction based on his spell there. For us, he will bring meticulousness and tactical awareness and skill at a level we have never had in a manager.

I think it's going to be very interesting to see how our current squad takes to his intensity. I remember one of his ex-players that loved him, but he just couldn't take a fourth year under him lol. Personally I like that style of manager. Details oriented, passionate and open to chopping and changing and ALWAYS demanding 100% of everyone. For some, ut can be taxing though. Personally I think this is just what we need.

lol, I accidentally watched someone playing 10 years of Emery's Villa in Fifa 23 and this was one of his first signings. We won 7 or so trophies btw.

Who?

Comes across as a bit arrogant in his play sometimes? Like the mistake against Chelsea. Don't get me wrong, he takes responsibility as he did then bu apologizing, but appearance wise in his play.