Matthew Drumm
7.4K posts


Arsenal have nothing to fear but fear itself. Fear cripples a good group of players. And they are good players, we’ll see that at the World Cup, three have a very realistic chance of winning it (Raya and Zubimendi with Spain, Saliba with France). Rice and Gabriel are contenders for FOTY/POTY, Dowman for YPOTY.
It’s just fear holding Arsenal back. That was clear with their nervy response to a more confident Bournemouth. Fear inhibits attacking instincts; wide players check back rather than attack, midfielders pause before releasing, defenders pass the ball between them rather than progress it quicker. Fear stalks the crowd. Fans can help dispel the fear by staying to the end and not booing a team top of the table. But really it's down to Mikel Arteta to confront this fear threatening to ruin Arsenal's season.
How? Partly through body language: Arteta looks almost anxious in the technical area, transmitting doubt rather than defiance. Partly through selection: give the fearless Max Dowman a start wide, believe in Eberechi Eze more (nb injuries).
Partly tactical: adopt a more front-foot philosophy, tell wingers to take on their full-backs, tell Raya to distribute the ball quicker; attack, make the opposition fearful, get Viktor Gyokeres in behind. Partly messaging: make it simpler, stating belief in the players, and less scripted “bring your dinner”; learn from Pep's mastery of press conferences. No need to panic. Still top. Still have good players. Just have to fight the fear. And believe. #AFC
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@BerryCathal Keep the car topped up with fuel what a fucking idiotic take
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Probably a good idea to get the home heating oil refilled over the next few days if necessary…
Also sensible to keep the car topped up with fuel….
Open Source Intel@Osint613
Non stop tankers on the move, absolutely nuts.
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@jsaywardjones Got what you paid for 😂 made a fortune on Isak, would make a fortune on Bruno, Hall and Livramento. Would make big money on Gordon and Tonali. Paid next to nothing for Trippier, Pope and Burn and they've been v solid. Chatting nonsense
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One of the best coaches England have ever produced and yet consistently the worst transfer market operator we may ever see.
Hayters TV@HaytersTV
"We don't have the revenue of other clubs… the rules have made it very difficult." 👀 "I don't know a team that wouldn't suffer from that." 😳 "Losing Alex [Isak] last summer was a considerable blow." 😓 Pressure mounts on Eddie Howe after defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby 😬
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❤️📺 A beautiful moment on Italian television after the Bayern Munich-Atalanta match.
The great Luca Toni told the journalist interviewing Harry Kane that he wants to send him a message:
🗣️🇮🇹 "Please tell Harry that I'm in love with him in a football way. Because he's one of the few pure 9s left in the world, among all those false nines floating around. And he's the best in the world in his position."
🗣️🏴 Harry Kane smiled and responded: "It's an honour what you're saying to me, and even more so coming from a top striker like you. Thank you."
Long live the pure 9s, like Harry and Luca. 😮💨

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@columeastwood Hardly of major immediate concern to a politician who is meant to be focusing on Derry is it
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🚨 JUST IN - Everton are interested in a deal for West Ham United striker Callum Wilson. [@TheAthleticFC]

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@du_dot_ie @Cloonabeypark @DarranMarshall And why do you think it was closed? Would you pay more tax to keep it open making a huge loss?
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@MDrumm23 @Cloonabeypark @DarranMarshall And it use to have this much rail until Stormont closed it all


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@Cloonabeypark @DarranMarshall Fermanagh the county of ~60k residents. Sure just build it through every hole in the hedge
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@NSixtysomething @SineadAoibheann @StephenNolan @castleDD @DPACNIreland @RyanTalksAutism @bbcradioulster @SineadAoibheann selective responses?
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@SineadAoibheann @StephenNolan @castleDD @DPACNIreland @RyanTalksAutism @bbcradioulster My sister in law has had a motability car 20+ yrs, currently a VW T Roc.
Many years ago my son shared his mother's car and it cost us over 1K to add him to the insurance, a year later my niece was added to her mum's people carrier for £70. It is a benefit which is open to misuse.
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Matthew Drumm retweetledi

INTER MILAN'S ZIELINSKI MIGHT HAVE JUST SCORED THE BEST GOAL YOU'LL SEE IN SERIE A THIS SEASON 😦👏
📺 @TNTSports & @discoveryplusUK
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Matthew Drumm retweetledi

What heinous act caused this to happen you might ask? I had £20 anytime TD scorer on Johan Dotson @ 11/2 and £20 on George Kittle @ 2/1 - AK were top price on both according to Oddschecker. What a joke @AKBets @tony_calvin

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How Arne Slot manages Mohamed Salah will be fascinating.
Salah is 33 now, but does not seem to be the sort of footballer who could be easily convinced that playing less might lead to him offering more in the long run.
There is also the pressure of his vast new contract - £400,000 a week plus significant bonuses.
Salah would not unreasonably consider that to denote him as Liverpool’s main man — certainly in attack — while Fenway Sports Group may also wonder why a man it has seen fit to reward so handsomely is now in and out of the team.
It all adds to the pressure on Slot, who must navigate the path between football coach, psychologist and employee carefully.
📝 @Simon_Hughes__
🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/67431…

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