AI

Gyokeres—a Game Changer? —Football is a continuous-time sport. That means it is not defined by one season, one year, one result or even one era. Relevance is generated over long periods of time and must be sustained, even if there are periods of rise and fall. For an example,…

It’s not really money stopping Isak from moving. If he wants to move, Liverpool/Arsenal can justify spending ~140M. Liverpool obviously no longer since they beat Bayern & City to Wirtz. Now, Newcastle have to deal with a loaded Arsenal. All on the player now.

People see Arsenal play PSG and lose. Professionals watch them and go “Wow!”

Gyokeres—a Game Changer? Part 2 In the first part, we went through a few background concepts: —Football is a continuous-time sport (relevance is determined by long, sustained periods of winning) —Bad processes can have good results, but it is worse in the long-term because it…

I didn’t support the project because I knew we would win the league in 2020, I supported the project because I knew we would be good enough to win it over time. I do not stand for outcomes & results. I stand for doing things with a good process.

It’s embarrassing watching comp makers trying to add commentary to comps “Head down, doesn’t run fast enough” Drop my clips and leave, bro

Rice Rodri Isak Haaland Salah Saka VVD Saliba Palmer Bruno These are the best active players in the Premier League.

Nobody watches a Chelsea game against a top side and goes away thinking, "Wow, Caicedo won that for them, didn't he, the bloody shin-kicker."

Everything I say now, I have already said before. Caicedo is a top CM. Rice is a Galatico.

The craziest thing about Rice is that he is still far better than your regular shin-kickers at winning tackles. Clean anticipation, clean spring, clean tackle, gets back up—all in one smooth rolling motion. Galatico.

Nothing must jeopardize the Declan Rice pursuit—not even Caicedo. If this means we are not getting Declan Rice, I am not in support of it. If we still are, then carry on. (Personally, I don't think Caicedo is worth more than 55M).

The only reason Chelsea fans compare Caicedo to Rice is because Brighton stripped them of £100M for him. They hang him to Rice coattails to justify the price tag to themselves. Same with Enzo. They switch them out every few months like guns that ran out of ammo.

Caicedo is an athletic Mohammed Elneny. Keeps the ball, passes it on, runs around, kicks people to the ground. Nothing special to tell your kids of. He is an extra on the scene for football's superheroes. One of those excitable characters that die at the beginning of every movie

Chelsea players are always the best in the world until the season starts.

Hopefully doesn’t change anything.

Medicals without one official bid made.

I can see an argument for signing Isak for £120M + bonuses if we sell Odegaard next year and use Havertz as RCM cover for Nwaneri/Dowman Then next year, we look for the LW replacement/upgrade to Trossard

I think Arsenal might sign Isak later on in the window. There is some sense to it. Would be very expensive though. Liverpool’s aggression means they have confidence from his camp that this is the right window. Them getting Wirtz over Bayern probably cut their cost tolerance.

Understand Isak’s representatives made contact with Arsenal in recent weeks. Not sure it changes anything as we are probably too far down the line with Gyokeres/NUFC unlikely to sell. Isak’s preference has always been Arsenal if a move was possible. Liverpool his second choice.

On the digital illusion of “Viktor Gyokeres”, a piece by the fantastic Barnay Ronay. theguardian.com/football/2025/…