Managing Real Madrid must be a nightmare. Literally everyone is bigger than the club - & the entitlement culture flows through the players to the fans creating a very difficult atmosphere for any manager.

Arsenal-Liverpool was a game of 2 halves: Here are a few observations from Liverpool vs Arsenal at the Emirates. The story is in the setups and the tweaks. 🧵 👇

✨ IT ALL WORKED OUT ✨ #135: The Ebere Eze Show 🎙️: @towells.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social 🔴 Open Play Goals! 🔵 Rotations up front, rotations in build-up ⚪️ How Chelsea handled what others couldn’t 🟡 What will change with Gyök & Ø back? Listen here 👇 pod.fo/e/35f034

💥 ARE SET PIECES OP? 💥 #134: Set Piece FC (feat. Jon Mackenzie) 🎙: @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @jonmackenzie.bsky.social 🔴 Riding the wave of discourse ⚪️ Arteta's trend-setting Arsenal 🔵 A tactical cross-roads 🟡 Why does it matter? Listen now 👇 pod.fo/e/347fae

💥WE'RE BACK 💥 #133: Taking Stock (feat. NSftbl) 🎙: @towells.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social & Nick (@nsftbl on twitter) 🔴 We're top of the league! ⚪️ Is the handbrake off? 🔵 A changing midfield 🟡 Odegaard's injuries: are we worried? Listen 👇 pod.fo/e/33e00d

💥TAKING STOCK💥 #182: Trading Takes 🎙: @alexcollings.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social 🔴 Liverpool & Forest reviews ⚪️ Zubi the Superstar 🟡 Hot takes on Rice 🔵 Standout performers so far Listen here 👇 pod.fo/e/32c31f

The writing is on the wall for Martinelli. Competition for his spot is fierce this year, improve or perish. Broke through at a similar time to Saka but the latter has improved YoY to a WC level.

💥 2 WEEKS, 2 UNITEDS, 2 WINS 💥 #131: A Change In Intent 🎙️: @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @alexcollings.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social 🔴 Making Sense of a New Style ⚪️ A Tale of Two Nineties 🔵 Flowers for Zubi 🟡 Looking To Anfield Listen now 👇 pod.fo/e/320c27

Just came here to say this is going to bang next season.

💥ZUBIMENDI SIGNS💥 Snapshot: Martin Zubimendi (feat. Phil Ball) 🎙: @eulenberg.bsky.social @philballauthor.bsky.social 🔵 The boy from Antiguoko 🔴 Basque in his blood 🟡 Bringing balance to the midfield ⚪️ Areas for improvement Listen here 👇 pod.fo/e/2f9c2e

It's not often you go hunting for a podcast guest & find someone who knows the father of the player you want to talk about! Phil's great here, and gives some insights & stories I guarantee you won't hear on other pods - give it a listen 👇

💥TRANSFERS TIME💥 Target Practice: Scouting Strikers, Part 1 (feat. MoeSquare) 🎙: @alexcollings.bsky.social @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @moesquare.bsky.social ⚪️ ⁠What do Arsenal need? 🔴 What profiles are available? 🟡 Osimhen, Watkins, Ekitike 🔵 Is there an ideal option? Listen 👇 pod.fo/e/2f02e3

💥 WE GO AGAIN 💥 #128: Reconstruction: It's Time To Win 🎙: @lorcanmcc.bsky.social @alexcollings.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social 🔴 Rebalancing defence & attack ⚪️ What will Zubimendi bring? 🟡 A marquee LW signing? 🔵 What do we need from a ST? Listen here 👇 pod.fo/e/2e43fd

💥 SEASON REVIEW 💥 #127: Men’s Team Season Review 2024/25 🎙️: @towells.bsky.social @alexcollings.bsky.social @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social 🔴 Favourite Pot Shot Question 🔵 Pot Shot Awards 🟡 Reviewing Over/Unders ⚪️ Our Hot Takes Listen Link below 👇

Broke down PSGs tactics and how we coped. What changes in the first half + Odegaard usage. They came with a plan and executed it well.

💥QUARTER FINAL REVIEW💥 #124: Remon-nada (feat. Jose Perez) 🎙: @lorcanmcc.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social @jcperezfc.bsky.social 🔴 What won Arsenal the tie? ⚪️ Arsenal OOP conducive to CL knockouts? 🟡 MLS and Rice performances 🔵 Can Arsenal win the CL from here? Listen link in next tweet 👇

💥WHAT A NIGHT💥 #123: Making It Happen 🎙: @towells.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social @maxrads.bsky.social 🔴 The atmosphere & emotion ⚪️ Madrid's unusual approach 🟡 Quality performances throughout 🔵 Expectations for next week Listen link in thread 👇

Watching some Real Madrid ahead of our tie in the CL for @potshot.bsky.social, and the difference in officiating is night and day. La Liga refs are effective, quick and straightforward. Also, they use common sense.

A cheeky 30 mins for Bukayo Saka tonight then? Surely he doesn't start tonight.

Tactically, and as a use-case of how to approach mid blocks, this was a great game. Albeit Chelsea were shit & we were able to manipulate them very well. This is to say idk wtf Caicedo was talking about.

Recording tonight. Any questions?

Our big club record under Arteta is unbelievable. Defence wins you these games. It's vs the other teams we lack. Need that ST.

3 things required for playing vs tight blocks: ✅ Movement & Rotations 🟥 Speed of Passing 🟥 Passes to break lines Arsenal are doing 1/3 right now + automatism based attacking. It's not ideal & teams know the script.

💥BIG QUESTIONS💥 #119: (Why) Are Arsenal Boring? 🎙: @towells.bsky.social @lorcanmcc.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social ⚪️ What is "boring" football? 🟡 Why do we care if the team is boring? 🔴 How can a "boring" team win 7-1? 🔵 Do we need to get less boring to get better? Listen 👉 pod.fo/e/2b713d

A little look at Arsenal's struggles vs blocks this season and what we've been doing to get through them

With no men's team game this weekend, we're going to do a mailbag episode! What burning questions do you want the Pot Shot Crew to answer? Reply with your suggestions 👇

That Zelensky Trump interview is case in point why everyone hates America.

Uninstalling Instgram has felt like I've got my brain back again. The drivel on the platform is unparalleled

Ethan is the truth.

Brother Salah is having an insane season. Massive outlier even for him.

Well, that wasn't very enjoyable. Felt throughout the game that the players weren't really up for it.

I have zero expectations from tonight, just here to enjoy the football.

💥 WHAT A WIN 💥 #115: My Left Back Just Went Viral 🎙: @towells.bsky.social @alexcollings.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social 🟡 An Emotional Night 🔵 Our OOP excellence & City's frailty 🔴 Rice's midfield masterclass ⚪️ Thoughts on No Signings Listen now 👉 pod.fo/e/2a8495

Yesterday's tactical choices were very smart from Mikel - Partey man-marking Marmoush who abandoned his wing - Moving Trossard inward OOP to negate City's 3v2 in midfield - Allowing Nunes at RB to have the ball on switches - M2M press, Dec harassing Kova on wall pass from GK

What a beautiful night. That win was cathartic. One of the best games I've experienced under Mikel.

💥VILLA & YOUR QUESTIONS💥 #113: Stuck (Not) In The Middle With You 🎙: @towells.bsky.social @watman.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social 🟡 A different build-up shape? 🔵 Using the wings instead of the centre 🔴 Partey RB vs Rice CB ⚪️ Should Arsenal be better in the cups? Listen 👉 pod.fo/e/2a1aac

We'll be recording this week's pod this afternoon. What would you like us to talk about?

Kai shouldn't be starting for us next season. For all the upside he was giving us (outballs, movement) he's not techno-tactically outdated #afc

Absolutely mental the player and coach criticism I'm seeing. I get some of it but you have to realise just how ridiculous the injuries have been? I can't be overtly critical of players/coach personally. My issues are more structural.

My thoughts on Zubimendi for the @potshot.bsky.social Substack back in July. If you can't tell, I adore him. potshotpod.substack.com/i/146862505/...

Zubimendi rumours? That would fix a lot of issues for us, and I've never been able to fully warm upto Rice at 6.

This week's episode will be out tomorrow 🫡

💥 MIDSEASON DEBRIEF 💥 #110: Brentford, Brighton & Bringing the Context 🎙️: @towells.bsky.social @setpiecesicko.bsky.social @eulenberg.bsky.social 🔴 Merino’s consistency 🔵 Nwaneri’s impact 🟡 Contextualising the season ⚪️ Injuries, red cards and squad construction LISTEN 👉 pod.fo/e/29a9c1

Created about 3xG and lost 2-0. One of those games?

The crowd plays a huge role. Vs Brighton the crowd were into everything we did, putting pressure on the ref.

Yesterday was not a good performance caveat by the bug going of course. Basically been hit by every possible "bad luck" that can hit a team. We've not been good enough for long stretches this season & that means no PL again, sadly. #arsenal

Surprised by our lack of & weak press in the past few games. Structurally and energy wise. Just assume it's fatigue and build up of mins but it was worrying how many times Brentford were able to play straight through our center. #arsenal

A @lorcanmcc.bsky.social long read!!

A critical look at where we are and what the issues are. Also, I get crucified for mentioning Mustafi.

Arsenal should try to create patterns and structures, in build up, on finding Odegaard inside the block rather than outside it. Comes down to risk taking & skill in midfield, probably why Partey is preferred & why I feel we miss Zinchenko.