Football Editorials 

Have Man United Had A Better Season Than Arsenal?

By Noah Solovey

Recently, I heard this question online. Without thinking at all, my mind went straight to saying, definitely not. Arsenal was second, United was eighth! But when you deeply think about this simple statement, you might be tempted to say yes.

In order to figure out the true answer to this question, we need to look at a variety of statistics. Off the bat, we can’t completely say something right away- it’s so much more than standings. Most use trophies as an example because Man United won the FA Cup and Arsenal haven’t won a thing- but that is also such a broad statement. If United were only better than Arsenal because of trophies, wouldn’t that mean Man United are better than Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Napoli, AC Milan, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Tottenham? Because those clubs also didn’t win anything. 

Looking at football, on the other hand, Arsenal plays football much better than Manchester United. Quoting from football pundits, “This season, Man United were two points better than their worst tally in their club’s history.” So with that stat, how could they be better than title-charging, second-place Arsenal?

In the end, do trophies matter when you are comparing two teams in the same league? It’s like asking a mathematician what number is higher: 2 or 1? Obviously, 2 is higher and 1 is lower. Comparing that to Man United and Arsenal, 2nd is much better than 8th place. Arsenal has even played Man United and Arsenal won both! So how could Man United be better than them? Just because they sneaked into the FA Cup finals after going into penalties against Coventry City? Coventry City? A second-division club almost beat them! And then they were lucky against Man City to beat them- because it wasn’t Man City’s day. And the only way Man United won their trophy was by beating Wigan Athletic, Newport County, Nottm Forest, and Coventry City? None of those clubs except Nottm Forest play in the Premier League. They are all horrible! So go ahead Alejandro Garnancho celebrating like you guys won the World Cup. You guys didn’t even have to try. Except for when you were tied to Coventry City and they scored offside. Casemiro couldn’t take his penalty when it came to penalties if his life depended on it. So you won a trophy- congrats. But you won it in the most immature way possible. If Arsenal played all those teams they would walk past each and every one. 

So United fans, you might go on yapping about how you beat Liverpool. But I’m leaving that out of the conversation for a reason. That went into extra time and that was a Liverpool team not in form and you guys had to depend on a 21-year-old to save your dear lives! It wasn’t a comfortable win against Liverpool. It was a lucky, 4-3 extra-time win against out-of-form Liverpool. So fairly, I'm not going to acknowledge that win. You really can’t compare the two teams trophy-wise. You should compare them football-wise.

Going back to the quote, “ “This season, Man United were two points better than their worst tally in their club’s history.” proves that Arsenal played much better football then them. And Arsenal, the entire season, were challengers for the Premier League title. So, who cares if they didn’t get first in the league? Man City did and no one can really beat them, so if you really want to compare them on trophies think of second place as a trophy. Arsenal were competitors. Unlike Man United! United were horrible the entire season. Did you read that word: season? Because United had a horrible season and Arsenal actually had a successful one? So once again, how could Man United have had a better season than Arsenal? One more reason, player-wise.

Many fans are saying that Man United needs a complete rebuild. Arsenal, all they need is a striker who doesn’t get injured 24/7. Arsenal has arguably the best defensive line in the league, while even a 2-year-old could dribble past Man United’s. Saliba and Gabriel are far better than Varane and Maguire! Oh, talk about midfielders! Jorghinho, Odegaard, Trossard. Man United fans are probably saying in their confident voices, “Oh, talk about Mainoo and Amrabat!” They suck. And it doesn’t get any better in forwards. Marcus Trashford, Garnancho, and Fernandes are far worse than Havertz, Saka, and Jesus.

After all, the answer is obvious:

No. Arsenal has had a better season than Man United.

Is Jurgen Klopp just Aura?

By Noah Solovey

Jurgen Klopp recently left Liverpool Football Club as a legend, but I brutally have to say, what did he do for the club? I know, Liverpool fans are dying reading this. But everyone seems to throw away Klopp’s lack of trophies. Personally, I feel like over time a trophy cabinet determines a club’s worth. No offense Spurs.

I am not saying Jurgen Klopp is not a LFC legend, but he shouldn’t be in the best manager of all time conversation. One Premier League, One Champions League, basically just one of everything! Liverpool as a club is full of aura. Their location, players, stadium, manager, literally everything lives on the aura. 

So some traits that people put next to Klopp are fine, but others don’t make sense to me. A lack of trophies isn’t a small deal to put aside. It’s something as a club you want to get. Trophies. So is Jurgen Klopp a legend?

Bayern and Kompany

By Noah Solovey

Recently, it was confirmed that Vincent Kompany, Man City legend would manage Bayern Munich. Everyone is so excited about this move, but I’m here to tell you that it is not what it looks like.

Vincent Kompany was amazing at Burnley, but he only showed his levels in the Championship. When it came to the Premier League, he was finished. 100+ points as Burnley FC was only possible in the Championship, not anywhere else. So if he wasn’t able to do it in the Premier League with Burnley, why would he be able to do it in the Bundesliga with Bayern? Bayern might be a much more decorated club, with world-class players and more, but in the form they’re in - trophyless, why is Vincent Kompany the man?

Also, this whole Premier League season he played a 4-4-2 with Burnley. Can you imagine that at Bayern Munich? Throw Mathys Tel and Kane up front, stick with the four defenders, and screw up the midfield. That would be pathetic! And Bayern are searching for DMs, so why throw a DM in a 4-4-2? Kompany’s tactics do not match Bayern at all.

Finally, I don’t mean to make assumptions, but isn’t Vincent Kompany the man to play Eric Chupo Moting the whole season? Kompany is not a young player development-dependent manager, so how is he going to work with this Bayern team? While Bayern is an aura club, Kompany is a normal baseball cap-wearing gaffer, those two don’t fit.

Look at Ollie Glasner, he showed different levels with Frankfurt and now is at Palace ripping things up. I think Palace could get Europe. Do you know why? Glasner’s tactics match the club. Beating Liverpool away is not normal.

So, do you think Kompany is going to be a positive for Bayern Munich?

Chelsea Without Their Old Man
By Noah Solovey

Thiago Silva recently left Chelsea to return to his home country, Brazil, before retirement. This means Chelsea’s most experienced player is now 32-year-old Marcus Bettenelli, who’s had little to nothing in his career, and 29-year-old Raheem Sterling is the second oldest. RAHEEM STERLING. I’ll say it one more time: RAHEEM STERLING. That is extremely pathetic. More than pathetic. Pathetic x10000000.

So going into the bigger picture, who’s going to be the experienced player to guide and help teammates on Chelsea? And if it seriously is Raheem Sterling there is something terribly wrong at that football club.

I think it would be hilarious if Chelsea stepped into the transfer window thinking: we need an old player, so let’s buy one that’s going to retire in a few years so we stop getting made fun of. Then they buy Luka Modric and what experience does he have in the Premier League? Could he even speak to the players?

So, just spotting out one of the weak spots of Chelsea; out of the 100s, Chelsea is in a real bad situation without an experienced player. Things are only going back down for the blues.

How Oliver Glasner Transformed Crystal Palace

By Noah Solovey

There’s recently been a debate about the two most recent Crystal Palace managers: Oliver Glasner and Roy Hodgson. Hodgson left Crystal Palace while Glasner joined. But I’m here to tell you the clear answer to this debate: Oliver Glasner is much better.

Firstly, though Glasner was horrible at first, once he got into the flow of the team he was pulling out amazing results. Because before he was in the flow of things, everything was pretty ugly.

Spurs 3-1 Palace

Palace 1-1 Luton Town

Palace 1-0 Bodo Glimt

Forest 1-1 Palace

Bournemouth 1-0 Palace

Man City 4-2 Palace

But once Glasner figured out how things worked around Selhurst Park, he was flying!

Palace 1-0 Liverpool

Palace 5-2 West Ham

Palace 4-0 Man United

Palace 3-1 Wolves

Palace 5-0 Aston Villa

So doesn’t that mean that Glasner has figured out his tactics and how they intertwine with the club? He pulled out a win against Liverpool! Roy Hodgson couldn’t do that. There’s a reason why Bayern Munich bid for him 10 days after he signed for Palace.

After all, Glasner is much better than Hodgson, and Crystal Palace is in good hands with him.