iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The more I think about the left side situation, the more it bothers me. For all the improvement Leo-Cala has brought, the over-reliance on an injury-prone FB (who has no like-for-like backup) to unlock a player we were meant to have upgraded on in the summer (which we sort of did

110

Reposted by PM

Here's another. Zubi wall pass into Mosquera avoided, and so is any attempt to access Øde who's free in the centre. Again going straight to Gyök who's suffocated with minimal support = another turnover.

Reposted by PM

Skimming back through some of the post-1-0 plays when we had the chance to set up with the ball, and we were effectively offering them the same easy turnovers as in the 1st half.

Skimming back through some of the post-1-0 plays when we had the chance to set up with the ball, and we were effectively offering them the same easy turnovers as in the 1st half.

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Can appreciate that Mikel has actually been more positive with the types of subs he's brought on and the speed at which he's reacted to negative game states this season, but at the same time, he's still tended to be wide of the mark wrt striking the right balance.

121

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Ultimately, the open play approach still isn't there, and that breeds whatever nervousness and lacking commitment/confidence you see play out as negative/level game states progress.

140

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

To say I'm seething right now would be such an understatement. I need Elon to

100

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

It's been fine not great so far. Fulham blocking central access in buildup well but life made easier by the vertical interchanges being a bit passive at times. The problem is that we took a while to sought different solutions like double width – Ødegaard's usually a lively instigator of this

100

Reposted by PM

Tom Harrison @tomh36.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

✍️ Blocking the goalkeeper's sightline can increase goal probability ▫️Defensive positioning study with @statsbomb.com data ▫️Pressuring shots reduces goal probability ▫️If a defender can't pressure the shot they should move to clear the keeper's view cambiodejuegoenglish.beehiiv.com/p/blocking-t...

cambiodejuegoenglish.beehiiv.com

Blocking the goalkeeper's sightline can increase goal probability

Analysis of defensive positioning and the impact of pressure on a shot

46115

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Eze and MLS in there for Merino and Riccy would've been nice

100

Reposted by PM

Tom Curren @tomoc.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Today we published my 6000-word story on the three days I spent at RB Leipzig. This was a ton of work and I am incredibly grateful to have the platform to write and research narrative stuff like this. If you make it through, I hope you enjoy:

scoutedftbl.com

Inside RB Leipzig

Tom Curren heads inside one of the world's pre-eminent football factories.

2398

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Only remote positive off the back of the Saka injury is that I'm actually looking at the back-up and thinking, oh ok, we can manage. Compare that to Raheem last year...

150

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Max's cameo was unreal. Mad having a kid like that playing where you can see everybody trying to get him the ball. So impressive the way he competes on the outside already, so the cut-in space stays open for him. And obviously great feet again for another pen won.

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Nothing like a corner routine to break the open play tension, though, eh? Was a little concerned up to that point. The mf3 were very fluid, almost operating across the pitch as a unit to try and connect play but ended up needing to do a lot of work in the opening phase whilst our

120

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Giving Leo more money instead 😂

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

I'm optimistic about Noni but I don't think we're getting Eze, which probably means no big LW buy, therefore meaning we've underdone it in the position that most needed upgrading this summer (#6 aside). There are options to hunt/gamble on, too, so it will be very painful if/when that bites us.

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Reading all this stuff now about Berta pushing to switch gears on the move feels like it has such major sliding doors potential. I know Šeško's not exactly a win-now player but we might well look back at this in a year or two and see it as an early red flag.

320

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Isak and Šeško (at a more reasonable price) moving right after we've jumped the gun on Gyökeres

150

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Ok, maybe a slight bit of panic is starting to settle in now.

100

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

icymi, give it a read and lmk what you think

000

Reposted by PM

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

New scout report up and not for the first time, I'm looking at a brand new Chelsea addition: Jamie Gittens. Here's a delve into the winger's ball-striking, dribbling ferocities and shortcomings, and how much better his movement is than stats suggest... petermnly.substack.com/p/scout-repo...

petermnly.substack.com

Scout Report: Jamie Gittens

Intro After being linked with several big clubs, Jamie Gittens has departed Dortmund for London with his £48.5m switch to Chelsea.

021

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

My criticism going into last season was not prioritising Saka depth. My hopes for this window were essentially Zubi + a big FW purchase. If Noni is depth on top of a WF & CF purchase, it handily ticks both boxes, so I can't be displeased with that, unless this ofc handicaps our spending elsewhere.

210

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

One thing I definitely like about Gyökeres that has sorely been lacking from us, even if we're not always in phases that benefit it, is that powerful transition play. When we sink deep, which is something we do voluntarily in big games and in winning game states, it's been very difficult to get out.

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Liverpool going for Isak now too?

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Reposted by PM

Next up is the mercurial Malick Fofana. Not only has the just-turned-20-year-old's output caught the eye but so has his playing style. Here's my look at the winger's electric dribbling, awareness, some restrictive weaker foot over-usage, and much more. petermnly.substack.com/p/scout-repo...

petermnly.substack.com

Scout Report: Malick Fofana

It’s been a great year for Malick Fofana.

121

Reposted by PM

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

#13: Christopher Nkunku (at Leipzig): open.substack.com/pub/petermnl... #14: Djed Spence (at Nottingham Forest): open.substack.com/pub/petermnl... #15: Benjamin Šeško (at Salzburg): open.substack.com/pub/petermnl... #16: Gonçalo Ramos (at Benfica): open.substack.com/pub/petermnl...

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Mr Emery, for you, my friend, £30m.

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

If you'd told me Newcastle would lose beforehand, I might have a glimmer of hope about an Isak deal. And yet, here we are, somehow.

020

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

This is where I'm at right now. We, without question, still need *a* striker signing but I'd prefer to prioritise a high quality purchase on the LW than at #9 now that Zubi's coming (haven't read/watched up yet but assume he won't exactly fill that left-sided void).

110

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

He *sounds* like the closest thing we could get to someone who could mirror what Saka can do, in terms of 1v1 ability, their pull, their creativity, their tempo control, the quality of their final action, etc. He might be capable of the sort of run-making Saka is (shorter range & situational).

210

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

I've seen multiple people now talking about how game state and approach reflect our xG figure last night, but we're talking about >3xG here. You don't stumble your way into that many high quality chances simply because you're chasing the game (see: many such league games this season).

241

Endless praise for Saka and Saliba tonight. Monsters at either end of the pitch. Both made mistakes (the miss from Saka and the odd giveaway or error in 1v1 defending from Saliba), but they were key to keeping us in it defensively and offensively despite little support.

1170

Not even disheartened about that in the slightest, like I thought I would be if we lost. Amazing assertive control from the start, great tactical layout, but fell short to the domino effect of a lack of dealings, squad management & a little bit of inexperience still plaguing us.

81146

Calafiori hail mary moment of individual brilliance might be calling. Give Martinelli someone to work with too.

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Two major problems to that 1st half approach that have killed us at the tail-end of great buildup: 1) No service for Saka runs 2) Nobody on the end of Saka crosses (see below)

4543

172

PM @that-gooner.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Watching PGMOL still decide to fuck us over when our title challenge is already done and our games are now relatively meaningless