FILTHY @ FIVE (FILTHY FELLAS)

PRE-SEASON IS ABOUT TO END AND THE FOOTBALL SEASON IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF.
WE STILL NEED A FEW GAMES TO GET OUR GROOVE BACK, BUT WE’RE FILTHY, SO THAT’S NORMAL. BUT THE TEAMS LOOKING TO CHALLENGE FOR THE TITLE, OR RETAIN IT, AREN’T NECESSARILY LOOKING RECOGNISABLE AND, FOR SOME, DON’T SEEM TO HAVE THE ENERGY…
BUT, IT WAS A WORLD CUP YEAR, PRE-SEASON IS ALL OVER THE PLACE, THERE ARE STILL TRANSFERS TO BE MADE AND FUTURES TO BE BUILT.
SO MAYBE WE SHOULDN’T BE READING TOO MUCH INTO IT JUST YET.

THE PREMIER LEAGUE IS ENTERING ONE OF ITS BIGGEST MANAGERIAL SHAKE-UPS EVER.
PEP'S GONE. KLOPP'S GONE. THE TOUCHLINE HAS SUDDENLY GOT A LOT LESS FAMILIAR.
HAS THE LEAGUE GOT WEAKER... OR JUST A LOT MORE UNPREDICTABLE?
THIS SEASON, 11 MANAGERS HAVE TAKEN CHARGE OF THEIR CLUBS SINCE 2026, AND ONLY FIVE HAVE BEEN IN THE JOB FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. THE OLD GUARD HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED.
PREVIOUS SEASONS LIKE 2013/14, 2018/19 AND 2021/22 SAW PLENTY OF MANAGERIAL CHANGES, BUT THERE WAS ALWAYS A STRONG CORE OF EXPERIENCED BOSSES. THIS TIME? NOT SO MUCH.
WITH MIKEL ARTETA NOW THE ONLY CURRENT PREMIER LEAGUE-WINNING MANAGER IN THE LEAGUE, COULD WE EVEN SEE ANOTHER FIRST-SEASON TITLE WINNER?
CHAOS OR A NEW GOLDEN ERA? EITHER WAY, THIS SEASON SHOULD BE ANYTHING BUT BORING.

THE SEASON IS FAST APPROACHING AND HERE AT FILTHY WE’RE STILL VERY MUCH IN PRE-SEASON… 
MORE TRANSFER UPDATES FOR THE EVER-EVOLVING VINÍ JR. TO ARSENAL SAGA, AS THE DEAL REMAINS VERY MUCH ALIVE. WHILE THERE'S STILL A SENSE OF UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING IT, THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE REASON FOR OPTIMISM WHEN IT COMES TO BRUNO GUIMARÃES' POTENTIAL MOVE TO ARSENAL, WITH NEWCASTLE LOOKING SET TO LOSE YET ANOTHER KEY PLAYER. THEY'RE PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME—THE AMOUNT OF TOP TALENT THEY'VE LOST OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF SEASONS IS BECOMING A REAL CONCERN.
CHELSEA HAVE MADE EVEN MORE SIGNINGS, INCLUDING FOOTBALLING FAN FAVOURITE DAT GUY WELBZ. ON TOP OF THAT, CHELSEA CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST: SEEMINGLY BREAKING THE RULES AND SOMEHOW GETTING AWAY WITH IT. DOES THAT GIVE MANCHESTER CITY AND THEIR 115 CHARGES A REASON TO FEEL OPTIMISTIC?

WE TAKE A LITTLE NOSTALGIA TRIP TO KICK THINGS OFF, HEADING BACK TO AROUND 725–675 BCE AS WE TALK THE ODYSSEY (WHICH STEVO KNOWS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT!). FROM THERE, WE DIVE INTO ALL KINDS OF MYTHICAL CREATURES BEFORE FINISHING WITH THE MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS...
BEFORE WE EVENTUALLY GET ROUND TO THE FOOTBALL AND DISCUSS THE LIKELY CONTENDERS TO TOPPLE ARSENAL'S PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE DEFENCE. NEW MANAGERS, NEW SQUADS, NEW METAL, IT'S ALL HERE!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEVO. 
CONGRATULATIONS AJ. BIG L REST IN PEACE. 
BASKETBALL IS OUR FAVOURITE SPORT… AFTER FOOTBALL. 
THINGS COULD BE ABOUT TO GET A WHOLE LOT WORSE FOR MANCHESTER CITY. WITH PEP GUARDIOLA SET TO LEAVE, THE 115 CHARGES STILL LOOMING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING RODRI, HOW WILL CITY MOUNT A TITLE CHALLENGE AGAINST THE CURRENT CHAMPIONS, ARSENAL?
MEANWHILE, ARSENAL COULD BE ON THE VERGE OF MAKING ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST SIGNINGS IN PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY BY LANDING VINICIUS JR... BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS: WOULD IT ACTUALLY WORK AT ARSENAL?!