Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Arsenal will beat us comfortably.
We were having a great window until the last 24 hours, ludicrous that we are in this position. I wouldn’t be upset if Xabi started in central midfield.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
The 3 goals were not down Martinez and you can tell he provides a much greater presence and air of authority than Sanchez ever did. I think he’s a good signing and will provide a much better example to Penders than Sanchez would have done.
We did pretty well moving people on in the transfer window, and raised a fair sum. I wouldn’t get too excited about the amount raised and how it affects our compliance with financial rules because we don’t have any European football, so that’s a lot of prize money and TV revenue the club is missing out on.
We look good at top, but we look weak in central midfield, especially with Enzo leaving. I’m annoyed at the Enzo transfer because we’ve needlessly strengthened a City team could easily have suffered over the next few years with the loss of key players. On our side, I certainly don’t like the idea of playing Gusto or James in central midfield, and with Caicedo/Henderson injured, we’re low on options. This is part of the problem for our defence, as the midfield 2 have not been offering much protection.
Transfer Window is closed now, and for whatever reasons Monaco pulled a fast one on us. I assume we have some money to spend now but January is always a tricky market to get good value from..
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Jm, I don’t think I implied that things are rosy in my post…
Targeting Kadioglu to me seemed like a good idea, no luck about that.
We’re missing direction in central midfield, largely because of injuries and the Enzo saga, which is what contributed to the lack of possession. Even with the lack of possession, Brighton didn’t look overly threatening and we had more shots than them.
But the central midfield is an issue, that situation needs to get bedded down asap so they can work to give the defence more protection, or we should go with less attack-minded wing-backs.
Certainly not rosy, and we won’t get things in midfield sorted for a while – fully expecting Chelsea to get soundly beaten by Arsenal this week.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Jm, of the first three goals I would say that the first was a defending error which was pounced on. The Pedro Neto goal was a good bit of skill from Rogers to beat his man and put in a dangerous cross… Neto timed his run perfectly and got ahead of the defender, hardly a gift. And the Pedro goal was an excellent counter attack… think you’re being a tad harsh. 3 of our 4 goals were essentially good goals.
One of their goals was a deflected own goal, and their first resulted from a good save where the ball ricocheted to their winger who hit a volley that he probably couldn’t repeat in a month of Sundays.
The defence does look a bit frail, and lacked protection from the midfield. We need to get the Enzo situation settled because we missed him, or a player of his profile, yesterday for sure.
As for this Sunday, I fully expect Arsenal to be too much for us.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Wise – The defence doesn’t look assured, that’s true to say as they adapt to a new system. However, the goals at Fulham were both GK errors, and against Brighton we had a freak own goal, and a goal where Martinez made a good save and the ball ricocheted to the Brighton player who pulled off a volley he probably couldn’t replicate again. Their 3rd goal I put down to us having a lapse of concentration in defence, but nevertheless I wouldn’t have seen any other keeper saving Gross’s header.
Hato looked pretty good, I like the look of Lacroix so far, and I agree that Acheampong has the edge on Fofana for now. Colwill obviously needs more time to adapt to this system. On a side note, it will be interesting to see where Palestra gets played when back from injury – he can cross of both feet and looked good during pre-season.
I agree that we look a bit vulnerable in defence, but at least some of that problem stems from our midfield troubles. It’s abundantly clear that we lack depth – why on Earth is Gusto starting in central midfield for example? The defence are not being afforded enough protection from our 2 central midfielders. Lavia played well but as a unit, him and Gusto are not going to protect the defence sufficiently. Lavia plus another may be able to, but not with Gusto or, dare I say it, James who doesn’t convince me as a central midfielder.
The situation with Enzo needs to be sorted out because if he had been starting with Lavia, then the conversation today would probably be quite different. It seems to late to find a replacement now, so if he moves on then we are selling ourselves short, particularly given our shortage of midfield players. We shouldn’t sell to City or Maresca just on principle, anyway. Reports have us linked to Lamine Camara who plays at Monaco. If we get him, I hope he doesn’t become another Bakayoko…
Next game is Arsenal away – I expect us to lose, but hopefully the team can put in a good shift and gain some confidence nevertheless.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
50m for Delap seems high on the face of things, largely because he was bought for 30m. However 30m was a relegation release clause figure, which was why a number of clubs were circling at the time; otherwise Ipswich would have demanded a higher fee.
Playing up top for a club like Chelsea where the opposition set up to frustrate was a step too far for him at this stage of his career, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets into double figures for Forest this season.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Time’s have changed, JM. I enjoy your posts by the way – and it’s a shame to see United fall this far. Carrick isn’t the answer, United need a manager with real track record and not a former player who bounces in and gets a few good results. His transfer business has been poor.
Dee – say what you want about City, but Chelsea’s management seem to have the moneyball and financial sustainability rules hacked, and fines are anticipated and priced in. I don’t like this aspect of the modern game but it is what it is. FIFA, UEFA and even the FA are corrupt as hell.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Fabrizio Romano is suggesting we are now strongly linked with Emi Martinez. I would go with that if possble, and relegate Sanchez to 3rd choice and have Martinez share responsibilities with Penders if Penders can prove hinmself. I’d start Penders against Luton as a no-brainer in any case.
City are selling quite a few players now – Savinho and Marmoush for example. We can expect they will go for Enzo, but as I have mentioned before, we should do nothing to aid City or Maresca who sabotaged us.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Aindro, I think Fofana will get picked ahead of Acheampong in that back 3. He was missing the last game due to suspension I believe.
Transfers: Yes somehow we’re getting 50m for Delap, despite his distinctly average season with us. And it looks like we’re going to offload Jackson for a decent profit after managing to get a loan fee and his salary paid for last season.
Letting Enzo go to City and Maresca would be such poor judgement, especially this late in the window with no good options to replace him in the market. I’ve read that Alex Scott is under consideration but we would be replacing someone who joined us as a World Cup winner and best young player at that World Cup with a Bournemouth player who doesn’t get into the England Squad.
Regarding Goalkeepers – I’d take Martinez. Pope – not for me. He didn’t even make the England Squad for the WC where Pickford was first choice…
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Our front 3 certainly look very dangerous and incredibly sharp. One hopes that will improve further as they develop a closer affinity and understanding of each other’s games. Palmer particularly looked good, more like the Palmer of a few seasons ago.
Lavia had a good game and Lacroix looked good on debut. Acheampong also gave a good account of himself.
Enzo looked quite good when he came on, his passing was incisive and more direct. We will miss him if he leaves, especially as I’m not 100% convinced of Reece playing CM.
I was a bit nervous when Xabi threw on Estevao and Quenda in the 82nd minute – not sure about using attacking teenagers to close a game out but in the end Fulham didn’t pose much of a threat towards the end.
Of course, we should have simply been 3-0 up and not had to suffer the nerves at all in the first place, but numb nuts in goal had other ideas. It wasn’t just the goals, he looked like a bag of nerves for the entire match. He’s not a ball playing GK, so if he’s not a good shot stopper, then what exactly is he?
67 – Martinez is a good shout actually. Given his age, he wouldn’t suppress Penders’s progress/development.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Not a great clearance header but Sanchez at fault again. Just palmed the ball straight back out in front of him rather than push to the side. It’s been so obvious ever since we signed Sanchez that he wasn’t up to scratch.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Sanchez is useless. The first thing he did was kick the ball straight into touch from kick off, he’s been crap all game and the goal he just let in I don’t think any other keeper in the Premiership would have let in. Woeful.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Not a good lineup.
Can only assume Palestra and Caicedo are injured.
Enzo left out quite possibly for the reason I alluded to above – could be on on his way out. Would really dislike seeing him to City.
Hato doesn’t give me a lot of confidence offensively, he seems more like a left sided central defender than a full back but let’s see.
The one upside is that the bench looks almost as exciting as our starting XI.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
67 – I admire your optimism but we still have a suspect GK, a defence that will be playing an unfamiliar system and no out and out striker. Not a good recipe for success away against Fulham for our first match of the season… Enciso did look really good, I actually thought we were going to sign him, but yes probably Blueco needed to flog him to balance the books.
Agree with most of what you said Wise-fan. I’ve been banging the same drum over the summer. I would disagree over Enzo – I’m not happy with public comments about Madrid or his antics at the World Cup but he is genuinely a quality midfield player and we would be diminished if he left, especially as there isn’t enough time to find a quality replacement. In any case, we will get a big clue about his future if he’s left out against Fulham.
Mudryk is linked with a loan move to Leeds. Not a fan of them obviously, but it could be a good move for him whilst giving Alonso and the club staff a chance to take a look at his performances.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
A lot of surprises being thrown up on Day 1. I’m not confident about Fulham.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
We also brought in Emegha who plays up top – I overlooked that, but I also didn’t seem to notice him invovled much in pre-season. He apparently is training with the ‘main squad’.
With Neto, I get the sense we would be more than happy to take 100m off a Saudi side, but also see a role for him in the coming season. I’m ok with him – tries hard, runs hard, just lacks that end product on a consistent basis. But a good squad player.
Other likely sales seem to be Tosin & Disasi (hopefully). If we sell Tosin it’s pure profit as I recall we got him on a free. Delap and Jackson – who apparently we want 50m+ for each, which again is profit. Guiu we might sell for 20m+ after getting him for 5m if memory serves.
Mudryk should be loaned, as should Anselmino.Then there are other randoms like David Fofana, Washington, Kellyman and no doubt some others I can’t recall. We’re quite good at this player recycling/moneyball stuff but it’s a sideshow to the actual business of winning on the pitch.
I saw the Community Shield highlights – Maresca was always out of his depth, and Arteta is a manager that managed to cling on in his role until the stars aligned and other clubs were weaker. Anyway, good to see Maresca looking unhappy.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Joao Pedro looks like the real deal for sure, but I do question his credentials as an out-and-out striker. Welbeck can be used in that manner but not for a whole campaign, and we’re rumoured to be letting both Jackson and Delap go. I don’t mind letting them go, but I’d like to see another striker brought in if we did so.
Neto I have mixed feelings over. Great work rate and speed but too often he lets down with end-product. I’ve read that the club value him at 100m and that Saudi clubs are interested, I would bite their hands off at that price. We have Quenda and Estevao (and Gittens I guess….). Against Sociedad it looked like Neto was being played as a wing-back; we have Palestra, James and Gusto who can perform that role.
Enzo is a typical Argentine prima donna. That being said, he’s probably our best central midfielder and genuinely world class, so I wouldn’t want to sell him, and definitely not to Maresca. I would rather send him to Spain or, preferably, the Middle East.
Badiashille seems to have gone. Also to go, hopefully, will be Tosin and Disasi. Hopefully a good loan move for Mudryk is getting cooked up.
In terms of incomings – my wishlist would be a top GK and a Premier-league proven striker. Lacroix I will wait and see on but I would have preferred a top CB to play with Colwill and Fofana. In any case, the business so far has been shrewd and Blueco are showing glimpses of learning to listen to people who know more than they do…
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Do you honestly believe that?
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Palestra looked good in Hong Kong and can cross with either foot which makes him unpredictable for opposition defenders when going forwards. Chavarria is now a done deal.
But yes, we need a top quality goalkeeper. I struggle to think of many teams that win titles consistently unless they have one. We had Cech and Courtois when we won the PL. Alisson was the missing piece of the jigsaw for Liverpool. Having Pickford in goal for England is a massive weakness, he plays for Everton for a reason etc..
Jackson looks a real handful coming in from the left but his finishing isn’t particularly good. I’m guessing they will try to raise funds from selling Badiashille and Disasi. There are also rumours around Enzo and Neto to Man City, but I detest the notion of selling to Maresca who basically downed tools because he knew Pep was leaving.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
Aindro, I’d rather see Mudryk loaned to a Premier League club. Coventry with Frank in charge wouldn’t be a bad shout. The reason I say that is because we then get to see him perform in the PL over the course of a season, rather than gathering insight on how he is able to perform against Toulouse or any other random, average, French leacgue team; I’m sure you get my drift.
Agree about Tosin – his contribution is to pile into any confrontational situation rather than actually be a good player. Probably hoping to score ‘leadership points’ as a slightly older member of the squad.
I think there is a player in Fofana, but he needs to be paired with the right person – would be great if we could dig out another Thiago Silva type who can mentor Colwill and Fofana. Badiashille will probably go and Blueco will give Disasi away.
Delap apparently played well in Malaysia, but he’s not clinical and he’s not the get-out clause that Drogba/Costa were, so basically he’s not good enough. When we had that lump it up the pitch to Drogba or Costa, it was such an effective pressure valve if we were under the cosh…plus they scored plenty of goals, often out of nothing.
We still need a keeper. I can’t understand why that is not prioritised.
I was talking to my Uncle the other day who is a Brighton season ticket holder – him and his mates are gutted that Welbeck left, such is the high regard he is held in there.
_____________________________
React below 👇
*hover/click on the number below the reaction to see who reacted
