Thud.

by .

I can’t say I was expecting to come away from the Barcelona game with a win, so there’s no point in throwing my kale puffs at the laptop. It’s preseason, Emery appears to still be feeling out his starting 11, nothing matters until the Newcastle game.

We had a fairly positive first half. We took the lead from the usual suspect… Auba. He received a ball from Mesut and unleashed a devastating strike past the Barca second choice keeper. It really was a brutal strike from a man who looks at the absolute peak of his physical and technical powers.

There was a notable performance from Willock. He didn’t let the game overawe him. He works hard, he shows great composure for a 19-year-old and his ability to read play and turn the ball over fast is going to be a big asset moving into the new season. That goal-line clearance he made really was spectacular, absolutely ace concentration.

The same problems were still there, hanging around like those greasy pigeons that eat the Chinese food at the Camden stables. The issues are now so familiar my heart doesn’t skip a beat. We looked confused in defence, particularly in the second half. It doesn’t matter how you chop it up, AMN is not a right back, Chambers is never going to make it, and Mustafi will always, always let players get in behind him. I’m also not sure about our continued attempts to play out the back from way deep, especially when we’re relying on slow players that make lots of mistakes to move the ball forward.

We also have the same old issues up top. Mikhi has been a disaster signing. He’s lost the pace that stood him out, and now he looks like he’s lost interest. He gives the ball away far too often and he’s painfully casual about being average.

The kids are showing promise, but most of them are greener than a bowl of salad. The pace on offer gives us a different dimension. There are flashed is excellence. I just struggle to see Emery giving them a chance in such a high-pressure season. Martinelli, Saka and Reiss all look like they need another loan… but given the choice, I think I’d rather see them in our starting 11 over Iwobi or Mikhi.

The transfer gossip post-match is centred around Umtiti and Tierney. Both are better than what we have. Both were very robust players until last season. Both represent a huge risk. Raul is in a tough spot, his contacts game has its limits, he didn’t have a chief scout for 7 months, and now he’s backed into a corner. If he blows money on them and they’re good for 40 games, we have a very strong chance of Champions League. If things go wrong, on the basis of what we’ve seen in preseason, we really could be in for a bit of a nightmare defensively.

Still, quite exciting, wouldn’t you say? In January we were all shitting our pants that this summer was going to be about #AnnouncePerisic and #WelcomeEverBanega. I’d take your shoe over those two.

Let’s see if Raul can make some magic happen before Sunday!

Check out the first podcast of the season. Big thanks @TopicalStorm for bringing the GOOD chat. You can stream the below through Stitcher, Spotify and iTunes. x

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fsaf

I’ve repeated multiple times in this blog that until we get rid of Ozil we wouldn’t stand any chance to bring back some of our former glory. But Raul, Edu and co took me by surprise mostly with Pepe’s ginarmously important transfer. I expect him to be our best player from the get go and have a glamorous first season for us. If we manage to land both Tierny and say Umtiti, which would be a 10/10 window for us as fans, yes, we won’t challenge for the title in yet another year, but I could definitely see us finishing… Read more »

Paulinho

“What about Xhaka as a CB or sweeper? Might work.”

What is it, free internet access day at Ashworth or something.

Chika

Emery’s response on signing defenders this summer: “But it has not changed, our idea and our message. Only if we can sign a player who really, really can improve our squad, then we are going to do that. If not, then not.”

Is Emery taking the piss or is he drawing inspiration from a Wenger quote?

Receding Hairline

“When you see that getting quoted for Ake you can see why we did what we did with Saliba.”

Yea now i see it

Even Diaz from Benfica is quoted at 54m. John Stones cost someone 50m back in the days and he really sin’t that good a defender. I will be very curious to see what Raul does over the next few days, good thing he seems to be taking advise from Mendes, man did a lot of smashing deals for Wolves

Marko

Our success this season will be 100% correlated to how many minutes Mustafi, Kolasinac and AMN play.Our strategy in this final week of the transfer window needs to be based around ensuring they dont play very much. Can’t disagree with any of that I’ve been arguing all summer long that getting in a new starting RB was just as important as a LB. Kept hearing about how AMN isn’t that bad and how Bellerin is nearly back. As things stand now we’ve got 5 senior fullbacks at the club and not a single one of them know how to defend… Read more »

Ishola70

Crazy that some posters still refuse to look at the midfield when discussing defensive matters. Arsenal used to control midfield in matches back in the day. This in turn helped the back line. Now it is hard to recall matches where Arsenal have controlled midfield in the last few seasons. Even matches against average teams like this first game against Newcastle coming up no-one can say without doubt that Arsenal will control the midfield in this game. A win is expected but not necessarily from showing clear superiority in midfield. What Arsenal have had for a few seasons is a… Read more »

Vintage Gun

“Can we afford to let Nketiah go on loan? Do we want Auba and Laca playing the likes of the Carabao Cup etc?”

I’d loan him to Swansea.

Auba, Laca, John Jules, Martinelli, And Pepe (In a Emergency) can all play uptop.

Bit risky but i think we can just survive without Eddie for this season

Davey

Under a week to go and no captain? Why are we so disorganized we have had the whole summer – very poor!

andy1886

Absolutely correct Marc, preseason the objective is to get the players ready for the new season, all of them. That means variations in tactics, formations and multiple substitutions. What Emery does need to do however is go into the first match knowing how we will line up on a regular basis. No swapping defensive formations on a regular basis, even average defenders can work well as a unit if they are comfortable in their roles and well drilled. The really disappointing thing is that most Gooners can identify our weaknesses and have been able to for a year or two… Read more »

fsaf

Now imagine next season a team without Ozil, Mikki, Mustafi, Xhaka, Jenkinson and Chambers (Elneny I consider sold hopefully). How good does it sound and how much wage is gonna free up… Now that we know Raul can seduce elite players to join all we need is a bit of money and to lower the sum of our wages.

Receding Hairline

Chika but the player has to improve us doesn’t he?? If he doesn’t what’s the point???

We have brought in two players this summer who undoubtedly improve us, I don’t read much into statements but actions. Wenger literally pulled the plug on deals because Sanogo scored a goal in training

Pierre

RH
“Probably because they started with weaker teams and then changed to better ones”

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4pQcn2L65J0

That’s me done , the golf course is calling me.

Leftsidesanch

‘Leicester City won’t be signing Nathan Ake in this transfer window with Bournemouth valuing the Dutch defender at more than than £75m’

I’m in a quandary whether to laugh or cry.

Marko

Anyway my hope in what remains of the transfer window is that we finally get Tierney in, bring in a CB and also nab Boubacar Kamara. Quotes from AVB suggests that he can’t wait until the English window so he can keep certain players beyond this transfer window. The implication being Kamara

Cesc Appeal

£75 Million for Ake?

We have done really well with the £27 Million deal for Saliba. If he can develop in the way a lot of people think he will, in this market, we can build another stadium with his fee if Ake is worth £75 Million.

I have never been for transfer market regulation but this is getting out of hand now. Prices like £26 Million for Mings, £85 Million for Maguire, £75 Million for Ake etc.

Players have to be smart enough to insist on realistic release clauses.

JAMES WOOD

Graham 62 11.24.01
The fact some posters on here are just realising how
serious the situation BEGGARS BELIEF?- 🙂
I think we all realise that Graham.?
It’s been posted here enough.
And as you have said as others who would want our DROSS.

Batistuta

Like I’ve been banging on, I’d take an experienced albeit aged Cahill type for a year than roll with what we’ve currently got at the back for another year, they’re all that bad coupled with having a manager who would rather win 5-4 than 1-0….. No matter how Liverpool were going foward, they didn’t get better till they sorted out that defence…

Ishola

I could live with that midfield for another year but not that defence, it’s very bad and filled with either aged players or just proper bad ones. We need better

Receding Hairline

“Unfortunately for the Gunners, new loan-signing Dani Ceballos suffered an injury against Barcelona.

The Real Madrid midfielder was on the receiving end of a mistimed tackle from Clément Lenglet.

Unai Emery has since confirmed the following on Dani Ceballos’s injury:

My idea was to play Ceballos for about 20 minutes.

He was very sore after Lenglet’s kick and he can’t train for the next few days.”

He won’t be available for Newcastle then

fsaf

Defenders going for the same amount as strikers. Ake is as good as which striker? Iheanacho? Lol. Money down the drain.

Cesc Appeal

RH

That was a naughty challenge.

I wonder if it was because he’s a Madrid player?

No a friendly appropriate challenge at all.

Batistuta

James

If no one wants our dross then what’s the alternative? Keep them and let them keep costing us points because we have to play them as we don’t have other options?

Bad players are moved on every summer so this suggestion that we can’t move ours because they’re so bad is quite ridiculous.

Chika

Receding Hairline

“Chika but the player has to improve us doesn’t he?? If he doesn’t what’s the point??”

Of course I firmly agree the player has to improve us.

Are you categorically saying the reason we’ve not signed defenders for this season is solely because we’ve not found better than the shower shit we have?

Batistuta

Ceballos injured

RH

Don’t let Pierre see that, he’d have a full on orgasm thinking of ways to bash the manager with it

Paulinho

Ceballos wouldn’t started anyway. You don’t make your first start in the first league game of the season without starting a pre-season match.

emery’s new teeth

Emery is starting to sound like Wenger saying he is only going to buy players that are better than we have.
It can’t be that hard to find a CB that’s better than we have.

Dias, Djene, Konate, Upamecano, zagadou.
I haven’t really seen any of these players play much but surely anyone of them would make us better.

If we don’t sign a Fullback and CB things are not going to end well.

S Asoa

Spanish Dave
We had a defensive coach ,still do, Bould. Does not have initiative but saved Wenger’s bacon when things got horrible.
Emery does not have a clue about defending which he is loath to get exposed. So he pushes Bould out into Academy. Bergkamp speaks in wavelength he can understand, which is not bad. But effectively Emery has swept his deficiency under the bed. RIP 4th place. More goals for , what do they matter if we increased goals against ?

fsaf

RH,
I wouldn’t start him this early anyways. We have numbers in CM for now. We need to damage control in the first couple of weeks until Pepe, Ceballos, Holding, Bellerin, hopefully Tierney and one can only hope Umtiti are ready to join the fight.

I just named that lot of Pepe, Ceballos, Holding, Bellerin, Tierney, Umtiti and it felt really good on paper. Add Auba, Laca, Torreira, Guen and Leno and our starting 11 would look very impressive imo.

andy1886

If we really don’t have anything lined up at CB come mid week I would reluctantly try to strike a deal with Cahill. He really wouldn’t be a great option but if there was nothing else… well he would have to do. Better than making Kos stay which would be totally counter productive IMO. Trouble is he’ll probably want a signing on fee and a two year deal which may not suit us.

Cesc Appeal

I would imagine the Newcastle line up will be quite close to what we saw last night if there are no new signings, potentially even if there are.

Leno, Maitland Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Willock, Ozil, Nelson, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

If I was to guess.

In the game against Burnley I think we will get Torreira, Dani Ceballos and Pepe introduced depending on how they look if they get minutes at Newcastle.

Chika

Batistuta

“Bad players are moved on every summer so this suggestion that we can’t move ours because they’re so bad is quite ridiculous.”

As far I’m concerned, the reason we’ve not moved on players is because were not really serious about it.

How can certain players continue to hinder your progress and you claim you’re helpless in moving them so you’d rather just sit back and watch the decay unfold.

peanuts&monkeys

willock is the real deal

kamp

What happened to the Lemina rumours? He could have kept ANM off the field and when Bellerin returns press The midfielders for a starting position… As great as the summer has been, if we do not address this bantz defence we will be trounced by the press and pundits, the fans will kick off unnerving an already nervy set of ‘defenders’ and we’ll be back where we started last season. £80m for McGuire is silly, but Djene and whole host of other names batted about this summer would have improved us. If a Umtiti comes and Holding is truly the… Read more »

Marko

Torreira has 5 mins preseason action in him and Guendouzi I think may have started one game basically prior to the tackle he had every chance of getting a start at Newcastle. Unless we’re assuming that all these mins in preseason for Willock were so he was ready for a start at Newcastle?

peanuts&monkeys

Chambers: wasn’t he a RB at Southampton?

Emiratesstroller

Wasi It does not matter how many minutes Maitland-Niles and Mustafi play well. What matters is that they are both prone to making the same mistakes when we are under pressure. How many times last season were they out of position and made poor or rash tackles? A top class defender makes minimum mistakes during a game. Also when he does make a mistake more often than not it is not catastrophic. Unfortunately far too many of Arsenal’s goals conceded are self inflicted as was the case yesterday with Maitland -Niles own goal. Maitland-Niles is defensively poor. When he first… Read more »

JAMES WOOD

BATISTUTA.11.48
Bad players are moved on every season?
So this suggestion we can’t move them on
because their so bad is ridiculous.????

THEN I ASK YOU WHY HAVE’NT WE.
As you seem to no. -;0

peanuts&monkeys

AMN: is he our backup RB? Will he be the regu RB till foshionJunkie Bellerin is back?

Wasi

Nketiah needs minutes and he wont get that with us. Loaning him out should prove to be fruitful. We can have John-jules,martinelli and pepe as 3,4 and 5th strikers. Nketiah is too good for U23s and not good enough to usurp laca and auba in any circumstance,so loan him out for one season with an option to terminate the loan in jan just in case . Xhaka as a sweeper is as absurd as it comes. He is slower than a snail and sometimes his reading of the game is still that of a 21 year old’s. Who says no… Read more »

Receding Hairline

“Are you categorically saying the reason we’ve not signed defenders for this season is solely because we’ve not found better than the shower shit we have?”

Not really

More to do with budget issues, poor planning, inability to move certain players on and the delusion Kos has one more season in him

peanuts&monkeys

AMN has to be sold. Arsenal cannot be playing the PL with such a gaping hole thru the right side.

But that said, in the eyes of an Arsenal fan AMN is a dahling; leagues better than Mustafi. Mustafi is an unpardonable idiot.

andy1886

P&M, yes Chambers played at RB, also DM and possibly CB. At Arsenal Wenger tried him out as a RB before we lucked out with Bellerin but he was slow, not mobile enough and all together ill suited to that position. I would be tempted to move Mustafi to RB simply because his errors (which always happen sooner or later) are likely to be slightly less damaging there. AMN at RB has been a failed experiment for some time.

Receding Hairline

“RH Don’t let Pierre see that, he’d have a full on orgasm thinking of ways to bash the manager with it”

Batistuta i posted it for his reading pleasure, too bad he is busy watching golf clips on youtube

Cesc Appeal

I also think if Nketiah doesn’t step up he can still do enough to improve his value for us to sell next summer.

Wasi

Emiratestroller
Ofc i totally agree dude.

Receding Hairline

Marko i daresay Willock has earned a start against Newcastle

He had a fantastic preseason

Cesc Appeal

Leno or Sokratis are the best options for captain in my opinion.

That says a lot about the state of the squad.

Wasi

CA
I just dont see nelson starting above mykhi. Emery love him. Why idk.

Marko

Irrespective of the prices of some or this notion of a severe lack of availability for defenders we need some. It never seems to be a problem for some clubs and it shouldn’t be a problem for us. The last couple weeks have been great but it’ll all be undone it we don’t bring in at least two defenders in what’s left of the window. Thursday 5 o’clock is the deadline.

Moray

Yes of course we need new bodies in defence urgently, but there must be a reason beyond money why we haven’t had a decently coached back line since Campbell left. We’ve had a few captains there too. Mert was captain for a full year while he was praying every game not to have to play. Kos was captain while being permanently injured. Why the hell cant we take defending seriously and dedicate proper coaching and drilling to our defenders? It’s not rocket science but it takes focus and hard work. We lack any leadership. Some of these cunts need a… Read more »

Receding Hairline

Everton have brought in Gbamin and now going hard for Doucoure, if they get him not a chance in hell we control midfield when we roll up at the blue half of Merseyside ….the physicality alone will have Xhaka breaking out in sweat

Still no power in our midfield nor in defense, Papa simply wrestles

Wasi

RH
Im 90% sure Willock is starting against Newcastle.
He’s earned it . If anything he might have already usurped matty g in the pecking order.

peanuts&monkeys

Sell Xhaka. Sell Mikhi. Sell Mustafi. Loan Nketiah.

Buy a CB.

that Xhaka is an unsold rubbish pulling his weight on the pitch, is beyond anyone’s doubt. Xhaka is another of Wenger’s sins.

Cesc Appeal

Yeah I’m not one who watches youngsters in pre-season and goes over the top with their ability or thinks they should start but Willock can be legitimately pissed off if he doesn’t start against Newcastle.

We’re not talking Nelson, Saka, Martinelli etc here who had some good moments but you can tell they still look their ages and need to be handled carefully. Willock was one of the best performers, maybe the best performer, over pre-season and played his role with the type of confidence and maturity you don’t see often from a 19 year old player.

Wasi

If Everton get doucoure they have a real good chance of challenging for the 6th position .

Freddie Ljungberg

CA

It’s partly because he’s a Real Madrid player but I think they hate him a bit extra because of some lovely quotes like these:

“A bomb needs to fall on the stands and kill all the Catalan and Bizcayan dogs.”

https://www.marca.com/en/football/spanish-football/2017/06/30/5956303d268e3ecd3f8b45d2.html

Moray

@ Cesc. Leno makes sense. We need a captain for more than a season and Sok might be out of the first XI next season on ability.

Having said that, if we could buy in a leader next summer then Sok would be the best choice this year with Leno Vice Cap.

Cesc Appeal

Wasi

I’ve cut Emery a lot of slack but I simply would not be able to understand that one. Even with inexperienced young players the difference in the side with genuine wingers is obvious.

If we go for a safe line up that has Xhaka, Willock, Ozil, Mkhitaryan all in it then Emery cannot be shocked by a slow, lethargic performance. Especially with no full backs.

No width, no pace, no change from last year.

Wasi

Laca over Leno and sok for captain. Is younger than sokratis and more of a leader than Leno . Not to mention he is our best player. Only Pepe and auba can challenge for the title now unless Ozil actually turns up in London or Bellerin goes Kimmich mode this season.

Receding Hairline

“RH
Im 90% sure Willock is starting against Newcastle.
He’s earned it . If anything he might have already usurped matty g in the pecking order.”

Matteo got a lot of undeserved game time as last season progressed, he started very well but got figured out pretty quickly and it all went downhill from there. Being thrown into games he had no hope influencing did not help

Wasi

CA
Im just stating facts
If it were up to me id have sent mykhi to the reserves by now. Just to force him out of the club. He is as big a liability as Mustafi imo.

Leftsidesanch

It’s all on Emery, if he rolls into much of this season utilising the same players that have consistently let him and us down then he will find himself looking for a new club in the summer.

Moray

If Emery disrespects the captaincy as much as he seemed to suggest last season then why not make it a joke entirely? Give the armband out on a rotating basis or give it to somebody like Corporal Jenkinson or even better Ceballos. How would they like them onions….

Chika

“More to do with budget issues, poor planning, inability to move certain players on and the delusion Kos has one more season in him.”

Exactly my thoughts. Which was why I said Emery must be taking the piss by suggesting the lack of movement in defence is due to the unavailability of players that’d improve us.

Marko

Just had to check out the Everton squad there to see what has people thinking that they’ve turned a corner and same defence and added Kean to attack and a couple DM’s in midfield. Yeah I wouldn’t worry too much honestly they look better in midfield but in defence and attack they’re still Everton

Wasi

RH
Currently we have only 2 fully fit CM. Willock and Xhaka. LT has no chance if starting as he just returned to training. Same can be said about Elneny who is already behind willock. Matty G is not fully fit nor is Ceballos. And Willock has looked good against the likes Madrid, Bayern and Barca. Who’s to say he cant do it against Newcastle.

Moray

Has anyone actually tried to work out what happened to Mhiki? He seems to have lost all interest and passion in the game. There must be a reason

fsaf

Doucoure is great. I’m a fan.

Laca shouldn’t be a captain. Captain should be someone that has a guaranteed starting place if healthy in the lineup. Leno is that guy. But from a seniority point of view, Xhaka has been here for a while. And he’s guaranteed to start a lot of our games. As much as I don’t like him, he’s the obvious choice. I would still want him sold next season though. Leno is a great shout and the best candidate imo. But not the obvious choice.

HighburyLegend

“When Klopp did that he was decreed a fucking genius.”
I’m sure you are confusing with Pep.

Cesc Appeal

Being captain isn’t about being the best player, Henderson is captain at Liverpool.

A captain should have some leadership qualities, some intimidation factor, he shouldn’t be afraid to let his teammates have it.

When you watch Lacazette in training etc, very good player, hard worker most of the time, but no way is he captain material.

The same thing with this weird Bellerin as captain talk. No way.

The armband has lost all meaning at Arsenal over the last 6 years, it needs to be restored.

Unfortunately out options are not great.

HighburyLegend

“Has anyone actually tried to work out what happened to Mhiki? He seems to have lost all interest and passion in the game. ”

He has been Ozilirezed.

HighburyLegend

*Ozilirized, sorry!! lol

Danny

Now imagine next season a team without Ozil
————————–
His contract runs till the end of summer 2021.
As somebody once wrote, he’ll still be here after Emery leaves.

Wasi

Marko
They have a strong midfield and their new signing can also play in defense. I remember us being linked to him when Sven was in charge. Their defense is better than ours. Their midfield is just as good as ours (if docoure signs).

Receding Hairline

Dybala did not fancy United after all

Imagine suffering the indignity of being used a make weight for Lukaku!!!!

kamp

Good point made above.
Every opposing team will simply target ANM until he lets them score/does it for them/gets himself sent off.

Your defence is only as strong as it’s weakest point…
Alves or Lemina are both within our grasp

Receding Hairline

“Has anyone actually tried to work out what happened to Mhiki? He seems to have lost all interest and passion in the game. There must be a reason”

A bank balance beyond his wildest dreams perhaps?? He already has the beginnings of a pot belly!!!

@Wasi

yes Willock should start the first game of the season, he has earned it. And if he does well he should only lose his place based on form

Emiratesstroller

I think that Arsenal will only offload one or two more players. Koscielny is almost certainly leaving. The only issue is whether Arsenal secure a transfer fee. The second most likely player to be offloaded is I suspect Elneny assuming that we can get a fee of £8-12 million for him. He secured very little game time last season and we have a replacement in Willock. Of course everyone has a different opinion about others whom we would want to shift out of club. My personal preferences in order of choice are: 1. MKHITARYAN. He has been fairly ineffective in… Read more »

fsaf

Dani Alves moved back to Sao Paolo.
Lemina is CM. I think we’re not going to buy a midfielder.

Wasi

How can you guys think Leno is a better cap material than Laca. The only thing he has above Laca is a guaranteed starting spot. I have not yet seen him communicate with our CB’s in the way Alisson or Lloris does. We conceded an OG yesterday thanks to the complacency of AMN and Leno was quite as a kite. (lOl). On the other hand Laca is well respected and loved in the squad. Interacts with the Players and the fans on the pitch and off it. Plays with his heart on his sleeve . We dont have Any1 like… Read more »

Marc

fsaf

What made you think we were going to buy a midfielder in the first place?

Receding Hairline

I have never looked at Leno and thought Leader of men

Nor Lacazette for that matter

fsaf

Marc,
kamp: “Your defence is only as strong as it’s weakest point…
Alves or Lemina are both within our grasp”

kamp

Lemina also plays right back

fsaf

RH,
Cesc is/was quiet as well. His position on the pitch allowed him to lead by example, but Leno could be a very important player in our club. For years. To each his own though.

Leftsidesanch

It’s funny hows Kos is referred to as some sort of leader. The same guy crying in the dressing room because his youngster asked him why Arsenal are so inept.

Graham62

In my opinion, Mhiki never wanted to come to Arsenal.

He has never felt wanted.

He is disinterested.

He also works in the “Ozilirized” environment, which doesn’t help matters.

Receding Hairline

Niklas Stark from Hertha Berlin is a name randomly thrown up on twitter this morning.
Apparently he,Boubacar Kamara and Rugani are on our shortlist. Deal for Tierney to be concluded soon although he is not expected to play till November

Graham62

England struggling in the Ashes.

Chika

You can really sense the trepidation among the fans, there’s no room for stupid errors, wrong tactics, blind spots etc.

We absolutely need to qualify for UCL this season. Wolves and Everton are becoming more formidable.

Leftsidesanch

Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici is making his way to London today for negotiations for Rugani apparently.

Chika

“Deal for Tierney to be concluded soon although he is not expected to play till November.”

Honestly, I don’t get this fixation with Tierney.

HighburyLegend

“He also works in the “Ozilirized” environment, which doesn’t help matters.”
@Graham : you’re welcome.

Receding Hairline

“Honestly, I don’t get this fixation with Tierney.”

Me neither

Receding Hairline

“Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici is making his way to London today for negotiations for Rugani apparently.”

Is Rugani really suited to the premier league?? I find it unsettling Juventus are not willing to settle for a loan and option to buy deal

Guns of Brixton

Ozilrilized 😂😂😂

Leftsidesanch

Wolves are no longer a surprise package, teams will treat them with a degree of respect and will know what to expect when they come up against them. It’s also uncertain how they will fare juggling Prem games alongside the EL. I’ve mentioned before, my dark horse this year would be West Ham. They’ve not been talked about much and are quietly building a decent side with less of the fanfare that now seems to follow Leicester, Everton and Wolves. In saying all this though, none of these sides have displayed the consistency across a campaign required to break into… Read more »

Leftsidesanch

‘Is Rugani really suited to the premier league?? I find it unsettling Juventus are not willing to settle for a loan and option to buy deal’

RH, I’ve seen on twitter than it would be a loan deal with the option of purchase.

Gentlebris

Calm down people. Neither side played a proper team, it was all experiments. Chambers did okay. AMN is not a RB. Our defence needs some sorting. But fuck it, did you see Nelson, Martinelli, Willock and Saka? We should be happy about those great kids, not crying over a well known Mustafi. Holding is already getting under 23 minutes, he should be ready for Liverpool. Holding and Papa with Chambers as back up is not such a nasty arrangement, and I figure one CB still incoming. And we have no business with Tierney, Saka can play LB, let him backup… Read more »

Chika

Is Rugani the sort of top quality Emery was alluding to?

Are we about to undo the impressive signings we’ve made?

Wasi

Twitter the most reliable source od info.