If Simon Adingra is the winger we are going for, since we can't get a striker. I'll prefer someone who can play both as a winger/Striker. Ladies and gents, check out Caster Semenyo. He looks like a power dribbler (like Zaha) with the pressing ability of Watkins. Seems to have the singlemindedness of Trossard (bearing down on the box). Either at arsenal or Bournemouth, he will surely have a breakout season. (10 G/A for 23/24) and he is 24 years old.
Against Villa I want to see timber at LB. Defensive solidity combined with athleticism is the name of this game. Wrong game to introduce Calafiori as well as it would be an intense debut. Prefer he is eased in gently.
Aside from timber at LB who I think should be a shoe in, open questions are does rice drop to 6 and havertz to 8 with Jesus up front? Does trossard start ahead of Martinelli?
Tbh I wouldn’t be surprised if Martinelli starts because I think arteta would like to play him into form and it’s not necessarily the wrong idea. He also adds that pace and directness
That said if you just want a higher degree of confidence about good output, trossard is a no brainer.
I myself would start trossard and bring on Martinelli around 60 mins - or vice versa. Martinelli will only get out of his slump when his confidence returns. He needs goals and assists for that and for those he needs minutes on the pitch.
But we have to be smart because if we are struggling and he plays poorly we won’t be able to accommodate him for long. An elite team can survive a passenger (like vs wolves) but if the rest of the team isn’t playing well against Villa, having a passenger can be fatal
If we start with Partey and Rice we stand a good chance to win. Timber for zinch and maybe trossard for martineli. But if we start havertz in the midfield and Jesus as striker, we can forget about winning
Not trying to mock the kid but after all that noise of leaving Arsenal because of a lack of a pathway to first team football, Cozier-Duberry is now finding out like Hutchinson, that the lies of agents and charlatans who take money to influence the player to leave Hale End cocoon , really don’t have the best interest at heart. Hope he doesn’t go the way Chris Willock, Xavier Amaechi and Marcus McGuane
I hope the news isn’t accurate - We shouldn’t be including an option to buy on Ramsdale’s loan. He’ll be immense for Wolves and his value will go way up again, we can’t just have them activating a buy option that would have been negotiated at his current value. Just straight loan then let the bidding commence with a year of PL to prove his value again.
Watching Crystal Palace they looked like they needed Eddie out there, Mateta was taken off at half time and Edouard, his replacement looks more like someone who should be playing behind the striker
He stopped being dependable to play 90 minutes twice a week about 2 years ago and moved into the territory of luxury player who needs constant wrapping in cotton wool and protecting from himself (be willing to sub early and often, don’t play twice a week etc, be willing to rest regularly)
He’s also demonstrated since coming back last season that on his day he’s class and when not on his day he looks leggy (even more so re the points above about him moving into the territory of luxury player)
But the knee jerk responses on here after a game this season as tho he’s suddenly gone from a player who you can depend on for 90 mins every week to one who is shot is beyond a joke
You couldn’t depend on him before the wolves game and him looking tired in the second half was also par the course for a player who has never had a great engine and is playing his first game of the season.
We didn’t learn anything new about partey on the weekend. He didn’t suddenly go from key to finished. He was already a luxury player with physical limitations who can be awesome but shouldn’t be depended on and remains just that.
Has been said before but Villa just bullied West Ham with their speed and power. I worry for our midfield as to get anything in the game Rice needs to be a man mountain for the full 90. I would start the same line up as last week with the exception of Zinchenko for Timber just for more defensive solidity with early subs for Martinelli and Partey. For all of Partey's supposed decline he's still a classy 6 with his touch and setting the tempo for the game
Tottenham looked somewhat dangerous in attack but lacked cutting edge with the final ball. They look like any team can beat them if they are within striking distance in the 60th minute when they can't do their high press anymore. They are easily opened up because the style of play doesn't change even though they're tired.
Maybe reading too much into this first game but Tottenham looked worse than last season and the only plot they have with their shinny new forward is to lump balls in the box.
“EXCL: Wolves make proposal to sign Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal. Initial loan + buy option + #WWFC would cover majority of 26yo goalkeeper’s wages. Acceptance at Molineux deal difficult due to finances involved but talks with #AFC continue”
I’m not saying the wolves loan is the wrong decision because frankly I’m undecided, but I’m a little uneasy with us being asked to cover part of his wages
Wolves are an established premier league team opening the door to a keeper who is comfortably one of the top 10 in the league. They’re not willing to pay a transfer fee this summer - ok - then AT LEAST cover his wages. Us paying part of his wages smells like charity to me and I don’t think it’s necessary
Joan Garcia-- if he's the target backup GK, has a market value of £800K-- so little risk and large upside. Guessing Edu is looking for the 3rd keeper to be the graybeard.
Jw don't believe that market value. It seems like it needs updating. Either way it would be nice to have a player who will be happy in the role... if we can get him.
But I don't think we can buy a good young keeper like him unless Rambo gets an obligation to buy at least. Could be a disaster if he has to come back to us.
Fabrizio saying we have agreed terms with Joan Garcia of Espanyol. And he would be Ramsdale's replacement.
Honestly I am sick of the revolving door in the GK position. Since Arteta has been here,
Leno, Martinez, Runnarsson, Ramsdale, Raya and now thus 23 year old Spanish keeper. I would rather have an older keeper happy to sit on the bench keeper with experience.
Not to be condescending, but people who cry about Emi don't understand the football that's been dominating Europe for years now.
Keepers can't just be big shot stoppers.
Emi can win tournaments internationally, or small cups in England with Villa, but he'll never play for a serious club or manager like Pep, Klopp, or Arteta. I say this all the time here, and everyone knows that it's true... but the payasos want to pretend we made a mistake.
Even if Emi had decided to stay that summer, Arteta would've replaced him the following season with a ball playing keeper.
We've gone up 3 or 4 levels from where we were at that point.
Play Reiss Nelson. He's the Saka and Trossard back up y'all been crying for. His coach doesn't trust him enough despite the obvious talent.
If Simon Adingra is the winger we are going for, since we can't get a striker. I'll prefer someone who can play both as a winger/Striker. Ladies and gents, check out Caster Semenyo. He looks like a power dribbler (like Zaha) with the pressing ability of Watkins. Seems to have the singlemindedness of Trossard (bearing down on the box). Either at arsenal or Bournemouth, he will surely have a breakout season. (10 G/A for 23/24) and he is 24 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtAZv3eGs1Y
Against Villa I want to see timber at LB. Defensive solidity combined with athleticism is the name of this game. Wrong game to introduce Calafiori as well as it would be an intense debut. Prefer he is eased in gently.
Aside from timber at LB who I think should be a shoe in, open questions are does rice drop to 6 and havertz to 8 with Jesus up front? Does trossard start ahead of Martinelli?
Tbh I wouldn’t be surprised if Martinelli starts because I think arteta would like to play him into form and it’s not necessarily the wrong idea. He also adds that pace and directness
That said if you just want a higher degree of confidence about good output, trossard is a no brainer.
I myself would start trossard and bring on Martinelli around 60 mins - or vice versa. Martinelli will only get out of his slump when his confidence returns. He needs goals and assists for that and for those he needs minutes on the pitch.
But we have to be smart because if we are struggling and he plays poorly we won’t be able to accommodate him for long. An elite team can survive a passenger (like vs wolves) but if the rest of the team isn’t playing well against Villa, having a passenger can be fatal
If we start with Partey and Rice we stand a good chance to win. Timber for zinch and maybe trossard for martineli. But if we start havertz in the midfield and Jesus as striker, we can forget about winning
I would actually go really bold against Villa and have havertz up top and Nwaneri at 8, rice at 6.
Bold? Yes.
Dumb? Dunno maybe. But I’d be willing to roll that dice and if Ethan struggles take him off at half time
I'm with you :)
Not trying to mock the kid but after all that noise of leaving Arsenal because of a lack of a pathway to first team football, Cozier-Duberry is now finding out like Hutchinson, that the lies of agents and charlatans who take money to influence the player to leave Hale End cocoon , really don’t have the best interest at heart. Hope he doesn’t go the way Chris Willock, Xavier Amaechi and Marcus McGuane
Atleast he's giving himself a fighting chance. Arsenal didn't have plans for him
Where and how did ya come to that conclusion?
He got played and bamboozled by Brighton and his handlers who were prolly paid off
https://dailycannon.com/2024/08/brighton-cozier-duberry-loan/
I hope the news isn’t accurate - We shouldn’t be including an option to buy on Ramsdale’s loan. He’ll be immense for Wolves and his value will go way up again, we can’t just have them activating a buy option that would have been negotiated at his current value. Just straight loan then let the bidding commence with a year of PL to prove his value again.
Watching Crystal Palace they looked like they needed Eddie out there, Mateta was taken off at half time and Edouard, his replacement looks more like someone who should be playing behind the striker
I do find the knee jerk partey stuff quite funny
He stopped being dependable to play 90 minutes twice a week about 2 years ago and moved into the territory of luxury player who needs constant wrapping in cotton wool and protecting from himself (be willing to sub early and often, don’t play twice a week etc, be willing to rest regularly)
He’s also demonstrated since coming back last season that on his day he’s class and when not on his day he looks leggy (even more so re the points above about him moving into the territory of luxury player)
But the knee jerk responses on here after a game this season as tho he’s suddenly gone from a player who you can depend on for 90 mins every week to one who is shot is beyond a joke
You couldn’t depend on him before the wolves game and him looking tired in the second half was also par the course for a player who has never had a great engine and is playing his first game of the season.
We didn’t learn anything new about partey on the weekend. He didn’t suddenly go from key to finished. He was already a luxury player with physical limitations who can be awesome but shouldn’t be depended on and remains just that.
It’s almost as though he’s hitting that sudden decline of a player around the 35-36 age bracket 🧐
Like Aubameyang righhhht after that new contract!
Has been said before but Villa just bullied West Ham with their speed and power. I worry for our midfield as to get anything in the game Rice needs to be a man mountain for the full 90. I would start the same line up as last week with the exception of Zinchenko for Timber just for more defensive solidity with early subs for Martinelli and Partey. For all of Partey's supposed decline he's still a classy 6 with his touch and setting the tempo for the game
Tottenham looked somewhat dangerous in attack but lacked cutting edge with the final ball. They look like any team can beat them if they are within striking distance in the 60th minute when they can't do their high press anymore. They are easily opened up because the style of play doesn't change even though they're tired.
Maybe reading too much into this first game but Tottenham looked worse than last season and the only plot they have with their shinny new forward is to lump balls in the box.
Via David Ornstein:
“EXCL: Wolves make proposal to sign Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal. Initial loan + buy option + #WWFC would cover majority of 26yo goalkeeper’s wages. Acceptance at Molineux deal difficult due to finances involved but talks with #AFC continue”
I’m not saying the wolves loan is the wrong decision because frankly I’m undecided, but I’m a little uneasy with us being asked to cover part of his wages
Wolves are an established premier league team opening the door to a keeper who is comfortably one of the top 10 in the league. They’re not willing to pay a transfer fee this summer - ok - then AT LEAST cover his wages. Us paying part of his wages smells like charity to me and I don’t think it’s necessary
Good, good. Love to see Aaron land on his feet.
This one benefits all parties.
Joan Garcia-- if he's the target backup GK, has a market value of £800K-- so little risk and large upside. Guessing Edu is looking for the 3rd keeper to be the graybeard.
Jw don't believe that market value. It seems like it needs updating. Either way it would be nice to have a player who will be happy in the role... if we can get him.
But I don't think we can buy a good young keeper like him unless Rambo gets an obligation to buy at least. Could be a disaster if he has to come back to us.
Rather thought it odd-- but the highest MV I can locate is £2.7M
Went from £50k to £150k to £800k since 2021-22
https://www.transfermarkt.us/joan-garcia/profil/spieler/561613
Fabrizio saying we have agreed terms with Joan Garcia of Espanyol. And he would be Ramsdale's replacement.
Honestly I am sick of the revolving door in the GK position. Since Arteta has been here,
Leno, Martinez, Runnarsson, Ramsdale, Raya and now thus 23 year old Spanish keeper. I would rather have an older keeper happy to sit on the bench keeper with experience.
But every move has been an improvement? Why not just accept the current outcome?
No reason to count Runnarson because he was bought as an emergency option.
For the clowns who will cry about Emi.... he would never function in our setup, as great as he is.
To each his own but why call someone a clown because they have a different point of view? It’s not that serious??
Not to be condescending, but people who cry about Emi don't understand the football that's been dominating Europe for years now.
Keepers can't just be big shot stoppers.
Emi can win tournaments internationally, or small cups in England with Villa, but he'll never play for a serious club or manager like Pep, Klopp, or Arteta. I say this all the time here, and everyone knows that it's true... but the payasos want to pretend we made a mistake.
Even if Emi had decided to stay that summer, Arteta would've replaced him the following season with a ball playing keeper.
We've gone up 3 or 4 levels from where we were at that point.
I do. But we need stability too. We can't keep signing a keeper every summer. This 23 year old kid means we have a problem again in a season or two.
I saw that game too many times last season 😂😂😂. Big Ange under pressure and the spurs negativity about to start here.
All that Spurs jaminess is gone
They flew out of the blocks last season, this season...not so much
I guess postacioglu wont be winning any more manager of the months.
Still Spursy 🤣
That was an incredibly spursy performance. I’ll get a lot of joy out of that lot this season.
Buonanotte looks a baller