So he is I had thought he was onj the bench today but it was Tierney and Zinchenko as our defensive cover. I'd prefer Tierney or Colafiori to cover RB over Partey tbf.
The RB issue has ruined us this season. Timber back after suspension and White/Tomiyasu close to returns too. Now open the cheque book Kronkes and get us some forwards! Think we need at least a striker and ideally a hybrid AM who can play out wide too. Need an Isak/Gyokeres type forward and a Florian Wirtz. Jorginho & Partey salaries should more than cover those two.
The RB issue has ruined us this season. Timber back after suspension and White/Tomiyasu close to returns too. Now open the cheque book Kronkes and get us some forwards! Think we need at least a striker and ideally a hybrid AM who can play out wide too. Need an Isak/Gyokeres type forward and a Florian Wirtz. Jorginho & Partey salaries should more than cover those two.
Another forward to back Havertz up would be handy, most of our attack comes from out wide, usually Saka, but Nwaneri is doing that job nicely (both very similar). Trossard, Martinelli are providing some nice back up options and width. Jesus is the big isue for me, when he's on hes hotter than the sun, but keeing him scoring is the issue - when he is off he's an iceberg.
Relying on Partey as RB cover is insane, he is ok there but defenisvely weak, especially with Nwaneri in front of him. We need one of the spare left backs to step up and take the back up RB spot. Tomi, White and Timber being back will help but the road to catching Liverpool is still gonna take them to drop points.
Well we started the season with Timber, White, Tomiyasu for RB and Tierney, Zinchenko, and Caliafori for LB. Partey really is the emergency option, and I do think is a better fit than asking Zinchenko or Tierney to do it on their weaker foot. At least our three options at RB can all do that role well, LB we really only have Caliafori.
Can't be believe we played so bad at home. But maybe I shouldn't be surprised as I feel Howe has had it over Arteta for a while now. They seem to know how to play us and we don't know how to unlock them.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
I hadn't clocked the new champions league format would scupper our chances of a January break to the tropics. That'll be the difference for the title this season, I just don't see how we're getting back in the mix with Saka out for months and no one else in the squad capable of finishing. I stand by what I've said for a few months, if we want to win anything this season we need big additions this month. If money's tight surely a loan for Dani Olmo would be worth a punt given Barcelona can't register him.
Was sat row 16 in the North Bank last night, such an incredible view. Only positive for me was watching MLS absolutely boss it from LB. He's constantly putting himself in difficult situations to receive the ball under pressure, and then wriggling his way out of it. Almost like a Cazorla at times. Absolutely class.
Bit of chat around Nico Williams again, stumbling block being he €60M release clause has to be paid upfront - unsure if that’s doable for us without owners help. Equally chat Vlahovic is available for £45m or so as Juventus want to cash in rather than renegotiate a new contract. I’d have thought if those figures are correct both in this window are no brainers - even if it means we have to sacrifice a couple of academy kids to do it.
Vlahovic wouldn't suit our system. He is too much of an old fashion forward. Also I think him and his agent have burnt their bridges with us following last time when we had agreed with Fiorentina for him.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Vlahovic wouldn't suit our system. He is too much of an old fashion forward. Also I think him and his agent have burnt their bridges with us following last time when we had agreed with Fiorentina for him.
This is a great view which outlines why he'd be a good buy for us, especially given he'll be half the cost of Isak and available in January.
More concerningly we seem to be in for Araujo from Barcelona to be opportunistic. Assuming that paves the way for Kiwior to be cashed in on, I'm worried we're again buying defenders while our attack's crying out for an upgrade.
Jesus off injured in first half. Poor guy looked distraught on the stretcher, must feel like his career is slipping away from him. Hope it isn’t too bad.
This has been a mad game, we have had a penalty save and Havertz has put two sitters wide/over from 6 yards. Can’t keep spurning opportunities from open play like this. Their keeper is also having a blinder, great save on the pen and several open play shots too.
The transfer window will define the rest of our season.
Either we seriously strengthen in a number of areas and hope to pull something together to maintain a title challenge, possibly a European run as well.
Our attack was good but not good enough, and I feel that is a feeling amongst our squad. It is good at challenging for a title or a cup, but not good enough to win anything. Not sure how we change it or who we bring in but we are now in a bit of a funk that needs to be sorted out.
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
Another trophyless season and not even really challenging for the league this time so it's probably fair for questions to start to be asked. Of course every team will be worse off without their best player but for the amount of money spent the whole thing shouldn't completely fall over with one injury.
We really are a punish to watch too. Pointless even going forward when there's noone there to do anything. Havertz maybe had a purple patch for a handful of games or whatever it was but he's clearly not a striker and we're now paying the price for an investment that never made sense. There's always a reason Chelsea let players come to us.
Lot's of chat that we're signing Zubamendi in the summer as a Partey/Jorginho replacement which is great for the long term planning but not for the immediate problem.
First time in a while that I really dreaded this mornings game. And going behind didn't help! Good come back though and then we shut down the second half quite effectively. Hope this is the start of our up turn!
I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.
We should still be signing a striker and a winger because our play in the final third, in particular in their penalty area, was incredibly frustrating.
If we keep dominating teams like this and have the consistent quality to put chances away we can win the league.
Otherwise I can see there being more games where we have 18 shots to 2 and draw 1-1.
2-1, could have, should have been more if we'd been able to convert the chances we created early. Sterling is not up the speed we play at, admittedly he probably is lacking game time but he's nowhere near Saka's quality or Martinelli for that matter. I like Havertz and he offers decent skills and goal scoring but we dont have a Haarland type player who will ruthlessly scoring goals at will.
Delighted with the result. Thought it was curtains when they scored as couldn't see a way any of our players got the ball in the net.
Attack, or goal scoring ability still obviously a concern. For all the dominance on the ball and “touches in the opposition area” we didn’t exactly pepper the goal and still needed some good fortune to score with an own goal deflecting off two Spurs players and a shot the keeper should have saved. At least it was a genuine shot on target which is a start! Otherwise don’t think the keeper had a real save to make.
A win is a win, especially in the NLD but still not confident of scoring enough goals with only who we currently have. But will enjoy today at least.
I do wonder if we have the option of returning Sterling, while we need players he does take up a loan slot we could use for another PL player. If we offered a hefty guaranteed fee I'm sure we could tempt Brentford for Mbuemo on a loan to buy deal, but crucially we need the slot that Sterling (or Neto) is occupying.
I'd return him even without replacing. I guess fed up of being screwed by PGMOL we just decided to take that out of the equation by essentially starting with 10 instead.
Tomorrow morning feels like another big opportunity to gain ground. Liverpool are favourites vs Brentford but Brentford are a good side and capable of getting something. Villa won’t be easy for us though.
You cant just pick and choose which laws to follow. Sure Id like to tape a baseball game without the express written consent of major league baseball, but thats just not the way it works.-Hank Hill
We need revenge tonight. Odegaard looks to be getting into better form. If we’re not going to return him I’d be tempted to start Sterling again, he’s been poor but I wonder if a run of starts is needed for him to get going. He seems to be at that point in his career when he’s no longer faster than the full back which requires a rethink on approach.
Saliba is out of the match day squad, I’ve seen rumours about a big money move to Real Madrid. I hope it’s a knock rather than the sign of something else brewing…
