It's too big

He probably didn't travel because he picked up an injury, then had a small tantrum in training maybe frustration because of injury, then teh media put 2 and 2 together and come up with shite

No point worrying ourselves over something that may or may not have happened/been said. How is it this has come out this evening? The players won't be training now, and if it happened earlier in the day it would have been out sooner.

Not really, he walks around with a fucking spongebob squarepants backpack ffs

Does anybody here believe he can become a box to box? He seems reliable defensively, and seems to have an eye for a pass, but he doesn't score many goals. What type of central midfielder could you label him as?

To expose our slow defence against a pacey midfield/attack? Matic I thought, at least, had some creativity in him considering he used to be an attacking mid.

Is he really worth that?

The way the media are covertly hoping we lose because they want Liverpool to win the league, or don't want to end up with egg on their faces regarding City and Utd being the initial front runners for the league, makes me want to, not just beat Spurs, but beat them well and send a message to the media and rest of our rivals. Pochettino's arrogance rubs me the wrong way too.

Not taking anything away from Alonso, but he's been reliable at best. He isn't the type of quality we should have starting in the team in all honesty, and could certainly do a lot better, but for now he's doing his good well enough.

Surprised nobody has mentioned the fee. 63 million? For that money I would expect far higher quality

we'll take their gk then.

I don't see the point in going after more cbs. We already have 2/3 young defenders in that position on loan and at the club, and we also have Chalobah at for that position if needed.

b.s. why would bayern let him go? unless he wants to leave.

Real Madrid really are pampered aren't they? They seem to get let off a lot of things.

No payet please. I think he would be a flash in the pan, and by next season he would have lost his appeal. He's nearly 30 and only had one impressive season (last season) so it's not a wise signing.

did he play this past weekend for betis?

Great result away from home, but certainly not the best performance. We definitely need more solidity at the back because i think lack of speed among luiz, cahill and alonso is our weak spot. If we can sure up that defence and bring in another creative player to ease hazard's workload, I think we would definitely be on our way to being a genuine force not just in the prem, but also in Europe.

great words from terry here.

If Koeman, Ranieri and Mourinho couldn't outwit Conte, what's to say "no plan B" Pochettino will? Pep is without doubt going to come with a solid plan though, but maybe, just maybe people have underestimated just how tactically astute Conte is. I do, however, feel that both Spurs and City will come to press us as intently as they can, which could force us into making mistakes.

Probably be the first game this season we'll have every one of our rivals keeping an eye on us, all of whom have played their games already. Will be added pressure to perform, but let us hope we can do so.

He apparently waited for 20 mins after the game vs Real Madrid to meet Ronaldo. It was his birthday too. It's a crying shame Poyet isn't playing him for whatever reason. https://streamable.com/1l8y

Talk of us interested in Ruben Neves of Porto. This is from a source in Portugal.

Can't wait for the international break to end, the media really are scraping barrels at the moment.

Rather take Silva on a free than Bonucci for 60m. It wouldn't make sense at his age, and there would be other top defenders out there for us to acquire in the near future.

I know we keep saying what happens "when" he slows down on the scoring front, but I seriously didn't expect him to continue scoring/assisting like this. I mean I am reluctant when saying this, but hopefully people won't start shitting on him when he inevitably does go on a goal drought. He has already proved (to me at least) he can cut it as a professional striker. I think he has nearly everything to become a top striker, and at 18 he has a ridiculous amount of time to improve too. His latest goal just shows how hard he wants to work and how much of a poacher he really is; he's very alert to any opportunity to score which is fantastic for his age.