Gilvorak

I need to see more before jumping to conclusions. He worked extremely hard but he barely impressed in terms of technique. What I did love was his movement.

The only shot Arsenal have of getting Benzema is if he decided he wanted to be the "main man" elsewhere which would be a nightmare for the rest of the League. Thankfully he's happy at Madrid so they have no reason to sell consider only one other striker in better than him.

No we mainly do because of Cahill. We played a high line against Liverpool in the COC & coped relatively well. No doubt Terry needs protection against pace but lets not pretend Cahill doesn't either. How many times has he failed to put in a challenge which eventually resulted in a goal?

This is a good point. I think our first XI is the strongest in English football but apart from GK & CF we're below average everywhere else. Arsenal, United & City all have better depth than us. If one of Oscar, Cesc, Matic & Hazard get hurt or lose form the replacement is going to be a liability. This is the downside to selling the likes of Mata, KDB & Luiz.

Another very good game. Unlucky this didn't go in.

Wouldn't read too much into the 2nd half. Oscar, Cesc & Matic is a far cry for the donkeys playing in midfield right now.

Oscar & Cesc both look fit & ready to go. Costa's 1v1 finishing has always been terrible for me so I wouldn't read too much int that miss. Most important thing is his pace looks like it's returned. Suarez is the by far the best striker in football. Zouma & Cahill can't handle him. Kenedy looks extremely raw. Great defensive workrate & pace though. Great ping for Matic I'm developing a real hate & love relationship with Matic & I'm sure I'm not the only person Thank God for Courtois Azpi is brilliant. Fat Hazard is still a class above 99% of footballers out there lol.

What's wrong with you? Should Totti have left Roma?

Good goal. Will definitely be keeping an eye on him now if he's starting for a potential CL team. Could be another KDB, Courtois esque find.

Nice find. Hope we're in for him next summer in that case. United, Barca & Madrid all have that position locked up so it should be plain sailing.

Sandro's contract actually expires next summer so Porto are in danger of losing him for absolutely nothing. Don't understand why we aren't showing any interest at all.

He looks very strong going forward but I'm watching this comp right now & our own Gokhan Tore has absolutely ruined him on several occasions. Seems like more of a depth signing than a player we're convinced will be a starter this season. An optimistic view would be Jose thinks he can mould him into his own Marcelo or Maicon but in reality I'm thinking we should just go after Alex Sandro instead.

So much wrong with this post I don't even know where to start. Claiming Cahill is as good on the ball as Stones. Claiming his distribution is better than Luiz's. Calling Cahill England's 2nd best CB....

Yet Cahill probably would've spent the remainder of the 2nd half of the season if Matic didn't pick up that stupid red card against Burnley.

JT is 35 before the end of the year while Cahill is an average defender. JT was very good last year but he clearly isn't the same player he once was. He needs a lot protection now because he's extremely vulnerable in 1v1 situations with his lack of pace. It also hinders our playing style because we're forced into a deep block against decent teams. Lampard, Cole & Cech all needed replacing yet people think he's indestructible lol. Father time will always remain undefeated.

Did someone just claim Luiz's passing is a needless skill? Just one of many examples why a ball playing defender in vital in football.

Exactly. I actually rate Ibe but Sterling is clearly in a different class altogether both in terms of accomplishments & talent level.

The same poster that's been campaigning for Sterling long before the summer?

Our version of Torres was the best player in the Europa League that season. I wouldn't read too much into it. But yeah I agree with him being in the squad just as long as we bring in a better player. He'll going to get exposed if he gets a decent amount of gametime & the atmosphere & mood of this thread will change before the turn of the new year.

There's way more space for him to exploit at Stoke though, he'll face nothing but parked buses at Chelsea. I wouldn't mind Moses as a 4th choice winger behind Eden, new RW & Willian but it looks like he's on course to get heavy minutes this season.

Sterling for £50m or both Cuadrado & Willian for £60m. Who do you think got the better deal?

Overrated. Ibe is better according to a few nuts on here.

Amazing how much people read into pre-season. Marin was apparently better than Hazard a few years ago.

No he doesn't. That's a misquote. In other interviews he included Oscar, Willian & Hazard together as creative players (which is laughable) United lack. But eventually separated Hazard from the other 2 by including him amongst the players he considers elite. You're off your rocker if you think van Gaal actually thinks Willian is anywhere Hazard or players like Neymar, Suarez, Messi etc

I think some of you are reading way too much into pre-season. No doubt he improved last season at Stoke but we can do much better. At the moment he's probably the same level as Willian is. Or maybe I'm completely wrong & he explodes this season, after all, he was extremely highly rated back in his Palace days.