MoroccanBlue

Going to be interesting how Kounde fairs here. On the ball he is brilliant, and from the glimpses I've seen he can read the game decently well. His height obviously a question mark but his defensive statistics in aerial duels look promising. Will see if that translates in England.

City did last summer. United and Barca were also heavily linked.

Both Rudiger and Christensen will sign extensions I reckon. Dave too.

James and Sterling likely RWB/RB options.

When we scored the bulk of our goals apparently.

Look at this way, in 6 months time we can look back at these last few pages and either laugh, cry, or dish out big fat “I told you so’s”.

Fair enough. Albeit their front three did score 75 goals the season prior so the risk measurement is far and away different from ours. They also added a goal scoring midfielder and a CF that helped too.

Here's a question, has there ever been a time where a club that won the league or CL, did nothing in the summer, and continued on to be just as or even more successful the following season?

- United scored the 2nd most goals in the league and had the 3rd best conversion rate. They are now adding Sancho who's been a proven goal creator for 3 seasons now. - We were 13th in goals scored and had the 16th best conversion rate since Tuchel's appointment. We added no one to reinforce our attack/midfield. This isn't about being 'closed minded'. It is about assessing risk. It isn't being closed minded to think United, based on the statistics/facts above, are in a less riskier situation than we are.

That Vlahovic lad does look a proper player. So much composure considering how big he is. James and Sterling (Azpilicueta too) is sorted. Question is whether we can improve on Alonso as backup for LWB and I can't see that we realistically can. Gosens probably looking to be a nailed on starter somewhere. Immediately improve? No. There is tchouameni however who offers a different skill set than who we currently have. A skill set we are currently missing. He also has a very, very high ceiling so to acquire his services at the price listed is a no brainer for me.

I'd like us to go with a back 4 against these low block types but yet again lies the issue of no recognisable DM in the team.

He is a luxury player it is all about managing his qualities. City, Liverpool, and Atletico last season being prime examples.

Another reason why selling Ziyech would be lunacy. He should be 1st name on the teamsheet against these low blocks. Pulisic too.

Which is looking likely the case. A massive struggle against Palace in our opener and the inevitable defeat against Arsenal the next week looking incredibly possible

A. Jorginho is arriving late and Gilmour is gone. They were our only holding midfielders. There is your broken rhythm. No new transfers and lack of quality of the loan army that can improve creativity against low blocks, our genuine weakness. There is your lack of new impetus. B. Ah yes, under Lampard where even a half eyed monkey could see the gaping holes we continued to leave in midfield. Never looked like a problem? Are you on the wind up? Did that entire season, and the Bayern game especially, just evaporate from your memory? C. Still doesn't refute the fact RLC couldn't offer a relegated club anything in terms of influence and was the only player the club didn't want to sign permanently. (check out the multiple Fulham forums online regarding him). But hey, he'll strive here because he'll be playing in a completely different position because he has a skill set of tactical discipline he never once showed in his entire career.

Is this even news? We already knew about the leaked emails, just need to test the validity of them. However, City's legal team screaming for statute of limitations and now refusing to show the emails tells us what 99% of us already knew. Unless there is another statute of limitations law in the FA/Premier League rules then City should be punished.

A. It very well seems that we will start off the season slowly. No holding midfielder, no ST, lack of signings and any quality in the loan army adding anything. B. You have a sample size of 1 game. A game against Atletico in which we already won the away fixture and just needed to sit back and defend. Jorginho was suspended I believe. There is a reason why Tuchel always had a holding midfielder on the pitch. C. Oh Christ, here we go. More nonsensical RLC hope. Enlighten me how you genuinely expect RLC, a player who isn’t a natural holding midfielder, to play this role successfully? He couldn’t even make a relegated Fulham’s team and what tactical discipline are you referring to? That is the most blatantly missing component in his game and is the very reason why Mount made it here and he didn’t. I swear, if RCL wasn’t a youth player those remaining 10% of people would flog him off too.

They’ve played once. Against Atletico. The midfield pair is too imbalanced and Tuchel recognised this. I think we are going to start off the season incredibly slow by the look of things. No new transfers and our only sitter returning late. Bakayoko and/or Drinkwater would be a disaster. Gallagher is rumored to leave.

With Gilmour gone and Jorginho on holiday, the team does not have a holding midfielder/sitter for Tuchel’s system.

Swansea a cursed chalice

Massive signing to be fair. United sorted out two weak areas.

Conte also stopped trying towards the latter.

Agreed. But nothing we can do. Just hope City don’t get Kane. @King Kante Bakayoko or Drinkwater as the 4th CM?

Broja. If City don’t get Kane I think we can risk a season with those three up top. A CM is definitely needed however.