The Skipper

Keane wasn't world class perhaps, but he was still a very, very, very good player, and also his leadership qualities were always far better than Cahill's were.

He just needs games tbh, he's not going to adapt to the PL if you don't play him in it...

He's been awesome recently, hope he keeps it up.

Feel like he isn't appreciated enough by the footballing world in general (apart from L'Arse fans). Hopefully that starts changing this season though, guy is an absolute baller. PS. He's doing awesome in the pivot atm.

Just let him fully recover from whatever, please.

I agree with that, and it's something I hope Jose will develop more during his time here.

You can't deny that managerial stability will certainly help the situation though. My point was that over the last few years, because the manager has always been under massive pressure to get results, that they can't really risk it and throw in a youngster here or there. With managerial stability - when the manager knows that him taking a few risks won't result in speculation about him losing the job - the opportunities for youngsters should naturally arise. For now we'll just have to wait and see. The likes of Boga, Baker, RLC and Christensen are all huge talents though and do have the ability to make it through but everything has to fall into place for them for that to happen, and managerial stability is just one of those aspects.

I agree with what you're saying, but simple answer to that is the fact that we lacked managerial stability. Honestly, now that's a bit more solidified at the moment, I expect to see a big improvement on this.

Costa still seems to be technically underrated by some IMO, sure he isn't the most technically gifted but he's still very good technically IMO, even though if it does look unorthodox on the eye. It's not a weakness at all for him.

I don't think so. As evident with Pirlo, Xabi and Xavi, you don't need to be the most mobile to make the most outrageous passes. Cesc's pass for Schurrle's goal vs. Burnley if you want a very recent example. That was outrageous. Listen, I love Thiago and I do think he has the potential to be a massive, massive player... But as of right now, due to his injury hit career he hasn't reached the heights Fabregas has yet. It would be much better if we compared these two after the next 3/4 seasons, providing Thiago stays fit then sure, he could potentially eclipse Fabregas as a player but as of right now, it's purely potential and staying fit for him.

Nothing Fabregas can't do tbh (perhaps minus the overhead kick because he isn't as athletic as Thiago as I said before). Doesn't really proclaim superior technique to me.

Disagree, Silva is the best number 10 in the world for me, and would easily fit into our system because he does a lot of work off the ball as well. Quality player.

Athletic ability Thiago sure has over Cesc, he is faster, more agile, more nimble etc. but how have you concluded that Thiago has superior technique? Cesc has one of the best techniques in the world in almost everything he does...

Disagree with those two. Fabregas' vision and creativity is better than Thiago's, Thiago hasn't shown anything to suggest that his is better than Fabregas. Too small of a sample, he hasn't even reached a 100 club games. Fabregas has been spotting passes consistently in his whole career though. All these videos you're posting up, you're telling me Fabregas doesn't do that? You keep on mentioning that Thiago's agility and quickness combined with his vision puts him ahead of Fabregas in that aspect but that's like saying Thiago also has better vision than Xabi Alonso and Xavi because of that, and we all know that isn't true at all...

Answer this though... Do you think Thiago has ever had a better season than Fabregas has had, in general?

I love Thiago but sorry, due to his injuries you can't be saying that he's already been better than Cesc in his Arsenal days. Cesc was one of the best, if not the best CM in the league for numerous years. Thiago can't even complete a season without getting injured.

Hazard wouldn't be able to operate as a number 10 in our current system...

Next summer, if we want to stay on top for the next few years we need to make another few clinical signings. Reus is available at an absolute steal. He would be my number 1 priority. Pogba's contract situation is a bit iffy at the moment as well, I'd be keeping out an eye on him as well for now. Another striker and another CB is also essential, but I don't know who those should be necessarily. Before for a CB, I'd have Varane as a must, but he's signed a new contract and would require crazy money to obtain. For a striker, I'd probably say someone like Benteke would be ideal choice to battle it out with Costa and Remy. If we manage to pull of these 4 clinical signings we'll be set up for years. In: Reus, Pogba, ST, CB Out: Some loan players i.e. Moses, Bertrand etc, One of our wingers (probably Salah) to accommodate the Reus signing, Cech most likely, one CM maybe to accommodate the Pogba signing?

Happy birthday lad, keep doing your thing.

Easily. He used to play there very often when Kagawa and Gotze were there, don't see why it would be a problem for him now.

Yeah, we played well and the performance was very effective and efficient, but I'd say we didn't even get out of 2nd gear against these, and we didn't need to either. Arsenal are just light work. PS, this is not criticism at all - I'm just saying that that wasn't the best from us, we still have another level to go to. We can definitely play better IMO. On another day, if we wanted to, and if everything clicked, we could've decimated Arsenal by a few more goals.

Reus at £20m would be top of my transfer list next summer. A front three of Hazard - Costa - Reus would be absolutely insane.

Reus is easily world class and can easily play on the right.

Best dribbler in the league.

Composed, defensive discipline, brilliant assist. Top performance from Cesc, especially off the ball. What a signing he's been.