LDN Blue

Again, I just don't want to get excited . This model is predictable, he'll go on loan again and might not reach the heights he does and it's another one gone. Meanwhile Rashford & Kelechi..

Mass over reaction re Mourinho, imo. These players will inevitably come good, but it's hilarious to see

The sad state of affairs is that this the reality we've succumbed to. I don't really know how we sat back again after a negative transfer window in 2015, after seeing United and City recruit in such an effective manner as we had done in 2014 it was ridiculous. The last chase for a defender was nonsensical from the outset and we saw to what extent when Terry inevitably got injured. In fairness with Manchester City you have to sometimes sit back and just think "now there's a football club that's run effectively by football brains". When you think about it, Guardiola wasn't this coup it seemed, it was 3-4 years in the pipeline. The recruitment of directors like Txiki Begiristain revolutionised City from a top-down position. We, meanwhile, have a board comprised of businessmen/women and negotiators. Roman's failure to recognise this is what is costing to this day. Back in 2004-10 it was okay because only Chelsea and Manchester United were the powerhouses of the EPL and thus were European giants at that point as flag bearers for English Football. City's emergence changed it, of course they also struggled initially but the long-term plan has come into fruition now. You look at how they invested heavily into their academy not long ago and already players like Kelechi are coming good, as is Rashford at Manchester United. The problem now is, because our model has been in place and 'successful' for so long it would take a paradigm shift in attitude for this club to get back on track. It would require the board to be revamped and get the balance of football & business brains working in tandem for on, as well as off, pitch success. That really is the difference as to why we were unable to recruit with any efficient manner this window. Our lack of European football was exasperated by a lack of structure. Conte was never going to be the one to do that, hence his title of Head Coach being so important. Pochettino was announced as a 'head coach' and his subsequent contract renewal announced him as 'manager', I'd put that down to changing the attitude of Tottenham enabling that successful season they had. This is my 2 cents anyway. I think until this shift happens we're resigned to this anti-Madrid model of changing managers but not personnel in the way we should.

So, how was the meltdown?

Yeah, can't blame him but won't really help him speaking out - The bit about returning to the club I mean. I suspect he could have got a move anytime he wanted tbh..

Very good German CB, had a good showing in the Olympics. Touted as the next world-class German CB, so I've been told from his performances last season

Hell yeah man, he gives a shit. When things were bad here no-one did, no-one turned up and told the fans to go fuck themselves. At least Luiz has always carried out his role, especially in big games, going for it all the time.

Couldn't you argue the same about Roman's money laundering affairs, Litvinenko ring a bell?

Disagree, a lot. Aside from Kante I don't really see these excellent buys, considering without Champions League football Man Utd recruited Pogba, Zlatan, Bailly and Mkhitaryan. Think we left it far too late to address our LB & CB crisis, though they could turn to be excellent signings let's not be under any illusion they were plan z. Left it to the final 3 weeks of an already busy transfer window chasing the likes of Koulibaly, Romagnoli only to go back to PSG for Luiz. Not knocking Luiz, but it's more than evident he was a last resort lmao. They salvaged deadline day by going for targets that weren't going to be a massive loss for the club in Alonso and Luiz, though I'll give them credit for capturing both at a fee below £40m which seems to be the average. IMO, they should've had this wrapped up weeks ago rather than 2 games into the season with little-to-no time to adapt.

High risk, high reward, lack of options. Good luck, again, David Luiz.

When it's all said and done this is the situation at present. We're stretched in defence and with no other attainable targets, attributing for the club's commercial objectives also, this seems the only avenue the club is left with. At least we made a £20m profit (or rather PSG made a £20m loss)

At least we're adding personnel. At this case low-risk, high reward strategies have to be implemented. His age is a big plus so it's not like he's beyond improvement and he played in a back 3 if I'm not mistaken yesterday? One more would be nice.

Haven't we? In the title winning season it was more than apparent. We stumbled over the line! Last season was just a write off from the beginning anyway. I really do worry about our lack of depth in defence and their ability to cope . Sure no European football will help but its still a long season regardless!

WhoScored's MOTM today

No I'm saying it's too premature to assume we won't cave in again mate. Yeah confidence is up now and things seem to be going well, but when that winter slump comes and we're exposed with Cahill, Terry & Ivanovic then we'll see what 'improvements' are there. If we keep a great defensive record then I'll be happy to say I was wrong, but that initial statistic makes no shred of difference to me because it's too early lol.

Still think that in the absence of any other world-class talent, Eden's going to burnout sooner than we expect. That's a scary proposition within itself, the tone of the match with Burnley was pretty much set as soon as Hazard scored. As Barbara described in the Conte thread, Burnley were then stuck on whether to counter attack or sit back and messed up on both approaches LOL. In games where defences sit a lot tighter and don't concede early I don't know how we're going to expect Hazard to bail us out. Hope it doesn't happen, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Yeah but it's new manager syndrome and we've yet to be properly challenged. The strongest we've played is West Ham and they were without key players anyway

Published yesterday:

Lord Di Marzio said it, must be true(!)

Italian football is so dramatic

It's because his name isn't Ricardo Rodriguez........

LOL, we're 4 games in & just kept our first clean sheet in a long time on Saturday. Useless comparison.

I've been thinking this for a while lol. Think we should just leave Azpi as a our #1 left-back, he's good enough both on the defence and attack despite being right-footed so I don't see a massive deal in that. Just get a right-back in now lmao. Azpi is perfect to stay on the same flank as Eden anyway - Since we know the Belgian isn't the most defensive minded player lol. We should get a competent right back and remove Ivanovic in that way with Kante covering.

Anyone seen him play?

The sun lol.. Why wouldn't Fabregas remain? Much like Schweinsteiger in our Northern counterparts' situation we're the ones who put him on a long-term contract and made him one of our more important members in the past. With 3 days to go in the window where's he realistically going that's going to offer him better terms than we are? I genuinely don't mind keeping him because he showed against Watford what he can do off the bench when opposing teams are more tired and it's easier for him to win the ball and play that sort of defence splitting pass. My problem is that the man starting ahead of him, who offers no credible attacking threat in himself. Thank fuck Hazard doesn't let him take penalties when he asks - There's always that one guy to point to statistics