Pizy

^ Nice! Usually heading into the “Big 6” games I’m anxious because anything can happen regardless of form or injuries. But I’m very confident heading into this one. TT being in charge and our players’ mentality being much better after winning 2 trophies recently makes a huge difference. I think and hope our players will want to really put one on Arse this weekend after embarrassing themselves against them a couple of times last season. Arse players will be really up for this since it’s their first game in front of their fans in ages and with them wanting to make up for last weekend. They’ll probably put in one of their rare good performances here so it definitely won’t be easy. Hopefully we are massively aggressive and force the issue because their midfield and defense will crumble.

Kinda crazy that we’re probably only going to sign 1 player. But at the same time, our rivals haven’t gone mad in the market either so it’s not that worrying.

Pulisic and Ziyech are made of glass. Kante is rapidly breaking down these days as well. Constant niggling hamstring injury. Thankfully we have enough cover to go without Ziyech and Pulisic, but Kante always being hurt is a massive problem with the run of fixtures we have coming.

Tbh, if he has another top class season like the last one (and judging by the first game the other day he will) I definitely think someone will pay £85-100m for him, be it ourselves, City, or United. No reason for West Ham to sell for a pound less than Grealish since they’re similar situations. Multiple years left on their contracts, their best/most important player, and he’s very young + English. He’s going to cost a bomb for sure. I can see us doing it if Kante has an injury ravaged season.

I think Rice will be our Lukaku-like marquee signing next summer as he’ll probably cost Grealish money. No midfielder this summer as we’re going to wait for him is my guess. Our incoming business looks finished.

Sadly, it’s looking like one of RLC or Ampadu I guess. Which is scary if we pick up an injury or two.

He really does exude that supremely confident aura when he speaks. Was watching a video a couple of days ago where Rio Ferdinand said he spoke with Rom on the phone and he told Rio how hungry he was heading into this season. I think he’s especially motivated to prove to the English media/fans/haters that doubted him wrong.

I think our incoming business is likely done. Any highly ranked midfielder is surely impossible this late in the window and it seems like we can’t offload Zouma so Koundé doesn’t seem likely anymore. Bet the club will wait until the market is more favorable next summer to reinforce the last couple of positions of need.

Kinda hope Kane does end up going to City. He’s a constant waking injury and City are already a buzzsaw attacking wise so I don’t think he dramatically improves them. In fact, he could disrupt their fluidity. If he stays at Spuds and becomes committed again they may actually be a top 4 threat with Nuno’s more pragmatic style.

We can basically kill Arse’s season in match week 2 and seal Arteta’s fate since they have City next up after us. And they’ll hand Arse their annual thrashing. It’s very likely that they’ll start with 0 points from 9 as long as we don’t choke against them again like last season. Unfortunately, if they do sack him they’ll appoint someone who’s actually good like Conte, probably.

I’d be delighted if we still sign Kounde. Statement of intent and a look to the future for when Silva leaves and Azpi is a year older.

Not a peep about Kounde in weeks nor Zouma leaving. Think that ones dead for now. Especially with Trev killing it today again.

Something that looked much better than many times last season was how crisp and quick our passing was. There wasn’t any of that annoying walking pace stuff that infuriated me so many times.

Looks the exact same as last season. Causes defenses fits with his runs but fails at the crucial last moment. I’d still continue to start him alongside Rom because he creates space for all the other attackers.

Pregame worries shattered. That was an excellent first half performance. Totally dominant. Trev again impressive spraying it around. Already looks miles better on the ball than Zouma, it must be said.

Tbf, though, Chilwell and James didn’t even play. How are they not fit yet but Jorginho is who played like every minute until the end of the tournament?

This is for all intents and purposes our B team. Doesn’t look exciting or entertaining at all, really. Hard to see where the goals will come from. Just need to get 3 points by any means and hope everyone is fitter for the Arse game.

Season hasn’t even started and already Kante has to be managed carefully. 😔 Was in amazing form in preseason as well.

So I guess Koundé is off the table and we’re going with Chalobah instead?

Not gonna lie, it’s super anticlimactic seeing us line up with such an undercooked XI on day 1 of a new season. So many of our best players not starting and zero new faces to freshen things up. Think this could be a tedious one with this lineup.

As everyone expected, they’re genuine title contenders. As will Liverpool who many pundits and fans seem to be writing off as past their best. This is going to be the hardest fought title and top 4 ever.

The one aspect in which United are vastly superior to us in. They have a midfielder who can pick unbelievable passes and assists (Pogba) and a midfielder who can score for fun (Bruno). It could take Mount a month or two to score 3 goals from that #10 position whereas Bruno can get that in 1 game. Kante, Jorginho, and Kova may not get more than 1 assist all season long.

Fuck sake. We may legitimately take a couple of months to see the best of this team. And by then we may be in a hole chasing several teams.

There’s been nothing at all about an incoming midfielder for weeks/months, guys. It’s clearly not happening. Hopefully we secure Koundé and then that’ll be the end of our business. We’ll just have to pray for Kante’s health for the whole season.

If that’s the case I can’t imagine Haaland would be demanding more than that in wages. So that must mean he told us he wanted to wait until next summer to survey his options and we couldn’t afford to wait ourselves.