Pizy

Brighton are genuinely impressive. That 3 points we got is looking better and better.

Have to say that I'm surprised how much money is being spent this summer by our rivals. I figured Spuds and Arse in particular would stagnate this summer and barely be able to strengthen. But both are going big. If Spuds get a striker and Skriniar to add to Bale, Reguilon, and Doherty they'll have a very strong side. If Arse add Auoar to Willian and Gabriel they'll have done very well too. Shockingly, the side I thought would challenge us for most spent is dead quiet. I figured United would go crazy just like we have. That moron Ed Woodward will probably panic at the last minute and bid for Sancho.

Will probably be this unless Lamps rewards Barkley with a start after his good showing against Barnsley.

Frustrating that it's going to take so damned long to see our full strength side. Watch, I bet we won't see CP and Ziyech until after the first international break.

Silva and Chilly may not be fully up to speed as he says but I'd throw them in tomorrow still. Need to get minutes in their legs. We'll probably (hopefully) see Werner on the left, Tammy up top, and Kai at #10 again tomorrow. And Willy in goal?

Think about how awkward it's gonna be showing up for training tomorrow and meeting Kepa. 😂 Must be utterly humiliating for Kepa to meet and then train with the dude that's just been brought in to replace you. For that reason he surely has to go out on loan. He'll have to be put on suicide watch otherwise.

Barkley is at least pretty damned useful when we rotate for non-PL matches so I'd 100% keep him over RLC who isn't offering much at all now. Ideally we'd move both on since Billy will be back at some point.

Honestly, it would be typical Arse to try to get Jorginho when he's not the hard as nails DM they need. They would have similar problems that we have now with him in our side. At the same time he'd probably improve them slightly so I would entertain the idea of selling him there. As for Declan Rice, there's now way too much smoke from all over the media for there not to be some truth in us still being after him for this summer. I just remain extremely skeptical that WH would sell. I think they're already one of the favorites to go down and their fans are in open revolt. If they sell Rice just imagine how much more toxic things will be around that club.

Our goalkeeping coaches just have to hammer into him in training that he's got to get the ball out of danger when he punches or palms a save. That's the only real negative I see in his highlights. He frequently makes a good initial save but puts it right into the path of another opponent. Not so worried about him being a ball playing keeper like Allison or Ederson because we have Silva right there to start our attacks. Plus Kova who as we saw last night drops extremely deep often to collect the ball. We just need him to make standard saves and devour anything that comes close to him in the air.

Yep. We need Mendy and a stable CB pairing established ASAP. No other top side in the league chops and changes like us. Hopefully it's Silva and Zouma this weekend. Not sure if Chilly is fit enough to start.

I think he signed the new contract when WH were going crazy signing all those "big name" players and brought Pellegrini in. Back when people thought WH were finally going to make a big step up and compete for a Europa League place. Then it all blew up as we've now seen. He probably thought they were a club on the up so comitted to the project. Now they're probably the club in the biggest mess in England.

My word he looks so.....strange in that picture in our shirt. He's so thin that it makes him look about 9 feet tall. 😂 Hopefully we have ourselves an assertive, dominant keeper now. No more timid Kepa. Throw him straight in the team.

Will never be the goal threat Alonso is, but I trust him and feel more comfortable with him as an option than Marcos. Mainly because he can move about the pitch well and can actually get past a defender with his dribbling and pace.

He gets sharper, Ziyech and Pulisic get fit, and Werner/Tammy in form in front of him....he will be a statistical monster. This is why people should be patient with him. He's not anywhere near fit yet and will take a run of games in the position he played today to get up to speed.

Couple of rusty defensive moments aside, Thiago Silva looks streets ahead of every other CB we have on the ball. The speed of thought and intelligence in his passing is fantastic as expected. Will be an amazing signing once he gets up to full fitness. I really love Kova in this deeper roll but we have to quickly find his best partner.

Rüdiger the liability? Not the guy who gets tossed around by players half his size and just bear hugged Mané as the last man when he was through on goal? All I know is that we better hope Thiago Silva not only plays well but also stays fit. Otherwise our defense could be even worse than last season.

😔

Why would we even consider loaning out CHO? I feel like he will 100% be needed this season and quite often so. RLC and Barkley should go out long before Callum does. Also, I know I'm probably alone here but I'd be really sad to see Rüdiger go. Always liked him and think he can rediscover his form with the right partner and a competent keeper behind him. Would be a mistake to sell him. I'd be pissed if AC remains and Toni goes. 😡

So, what the hell happens if the window closes and we're unable to find buyers for a bunch of our deadwood? They just sit out for months and do fuck all until at least January? Doesn't seem like anyone at all has any interest in Drinkwater. Bakayoko links have gone quiet. Likewise Emerson. Frank seems to still fancy Barkley. If we are indeed serious about a new DM we'd only have a short period to sell one of our current crop. Seems like there's a hell of a lot of movement that needs to happen in not a whole lot of time.

Unless Mendy is Kepa-level shit there's absolutely ZERO chance we'll be targeting another starting keeper next summer. No chance at all. All Mendy has to do is be solid and he's a massive improvement. And that'll be good enough for us to stick with him.

Nice. Mendy should surely go straight in at the weekend, then.

Yep, this is 100% going to be used as a de facto preseason match and rightfully so. Perfect to get some minutes in Chilwell and Silva's legs. And hopefully for the likes of Mount & Havertz to sharpen up and build their confidence back. I hope to see either Tammy or Giroud play up top with Timo on the left and Kai behind.

If true, I hope whoever it is we target for the position is someone who can grab a big game by the scruff of the neck. Tired of Jorginho disappearing and getting bullied in the biggest matches. He's one of the best around at keeping and recycling the ball normally, but when we play the top teams he suddenly devolves into shit. We need someone powerful and commanding there. If not, someone exceptionally skilled like Thiago.

Think about being a defender seeing he and Pulisic sprinting at them... Hes going to be a beast. I wish he'd be our designated penalty taker as well. For me you always want your main striker to take pens. Let him see the ball hit the back of the net.

Only a slight worry for me at this point. If we don't see considerable improvement soon I'll start to panic. Leeway has to be given for lack of preseason and short turnaround. If a month from now we look clueless it's time to start thinking about Pochettino.