Pizy

CHO setting up Morata over and over and he keeps fluffing his lines.

Our pressing as a unit has been outstanding this far,

Yeah, I don't think he's some top class fullback or anything but at least he's got pace and athleticism. He can theoretically be counted on to stay in front of his attacker. Alonso is a liability to just do that. I guess both Conte and Sarri feel his qualities going forward outweigh his massive weakness defending.

Still would have thought he'd start Emerson in one or two preseason games to get a proper look at him before making that call. We've seen evidence of Alonso getting spanked for pace for the last couple of years.

Yeah, it's really worrying. Sarri doesn't seem to fancy Emerson. Alonso in a back 4 is so fucking risky. Something we may see on display today.

Arse going with nearly their strongest XI here. Only a couple missing.

With Caldara leaving, that surely means Rugani won't. So that's 3 of our reported transfer targets off the table in one deal. Not too bothered. All 3 would have been significant risks.

Think if Barkley starts his 3rd straight game in that advanced midfield role today then surely he's Sarri's chosen man there to start the PL season. Especially if he performs well against Arsenal who will have there first choice midfielders, yes?

Looks like he's staying. Will he be fine with being a cup player, though? Especially knowing he could go to a fairly big club and start every game?

Like I said the other day, it looks like our business is all but done. Every target we've been linked to has pretty much fallen through. Higuain, Rugani, Caldara. Struggling to find an adequate replacement for Courtois so he may stay. Surprised if we see any other incomings with so few days left. Even our customary panic buy that I was sure would happen.

Well, Vecino can control a football and seems to be able to complete simple passes so he's certainly an upgrade on Bakayoko. 😂 This just doesn't make sense, though. Unless Baka & DD are both off which seems unlikely. At this point if we are indeed after another midfielder it would need to be one who is clearly head and shoulders above Barkley/Cesc/RLC like SMS/Pjanic/Thiago. Vecino feels like a player we'll be looking to sell on in a couple of windows.

Always like reading what fans of the clubs players we're linked with think. Juve fans are happy to see the back of Higuain and weren't terribly bothered about Rugani going for a large sum. Inter fans on their forum are actually laughing and begging us to take this dude off their hands. If he's a target Sarri wants I trust him, but yikes. When a side that's a level below us like Inter currently are want a player out and won't miss him at all that's a bit sketchy.

Yep. We'll go into this season with the same exact attacking options as last season and hoping a change in tactics/philosophy improve them.

At this point the only way he goes is if the Martial exchange is available.

Yep, I think they'll be much improved. I predict theyll get off to a flyer, be near the top around Christmas, and then fade away as the fixtures really pile up.

The pressing should help us massively against the smaller teams in the PL who aren't as good on the ball. Just imagine how our pressing will look when Kante gets back! No more depending on counter attacks or absorbing pressure even from sides we should be bullying.

This is the quitest summer I can recall. None of the big clubs are really doing anything right now and the window is nearly over. I suppose Liverpool and Arsenal did all their work early so that's why they're quiet now. Ourselves and City have signed only 1 player each. Mourinho is already crying and bitching to the media about his clubs' business. Strangely, it's all of the smaller teams that are going crazy in the market while the big boys are waiting and waiting.

Juve fans seem to rate him much higher than Rugani.

All I'm saying is that they're both inconsistent. But one is nearly 30 and has played in the PL for about 5 years. Singing another inconsistent player who is a teenager doesn't sound like a great idea. Would I be devastated if we signed him? No. Do I think he's ideal? No.

Willian dominated Barca last season and could've had a hattrick...

Resigned to us not making anymore signings. At this point it's too late to get a keeper at a similar level to Tibo so I think the club will make him stay and run his contract down. Too late for Hazard to go, hopefully. Suicidal to sell him now. Doesn't appear we'll sign a Hamsik type and will go with Barkley & Cesc there. The only move at this point in time that seems possible is Willian to United. And that will come down to how desperate Mourinho gets. He sounded like he was in meltdown mode already last night. Hopefully he'll convince his board to swap Martial for Willian. If that doesn't happen I think we're done with transfers. If so, this season will be turbulent.

Honestly, at his current level I think he'd be a slight downgrade on Willian. Obviously his potential is great but he's very overrated right now.

Looks so gross! Penalty aside, I thought he was solid again today. Superb technical ability and is always willing and able to accept the ball under pressure. Something none of our other midfielders are comfortable doing. Watching him closely and he's constantly talking to those in front of him and telling them to press. He's a proper midfield general and organizer.

Plenty of positives through 2 matches but also several concerns. Biggest of which is the LB position. Neither Alonso nor Emerson have looked even a little bit good. Teams exploited our wide areas last season but now with us pressing much higher we're even more vulnerable. I trust Azpi on one side, but the left side could be a serious problem.

CHO is fantastic with the ball. Special talent. What's understandably missing right now is that final pass. He'll get better and better as he gets minutes.