Pizy

Reading around Twitter, it seems both he and their young keeper (who we were also rumored to be interested in when the Courtois-out rumors were still going on) are completely out of the question. No chance they sell.

Would be a bit like Mikel here if James decides to stay at Madrid. Showing no ambition and wasting the prime years of his career. Mikel is perfectly happy to remain at a big club and ride the bench when he could instead move to a decent sized club and be an important player. Likewise, James could move here (or any other big club) and become a superstar but instead is seemingly content with making cameos here and there. Just a waste.

Can you really blame him for having a poor attitude when he's treated like a squad player? He made a massive move to Madrid surely thinking he'd play a big part but as usual when the newest, shiny toy comes along he gets discarded. I'm sure that if he gets a fresh start elsewhere where he can start week in and week out as a key player his attitude will be fantastic. Still not a single reputable source has said we're really in for him so it's hard to get excited.

Looks like it's over and he's going to stay. Stones part 2. Lead along all summer and we'll end up settling for probably our 4th choice target.

Riding the bench for their opener as expected. Zidane doesn't fancy him even when a few of their best players aren't playing. Come on, James. Move on over to Chelsea and be the star that we've seen you be before.

And the most recent who has lit up the PL in Özil. James could do the same thing Özil has done for Arse since leaving Madrid which is give us another creative spark that's on Hazard's level ability wise. Scores, assists, fantastic passer, crosser, dribbler, and one of the best freekick takers out there. I really hope there's truth in these rumors. We need another attacking player with world class talent. He'd have a chip on his shoulder and want to prove that Madrid are wrong to want rid of him.

He plays like a zombie. There physically but his mind is off who knows where. Looks like he's just going through the motions. He isn't terrible by any means, but is just so extremely limited that you have to question whether he should be starting. Against big teams, sure, but against sides like Watford I'm not sure he's needed.

The hell is the EFL Cup?

Diego Costa: world's ultimate troll

Dire performance. To be expected with this team. No ideas going forward, no chances created, total lack of attacking quality outside of Hazard. We've been confined to counter attacking, lumping it up to Diego to no effect, and playing for free kicks. Further evidence to our board that we are a long way away.

Ivanovic, man... He realizes he's playing for Chelsea and not Watford, right? Keeps passing it straight to them!

Feel like Oscar and Matic especially have to have massive games since we'll likely be outnumbered in midfield. They need to make sure we don't get completely overrun.

Not really feeling that XI. Not expecting much out of Pedro. He should only be playing when Cesc does because his off ball movement compliments Fabregas' game. There's really no one in midfield to play him in.

How was that a pen?

Just can't see past Manchester for 1st and 2nd. Neither team have even meshed but have cruised in their first few matches. Seeing as how our board has thus far failed to back Conte with the players we'll need to compete with those two, 3rd is really the highest I think we can achieve. That could change before the window closes but it's not looking likely. We're failing with nearly every target.

Then we'll be looking for another two CB's soon since he and JT are 32+

Was just reading that Mazzari likes playing a 3-5-2 and that it's likely what we'll see tomorrow. Wonder if Conte will start with Cesc instead of Oscar in this one to exploit that. Through balls and balls over the top for Diego could wreak havoc. With both Matic and Kante behind him it's worth a try. Oscar can always come on if it doesn't work.

Lukaku to "snub" Chelsea. Wasn't he the one desperate to come here? Of course the media make it sound like we were the ones desperate for him and he's refusing to come here.

Zlatan is just so powerful that he's unstoppable when he's up for it. Like Messi or CR7 you just have to hope you catch him on a bad day. He can score in so many ways that you can't take everything away from him. Stop him playing with the ball at his feet and he can just score monstrous headers like that and like in the Comunnity Shield. I really hate that he's in the PL.

He's a monster.

Damnit, why would they let Phil Neville commentate this? He's already jizzing himself here...

That would arguably be the greatest transfer window ever.

Huh? He doesn't play in the same position as any of the #10's I just named. He's a winger.

This is the type of match that Kante will hopefully dominate. He'll need to really help the CB's out against these two strikers.

All true, good points. I'm just not sure I can imagine Wenger spending that much on an attacking player. He's got Cazorla back nowand he's got Walcott, Ox, and Iwobi who can all play that third attacking mid position alongside Sanchez and Özil. Wenger often refuses to reinforce areas he's in dire need of. Buying a marquee player in an area he's well stocked in would shock me.