Pizy

Yeah, I'm starting to worry that the nonchalant laziness with Ruben is just something he can't change. He just doesn't know how to assert himself at all. He just strolls around like he's not bothered.

Where other than wingback would he play? If we play 4-4-2 where would that leave Willian? If we persist with the same tired 4-2-3-1 he could play right winger with Willian at #10 but then Kante would have to do the work of two players with Cesc next to him in the "2."

Mate, we said all last season that "Oh, there's no way Ivanovic and Mikel will keep playing. Changes will be made." And yet they continued to play. What I'm saying is, I'll have to see it to believe it.

People can stop saying "Conte is a genius, he'll know what to do to fix things." Yes, we know he is and can. But will the club allow him to sell the likes of Ivanovic, Mikel, Baba, and Oscar? That's where I have my doubts. The club has to allow him to make these decisions or we hamstring ourselves. Terry and Cahill should be our two backup CB's only. We need at least one new, top class one. Maybe two. Ivanovic needs to be sold. Probably Baba too and Aina can take his place.

Aina looked miles better than he did. Not even on his natural side, either.

Don't care about the performance or result, but how many more times will we have to see Ivanovic and Mikel suck cock before we finally rid ourselves of them? How many different CB partnerships do we need to experiment with before we finally buy new ones? Of course the club are obviously working on a new CB, but we may need more than one. Ivanovic and Baba are shocking.

Ivanovic is absolutely fucking awful! He cannot start for us next season. Please, for the love of God.

Yep, we still need an entirely new back 4. Terry and Ivanovic are slow as statues and Baba is simply shite defensively. Papy is woeful. Mikel is useless, really. Doesn't offer anything. Nevermind it being preseason, we've seen these issues with certain players for a while now. If we start the PL season with Ivanovic and Terry as starters we're going nowhere.

Imagine if after all this speculation and hope of finally playing a new formation Conte just sticks with the 4-2-3-1 replacing Matic with Kante.

I know it's preseason and all, but just seeing Ivanovic in there still makes me shudder.

Two great signings in the bag, two or three more to go and we're set!

Official announcement from the club this afternoon apparently! GET IN!!!

Would much rather have Koulibaly. He's got everything - huge physician presence, pace, and can play with the ball at his feet comfortably. Honestly, we should be after both.

If by cut price you mean £50m, yeah! Apparently United are favorites for him judging by what I'm seeing on Twitter. Why on earth they would need him is beyond me. Especially when they're about to spend £105m on Pogba.

I don't think he's going anywhere. Us failing with Nainggolan sealed that I think.

Yeah, this is pretty much the last area of the team we need to reinforce. Especially not not when Mahrez would cost an absolute fortune. If we sold Oscar, maybe, but that certainly doesn't seem likely.

Hopefully Costa doesn't play much against these minnows. In fact, I wouldn't play him for more than a half until maybe the final pre season game.

Long as he doesn't go to a rival... Imagine him on Arsenal's right side next to Sanchez and Özil. Wow.

I spat out my lemonade!

The energy level, the discipline, the perfect timing and intelligence in his tackling, the ability to pop up anywhere on the pitch. He's everything we hoped Ramires would be.

The only real similarities between he and Costa is that they're both fantastic finishers inside the box. Bats is far better technically with the ball at his feet and in open spaces. He can easily dribble past players unlike Diego. I think they'd compliment each other perfectly. Playing with 2 up top just makes it more difficult to decide who plays in midfield.

Kante getting dropped likely cost France the title. Pogba was rendered completely useless trying to play Kante's position. Was crazy how it wasn't ever Matuidi who was dropped.

Much as I love Cesc, maybe he will indeed be moved yo the bench more often than not. That is if we sign another midfielder in addition to Kante.

I'm just struggling to think how we are going to line up. I was convinced that we'd use 4-4-2 but that would still leave us with only Cesc and Kante in the middle which may still struggle.