Blue Armour

Also, this game aside. Fixture list looks so frustrating. No breather for the next 6 weeks. One annoying fixture after the next. Not sure if playing all the big sides early and out of the way makes things easier, especially in the winter months when we usually struggle.

Same The plus side is we're playing them early on this time. Not when they've been on a long run of terrible form and are looking for a comeback game.

Good game to start Lukaku. Unlike other opposition we don't need to be clever about beating Arsenal. They will be defensive as usual, playing on the counter. They will need to be bullied into submission.

Beautiful start! A thumping win and a clean sheet to boot., and this without our main goal threat yet to start. Granted Palace were useless, but I thought Kovacic and Jorginho absolutely bossed it in the middle of the park. Mount looked sharp as usual, Timo hard working, Pulisic back to goal scoring. And Havertz had an electric cameo too. Should have added a 4th. But good that we scored 3, given Uniteds fantastic start. We could actually have multiple contenders this season and every goal could count.

I really hope Lukaku is ready to bulldoze them next week. Can't stand sitting through another one of their defensive counterattacking fluke tactics.

Last season when we faced Arsenal, they were on a long run of poor form. It was like they were waiting to turn it around. This time thankfully, we are going to catch them early on. So, no.

It would've been nice to see him lineup for Palace. But at least he gets to make his return debut against Arsenal,.so that should be good.

And our top scorer for pre-season is also out (Ziyech) What're we gonna get our goals from?!

More like, we got a super cup match tomorrow and we don't need anything to distract from that right now. Lukaku won't even be part of that match, so it makes sense to wait.

Same. A lot of stems from the fact that they have a similar build and because Lukaku is a Drogba fan. Didier's football IQ is superior to anything I've seen in Lukaku so far. And his skillset made him a perfect target man. A lot of tricks, flicks, pirouettes, and ability to cross from either wing,..you can go on and on. Lukaku on the other, has more raw pace (not that Drogba was a slouch). A lot of his game revolves around his pace and power, and of course he is a fox in the box. Lethal with both feet.

I'm worried about that too. But on the flip side, I'm thinking we'll find out sooner rather than later whether he's good enough

No matter what side of the fence you are on, I'm sure no one can deny that they're looking forward to see how he plays on his first return game. Hope he has a scoring 'debut'.

I know what you meant, and I agree with it. Was just saying that Hazard is probably not the best example for it though.

Okay it's off topic talking about Hazard, but that's just a myth what you said about him. Hazard even on his off days still produced something. His off day performances were like on par performances from majority of our squad players these days. I barely remember a time where I've looked at the telly and begged for Hazard to be taken off. I doubt many people here have either.

I hope that's one area Tuchel can make him really improve. And to be fair, he's made a lot of our squad seemingly improve in that regard. It's part of the main reason why we can keep playing out from the back under any circumstance

@Tomo since Lukaku is more or less guaranteed to start every game, what do you forsee happening? Do you think Tuchel might revert to a back 4 to accommodate an extra attacker? If not, who from Havertz-Mount-Werner do you see dropping to the bench?

Hope Tuchel can further his progression as a player. The impact he has had on Mount, Rudiger and Jorginho last season is commendable. I don't see why Lukaku cannot go up a level after joining. Only concern is he is joining late, and we've got major fixtures coming up right from the start. Little time to settle in.

Tbf..Timo's problem is not that he came from Bundesliga. It's because his mentality is a bit shite, and he goes jelly legs when he has to shoot at goal. Otherwise he has no trouble coping with the league or getting at the end of chances. I can take a hunch and say that Haaland is unlikely to face the same issue.

You would have to assume that one of the main reasons why the Lukaku deal is happening so late in the window is because the club made an attempt at Haaland initially.

Bakayoko has something to say about that.

Heh. I guess we'll start hearing M-N-M pretty soon

There's a cabal of goalkeepers pulling the strings behind all European club transfer activities and our own Petr Cech is conspiring with Reina on this. The society of gloved hands.

Ziyech....He could be our goal threat from midfield. Hope he starts the first game of the season.

Ziyech....He could be our goal threat from midfield. Hope he starts the first game of the season.

Crap...I hope the situation with Zouma doesn't turn ugly. Could have a knock on effect on the squad