OneMoSalah

Yeah sure Zaha, who is that good that his only real concrete options in his career after leaving Man United were Crystal Palace, then Everton wanted him and now he’s finally ended up Galatasary. Screams top player. I think he’s found his level - go to a team where all the self supposed “big shots” / washed up players go. DDG maybe but he also lost his Spain starting spot to Sanchez. And also has made more mistakes than most GKs in the past 5 seasons. Number 2 maybe he’d be very good but even Madrid took Kepa over him and he was available for free.

When will people learn? Never judge a player fully on a pre season. They are meaningless games to get match fitness, performances aren’t particularly truthful as each teams are in different stages of fitness etc. Jesus if I mind right, van Ginkel looked impressive against Khedira and Alonso v Real Madrid 9 years ago but it didn’t mean anything in any real games as he was shocking v Basel in a competitive game. Poch took away his confidence give me a break

Yeah have to totally disagree with you. Mainly because, well, Joao Felix scored a lot of goals last season here - what maybe a record breaking total of 4? In 20 games? Frightening stuff. All style but no substance. Then Vlahovic got what 10 league goals? But again, if our managers not convinced by him and Juventus are willing to get rid of him for a 30 year old limited player who scored the same amount of goals as him last season - that says it all. On Neymar - no way he‘d of ever come here on our incentive based deals either, not a chance in hell. Plus again, would anybody expect him to do well in the PL and justify the colossal wages he would expect and transfer fee? Plus he’s never played over 35 games at club level for PSG in any of his 6 seasons there. Injuries.

Its been a difficult first 12 months but 2 games into the season, the change of manager and players, not quite panic stations yet. Things were always going to get worse before they got better considering his meddling last season and ripping apart a whole footballing infrastructure that had worked to various levels of success with Roman, Petr and Marina. That set us back a bit as he just ripped out the whole thing as opposed to changing wee bits at a time, keeping some continuity. Not to mention the changes of experienced players for a lot of young players. Wasn’t impressed with him re Tuchel sacking, Potter or Lampard appointments and the going into the changing room etc but he has put his money where his mouth is. Just signs though that you cannot just throw money at things and expect it to work instantly too. Will be a make or break 12 months though, if this season isn’t relatively successful ie a top 6 finish then questions again will be asked of the leadership, the direction, the signings etc. We cannot just blame the players or managers this time round as we’ve basically “removed the weeds from the garden” so to put it as people were utterly convinced that there was a lot of players who were causing huge issues as opposed to leadership decisions - which isn’t exactly fair either on the players as they didn’t decide to have 4 different managers last season or recruit £600-700m of players in 2 windows.

Bad start but can’t get any worse. Only way is up. I’d imagine once he gets a bit sharper and integrated with the group he will be much better. Big pressure though if he doesn’t considering his price tag.

Think the 3 at the back system which worked so well v Liverpool was always going to be a struggle today regardless. Tuchel got absolutely bashed from pillar to post for using a back 3 every week so will be interesting to see if Poch gets the same. I would like to think that he can go 433 / 4231 but even then in midfield most of our options are more defensive/not overly creative barring Enzo. Or at least until Nkunku’s back. But even then he played off the left as well as centrally in pre season. I think an established CF and 10/wide left player wouldn’t go a miss though just to take the burden off of players like Jackson and Mudryk. Jackson I have more faith in delivering to a degree this season but Mudryk gets worse and worse every time I see him play.

Whilst I don’t think Mudryk has shown anything that good or will ever be worth the money we paid for him, what is this obsession with Zakharyan or players we were linked to but never signed every time someone plays poorly? I mean honestly, have you even watched Zakharyan? If you have (which I am sure you haven’t), you’ll have noticed he isn’t a winger. But I suppose its the typical lets throw out a ridiculous comment about player X stealing player Y’s place in the team although they aren’t the same positions or same type of players or even both at the same club. What next? Caicedo stole Gvardiol’s place in the team? Or Jackson stole Veiga’s place in the team? Fuck sake. Try use your brain once in a while.

Can see the lack of experience and leadership in this team today. When things aren’t quite going or clicking for us, we just needed to take a minute, put our foot on the ball a bit and ride it out then go again. But theres this inexperienced youthful panicky sort of feeling to this team. Thats why I was adamant we needed to sign some more established/senior players with a bit of know how.

Got lucky there ball wasn’t out I think on that WHU counter. Was that Enzo trying an overhead taking it off somebody? Lol. Final third nothing changed just bad decisions.

Surprised he went with a back 5. Thought he would of played Colwill LB and used a back 4 if he was concerned with height at set plays or numbers, similarly to what Pep does. Chilly finally off but absolutely poor performance. Finally going 433.

Maybe but still think Walker is as close/as good as most of the RBs these days. Pep said about him not being able to play in his system but still has/will pick him pretty regularly. He has also got/is getting rid of Joao Cancelo, who was pretty outstanding for them 2 seasons ago and probably would of been contender for the best right or left fullback in Europe at that time. Would say Walker edges Reece playing in a back 4, defensively at least thats for sure. Its no surprise Reece has always been much better as a wingback when we’ve lined up with a back 3, particularly with Tuchel. And you could see it again v Liverpool, when he’s got a bit of protection behind him, it allows him to engage higher up the pitch and also means that he or the team isn’t necessarily as exposed as he could be caught in these positions in a 4. RJ is really solid in 1 v 1s though but Walker is just as good if not better there too. Reece has got time to go another level or two yet though where as Walker will wind down eventually. Like I said surprised at Walker’s longevity. Thought he would struggle after 2/3 years with Pep and be replaced ironically by the likes of Hakimi or even Kimmich or someone now with this insistence on using inverted fullbacks. But has looked after himself well and would not be surprised if he is still playing regularly for another 2 seasons (including this one just started) there.

If Nkunku was fit I’d like to think Poch would of used him as a 10 behind Jackson/a CF. Or you’d hope thats the sort of end game for it. Him in that 10 role with 2 pacey wingers (whoever from Sterling, Noni, Mudryk) on the sides and Enzo and Caicedo dovetailing to make up the midfield. Would be a pretty good team with a regular goalscoring CF, a top GK and if our back 4 stayed fit. Re Gallagher, on paper he is the only other really advanced attack minded midfield player we have though as the likes of Enzo, Caicedo, Santos and Lavia are much more suited to box to box or deeper roles. Gallagher has a real tendency to get in the box a lot although yes, you wouldn’t rely on him starting every week for a top top team. A MF 3 of Caicedo, Lavia and Enzo is pretty defensive minded or it seems that way on paper, considering Caicedo and Lavia are much more renowned for their defensive attributes and theres no obvious signs of the 3 of them chipping in with goals. Enzo again really only the creative one out of the three of them also but again, not a regular goalscorer and wouldn’t say its in his game to be one where as say you could see it from the likes of Jude Bellingham for example. Yes Enzo showed he can affect the game more in that box to box role v Liverpool than he did as a more disciplined, deeper lying midfield last season but I still think people expecting him to play as an out and out 10 or the most furthest advanced in a midfield 3 of him, Moises and Lavia are expecting something very unrealistic as I don’t think that Poch will use that MF at all barring maybe the tougher games where it will be a bit more scrappier/tougher.

I think will be Caicedo Enzo and Gallagher as a 3 in MF. Don’t think Lavia will start. Plus Gallagher turned a pretty bad first half performance around last week and played quite well second half which probably merits him staying in the team IMO. Would give us a nice blend in there too bit. Lavia, Enzo and Caicedo as a 3 v West Ham is too defensive minded IMO. Would say in bigger games yes use it but most weeks would say Enzo Caicedo and Gallagher until Nkunku’s back fit should be the go to. Then Lavia can rotate/play in cups to get a footing in the team. Would say going with a back 4 of Gusto, Disasi, Silva and Colwill at LB would also be a good move to give us more height and aerial presence at set plays. Disasi especially, he is 6 ft 3 and his effectiveness aerially in both boxes is meant to be a huge strength. Plus Colwill at LB gives us the flexibility to push Gusto right on high and wide and have Levi tuck in centrally a bit to go to more of a back 3 in possession. Be interesting to see what Poch does either way.

No I think you mean if he was really that good why are Juventus so keen to get rid of him, for Lukaku of all players….. questions need to be asked

If they play on using him and Fernandes as 8’s with Casemiro holding they are fucked. Frank also tried this with Mount and Havertz with Kante holding and it didn’t work. Tuchel also used Mount in the double 6 a few times and it didn’t work. EtH clueless if thats his whole reasoning in signing Mason. As a 10 perhaps with Casemiro and a more box to box/defensively astute player, I could see it having some success but two 10’s as 8’s. Hopeless.

Spurs and Bissouma outstanding second half really. Like totally stepped up. Only thing is they will concede chances to they gel that backline. United poor also but I think Spurs will play that style against everybody. Like at Celtic, Spuds back 5 (which is pretty new) needs time to adapt to how Postecoglu plays and maybe need reinforcements still but certainly be fun to watch them for neutral fans this year. Have been to a couple of Celtic games over the years with guys I went to college with and would say if he can replicate that sort of high octane fast paced attacking style of football that Celtic fans enjoyed, I think he and Spurs will surprise people. Still a good few quality players short but I think the impression he made on Scottish football and Celtic in particular in his 2 years was huge.

Postecoglu having an instant effect as I felt he would. Same at Celtic. Yes that is an average group of players he has but the style of play and patterns are there and with a bit more quality and time defensively to develop that back 5, they will get better. They will concede goals though as they’ve conceded big chances today, took Ange 7 or 8 games to get things going properly at Celtic after overhauling a huge part of their squad but some of the football they played was outstanding when they got going so be interesting to see what he does at Spurs. How? Because he didn’t save that? Martinez takes any chance of him getting that away… 🤣 Onana’s distribution has been outstanding all game. And hes made some big saves.

The deal was vetoed because Poch didn’t want him though. Nothing to do with price as I’m sure we had agreed to pay it.

Some rumblings about a return here on a short deal to cover for Nkunku. Not sure how true, maybe just bullshit doing the usual. Probably just because he was at Liverpool game. If was any substance in these no disrespect but no thanks. I mean he was pretty keen to go to Madrid - his dream club - but just because that didn’t work out and what he was here before, shouldn’t even be under consideration. Somebody who’s lack of commitment to training has always been publicly verified by ex teammates like JT, Frank and John Obi Mikel - would be a disaster under Poch.

Respect him for going that way and saying that (wouldn’t expect any less tbf) but it will be much easier said than done when your talking about guys who maybe end up in that boat with 5, 6 or 7 years left on their deals as opposed to 1, 2 or 3 years left. It will inevitably happen at one point as there’s that many of them with these length of deals and it will be a tough situation for a manager and the club if these sort of scenarios unfold. I mean just look at last season alone with a lot of guys unhappy about not playing irrespective of contract lengths - ok yes we had over 30 players but 3 or 4 unhappy players is all you need sometimes irrespective of squad size

I dont think us, Man City, PSG or even Liverpool who were linked heavily at one point, would of walked away from the chance to sign him for £34m (think that was his release clause) if he was really that good. Or thats what I think personally. And surprisingly, Madrid, Barca and Atletico weren’t even linked which says a lot considering they are for all the big talents in Spain. Nothing against Napoli but I wouldn’t say they sign the sort of players top top clubs sign, more like they sign players who have talent and make them into players that top top clubs want to buy.

Not completely as I think Walker still does an impressive job for City despite getting on a bit. His longevity has impressed me, I thought he’d be done after 2/3 seasons under Pep. Plus defensively he’s actually really really solid also. Reece needs to get that consistency and fitness sorted. Hopefully it comes this season.

No midfielder in the world could really though when he plays he is so good so he has a point although “couldn’t lace his boots” is a bit of a over exaggeration as Enzo is at a pretty good level - still has time to grow too. The two of KDB and Luka Modric are still exceptional and the best out there albeit different players, realistically nobody is that close to them. I think Murphy was critical of our spending on that TalkSport interview and wanted to point out nobody we’ve signed would of gotten into Man City’s team (not sure was it this seasons or last seasons treble winning team) barring Chilwell. I do think Enzo would do so and Thiago Silva but not entirely sure about anybody else. Kovacic did go there right enough too.. Would say there is a bit of bitterness from him though bet if Liverpool signed the two of Enzo and Moises be a different story.

This was the same thing when asked of Kante this summer (ok Ngolo was older yes) and look how many said bin Kante. So wonder if it will be same approach if this persists for another year or two with Reece? Doubtful but never know on here. Maybe his new contract is incentive based but again, I don’t know I am sure his basic is around 200k easily. Plus 7 or 8 year deal to consider.

Yeah have to agree, completely radical fitness regime and approach compared to last year so it will take some prisoners particularly the more fragile players as they adjust to what Poch demands. But think he had this at Southampton also but then the likes of Shaw, Lallana etc all seemed to get into it and kicked on fitness wise.