Mainly because we played big shit last season and nearly half of the team is new? And about that 'pre-season thing'. It only means it is not fucking champions league final, so the world does not end if we loss.
Would more like to see McEachran instead of Meireles but it is completly understable that Meireles is playing. Robbie needs to see how will he play befor actually playing him. Good move Robbie. Not involving De Bruyne is like prooving he will go out on loan.
In sense of new events ( singing Oscar and Essien looking good ) I reconsidered it. I still would be glad if it was premier league or championship though. Selling Malouda would be great considering FFP as you say.
I love all the hate against De Gea Mata's performance was very solid today . If spain had a good striker they would have won, he was slow and had very bad positioning, allways two steps from Mata's final passes.