Jase

True but don't destroy the fantasy, Tomo! 2020 is shit enough!

If we get Havertz, a new GK and Rice on top of what we've already got, this would be our best transfer window ever.

Even then, have we at any point complained about Azpi getting exploited in the air? Since you're making him out to be bad, why have strikers not tried to exploit him more often? He has won even more headers than those taller than him in the team! Moreover, when it comes to dealing with aerial balls, it isn't always about winning them. Some times, it can be just about "disrupting" the opponent and preventing him from getting a clear connection to it. Lampard said nope about Azpi and yes about Alonso in dealing with tall strikers? Right, that is why the former plays more and the latter sits on the bench for most weeks... Seriously, having height in the team is important but it isn't everything. We didn't replace our 6 ft+ players with a bunch of dwarves. If you're so worried about the height, then maybe you should propose we hire Tony Pulis or Sam Allardyce as manager. Tall players do not necessarily mean they will defend better, they could be useless in the air or weak in dealing with aerial challenges. Short players can also defend well, the ones with great leap, intelligence and/or timing. And just as important if not more is having the physicality to deal with aerial challenges. One can be tall but if he doesn't fancy himself in physical challenges, then he will lose more often than not for example. We have a number of tall players in the team but they are mostly a bunch of softies when it comes to dealing with aerial challenges. That and the bigger problem for me is the organization of our set piece defending, considering how often we have seen players getting a free run inside the box, players caught ball watching, not reacting to second balls etc. Having a goalkeeper who can deal with the high balls into the box will also help our set piece defending. Was set piece defending really a problem under Klopp? I just remember them being more bad with defending in general before they got Van Dijk, Alisson etc in. AFAIR, Man City were the ones who initially had big problems defending set pieces under Guardiola before he solved the issue in his second season. And speaking of Man City, they don't really have a team of giants and they don't seem to be conceding many from set pieces. I know they try to prevent having to do so as much as possible but even then, they don't seem to let in many.

First thing I saw when I woke up earlier. Didn't even know he has been battling cancer for years already. RIP.

HELLO!

Wednesday - Chilwell Thursday - Sarr Friday - Silva Is today THE day!?

Was that even considered aerial battle? Didn't Spurs simply exploit the space between Azpi and Luiz back then by having Alli make late runs into the box?

That is true but on the other hand, just because Azpi isn't known for his aerial game, it doesn't mean he's bad at it. Have we ever complained endlessly about him getting exploited in the air? His positioning has always been spot on. Also, if we look at the number of aerial won, Azpi is second in that aspect in last season's Premier League for the team. I don't know what's the average aerial won % for a full back but unless you start turning into Tony Pulis and putting giant CBs in the full back positions for example, I'd imagine the average can't be far off from the 59-60%. Don't have the aerial won % for all the full backs in the Premier League last season (and too lazy to start counting every single one of them) but looking at the number of aerial won, there are only like 3 full backs ahead of Azpi in that aspect. Chilwell also in the top 10.

Yeah. Some short players can have a great leap or even timing that allows them to win aerial duels and render their height irrelevant. Having the physicality is also key of course. Am also sure Lampard took this into consideration when he was identify his main LB target.

You know Conte. He has a penchant for going after older players, workhorse players more than talented, younger players. People, including myself, have complained about the club not backing the manager in the transfer market but am glad they didn't so with Conte, even if we still ended up with duds of other kind.

Think we were happy to keep both but both wanted to leave. Cech felt he could still play week in week out while Luiz, IIRC, was told his starting place wasn't guaranteed anymore and he decided to pack it in. Mind you, when Luiz left last summer, he had 2 years left on his contract and was on bigger wages than Martinez is right now and yet, we sold him for only 8 million because he wanted to leave.

Is it different? Both players wanted to leave and we were "forced" to sell them, which is the same case here with Martinez.

That may be true but I'd argue that with a very congested season coming up, the risk of injuries is high. Having 5 subs will give clubs some "leeway" in their substitutions. No manager would want to use the 3 subs because of injuries.

It's the international football next week. Havertz will head off for Germany NT on Monday.

The others would have to be pretty shit if 4 teams end up with more than 80-90 points.

Random news... https://www.ol.fr/en/contents/articles/2020/08/28/club-statement Aouar tested positive for COVID-19...

He has only 2 years left on his contract, which makes him worth around 20 million. According to The Athletic, he has some sort of agreement with Arsenal to let him go and they may be forced to let him go on the cheap.

We would certainly have to defend a little deeper and make sure he doesn't get exposed as much as we tend to with our defenders this past season.

No one is really disputing that but giving him the captaincy immediately is kinda ridiculous, especially he has limited English and not fully familiar with the entire dressing room plus still new in the country. Moreover, when you are the captain of a club, you have more responsibility off the field than just on it. The point about those 4 players mentioned is that players don't necessarily need the armband to lead. You mentioned Van Dijk earlier and his impact at Liverpool, he's not even the captain. He's the 2nd vice captain/3rd captain. Can see Thiago being made a vice captain but not the captain.

2017/18 summer spending: Rudiger - £29 million Bakayoko - £40 million Morata - £58 million Zappacosta - £23 million Drinkwater - £35 million Total - £185 million 2020/21 summer spending: Ziyech - £36 million Werner - £47 million Chilwell - £50 million Silva - Free Total - £133 million *fee taken from Wikipedia. So give and take a little if it's not accurate.

His agent is Mino Raiola. So the club won't even think of doing a deal...

Leverkusen going after Havertz replacements is what is holding up the deal apparently...