Stats

WOW, Kante is literally running the show.

Kovacic was better than Jorginho and imo was our best player. Mount looked good too. Don't see how anyone can criticize Kovacic or was I watching a different game.

I'd normally be livid, but I will take it as the first game and put it aside. The entire team needs to do more defensively. It is not like we are playing a quality team. We are playing a team who a lot of people are skeptical about too. Their team does not look that good. Losing 4-0 is embarrassing. Defence is defo going to be ripped apart this season. And it shows the same issue we had last season. We will create tons of chances but no one to put it away and then we get punished. Same thing happened today. Both their first two goals were against the run of play. Also, no Hazard to save us this time around.

The obvious downside of field players that aren't up to scratch at this level. Abraham shouldn't be starting games until he actually shows something for starters. People mocked Luiz also, but when Rudiger is out the defence is a lot worse with him out and that is why I was concerned to see Luiz go. Sad thing is we have not even been that bad, but Lamps is going to struggle to organize this defence. We are going to be like Arsenal's defence last season.

Sign of things to come unfortunately. Went into this season with very low expectations.

Pedro and Zouma have been poor. Everyone else I am pretty happy with.

They may have clever defenders but the league suits him more. PL requires a lot more work rate and physically demanding. Icardi for instance I think would struggle over here but Serie A suits him due to him just being poacher. He will be exploited in the PL. I think Lukaku will score goals galore there.

Zaha is pretty much set and stone to come here imo come January or the summer.. Did not get move to Arsenal or Everton. Pedro and Willian could both be out the door next season. Zaha is in his prime, English and while is a bit of an enigma, would certainly be a good addition. CHO and Pulisic very young and we still could do with another winger. He is too good for Palace and get the sense he is stalling there. Needs that step up again. The United move came at the wrong time in terms of maturity and Moyes replaced SAF.

Well I think we are a lot weaker with him gone. He may not be John Terry leadership but he was a good enough leader for me. Dictates the tempo of the match along with Jorginho. Also even in penalty shoot outs etc, he is ever so reliable. May be underestimated, but imo that is more proof of his leadership. When pressure is on he does not hide.

We kept the most amount of clean sheets in the league after the two best teams. Luiz was in the team for the majority of that. He has errors but he also has games where he is sold and looks the part. Last season included. We kept 16 clean sheets in the league IIRC. Now one of the defensive duo who played in that team, we are giving to the team who finished below us. Why should we be giving him to Arsenal? Suits the way they are trying to play from out the back, and also adds quality that they need. For a team who desperately needed a CB apparently on a limited buget, they have got a really good deal.

He will defo Improve that Arsenal defence imo. Time will tell, but I think they will finish above both us and United. Luiz strengthens them. He is better than all their current CB and will also help create chances for their attack. Even if he may not be Lamps first choice, he would get a lot of games and under no circumstances, should we be selling him to a PL rival. Not like this was a Mata situation where we got a lot of money at time. Think we will regret this but time will tell.

But do our other options give you that defensive solidarity?

He is the only real leader from the back too. I don't see any sense in this at all.

Rudiger is not back till September. Zouma and Christensen does not look a solid duo. We took this into consideration when originally giving him a contract and money is not an issue here. We have sold Hazard for what could be worth £130m. It is stupid to sell him to a team who are crying out for a CB. There is no sense in the deal. Tomori should not even be considered first team quality right now and should be 4th choice. I don't like to sound pessimistic but I think the frailties will show during the season.

A lot of Arsenal fans stating the move is happening. If we actually go in to this season with 3 fit out and out CB in Zouma, Christensen and Tomori, I am just going to give up. Lamps, don't be so stupid to accept this. People can mock him. This clearly strengthens Arsenal and weakens us. Used to thought Arsenal were mugs in transfer windows. If this happens, the team who the crown goes to is an obvious one...

He does have his good games against big teams too. Thought him and Christensen were very solid in the EL final against Arsenal where a lot of people were expecting their strikers to run rings around our defence. He was also arguably imo MOTM against City along with Kante when we beat them 2-0 and ended their unbeaten run and thought he was also arguably MOTM along with Kante once again when we beat Spurs 2-0. In terms of all our home fixtures against the big teams last season he played really well. Had some dodgy away games but he would be a big upgrade for them from what they already have.

LOL. Can't believe there is transfer drama involving us whilst on a ban. You couldn't make it up. Regardless of people's opinions of him, we should not be selling to them. Even if we had a transfer ban, he is better and a lot better than all their current CB and would improve them, He also would create even more chances of their deadly strikeforce. Not surprised they want him. I will actually be livid to see this happen.

Really should be targeting a PL loan. Has spent last 2 seasons on loan in Championship and was voted POTY at Derby last season so if he goes on loan to Championship team again, he is not really kicking on. Saw Everton were linked with him. not sure what is going on there but difficulty is, he won't be guaranteed starter for CB at any PL team he goes to and a lot of teams may hesitate about starting him in PL due to his height, but he will just have to earn his place.

But people do and will continue to do so. Then will easily turn on players. Jorginho definitely improved towards the end of the season and looked like the player we saw at the initial stage of the season. But, either way all are solid players and are useful squad members. None of those players are deadwood. Just shows fans lack patience and rather than supporting players, they would rather right them off.

I think it was a transfer we had to make. Lamps also gave his approval to the move. Also, I think Kovacic will play in a double pivot. He has that ability to roam forward etc but all depends how Lamps uses him. I think after another season he will knock on and I don't think he was no way near as bad as people made him out last season.

Kante not fully fit. RLC injured. Also with the football we are trying to play, useful addition. Very good and creating space in tight areas too. Let's face it, they have had bigger names than Kovacic who they have let go for fun. If Jovic has a bad season they will probably ship him on too. Ceballos, ship him on. Real Madrid will always do that. Does not concern me.

Kovacic is a better player. Pasalic has an eye for goal and that is that. It would of been good to see him given a chance but even for Croatia, Pasalic gets in the squad but has rarely played. Kovacic is preferred over Pasalic. Kovacic is rotated for national team himself but is picked more than Pasalic. Pasalsic has started more games for Atalanta over last season but again is not a guaranteed start in the team. Kovacic would be a guaranteed starter in that Atalanta team who over-achieved last season.

We had no choice to pay that amount of money. I think he is very well composed on the ball and keeps possession well and draws fouls and he is still relatively young. That is the money for player this day and age and as we had a transfer ban, we had to pay that much. And generally, people did not want the player either way. But that is the point, a couple pre-season games and it is like a 'Eureka' moment. Majority of fans now would be happy to see him lineup against United.

Your underestimating them. Just because they don't have any 'star' names, they are a good team. If we beat RB Leipzig, I guarantee you would have considered it a win against strong opponents. Salzburg done the double over Leipzig home and away last season. Were clearly a class above Celtic last season too. Battered them at home and beat them away from home in a game they had nothing to play for but pride and Celtic needed to win. Season before in EL, also were unbeaten against Dortmund over 2 games and beat Dortmund in their own backyard. Napoli went through against them this season but again Salzburg gave them a run for their money second leg, managed to beat them, however went out on aggregate. They definitely could have upset one of the big boys last season. Many Arsenal fans I knew were not wanting to face Salzburg.

It is really frustrating to see how fans have such knee-jerk reactions. It just takes a couple of games or so for a player to perform and fans suddenly realise that maybe the player is quite good and has a lot of ability. I have long been a fan of Kovacic and was bemused by the majority of fans who were so against signing him. Suddenly is playing good in pre-season and Eureka! Same goes to Barkley too. Most fans trash talk him and write him off until he shows a few good games in pre-season. This is why I wish some of us would just be patient and allow a player to grow. Look how much people have taken to Jorginho after slating him off then he suddenly starts to settle and look good. Patience is a virtue. Kovacic has always been a talented player. Barkley is talented too.