Stats

He can't get into the Bristol City team at the moment. That is the only thing that managers seems to have as a caution when it comes to Jay.

TBH, it is more easier to look better when coming on as you are completely fresh coming against tired legs.

Think you are being really harsh Tomo. He is more times than not, there most dangerous player which is emphasized why Benitez usually plays him for the whole game. He was arguably their best player since arriving there on loan last season, which even drew rumours of teams such as PSG and Bayern being interested. He has flaws but also good qualities. Then you also have to remember he is only 22 and playing regular football for a PL team. He still has a lot of room to grow and I think he will get better, albeit not with us but another top flight team. If you were saying this if he was 27 or so I could understand but man he is 22 and has shown more signs of promise than not at Newcastle.

What a nerve-wracking, brilliant game of football. From start to finish, was a brilliant game of football. A lot of neutrals for sure will be tuning into our matches this season. Defence for both teams were poor. We kept getting cut open time after time but fortunately poor finishing cost them. We were the better team for majority of the match but when they attacked, they looked really threatening. Iwobi caused Azpi all sorts of problems and Azpi looked really vulnerable and weak. Looks like he needs to hit the weights because Iwobi had the better of him throughout the game on so many occasions and generally looked a lot stronger. Jorginho was very good and my MOTM. Alonso gets his critics but man what he contributes for us cannot be underrated. Even at LB instead of LWB, he still manages to contribute goals and assists. That is 2 games this season and 2 assists and 1 goal. Barkley impressed me as well. When he is running with the ball, he is really threatening and intimidating for the opposition. He forced a really good save out of Cech. The sense of relief I and the stadium had for Morata when he scored was pure gold. So glad for him. What a goal it was . He has kept persisting and has been awarded. We obviously have things to improve on which is natural but 2 games, 2 wind and 6 goals scored. Hopefully we make that 3 out of 3 against Newcastle. Think the team will be the same but maybe Hazard in for Willian if Sarri feels he is ready to start.

According to the Guardian: No. Not to say that will stop a team making a mammoth bid next year. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/15/wilfried-zaha-signs-new-deal-to-become-best-paid-player-at-crystal-palace

From that aspect then yeah, but he made very important saves on numerous occasions. He can come out with credit because it would have been a battering if it was not for him. Made very good saves from Sterling, Aguero, Mahrez and Laporte too.

Cech was their only player who could come out with credit today and the reason the scoreline was not embarrassing ???

After having so much fun against them in recent years, it is starting to feel like we have problems beating them. Have not beaten them for a while it seems now and I desperately want to put it right on Saturday. Their defence has looked really vulnerable in pre-season and today. Hopefully we can put them to the sword.

Yes, you have a point, however Hazard can also play as false no.9 and I would not be surprised to see Sarri use him in that position later on in the season. CHO can also lay there as a last resort. Maybe Abraham will stay but would not be surprised to see him go out on loan at the same time.

He still can go out on loan. The cub imo just want to make sure it is the right one for him as wherever he goes he needs to be playing regularly.

I would play Hudson-Odoi in the league definitely. He is good enough. We just need to manage him correctly and ensure he does not get burned out.

Got outplayed from minute one tbh. Strange to say it but Rudiger was the only player who impressed me. Thought he did well. Hudsonn-Odoi can also have his head held high. Was decent enough. Especially playing against Walker, which is no easy task. Just shows that Sarri has a lot to work on but I am still optimistic as other than today, we have looked good and I am confident enough going into the new season, when Hazard and Kante are back. We just played a team who are another level to us right now. However the two concerns today for me in particular was Azpi and Alonso. Azpi is brilliant at what he does but in an attacking formation like Sarri's, he looks a bit out of placed, because he does not have that pace and acceleration to pose enough of a threat on the right hand side. If he is going to have Azpi playing at RB, then we need Emerson on the left hand side because he is very offensive. Having one more defensive fullback in Azpi and a attacking FB on the other flanks is fine. However playing Alonso and Azpi, is one of the slowest fullback combo you can have in football. Surely Sarri has to identify this because they won't pose as attacking threat as Sarri will like. Look when he was at Napoli. he had Hysaj on one hand who is very attack focused then on the LB he had Ghoulam/Rui who are also very offensive. Zappacosta may not be starter material, however him and Emerson playing is much more of a Sarri team. Azpi was poor today on both aspects which is strange. Morata once again was poor which is a huge concern, however looks like we are going to have to keep with what we have got. And the creativity today was poor tbh anyway. Anyway, hopefully the team picks itself up for our PL opener next week.

What a reception he got when he came off. The crowd appreciated the performance he put in and even the Arsenal fans stood up and gave him a round of applause. They were clearly impressed by him too. That was a really nice touch. For Sunday, he should start and boy City have both their 2 recognised RB unavailable, so god I feel sorry for whoever is coming up against CHO.

Premier Sports commentators are literally gobsmacked by Hudson-Odoi. They can't believe how brilliant he has been. They have been raving about him all half and rightly so. Has been on another level. Although Sarri has trusted him this pre-season which is credit to him, even he probably did not realise Hudson-Odoi was this good.

Man, can't stop raving over Hudson-Odoi. The way he outpaced one of the fastest players in the league and left him for toast. Top class

Man, Hudson-Odoi looks so sharp already. So excited about him. Barring any injury, he should be starting Sunday. Good start!

Would not bother me. We do not need him. People are assuming Luiz will not be part of the plans because he missed a lot of games last season, however he suits Sarri's style perfectly and I think Sarri can get the best out of Luiz, like Conte did in his first season and as things stand I would bank on Luiz being a starter for us on our opening game of the season. Then we have Christensen and Rudiger also. Cahill is a good back up to have in the team as 3/4 choice and then there is Zouma who looks on his way out, however until one of our CB leaves, I don't see why we are pursuing Rugani for this amount of money, especially as I don't think he is better than Luiz, Rudiger and Christensen and the levels is very marginal. If it was Koulibaly then I could understand.

He exactly what they need and I think with him in the team, Sanchez also proves. I think he will prove to be a pivotal signing for them next season.

He is one of a few players who always gives Azpi and co a tough time. I rate him a lot. He has made huge improvements and single-handedly kept Palace up last season. He has everything. Pace, power, strength, skill and is one of those players who defenders hate coming up against. He is ready to go back to a big team.

This is not knee-jerk, because I know his weaknesses and know his strengths, but when people are saying get rid off Fabregas, they seriously must of lose their mind. His ability to create chances from anywhere is amazing. His vision still remains top class. In a team like Sarri's where we are going to dominate the ball and go full gung-ho, the amount of chances he will put on a plate for our attackers will be limitless. Would be crazy to sell to Napoli, especially as I doubt we would get a huge offer. He is still a vital player for the squad. His number of assists will only increase next season imo.

Would rather get him for £30m than spend £67m on Alisson. Alisson is better but is he worth more than double to pay for a good keeper such as Butland, Schmeichel or any other decent keeper? No imo.

He was primarily a CF at Monaco. That is where he played majority of games for them. When United signed him, they also initially played him upfront and he started off with a bang. He eventually was shifted over to the LW. He defo is best as a LW but he can play and score up front.

This has been going from one club to another. First it was us then it was Juve then it looked like he was going to us again. Then Monaco made a bit, then he apparently did not want to move there, then apparently as of yesterday he was on his way there and now looks like he is coming to us. He also liked that post too, so you would think that should be that.

Love it!

Completely forgot about Musonda, wow. His loan spells have set him back hugely but there obviously is talent there. Wonder what is next for him.