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Pre Season Thread

For all the bullishness about our chance of bouncing back, who do people see scoring the goals for us? It’s still the biggest glaring weakness in our team and I just don’t see where the goals are going to come from despite the efforts we’ve made to improve the defensive unit and the midfield. For that reason, I’d be happy if we finish in the top half. Anything more than that is a bonus as far as I’m concerned.
 
Jurgen the German said:
For all the bullishness about our chance of bouncing back, who do people see scoring the goals for us? It’s still the biggest glaring weakness in our team and I just don’t see where the goals are going to come from despite the efforts we’ve made to improve the defensive unit and the midfield. For that reason, I’d be happy if we finish in the top half. Anything more than that is a bonus as far as I’m concerned.
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Tel 18, Richy 11, OG 6, Kulu 5, Solanke 5, Kudus 4 is my predictions for the season as things stand
 
Muttley said:
I think the most important part of pre-season is De Zerbi getting his tactics bedded in to the entire squad. Roberto came in and did what was needed to stay up. He now gets to set things up how we need them moving forward. I would suggest that is quite a tough process to get through.
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yes. already everyone including those on loan are swapping in pre season games and playing dezerbiball easily.
 
Jurgen the German said:
For all the bullishness about our chance of bouncing back, who do people see scoring the goals for us? It’s still the biggest glaring weakness in our team and I just don’t see where the goals are going to come from despite the efforts we’ve made to improve the defensive unit and the midfield. For that reason, I’d be happy if we finish in the top half. Anything more than that is a bonus as far as I’m concerned.
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against getafe, tel had like five crosses and two through balls - we are clearly needing someone who can get on the end of those
 
Yes, Goals is going to be an issue in the current squad. We probably need two players who can contribute close to 30 goals between them, + others chipping in another 25 to get into Europe. Give or take.
I can't see where that comes from at the moment.
 
So we still have players that were injured last season still no playing. I dont get why we have not seen Kudus or Kulu. And maddison? he was playing at the end of the season and now? where is he?
 
Sandman said:
So we still have players that were injured last season still no playing. I dont get why we have not seen Kudus or Kulu. And maddison? he was playing at the end of the season and now? where is he?
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its not surprising that players recovering from serious knee injuries develop hip or ankle or other "complementary" injuries as the body overcompensates for weakness in an unbalanced way.

for maddison its his hip - and i expect to see similar minor problems for kulu, xavi and odobert too.
 
What will our forward line be against Brentford do we think?


Presumably Tel and Richarlison start. Gallagher in the 10? Who's on the right?

Tonali and Fernandes can chip in with goals. Fernandes didn't play on Saturday? Is he injured?

Our bench might be important. Bentaleb, maybe Kudus even Kulu?

We are not a settled side yet. Of course. We'll need to hustle some results short term. At least we'll have time in the week to prepare and develop. But we shouldn't expect too much too soon.
 
With Poro, VDV, Spence, Bentaleb still to return - even Romero - there are a lot of international players who aren't integrated. Who knows, if Romero isn't sold, he could play.

Not an easy pre-season for a new coach. There is little existing structure to build upon. Especially if Fernandes has been out? 12 days to pull the side together and figure out where the goals will come from. Normal service then :)
 
SpurMeUp said:
What will our forward line be against Brentford do we think?


Presumably Tel and Richarlison start. Gallagher in the 10? Who's on the right?

Tonali and Fernandes can chip in with goals. Fernandes didn't play on Saturday? Is he injured?

Our bench might be important. Bentaleb, maybe Kudus even Kulu?

We are not a settled side yet. Of course. We'll need to hustle some results short term. At least we'll have time in the week to prepare and develop. But we shouldn't expect too much too soon.
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If Bentaleb is on the bench then I’ll be shocked. 😛

I think you’re right though, I have a feeling it will be Fernandes and Tonali with Gallagher in front of them at the mo, I just don’t think anyone else has the fitness. I can’t see us bringing in another 10 either.

I think at most we add perhaps Savinho and I really dearly hope a good functional centre forward (I don’t think there’s many top level game changing options out there right now) but I do think we are going to be talking in the first part of the season about how we create chances but can’t finish them if we don’t add anything up top.

Personally I’d go Richy over Solanke if that’s our only two choices but it’s really not great options.

I think we need to bin off the long trips for pre season, I know we have fans in Australia etc and I’m sure money is made, but I think given the last few years of injuries the last thing we need for a few years is lots of long haul travel, jet lag and everything else.

Host our own little trophy at the stadium, invite a Spanish, French and Italian team and just play it out over a couple of weeks or something.
 
Rafa87 said:
I think we need to bin off the long trips for pre season, I know we have fans in Australia etc and I’m sure money is made, but I think given the last few years of injuries the last thing we need for a few years is lots of long haul travel, jet lag and everything else.

Host our own little trophy at the stadium, invite a Spanish, French and Italian team and just play it out over a couple of weeks or something.
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A couple season’s back we were getting negative press for going to Australia on a post-season tour, but I can the benefits of that rather than pre-season due to the jet lag side effects impacting preparations for the new season.
 
Rafa87 said:
If Bentaleb is on the bench then I’ll be shocked. 😛

I think you’re right though, I have a feeling it will be Fernandes and Tonali with Gallagher in front of them at the mo, I just don’t think anyone else has the fitness. I can’t see us bringing in another 10 either.

I think at most we add perhaps Savinho and I really dearly hope a good functional centre forward (I don’t think there’s many top level game changing options out there right now) but I do think we are going to be talking in the first part of the season about how we create chances but can’t finish them if we don’t add anything up top.

Personally I’d go Richy over Solanke if that’s our only two choices but it’s really not great options.

I think we need to bin off the long trips for pre season, I know we have fans in Australia etc and I’m sure money is made, but I think given the last few years of injuries the last thing we need for a few years is lots of long haul travel, jet lag and everything else.

Host our own little trophy at the stadium, invite a Spanish, French and Italian team and just play it out over a couple of weeks or something.
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yeah agree, tel-richy-sav up front i think at the very least, since sav has already handed in a transfer request.

hopefully another CF and that george from georgia looks gettable and a different profile from what we have (zippy and mobile) and kinda resembles kroupi to me (who is injured now btw)

we have too many CMs right now, i hope bergvall and gray plays ahead of bentancur and sarr given their pre season involvement and familiarity with dezerbiball
 
SpurMeUp said:
What will our forward line be against Brentford do we think?


Presumably Tel and Richarlison start. Gallagher in the 10? Who's on the right?

Tonali and Fernandes can chip in with goals. Fernandes didn't play on Saturday? Is he injured?

Our bench might be important. Bentaleb, maybe Kudus even Kulu?

We are not a settled side yet. Of course. We'll need to hustle some results short term. At least we'll have time in the week to prepare and develop. But we shouldn't expect too much too soon.
Click to expand...
I think we'll end up with

--Tel----Richy---Gallagher
-----------Bergvall
----Tonali-------Fernandes
 
Spence needs to turn a corner with his finishing and cool in the box. If he could then he would warrant a role. Up until now he hasn't delivered enough precision in the final third. Something that could be said of Tel too. Bergvall's inclusion makes sense, either starting or off the bench as he can disrupt a defence, and can finish. He's hungry too, not shy. Tel needs to feel some pomp and that this is his time. Something a bit shy about him still. Gallagher scored and has been playing that no 10 role in friendlies, correct? So presumably he'll start. Maybe Bergvall could play off the right? Have we seen him play there before? I'd prefer him there than deep midfield where we seems to lose the ball giving the opposition openings. He would have more licence playing off the wing.
 
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