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Thoughts on the new season

Assuming we dont sell anyone significant between now and the end of the window, I expect us to be in the mix for 4th, and put our chances of a top 4 at 50/50. Reason being:

- Despite their unattractive football, Man U finished above us last season and have added Fred who should add some much needed creativity to their midfield plus have Sanchez from the start of this season. All else equal, its rational therefore to expect them to finish above us

- Liverpool have had the best window adding some quality. Still some flaws in their squad and I dont buy into the hype that they'll be challenging for the title, but us and them were very close last season but I expect they'll be ahead of us come next May given events of the last few weeks. Not miles ahead, 5-10 points perhaps

- Cheatski are difficult to predict. Its unclear how much the feuding between Conte and the board impacted them last year but equally always unpredictable how a new quickly manager will settle. There is upside potential in their squad compared to recent seasons given that players like Fabregas have seemed more interested in picking up their £200k per week rather than achieving anything so if Sarri gets him playing it will be like a new signing. Jorginho and Kovacic are really good signings strengthen their midfield a lot whilst they're retained Willian and Hazard. Courtois is obviously a loss

- Arse also have the new manager unknown factor, though at least they got him in early but their signings are underwhelming and I'd like to therefore think that we should still finish a bit above them this year

- Everton has strengthened well but have a lot of players to integrate and probably need a couple more seasons before really challenging top 6.


So I think its between us and Cheatski for 4th, hence saying its 50/50 whether we finish top 4. Clearly we could outperform and finish higher, but equally we could underperform or Arsenal perform better than expected and therefore 6th is equally a possibility. We've had 3 consecutive poor to average summer transfer windows and eventually that has to catch up with you. My biggest fear though is next summer and the number of important players on short-term contracts which might leave and then need replacing.

Cups are impossible to predict, but expect that we'll challenge just like the other top 6 will do, and really comes down to the draws and one-off performances in games against other top 6 teams when we get drawn together. We're due a trophy soon though...

While I dont agree with all of your assumptions I think its fair.

Id say a good chance of top 4, and go well in the cups. Impossible to say anything more because its a lottery.

I dont think Man U will be stronger this year (and still dont understand how they finished above us last year!). Their defence is still poor, and despite Fred coming in/Sanchez settling - Mourinho is going through the gears in sucking the life out of them and alienating players. I feel his poison will sap the life out of that team. Of course, theyll still get results and be in the mix, but better than last year? Not for me.

Liverpool look like they should be stronger. Much depends on their new buys being as good as people assume (and we know about assumptions), and Salah being incredible again (will he?). I fully expect them in the mix.

Chelsea - simply, who knows?! Looks like a first class midfield, but a poor defence, misfiring striker and new manager to settle. Even if he gets them in good shape will it be early enough in the season to really mount a challenge?

Arsenal - same again for the most part. Except they have a great front line, poor midfield and defence. Like Liverpool a number of buys to settle, and new manager of course.

I think, personally, our general quality and stability should be a major advantage and think we should be expecting a strong run at top 4.

If we can get a good start, that would set us up for it IMO.
 
not to say that it won't improve their ball winning, I really like Fabinho, I'd have loved to have him here but he's obviously financially out of our reach
 
not to say that it won't improve their ball winning, I really like Fabinho, I'd have loved to have him here but he's obviously financially out of our reach

Dont forget Bakayoko looks great at Monaco too, not that we should judge Fabinho on him. Fabinho has always impressed me

People are raving about other clubs signings and none are proven in a league of this nature that I've seen

Jorginho hada rude awakening in the charity shield as he reapplied he had NO time on the ball for example

Keita is a player i rate but he can be like a bull in a china shop and very rash with his challenges (3 sendings off last year)

I always think people get excited at how much someone costs rather than their suitability and experience personally...

I think I'm right in saying the only big signing made by anyone so far who has won a major trophy is Fabinho with the French league and Kovacivic as a sub at Madrid
 
Dont forget Bakayoko looks great at Monaco too, not that we should judge Fabinho on him. Fabinho has always impressed me

People are raving about other clubs signings and none are proven in a league of this nature that I've seen

Jorginho hada rude awakening in the charity shield as he reapplied he had NO time on the ball for example

Keita is a player i rate but he can be like a bull in a china shop and very rash with his challenges (3 sendings off last year)

I always think people get excited at how much someone costs rather than their suitability and experience personally...

I think I'm right in saying the only big signing made by anyone so far who has won a major trophy is Fabinho with the French league and Kovacivic as a sub at Madrid

completely agree
 
I'd go based on their prior career records. Obviously they might not settle, but setting that side Kovacic and Joginho are very, very good additions

Neither has won anything have they as a first team player?

One was a sub against the side we beat last year In the CL

Their names
Their players with reputations forged in other leagues
Hell they may turn out to be brilliant
But playing in arguably the hardest position to play they will need to adapt very quickly
 
Dont forget Bakayoko looks great at Monaco too, not that we should judge Fabinho on him. Fabinho has always impressed me


Jorginho hada rude awakening in the charity shield as he reapplied he had NO time on the ball for example
Fabinho made Bakayoko look like a good footballer, there is hope for Henderson yet!

Jorginho with Kante next to him will make things a little easier - from all reports Chelsea will need patience while Sari's methods begin to stick, not something you associate with Chelsea.
 
Fabinho made Bakayoko look like a good footballer, there is hope for Henderson yet!

Jorginho with Kante next to him will make things a little easier - from all reports Chelsea will need patience while Sari's methods begin to stick, not something you associate with Chelsea.

All true

Bakayoko was never a player I was impressed with personally, same with Rudiger

Jorginho is a great footballer and a player that possibly reminds me on Modric but he has never played here and thats gonna be a shock for him
 
I think we will do very well to get top 4..It has to be remembered that we were running on fumes by the end of the season and had been effectively since the heroic win at Stamford Bridge in April.

Our cm is ripe for big exposure this season and it's inexplicable that we didn't strengthen in that area tbh.
Wanyama and Dembele are both on their last legs (if that) and I think Dier and whomever partners him (as seems the likely thing we'll have to do now) will be identified by our competitors as our area of weakness to wait and exploit..

All so unnecessary in a unique season where our usual local nemeses are in EL and have problems themselves..we haven't taken advantage at all and we'll rue nor doing so imo:(
 
I really don't get the narrative that Dembele is on his last legs, I don't remember a lot of games where he looked exposed last season (none more than he normally has over the season) and there were a fair few where he looked a beast (Juve away noticeably). He was as physically fit as I remember and even managed 2 games in a week a few times. If he had longer on his contract I would not be looking to offload.

I know he had a rubbish WC but Martinez...
 
I really don't get the narrative that Dembele is on his last legs, I don't remember a lot of games where he looked exposed last season (none more than he normally has over the season) and there were a fair few where he looked a beast (Juve away noticeably). He was as physically fit as I remember and even managed 2 games in a week a few times. If he had longer on his contract I would not be looking to offload.

I know he had a rubbish WC but Martinez...

For me its not that he is on his last legs when he plays, its the frequency of injuries/unreliability in that sense.
Also, when he has been injured, he takes a few games to get up to speed.

Aside from his apparent desire to leave, I think we should look at succeeding him anyway, but for now I have no issue with him for this season, and if he is playing I dont see him as a liability.


For me, if we switch to a 4-3-3 type set up, we arent exposed in midfield at all and arguably set up in a way that favours more players.

.............................vorm
............................LLORIS

aurier.........alderweireld.....foyth...............rose
TRIPPIER.....SANCHEZ..........VERTONGHEN....DAVIES

............................wanyama
..............................DIER
....................winks..........dembele
...................ERIKSEN........ALLI

........lamela.................................... ?
.......MOURA.....................................SON
...........................llorente
.............................KANE

Very well balanced for me, everyone playing to their strengths, and no obvious weakness bar that gap at LWF - though Alli has done if before.
 
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I think we will do very well to get top 4..It has to be remembered that we were running on fumes by the end of the season and had been effectively since the heroic win at Stamford Bridge in April.

Our cm is ripe for big exposure this season and it's inexplicable that we didn't strengthen in that area tbh.
Wanyama and Dembele are both on their last legs (if that) and I think Dier and whomever partners him (as seems the likely thing we'll have to do now) will be identified by our competitors as our area of weakness to wait and exploit..

All so unnecessary in a unique season where our usual local nemeses are in EL and have problems themselves..we haven't taken advantage at all and we'll rue nor doing so imo:(

But then last winter Winks bossed Modric and Kroos twice and looked a world beater
 
I really don't get the narrative that Dembele is on his last legs, I don't remember a lot of games where he looked exposed last season (none more than he normally has over the season) and there were a fair few where he looked a beast (Juve away noticeably). He was as physically fit as I remember and even managed 2 games in a week a few times. If he had longer on his contract I would not be looking to offload.

I know he had a rubbish WC but Martinez...

I think his ratio of top vs mediocre performances has been falling for a while. We know he has that chronic hip condition that is going to keep getting worse too

The moment Pogba bullied him off the ball in the cup semi was a bit of realisation moment too I think. That would never have happened to him at his peak
 
I think his ratio of top vs mediocre performances has been falling for a while. We know he has that chronic hip condition that is going to keep getting worse too

The moment Pogba bullied him off the ball in the cup semi was a bit of realisation moment too I think. That would never have happened to him at his peak

Would agree with this, the problem with Dembélé is you never know what you are going to get from him ( ie a massive game or one where he missing for a lot of the game) I do not see his injurys getting any less frequent and i was hoping we would sell him during the window.

We really need ( imo) to get a settled midfield and if we are changing it all the time because of him being a option ( which has let us down in the past) then that will not happen.
 
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