I suspect Pogna will become very frustrated with Jose's style of play, and won't be all that much of a factor this year. Which is great, btw.
ANOTHER New Footie Thread
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Les - what makes you think Chelski will win the league with Lukaku? They really haven't done much to bolster their defense, though adding Stones will help (I'm not sold on him being as good as many are saying).
I think City win the league with ManU also in the top 4. Spuds can be a top 4 team if they replicate last year, but that could be tough. Liverpool who knows. Klopp has had a summer to get his players in, but as Les said he didn't make any big name signings so who knows. Arsenal is same old, same old. I swear I see a resemblance with what happened at FSU in the final years of Bowden. If I had to predict it now, Arsenal will finish 5th or 6th. I wouldn't count West Ham out of top 4 as long as they avoid an injury bug.
So, going on a limb I will predict:
1. City
2. ManU
3. Spuds
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. West Ham
7. Chelski (if they get Lukaku)
8. Everton (if they keep Lukaku)
I think City win the league with ManU also in the top 4. Spuds can be a top 4 team if they replicate last year, but that could be tough. Liverpool who knows. Klopp has had a summer to get his players in, but as Les said he didn't make any big name signings so who knows. Arsenal is same old, same old. I swear I see a resemblance with what happened at FSU in the final years of Bowden. If I had to predict it now, Arsenal will finish 5th or 6th. I wouldn't count West Ham out of top 4 as long as they avoid an injury bug.
So, going on a limb I will predict:
1. City
2. ManU
3. Spuds
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. West Ham
7. Chelski (if they get Lukaku)
8. Everton (if they keep Lukaku)
Chelsea rolled out the same team that won the league and finished 10th...that was a freak anomaly. That team is still largely intact.
Also I just have a feeling about them.
Also I just have a feeling about them.
And Hull City are the first top of the table this year with a well-deserved 2-1 win over defenders Leicester. Leicester looked unsure of themselves, while Hull was very solid everywhere.
And Everton already up 1-0 on Hotspuds.
And Everton already up 1-0 on Hotspuds.
Hull could've been alone on top had the Gray foul been called outside the box as well. As it is they are 1st (since Hull comes before Man. City alphabetically) at least until the fixtures on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have me worried already as we're only in 13th and just on GD above relegation before even playing our 1st match.
Great comeback attempt by Arsenal. I'm sure Wenger will stress that as opposed to the predictable weakness of Arsenal's defense.
Arsene is officially on the hot seat. Sad to see my boys fall like that but what a pitiful side to open the year with. Did he think we were playing a mid-week English cup tie?
The fact he had to play a winger up front and a right back at center back when neither position had an injury is weak. COYG
The fact he had to play a winger up front and a right back at center back when neither position had an injury is weak. COYG
I didn't understand that either.
Also confused why Giroud isn't back from Euros yet, ditto Ozil. Especially since Koscielny been back for ~ a week. Kante's been with Chelsea for about 2 weeks.
Ozil came back to training last week, not sure about Giroud though. Per Arsene they weren't match ready and could not be included. He is even rethinking his decision to use Ramsey since he pulled a hamstring in the second half.
I still question why he hasn't done anything to bolster the squad knowing all these players wouldn't be available at the start of the season.
I still question why he hasn't done anything to bolster the squad knowing all these players wouldn't be available at the start of the season.
The latest is that Arsenal won't buy central defender Mustafi from Valencia because they are asking for 30 million pounds but Arsenal only values him at 20 million. I swear, if Wenger were crawling through the desert and just happened to come on a refreshment stand, he would still haggle about having to pay $4 for a bottle of water.
Is it Wenger, or is it because Kroenke is kind of a tightwad? I've never been able to figure out whether Wenger has the money to spend, and just won't, or he's on a tight budget.
From what I understand for a few years the club (well more specially their board) didn't want to spend b/c they had to pay off the debt on the Emirates Stadium. However, the last few years they've had the money to spend should they choose to do so. In this year especially since there is a huge increase in tv revenue. If I've understood the Gunners' situation inaccurately, I'm sure Les or one of the other Gunners on here will correct me (and not just b/c I'm a Blue
)Rishi, you are correct. When the Emirates was built the club made a conscious decision to spend wisely and do all they could by being frugal. However, during the past couple seasons in particular, they have said there was a shift in transfer thinking and they were willing to spend. However, the club never seems to spend.
Entering last year everyone said they needed a CB, DM & ST, but all they bought was Cech. Then in the January transfer window they went out and bought Elneny because of the injury to Coquelin. Now it is said they still need a CB and ST, but they buy another CM a young CB who is not ready for first team action (my opinion) and a young ST who can't even get a work permit in England.
One of the excuses I heard this summer was that Giroud & Walcott could hold the fort until Welbeck comes back. Wenger always looks as guys returning from injury as new transfers since they are additions to the squad. I have no idea what the excuse is for lack of CB coverage, but he knows Kos will be back either this week or next week. So, I don't see him spending much, if anything, before the end of the month.
Entering last year everyone said they needed a CB, DM & ST, but all they bought was Cech. Then in the January transfer window they went out and bought Elneny because of the injury to Coquelin. Now it is said they still need a CB and ST, but they buy another CM a young CB who is not ready for first team action (my opinion) and a young ST who can't even get a work permit in England.
One of the excuses I heard this summer was that Giroud & Walcott could hold the fort until Welbeck comes back. Wenger always looks as guys returning from injury as new transfers since they are additions to the squad. I have no idea what the excuse is for lack of CB coverage, but he knows Kos will be back either this week or next week. So, I don't see him spending much, if anything, before the end of the month.
I can think of a lot of names for Costa..and they'd all get me banned from WC
boro/west brom with an epic train wreck. I feel bad for Negredo.
West Brom is going down their crowd was dead silent.
West Brom is going down their crowd was dead silent.
Pulis is a specialist in keeping teams from being relegated. Tough defensively, 1 point here and there that add up over the season. Guarantees they stay up but never exciting football. I don't say this as a criticism. I like him, and for teams that are desperate to stay up, he is the guy. But if West Brom wants more, they are going to have to go in another direction. Of course, if that new direction doesn't work, they could find themselves back in the Championship.
Chelsea, City, and Man United look head and shoulders better than everyone else 3 games in.
Could be a wide gap between 3rd and 4th this year.
Could be a wide gap between 3rd and 4th this year.
I'll wait until the end of September before getting too optimistic about Chelsea. Haven't played anyone that present problems for our issues i.e. speed down the wings. Once we do in mid September (Liverpool, Leicester in the Cup, and Arsenal) we'll have a better idea of what Chelsea really is. However, if Chelsea can beat Swansea on Matchday 4 and the Manchester Derby ends in a draw, that puts us on top by ourselves. Would be a great start.
Right now I'd put myself in the tempered enthusiasm stage.
FTR, Kante looked awesome this week against Burnley. IMO, Man of the Match (even though everyone will give it to Hazard who was also pretty damn good).
I actually think for long stretches pool have looked like best side they just aren't winning on the scoreboard. Another month and i think a few will pull away, maybe 2 clubs.
Chelsea needs to find some backs quickly. Right now, I only feel confident with Dave out there. Cahill is a concern, JT has started going down hill and Ivanovic... what positive can be said about him. Zouma is likely back in the next few weeks from what I understand, but it will take time to get back to being comfortable.
Kante and Michy are going to be great in my opinion, but I simply do not see many world class players on the pitch.
Supposedly LB Marcos Alonso (Fiorentina) is on his way to London to take a physical. That would at least give us 6 heathly bodies and 7 when Zouma is fit. Still hoping for a CB -> rumour is we'll look at loan options if we can't get the right guy. I like this idea as Andreas Christensen's road to a starting position shouldn't be blocked IMO. He and Zouma are the future.
Everything I'm reading says Chelsea are brining David Luiz back. How do you feel about that signing, if it happens, Chelsea fans?
I realize I may be in the minority, but this would absolutely make my year. David Luiz is my all-time favorite player, and it hurt me when Chelsea sold him. He is a player who you can love one minute for his play and then want to strangle the next. Put him out there instead of Matic and I am super stoked.
I am hoping that Zouma has zero ill effects from the knee injury. Zouma is among my favorite Blues, and think he could have a very bright future provided the knee is solid. I felt that Marco van Ginkel could have had a bright future, yet has not been much since the knee injury.
Wilshere to Bournemouth on loan. Palace was rumored too. Wish he'd have gone there instead. They're a more legit side, IMO. Supposedly Wilshere's decision was influenced by his buddy Benik Afobe, former Arsenal academy player, who's also at Bournemouth. I think he's making a mistake. Could've played w/Yohan Cabaye and Christian Benteke...instead he's with...well, Benik Afobe, apparently.
Serge Gnabry sold to Werder Bremen. Sort of bummed about that one. Thought he had a bright future at Arsenal. Wish him the best in Germany.
Calum Chambers on loan to Middlesboro. Good move for him. He'll get to play CB or DM there, where he needs to develop...not as a 2nd or 3rd string (way too slow) RB.
Joel Campbell to Sporting Lisbon. This is a good move for him. He'd have not gotten much PT if any, had he stayed.
Was really hoping Walcott would've been sold. There were no rumors that he would...I was just hoping.
So going back to last year, that's all of the following that are no longer at Arsenal (at least for this year):
Arteta
Rosicky
Flamini
Wilshere
Campbell
Gnabry
AW showing a lot of faith in Oxlade-Chamberlain by letting all those guys leave and only bringing in Xhaka. This needs to be the Ox's year now or else....
Serge Gnabry sold to Werder Bremen. Sort of bummed about that one. Thought he had a bright future at Arsenal. Wish him the best in Germany.
Calum Chambers on loan to Middlesboro. Good move for him. He'll get to play CB or DM there, where he needs to develop...not as a 2nd or 3rd string (way too slow) RB.
Joel Campbell to Sporting Lisbon. This is a good move for him. He'd have not gotten much PT if any, had he stayed.
Was really hoping Walcott would've been sold. There were no rumors that he would...I was just hoping.
So going back to last year, that's all of the following that are no longer at Arsenal (at least for this year):
Arteta
Rosicky
Flamini
Wilshere
Campbell
Gnabry
AW showing a lot of faith in Oxlade-Chamberlain by letting all those guys leave and only bringing in Xhaka. This needs to be the Ox's year now or else....
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Walcott staying surprised me. At the end of last season, he sat on the bench when you would have thought he would play. It seemed his leaving this summer was inevitable.
I didn't include Luiz in the possibilities to Chelsea in my post last night, because I really didn't believe it would happen.
We needed a live body very badly. Luiz is more than that. Not a great fit for Conte, but gerat for us Blues. Luiz is "the greatest human on the planet" as Graham MacAree says (Chelsea writer on We Ain't Got No History). Was my favourite player post Essien at Chelsea. As Freshjive said above, he can absolutely make you want to throw your remote through the tv when watching sometimes. Then he does a dance and winks at the camera and all is forgiven.
Chelsea will be a better team for him, better on the pitch is tbd.
MVG (aka Bieber's twin) was looking good as PSV last year and would'be either been a backup to Matic/Oscar if Conte liked him in the pre-season or sold to PSV if Conte didn't think he'd fit into his plans. Unfortunately he was injured again so he's staying at Cobham to rehab. Perhaps he sees some time when he's back mid-Oct/early Nov (at least in the EFL). Likely to go out on loan in Jan if he's deemed healthy.
EDIT: re: Zouma, for all indications he's going well. Not expecting much out of him until Jan. Any game time he gets before that I'm looking at as essentially his pre-season. Would expect his time from Jan. to the end of the campaign to essentially be like his 2014/15 early and the 15/16 season prior to his injury later season where he's slowly worked into the lineup ahead of Cahill (expecting Luiz to play as the Left sided CB ahead of Terry once Zouma is fully fit) and be a bang on starter from about March on. Hoping he's good enough to keep his place and help keep us in the top 3 (my goal for Chelsea this year).
Interesting about Palace. I'm wondering how much he'd have played with Cabaye though. Pardew seems dead set on having 2 DM/CM out there with Cabaye which seems like a detriment to the counter attacking style he wants to play. Not sure Wilshere is the defensive presence Pardew would want to play with Cabaye. I'm talking about in the starting 11, not as subs (especially when chasing a game). Not sure Wilshere has the pace be a true box-to-box in a speed counter team.
I like his move to Bournemouth. I think he'll have more responsibility there as a creator. I could see him being an 8 or a DLP or even 10 (in certain situations) there (also dependent on which formation they want to use).
Whether or not his loan is a success will depend foremost on his ability to stay healthy. If he can go the rest of the campaign healthy I'm sure he'll see a lot of PT and then can determine what kind of player he'll be at Arsenal or somewhere else if they decide to move on from him in the summer/he decides to leave.
I personally think Arsenal/Wilshere would be smart to move on/leave in the summer as he's a good player but not better than the options they currently have ahead of him, not to mention future players than Arsenal will buy.
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