thunderball

… under the press and pass to Steer who hoofs it clear?

In fairness to AEG, he does score them when needed

Nakamba can only pass backward can’t he?

We might be two up but we are pretty slack at the moment and inviting trouble. This passing around the back is embarrassing considering we are a PL side.

He’s not dislodging Young any time soon is he?

Has he got one, because his earlier effort wasn’t at all?

I hope the Ramsey’s get on second half. Did you see Aaron’s cheeky free kick vs ‘Boro?

Gilbert is struggling to shine tonight too

Have to say I would expect Hourihane to be bossing this but he isn’t, in fact I reckon the game would be better if Hourihane and Nakamba were subbed off at half time. We aren’t playing at the pace or technicality we can and Barrow couldn’t live with.

Decent goal. WTF is Cameron Archer Target looks very rusty and nervous.

I know, but they have the talent to turn that around. Last season after a poor start their second half of season form was excellent, in fact one of the best. They have only improved on that squad. If they click, Arsenal could be top 6 again.

I read some where that 55 points usually would get you 8th place, so we were unlucky. Is the question of "improvement" will we finish higher or with more points, not necessarily the same question - we could finish with fewer points but higher, or with more points and lower? How do we gauge improvement? I would suggest where we finish below Europe is irrelevant as long as we improve our metrics: Goals for; Goals against; % Possession, controlling games; shots for; shots against; clean sheets; xG; xPts etc. If you improve those, you would hope to finish further up the table but that doesnt necessrily follow. There is also perception: do we have momentum for example, after everyone has bedded in? because last season we stuttered after Christmas and we dont want that again. I guess all things being equal progression means where we sit amongst our peers - the second tier (without sounding too presumptuous). Who of those around us will we finish above: Leeds, WHU, Arsenal, Leicester, Spurs, Everton all finished above us and dont intend to roll over, and Brighton and fading star Wolves will likely want to finish above where they did last season and that means above us in 11th. This is not an easy task, but we could conceivably improve but a good season might only see us finish say 9th. Its fine margins, we ll know the games we dropped points in last season, and we arguably have already vs Watford and it wont end there. I think anything above 9th is a very good season and all those metrics will be improved also. Back on topic - this does suggest we cannot be complacent and two more very good players would help this cause enormously, not just in general performance but going the course of a full season, in all competitions with a strong squad.

With a tiny bit more discipline, urgency, coaching and luck, Traore is a very decent player, glad we have him.

Completely with you on this. It’s the most important area of the team but our weakest. Not popular but I don’t think McGinn is worthy TBH, defo a v good squad player but for me he hasn’t shown enough consistently nor meaningful output for two years. If we signed eg. Bissouma and Sabitzer we are transformed I reckon.

I don’t think Spurs have much cash. This is also why I don’t want them selling Kane because I reckon they would be a much stronger proposition without 28yo Kane and £160m to spend in the same market we are buying from. They are a rival at the moment, their tradjectory has been downwards since their CL final and ours is on the upswing. That may change with Nuno and £160m to spend.

McKennie: From an Italian site - calciomercato.com: They suggest Tottenham have Ndombele, who would deter a move, but Spurs want a swap deal. “However, it is a cash-only offer that is teasing the Juventus management: it comes from Aston Villa, a club that certainly does not lack money after the sale of Jack Grealish and which in recent weeks had also made some reasoning precisely about Ramsey. But McKennie is now the goal of Aston Villa, already rejected by the American a year ago when he then accepted the Juve court without thinking twice.” https://amp.calciomercato.com/news/allegri-boccia-mckennie-la-juve-lo-spinge-via-l-offerta-arriva-d-37114?__twitter_impression=true

What, in a really angry way?

In fairness Tammy looked pretty handy for Roma. He looked really busy and sharp, more expansive than I remember him. He’s going to enjoy his time there I think. I wish him luck.

From @Whispers: "hourihane declining 2 offers to outgo. 1 more offer for him still on tables with replacings ready to move quick" Not sure if he is more Meerkat than Yoda?

Great result. That’s settled nerves and averted a mini crisis brewing. Brentford will be a much stiffer challenge however. We played better but still way off where we need to be which will hopefully come with more playing time (this is our preseason) and the return of Targett, Watkins and the introduction of Bailey. Dougie played well and settled us down. Midfield still doesn’t look right and not sure how it will be fixed unless there is a significant high quality addition. A few things concerned me but Buendia not finding his groove isn’t one of them: Martinez looks out of sorts; Mings looks shaky and as though he has some weakness this season; Young was OK but would rather Targett back at his last season best; we have lost that defensive solidity; we have no discernible pattern of play or attack, we seem to be winging it at the moment but fortunately we do have sufficient quality now to pull something out of the bag occasionally. I am not expecting much this season and fear we might suffer a few embarrassments in the September sequence of games as we are a little loose, before we find our feet and hopefully kick on.

Not officially but lots of noise that we have.

Watching Brighton v Watford, just shows how poor we were last weekend, it really was 3 points dropped.

He would. But Is he worth double what Anguissa would cost?

I’d happily swap a 26 yo AEG for a 21 yo Damsgaard, he’s got a very bright future and already delivering.

I reckon £15m today. If he had a scoring habit (which I don’t think is far away) £20+, he’s as good as Willock or better. I think he could be another McGinn, which may allow us to sell McGinn at some point. His brother is meant to be even better. We have some really very good youth for years to come, it’s such a turnaround in fortunes.