Cizzler

I think it's really close - which shows how far we've come in a short space of time. Their back 5 is excellent, they just have zero depth for it. Vicario is a massive step-up from Lloris. Porro and Udogie look like excellent full-backs (I think both would start for us - depending if Moreno can re-discover the form he finished last year in). Romero is a good CB (bit reckless, but a decent player) and they've been waxing lyrical about Van Der Wen all year as signing of the summer. In midfield, Bissouma is now playing a lot better, Bentancur is a very good player and Maddison is class. That's a good midfield three, and Sarr and Lo Celso is okay depth. They're probably weakest in the front 3. Son is an excellent finisher, but struggles to play wide and his hold-up play is poor. Kulusevski is decent, but quite slow. Brennan Johnson unproven and Richarlison was an over-pay. A combined XI is tough - as a lot of the calls are 50/50, and each team's fans will just back the players they see every week. I think only Martinez, Porro, Maddison and Diaby would be undisputed starters in both teams. All of the others are genuine coin tosses and a Spurs fan will go one way, a Villa fan the other (Konsa v Romero, Van Der Wen vs. Torres, Udogie vs. Moreno, Kamara vs. Bissouma, Douglas Luiz vs. Bentancur, Son vs. Watkins).

I don’t really mind if it happens to be honest - as long as any club who joined, was kicked out of the Premier League. I know the PL would be reluctant to kick out 6 of their best cash cows - but this is what would need to happen. The domestic league has to played on the “most equal” terms possible (appreciate we don’t really have that at the moment, but we have the illusion of it, with FFP and [mostly] shared TV rights). One of the reasons why the NFL works so well is because actually, every team is equal. The salary cap is equal and success is punished by a punitive position in the draft next year. Ultimately a closed-shop Super League (with minimal relevance to PL finishing position) would seriously devalue the Premier league - it becomes a B competition. I think a PL could still put out a good product without the ‘big 6’. It wouldn’t be “the greatest league in the world” anymore - but there would be less of an unassailable gap at the top. The international fans would move to watching the Super League - and who can blame them, the best players would play there.

Wasn't impressed by him at the weekend at all. He got completely sold for the McGinn goal and was largely ineffective, but appreciate must be difficult to look good in that current Fulham team.

I remember we did get an incredibly generous foul on Kamara (possibly Luiz, but think it was Kamara) in the first half, when he collapsed under pressure, receiving the ball from Martinez - leaving them with a one-on-one. Not saying the ref was good at all, but that was a very favourable decision that prevented it from going 2-0 even earlier.

There's a reason he no longer takes them. Has a 40% record from the spot in his career. He's a bad penalty taker.

Why on earth would they care - he's 28, we're hardly stunting his development. Can't imagine they loaned him to us thinking he'd be first choice - we'd just signed Torres for £30m+.

Diaby wasn't at the races - but still could have grabbed a couple of assists. Zaniolo was really poor - that's why he's being hammered. Missed our best chance of the half when played in by Diaby (really sloppy first touch, a good player sets himself up to score there), fell over in the box under no contact - when there were great options square, muscled off the ball when tracking back which should have resulted in Forest going 2-0 up earlier 0 but their player skied it. They were just the highlights. He was slow, lumbering, did nothing positive. Emery hooked him at 45 minutes, so clearly he thought so too.

What is Zaniolo good at? Slow, bad first touch, falls over after no contact. A good player scores the chance Diaby gave him. Almost let them score another too with weak defending. Hard to agree with Emery that he’s better than Bailey.

And 1 player between Man United, Liverpool and Spurs combined. Which is the same amount as Luton, Sunderland and Rangers - and two less than Southampton have (3). It's great when our youngsters get international recognition - but hard to question Mark Harrison off the back of one world-cup squad. He's clearly driven our academy forward.

If there are 60 adults : 40 children, and each adult was in a couple - there would be 30 couples : 40 children, so 1.3 children per couple. Obviously some 18+ will be children of the adults - so above is over-simplified, but nowhere near 8 children per adult couple.

He literally just turned 20 in June and already has 24 caps? I’m all for bashing Southgate about being tactically limited and poor selection decisions at times - but find it pretty hard to criticise how he’s phased Bellingham into the England team.

None of these are currently good enough though. Only Gibbs-White, Gordon and Garner actually start for their club teams (and Garner + MGW are playing for two of the worst teams in the league). I don’t see the problem with not calling these players up. It’s not like any really play the same position as Maguire, Henderson or Phillips - which are driving most of the frustration. Maybe Jones could play in the midfield 3? But pretty sure he’s injured and am not sure how good he is anyway. There’s still a competitive game to win and this is the squad for that. I personally wouldn’t have chosen any of Maguire, Phillips or Henderson - but the other options haven’t done enough to justify the outcry in my opinion.

Presume he means Curtis? Although think he’s only played 25 mins of football all season. It’s the same, tired squad with a lot of turgid names - but not sure there’s truly anyone banging the door down. Bowen / A. Gordon maybe unlucky. For all the clamour around Henderson and Maguire, there’s no one screaming out to replace them. Sure, I’d pick Konsa over Maguire but can understand why Southgate is trusting his man. The first XI is full of very good players. The depth is pretty woeful and the style of football will be too.

He got rinsed in the first half which led to a decent Burnley chance too, he rushed out and got absolutely skinned. He read the game fairly well though - made some good interceptions, and obviously his passing is excellent. There was a lofted through ball to Digne that very few centre backs in the league would even attempt. Being able to pass through the lines/ beat the press will be such an asset. Hopefully his defending can kick on.

Still?

Missed loads of players “in the first team squad” United: Henderson, McTominay and Dalot all key members of squad City: Rico Lewis Chelsea: Gallagher and Colwill have started every game for them this season? Broja/Chalobah will be part of the first team squad this season. Arsenal: Again, Nketiah and Martinelli have started every game this year. Smith-Rowe and Reiss Nelson are part of the first-team squad. Spurs: Skipp started first game of the season, clearly key part of first team squad. Will re-iterate it’s a massive shame we sold Aaron Ramsey - really thought he had a great chance at a crack here (especially with Buendia’s injury). The Archer move I understand more. Played well in the Championship and clearly a clinical finisher, but I think our current system demands better hold-up play. I can’t see him being ready to play that role for a while yet (if ever).

I wrote off Moreno far too quickly - thought he was miles off Prem standard after his first few showings - but he obviously finished the season fantastically. Will give Pau a few more months before judging him one way or another. He’s played a couple of really nice passes - but also played a few shockers (but probably judging him harshly as he’s a “ball playing” CB). He’s obviously looked really slow on the half-turn at times - but it’s a new league, at a completely elevated tempo. Hopefully that will come. Have to be honest, I do miss having Tyrone in that LCB slot. Big shoes to fill.

Imagine finding out after their FA Youth Cup win in 2021 that neither Chukwuemeka or A.Ramsey would be at the club in two years time. Pretty crazy that (as of right now) no one from that successful youth team is remotely close to breaking into our first-team.

Pretty sure all of the deals I quoted also had buy-back clauses though. Brewster, Solanke and Trafford's were widely reported.

You didn't answer my question. Why does the 'buy-back clause' mean he has to sign for us? Surely if other clubs meet the agreed amount that triggers the clause, then Burnely can also accept their bids and Ramsey becomes free to negotiate with everyone.

And if he’s an excellent English CM being good enough to start for Champions League clubs, then getting £14m and a % sell-on for a player that we’ve grown through our academy is a terrible deal. It’s not like we can just sign players like that off the street.

And that’s kind of my point. There’s a lot of people with blind faith in the management at this club (which I don’t think is totally misplaced - it’s the most competent bunch in decades). However, no one knows the details of the “buy-back” yet and there is clearly some risk it could end up stinging us.

My personal “catostrophising” is because there is no guarantee of this. If he’s really good (which a lot of people think he might be) - why can’t he just sign for Liverpool/ Man U, etc. after he smashes it at Burnley?

When is ours on Ramsey effective from?

Is it though? A.Ramsey was excellent for Boro last season (top 6 in the Championship) and instrumental in the England u19 Euros win. City have just sold a keeper who was playing for Bolton (in League One) for £20m+. Rhian Brewster went for £24m. Neco Williams went for £20m. Solanke went for £20m in 2019 (with only a loan in the Eredivise). I think £14m is cheap - but again, if the buy-back is concrete, perhaps there was leeway in the fee. You’d hope so anyway.