Keener window-cleaner

I didn't hink there would be many times I'd say that I hope Olsen starts (except for Sweden), but I agree with you. They didn't press so much so he shouldn't come under so much pressure and can build some confidence playing with his feet. With the goal difference we have it should be risk free even if he makes a howler or two. It's important that he gets some minutes and gains confidence.

Normally at this stage of the transfer I very much hope that we will make signings and most of all a big blockbuster signing. I still think we need a new back up GK, a RB and a winger/striker. But I fully trust Emery and it seems like he has built a tight knit group with a good vibe within the team and with players who can play in different positions. As much as one signing can come in and give the team a big boost and change the whole dynamic, I guess the opposite could happen as well, someone comes in and makes the dynamic and vibe worse. I'm also fully in line with bringing in fewer players and to take care of them better, bedding them in carefully. So for the first time in amny years, perhaps ever(!), I'd be satisfied if we don't bring in anyone more at this time. Regarding the attacking positions we have raised the level with Diaby and Zaniolo. With Bailey hopefully finding form and Traore free from injury, together with Ramsey coming back, I'd be satisfied with them togheter with McGinn, Watkins and Duran, and now even Cash as our attacking options. We can review it in January. And perhaps save the money and go out and spend big on Nico Williams or someone of that ilk next year.

Exactly, it's just wonderful to see that we finally have a settled way of playing, having possession and dominating games. We are not reliant on individuals, we are like a well oiled machine that different players can go into. This was so nice to see against an inferior team like Hibs, before I would have been nervous as I'm used to see us struggle against the weaker teams where we are supposed to have the initiative. Now I'm confident, I know we will go out and dominate. I also get that sentiment of nervyness in defence with the high line. But having looked at it closer in pre season and our first games of the season, I feel more confident. Yes we have a high line, but as Martinez plays so far out of goal, and as we have several players on their toes to rush back and who are fast (like Konsa, Digne, Kamara), the times we are overplayed in our high line there are actually on very few occations that either Martinez doesn't get the ball first or one of our defenders manages to rush back and disturb enough to hinder a clear chance. It hough does requie that we have at least one CB who is quick on the turn and really fast. Hence Konsas big importance. One advantage with the high line and the 4-4-2 is that when we don't press, we get really compact with the whole team congested in the middle of the pitch, making it quite difficult to play through. So in essence, my same worries as you have are not as strong anymore

I paid some extra attention to the formation as well when I saw the line up and agrre with you, in defence the basic formation was the 4-4-2 we are used to, but with Konsa RB and Cash RW. In attack we often did what we usually do: the LB pushes up, LCB drifts out wide left and creates a back three with the RCB and the RB. The LW drifts centrally and creates space for the LB to push forward. Then as said there are often some tweaks in the formation and tactics, for example I thought Cash played a bit more as a traditional winger, whereas Bailey in the last games played slightly higher up. In addition to what you have said one feature I think I noticed was that when we were under much pressure in defence, it at times looked like the wingers dropped back on the outside of the full backs, making it almost a straight 6 man backline. Another thing is that in the basic 4-4-2 in defence it looks like Kamara has a slightly more defensive position than Luiz. I think that's interesting, I would have thought that Luiz and Tielemans would be the first choice, I thought Tielemans was an even more intelligent player and better passer than Kamara. But as Kamara has been first choice, and played in that seemingly more defensive position, I guess he is picked as he is better defensively and faster than Tielemans. Perhaps better suited to our high defensive line.

Yes it's a bit worrying how easily he got turned there, if it wasn't a goal it would have gotten as noticed but now it did. His passing is really sublime, brings so much to our attacking play so even if he continues to be weak defensively I think he brings more to the team than not. Though I'm sure he will improve and adapt. What I was a bitt worried about before was that he looked a bit slow on the turn and not so rapid rushing back when we played a high line, but I didn't see any weakness in that aspect today. Too bad with the goal, but hopefully it will be a lesson learned and good that it was in a game that we won nevertheless.

Ok mate. Of course you can simplify and just focus one one small part of a series of posts to be funny. It's not alway easy to find the right words for a non native Enligsh speaker, but normally I would assume that you try to understand what someone means, not just picking out one line. If you read the post and the ones thereafter I think it should be clear that it was not just about if he "looked up", it was about his general style of play, that imo is a bit too much of hit and miss, a bit of a headless chicken, and that was one example of it, perhaps not fully valid and should have been better explained. If you compare the two assists and look closer at them it is what I mean, a difference in the playing style. Imo Diaby has really good awareness, which could be seen today, he plays a one-two with Cash so he sees and knows where Cash is and plays a perfect pass to him. Last week end Bailey took a heavy touch and cut it back in a dangerous area (which of course was good, it lead to a goal and it was probably what he could have done in that moment) but it was imo - and that was the point - an example of his playing style, a bit of hit and miss and an element of luck to it. It can also be compared with Watkins assist today, I'm not sure he knew if Cash was there or if it was meant as an assist or not, it also had an element of luck to it, and Watkins passing is also imo not top notch. That also compared to the assists that Digne has got know where you can see that he knows exactly who the cross it meant for. Not as much hit and miss.

I'm a bit surprised by so many negative comments of his performance. As I saw it he did one dodgy thing, when he made that bad direct pass back to Kamara. Perhaps on some occation he was out a bit too far in the penalty area. Otherwise made one or two good saves, but didn't have much to do, looked solid and calm. I was about to come on here to say that I don't think his good performace today was much of an improvement, more that many have a bit of a wrong perception of him as he was thrown in against Newcastle away, Man U, Man C and Liverpool and looked quite bad in those games. Today was a steady game like we are used to see him for Sweden, when not under too much pressure his dodgy passing doesn't show that much. Still would prefer a seasoned 30+ keeper used to the PL as back up, and he will struggle against the better teams who presses more. But today I think he was good.

I don't agree at all, look at it again. When the first cross comes in it goes out towards Digne, too far out for him to go and try to collect. If he had rushed out there he would have been criticized for rushing out. Then when the shot comes in the moment after he has a good position, but can't save it. A quite powerful high shot from short distance, can't fault him at all for that. I think pau was the one that was at fault, he got turned way to easily.

Haha yes indeed, and hopefully he wont spit towards the fans either! Yes slightly ungainly was a perfect description, I couldn't really find the word in English to describe it, his movement looked a bit slow (but probably isn't, just that he is tall so it gives that impression) and he kind of swayed and mostly used his left foot a bit like Savo did, also that he went past players in a way you don't really understand how he did it as it looked like going in slow motion. Very very promising debut!

I think it was a bit of a typical Watkins performance, gives a lot to the team, his hold up play has improved much, but he also took some too heavy touches and misplaced passes. I think his assist summarised him quite well, a good run, a bit of a heavy touch so it seemed like he had lost the ball, then I'm not sure if he meant going for goal or if it was meant as a pass to Cash, so a bit of an element of luck in that move, too me it looked more like he was going for goal. Not that it makes much of a difference though as it went in. I was a little bit surprised by his body language as well, throwing out his arms at times. Now to try to prevent some potential overreactions, simplifying and misunderstanding as in the Bailey thread last weeked - This is not meant to purly focus on the specific move at the pass, whether he meant it or not, that example is part of a larger reasoning.This is also not meant to be a negative rant, I don't think I have written much or any critical comments about him, so it's not part of a critical crusade against him either. I think he is great for us where we are now, I love his work rate, his running and pressing that is so valuable, his goals for us and he has really improved his hold up play. In general I'm not sure if he is good enough for a top four team - which I want us to aspire for, mostly because of his heavy touches and sometimes dodgy passes. As he is such a willing learner I'm quite curious about how he will deliver and continue to improve this season. If he does, which I of course hope, I think he can go on to be our main striker also when we have serious Champions League-places ambitions.

He was really good, loved the flashes of skill he showed at times and improved at holding the ball. Looked to be on another level, but also what I would expect from a signing with his price tag against a newly promoted team.

Wow what an impact he had on those minutes he was on, he really found a lot of space and saw much of the ball. He didn't seem to need any time at all to adapt, very promising! He somewhat remides me of Savo in the way he runs and plays.

Many thanks for that!!

He doesn't need to, people who think that haven't played the game themselves!

Haha oups right! but won us a penalty!

Clips of the goals are highly appreciated!

Definitely! And what's impressive is that he once again just comes on and scores. Normally players need a run of games to get into form, Bertie just goes out on the pitch and does his thing Perfect to have that kind of wildcard player in the squad. edit: won a penalty...

Super that he has scored in successive games, must be great for his confidence. I'm not sure what position Zaniolo will challenge for, but I recon it's Bailey's. Don't know how he played today but if he keeps scoring it wont be easy for Zaniolo to walk into the team.

Thanks, nevertheless good for his confidence. I guess the slower tempo/intensity made it easier for him to pass it around.

Fully agree, but perhaps it's him wanting a move to be first choice? Only a couple of years ago he was in the France squad competing for a staring place, so I can understand if he wants to play regularly. But now he is doing that and difficult to drop on this form so he should stay

Kept a clean sheet! I couldn't watch the game, how did he play?

I just love it how we are now sweeping a side inferior teams, previously I was always a bit anxious when we played lower divison teams in the cups, now we have a settled playing style, we control the games and we run them over! Stevenage lesson learned. Happy times!

I trust that they are doing what’s best for the club and for him, but I really wanted to see him and JJ play together in the first team

It could well have been a routine they worked on, a good cut back into a dangerous area nevertheless, blindly or not. Regardless of one perhaps not valid example, I’m not sure Bailey suits our possession based style. I think Bailey is too much of a wild card who is not a good enough passer. But perhaps Emery wants that kind of player up to the right? Of our previous wingers I think Adama Traore and Grealish are examples of two extremes, Traore the wild card who was a bad passer and no good for keeping possession, but could make things happen by chance. Grealish on the other hand the exquisite passer who could keep the ball. For me Bailey leans more towards the wild card, he quite often overhits passes or tries something and looses the ball. The slight improvement I’ve seen under Emery is that he keeps it a bit more simple and makes some safe back passes. As it is now I think we should upgrade on him to be able to compete with the top teams and to play with possession. He can be an impact sub, a wild card to throw on. Now if he delivers like the last game and improves his general play then that’s fantastic and he will save us a lot of money!

Buuu! He was the one I wanted the most this transfer window, but he was probably always not fully realistic to get for where we are now.