villaglint

Got serious money burning a hole in their pocket. Might as well do something with it. It is an interesting divergence from the “model”. Will be interesting if it can kick them on as I’m sure they’ll be hoping.

Can't think of one who has featured in 1st team at all under Emery. I'd agree it would be better to protect Cash but he's probably one of the fittest players at the club and once everyone is fit I dont see him starting every game this season. Think away especially we will often go with Konsa RB.

Don't we need 2 more ** trained at club players in this list? My reading is the squad must contain 8 players trained in nation or club and four of those minimum must be trained by the club. I notice Feeney and Revan were on bench against Hibs presumably for this reason.

Just in case you were planning to go to the game a day early. Its tomorrow not tonight.

I'm going with this. Olsen Cash Chambers Torres Revan Tielemans Dendoncker Traore Kellyman Bailey Duran 1st team players on the bench in case they are needed. I dont see Feeney being used and we dont have many other options. Think they will be wary of overloading Carlos' gametime in these early weeks and I'd expect him to start again Liverpool.

IF there is anything at all int he Felix rumours it seems we are gambling that Barcelona cant make it happen and we are first in line if that is the case. Reports seems to suggest Saudi's would be ahead but who knows. It seems very high risk strategy from us as I cant imagine we'd have any other fall back options as I am sure Barcelona will be working to the wire to make it happen. Would have prefered it if we moved on for someone who WANTS to play for us. That said as much as a bell as Felix seems he is a very gifted player and I could see him thriving in our system. Maybe these "top end" players are what can make the difference for a top 4/5 finish and thats why Unai is happy to wait it out.

You missed out Bailey.

I know Hibs are crap but I feel like it'd be a bit disrespectful to only field 10 players.

Think they will be thinking the same about Diaz, Nunez, Jota, Gakpo, Salah against Diego and Torres. Torres obviously not the quickest and even Burnley managed to get clear through from simple through balls a couple of times.

He’s obviously first choice but we need a backup. Right now that’s McGinn but he’s leaving a hole on the right, hence Cash playing there against Burnley (to great effect). Ideally we’d have McGinn and Bailey/Zaniolo for right and Ramsey plus one more for left. Personally I think we’ll go with what we have in midfield. Really need a striker though.

I’d agree that is a key area but also a striker. If Watkins gets injured we are really screwed.

Strangely though loads of teams play two up top now which is what he needs to be successful. Just not the team he signed for. Moyes is very rigid with his tactics.

Hospitality is full of the biggest idiots you will ever meet. Money and booze is a bad combination. Also it’s now massively expensive but booze is all included so club are effectively asking punters there to get as pissed as possible to try and extract any kind of value from it.

Spent the weekend with a good friend who is a die hard Barcelona fan. His opinion on names we’ve been linked with. Fati - brilliant player no idea why Xavi doesn’t trust him more. Ferran - average, not bad but not good and not good enough for Barcelona. Abde - good player doesn’t see him leaving.

Interesting we haven’t gone back in for Guendouzi. Does Tielemans mean we don’t need him. I had in my head he was more advanced and would play the McGinn/Ramsey role. Losing Buendia, Coutinho I feel like we need one more player there. Think I saw a quote from Unai saying we won’t replace Buendia which leaves us light in that position for me.

Blank cheque was never going to happen for us.

Fiorentina are my second team after living there last summer. Seems fitting that they get knocked out to Rapid. I’d fancy them to do enough to get through in the second leg though.

1 full match - 1 assist. Welcome back Diego.

We lose a lot with Mings being gone but I expect us to be more dangerous from set pieces now. Mings was poor in an attacking sense given his size. Both Carlos and Torres are more dangerous from corners I think.

Could do with getting his season going with a goal as well.

What about a world police/Iraqi style interim government that will allow democracy to flourish like a beautiful flower. Worked really well last time! According to big Tony anyway.

Hypothetical question - if someone manages to get a bullet in Putins head does the world become a better or worse place?

Agreed - every year people think we will finish the summer pulling a rabbit out of a hat and signing a superstar but that never happens. Those signings are made early. It’ll be someone who makes sense for us and the squad but isn’t necessarily the big name the message boards get wet over.

This is why the likes of Felix, Ferran and Abde are desperate to distance themselves from us. Just trying to stay healthy. Can’t blame them.

You’d think but I don’t think we’ve been linked to a single striker all summer.