so do we actually have any real links to any players... I mean are we still on about the same two or have we done anything to get a new player.
Van Dijk confronted about Liverpool interest The Daily Express has an interesting story about Virgil van Dijk on their website today. It’s reported that a Southampton fan spotted the defender in a restaurant and popped over to chat. Posting as LeBizzier69 on the popular online SaintsWeb forum, the fan claimed that van Dijk went quiet when confronted about Liverpool’s interest. The fan wrote: “Double V D has just been having dinner with three of his entourage a few tables down from us. Took daughter over to his table after she wrote “don’t go” on a napkin. Seemed nice enough until I said he was too good to go to Liverpool. All went a bit quiet then. That virus cleared up fast
So someone interrupted while enjoying a meal with friends was unwilling to start discussing his career plans in public with a total stranger. Shocker.
The stand out player that we missed last year was Mané not Coutinho. Not trying to make out we won't miss him, we will but we manage well enough without him, we don't without Mané. So who is our star player?
They did pull a rabbit of the hat. They changed from a back 4 to a back 3. And never looked back. I am not sure what major system change or player improvement they can carry out this time. In fact they have lost 2 key players: Costa and Matic.
Look I think they'd not have lost at all barring that red. 1. morata is better than costa but was benched 2. hazard is injured 3. pedro is injured 4. they cm replacement is half fit 5. rudiger needs to get used to prem. Within a month? their team will be back... but they could well have fallen off the title pace.
pretty low act putting your little daughter in the face of a player. you want an autograph ask nicely for one. you ant to make a point wait til the guy is leaving.. manners these days eh?
Right there. No way would Chelsea have expected to lose to Burnley (who only won once away all season) of all teams. Chelsea will definitely be back. But IMO they are not stronger than they were last season. Only 2 teams have improved: the Manchester clubs. The others Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and LFC have stayed the same or become weaker.
Cheslea have IMO just changed personnel but i would be far more worried about their manager whining that i would about their team strength. their first team is frankly still IMO better than citys. but.. i think their cohesion is gone... I really do. Courtois Azpi Luiz (shown up saturday) Rudiger (they will buy vvd) Moses Kante Bakayko Alonso Pedro Morata Hazard Like... its an immense side... IF they want to play... drinkwater won't improve that, van dijk would be interesting... but its just the way it is... they have not quite the squad. Spurs are the same.. great first 11 imo... if a little weak with son (who i think is a runner not a real star) but take out kane and it all goes tits up. City have lots and lots of players but they look soft to me... they can be dynamic but i think sides with resolution can get at them. CB is still the issue there.. they should buy VVD. Then utd.. they are stronger and taller and more brutish than ever of course.. but mkhitaryan and mata add the needed guile. they have the game mourinho wants to beat up the bottom half and get the results v the top half to put them in the title race. they have the squad mostly to compete on all fronts Then arsneal? remains to be seen who stays and who goes... once thats decided then they could be a strong outfit... soft as well.
At this moment, I make City the stand out favorites. They have the attacking force of last season but seem to have improve significantly on their defence.
They've basically done what we should have done. Listening to Klopp and the gangs excuses is getting tedious. It's obvious we need defenders. Stubborn owners with a wenger-lite manager. Buy someone ffs. What's up with buying Koubaily and the young Sanches. If anything it'll make training more competitive.
they should be yes but i think come winter they might just find they are still a bit soft. they actually played all 3 cbs v brighton but kompany is THE main man. everyone wants to go 3 at the back now... I can see some team ripping the ****e out of these sides with deep crossing shortly I think city will rip up sides when playing well.. huge pace etc... wet tuesday night (not at stoke) lets see.. I think cheslea cannot afford to have a bad 3/4 games here at the start. nobody can... ahem LFC LFC must win v palace. palace were wide open v huddersfield.
My view is now coutinho as had his moment you go out as a strong club and buy his replacement and let them fight for the spot this season. If that meyer or whoever... get it done. IF nothing else the guy gets 12months to get a sighter. Anyone remember aldo coming in? IMO to take no action is to go backwards i nthis league. Coutinho said his bit, if he stays grand but I actually want to see him replaced this summer not hope to find someone sometime i nthe future. Same with keita... well you ****ed that right up. who's next to be looked for? Same with VVD... well ok you screwed that pooch so badly is bit your dick off... move on.. get the needed work done. If your roof was leaking in august you'd not sit and say ah well the following june i'll get something done about it would you...
Look at the players who didn't play, Sane, Sterling, Gungodan, Mendy and Toure. Thats the depth that wins the title. And they still have players like Bony, Mangala, Delph, Roberts and Nasri, who they can either use as back up or just sell. Its between the two Manchester clubs, and its no surprise that they're the two biggest spenders this year
Forget Coutinho. It's just performing as a perfect smokescreen for not buying what we need. He's gone. **** him tbh
One of the few positives I could take from that game was the fact that we could still create and score goals (one a real peach of a team goal) without Coutinho. Obviously I'm not saying he doesn't improve us, I'm just thinking that perhaps he isn't the great loss we are fearing. I've said since this all blew up that I didn't want to sell him at any price because I wanted to see what he could do behind the current front three. However, his recent behaviour (or of those people pulling his strings) have undermined this. I can't see how he can continue to work with Klopp after turning on him in the way he has.
It is a definite must win as any other result will lead to more questions. 1 or 2 points against Watford and Palace simply not good enough. It looks like Frank DeBoer was taken by surprise by the Huddersfield tactics. May be FDB hasn't yet come to terms with the premiership. But he may get his team more prepared although he is not Big Sam and we may get some joy against them.
gundogan IMO will be key when he gets back... sane and sterling are subs to guardiola, they don't have the brains for it. Mendy came late so i think he will start shortly. Toure was kept and is a risk... he could be extremely disruptive if he doesn't get games. Mangala is the 4th cb, the others are pure deadwood... and issue we would like. I agree it will be between the two city clubs, nobody else will match them all year, spurs will dump all cups and get top 4.. Chelsea and arsenal dog fight for 4th? Not sure.. We had a good front 4 situation just maybe going to happen but now its a top 3 with nothing behind it of real note... i would not back lfc for top 4 this year... we hugely over achieved v the rest of top 6 last year and we are now no stronger so the only way to match last year is to be MUCH better v bottom teams... and oh oh... 3-3 v watford. I think the title will be going to manchester and i think city will chase all 4 cups. IF LFC want a cup they need to focus purely on one and hope not to meet city. Laague cup i think we have no hope in... city will win that just due to when it is on. fa cup?... i hope we take it more seriously and get a bit of luck.
