Starting to see some options in our squad now. With Sancho, mudryk and probably Madueke gone, Who will join Neto on the other wing? Could it be Jackson ?? Will Santos get a chance or be sold ?? Will Delap make the grade ? More questions than answers because we still haven’t got a cast iron top player coming in, but more youth, potential and fingers crossed. Oshimen should be our striker, guaranteed to do what we actually need. And the goalkeeper and left back ?? No change yet. Liverpool will be stronger and could even open the distance to whoever comes 2nd. I am expecting no more than a similar season to the last for us unless Maresca adds speed and directness to his style which I don’t think he’s capable of.
I think Delap and Joao Pedro were sound signings, though in Delap again we have gone for potential, rather than someone who may hit the ground running in an Osimhen. Santos will give us extra cover in midfield, where we were light last season what with Lavia's injuries. It will be good to have him available to jump in next to Caicedo rather than just enzo. If we signed a keeper and a centre back, we could at least make a challenge for the title IF Delap grabs enough goals. Without those signings, then top 4 is the best we can hope for again. I agree with your view Maresca's tactics, our team often feels lethargic and laboured, like every player has 20kg weights strapped to their ankles. It took its time but its taken the wind out of Cole Palmer, these tactics and I feel sometimes they just need to be let off the leash, especially against the smaller teams who defend deep. In the big games we tend to put in a decent performance, even if we didnt win, but last season against the Ipswich's and Fulham's of the league we were way too robotic. Even if we dont sign a centre back, we NEED a keeper or we aint winning ****.
For me the most interesting player will be Gittens, not seen too much of him but what I have has been encouraging to say the least, he is very direct and looks like a real talent that I hope he can replicate in the Premiership.
Gittens and Estevao will be interesting, am looking forward to seeing how we improve attacking wise next season, though I think part of the issue is how Maresca sets the team up. Defensively though, we are still vulnerable, the goal keeper situation is a big red flag for me, because none of our keepers are very good, despite how many we have on the books. Kepa has been the best keeper we have had since we sold Courtois and he has just gone to Arsenal to be a No.2 to Raya, so that should show you how bad it is for us. I dont rate Sanchez or Jorgensen at all, Petrovic looks to be on his way out, despite having success on loan abroad last season. What has happened with the Maignan bid? I know we failed to get it done before the CWC started, but since then its gone quiet. EDIT: Never mind, confirmed earlier today he is staying at AC Milan, which means we are back to square one. We need a keeper desperately, when you have a No. 1 as bad as Sanchez, then your squad has a ceiling, regardless of whoever else you sign.
Yep, he has looked the best of them all, hit the ground running. Gittens, Estaveo, Santos , Tyrique and Achampong will all need game time , but we still have no back up for Cuckoo, who is heading for burn out. Lots of options , but Maresca has stifled more players than he’s improved, Palmer, Gusto, James, Nkunku. He’s our biggest problem unless he changes his slow motion obsession.
Despite saying earlier I wouldn’t watch the US version of the Club Comp., I admit I will be watching tonight. I’m in Paris as it happens and every pub and bar has a big screen, so “when in Paris !!!” BIGGG job ahead, hope we go well, and especially play for each other, stay calm, focused and play to our strengths. Don’t expect a win, but hope we give it our best shot and make it a proper game.
Having to be very diplomatic in Paris, surrounded as I am by PSG mania in a very nice bistro off Rue de Sevre. Not a Blue shirt in sight, so just a squeak from me when the 1st one went in, lip biting required for 2nd and 3rd. Crowd getting restless, but quieter bar a couple of well oiled kids.
Oh I hate that. I once went round my mates house, this was late 90's. And my mates old man was a Man Utd fan, and a mean ****, used to knock ten shades of **** outta my mate and his siblings, was a military guy. Anyway, my mate started supporting Blackburn just to piss off his old man, cos they were competing with Man Utd for the title at the time. So, I went round his house to watch Utd V Chelsea at OT. My mate said "whatever you do, if Chelsea score dont celebrate. Because my dad will do nothing there and then, but I will get the belt when you leave for inviting you over....." Utd went 1 up, then Babayaro equalised and I had to stifle my celebration so bad.......so my mate didnt get his teeth kicked in.
Self discipline of the highest order. Have to say most of the PSG support in here were resigned to the score with 30 mins to go and it was all a bit of an anti climax. stunned as I am with the win, I’m even more stunned Maresca let the shackles off. Bodes well for the season. Time for a celebratory coldie, and off to bed for me, happy as a lark.
I have been talking **** about this tournament, and it has been goofy as **** at times, but all in all, am glad we won this.....will build our rep globally, earn us loads of bucks, and if it pisses off some rival fans, then thats just a bonus. Cant wait to get back to English football though, bloody yanks
Me too, can’t say I agree with anything about the concept or execution of this event. America has proven to be crass, tacky and vacuous with sport, all piss and wind, bull **** and show. Their home grown sports are ex-clusive, for giants only in Basketball, monsters in armour for American “Football “, bands, dancing girls stops for TV ads all reduce the sport to second place. Still the game against PSG showed the uncertainty of football and the inclusivety of all shapes and sizes in our game. Maresca seemed to release the brakes, Gusto became a player again, Palmer roared into life, Trevoh was great and the Team became a Team. And we won, so bonus.
