Also worth bearing in mind there are a LOAD of very good players out of contract in June. Just off the top of my head: Zaha Trossard Skriniar Tielemans Asensio Ndicka Mac Allister Kamada Aouar I'd imagine a bit of a scramble for some of those signatures in Jan.
2 key wishes... 1. Trossard please 2. No one with a surname beginning with an N followed by a consonant pretty please....
PSG’s front three’s stats this season in all comps are an absolute madness. Messi - 16 games, 11 goals, 12 assists. Neymar - 17 games, 13 goals, 10 assists. Mbappe - 16 games, 16 goals, 4 assists. Ramos also assisted Messi’s goal today (albeit it was a bit Tom Carroll-ish)… imaging thinking you’d be saying that just a few years back.
Just to repeat what I said last week. FATIGUE Both Chelsea and Liverpool suffering this week. Even Man City struggled without their injured beast . The commentators praising Leeds and Brighton but that's not how I see it. Those teams are taking advantage of the fact that they have a whole week between games as opposed to teams playing in European competitions. Newcastle especially are taking advantage.
100%, that’s why I’d rather miss out on Europe than qualify for the conference league or even Europa. Without European football, you have a huge advantage in the league over rivals. Newcastle will likely be in Europe next season so will need and will have a bigger squad
Been a few notable non-reds this season eg Reece James McTominay, more than once each probably, yet also notable for complete lack of media interest.
Brighton have the option for another year for Trossard. Mac Allister's contract runs til the summer of 25 with an option for another year.
1. It goes with the territory (about to qualify for UEFA land : begin thinking about strengthening your squad big time) 2. Any "fatigue" in the Spurs squad has little to do with injuries and much more to with the skill of the manager in rotating his squad + use of subs (more so for the latter in a season where FIVE subs are possible) .
Because most of the squad players are not at the same level as first teamers. Except Deki and Richie who are both injured. Romero too. Is that 'skill of the manager' true about Klopp and Potter?
1. There are no "first teamers" . There is a SQUAD. Within that squad there are eleven who will collectively be the best combination in both attack and defence. 2. Said combination cannot play every game for 90 mins all season. The manager therefore has to make changes. More so in a season such as 2022-23 which has serious fixture compression due to WC 2022. 3. Said changes have to be done on the basis that the on-pitch team may be weaker than the best combination but still be strong enough to get the job done. On #3 I have seen little evidence that Conte has done anything of the kind other than when injuries/bans to his "favourites" forces his hand. Which has resulted in certain players being run into the ground while others have not been given the opportunity to spread the load in support of the cause. On this point I will say in advance that the team sheet for the League cup tie will IMHO speak volumes on the point.
I generally agree with your 3 points. 1. I have said the same. I specifically said first teamers and not first team, because we have in the squad players who are not good enough IMO. It is when you put the blame on Conte that I see our differences in opinion. We haven't got a strong enough squad for point 3.
Man Utd are very Spursy at the moment (not playing at their potential best, but the results are coming regardless) .
It's insane what can happen if your squad gets gutted on free transfers Anyway, about Leicester players we can pick up for nothing next summer...
Just watched Plymouth vs Exeter (could’ve probably gone too it!), game of the season so far from what I’ve watched, finished 4-2 to Plymouth. Proper derby, end to end and only major difference was that Plymouth had the quality to finish more chances. Plymouth have a player on loan from Swansea called Morgan Whittaker, looked a real baller based on that performance, checked his stats for this season, had 6 goals and 3 assists in 16 games, bagged a goal and two assists tonight in a MOTM performance. Played as one of the two behind the striker.
Cracking equaliser for the 2-2. Speaking of lower league madness, I know a Charlton supporter that left their game early. They were losing 2-0 to Ipswich at the time. He missed two 2 goal comebacks by his team! Edit: Charlton have uploaded the whole of injury time as a video. 10 minutes of lunacy.
