Fuckin’ hell, we haven’t seen proper football since ages. We have three world cup winners in our squad, though Raya couldn’t get a start (remains a mystery to me) and Zubimendi played just about the minute you needed to finish a plate of tikka masala. Mikel Merino outdid Ronaldo in the world cup in about 1/5th of the minutes he played, but hey, we surely don’t want to be in a situation to give him a start.
Right, fuck those Spursy cunts, I am happy football is back and thr starting line up is out.
Raya starts in the goal – no wonder there. We have gone with a back 4 of White, Mosquera, Gabriel, and Calafiori – which makes sense considering Saliba and Timber are out. Mikel has finally come to senses and given Lewis Skelly a start in the midfield alongside Rice and Odegaard. We have got Saka, Havertz and Tzolis starting up front. Gyokeres wouldn’t like it to be replaced by a part timer but you can’t really do much if your manager prefers someone else.
That bench looks solid as well, Hincapie, Eze, Gyokeres, Madueke, Nwaneri, Merino, Zubimendi, Dowman and Kepa are players fit to start in any of the Premier League teams. Maybe not Kepa, but he is a Premier League winner so who knows.
Coventry – a club that’s back in the Premier League after 25 years would be hoping to put up a fight at least, and the first days always have some surprises, but I am sure it won’t be this game. I am very interested to see the front 3 combination, whether Havertz has improved him scoring ability and how he links up with Tzolis and Saka.
No Martinelli on the bench means it’s over for the Brazillian. I always liked him, and I have nothing but praise for the kid. He would certainly be in the list of what could have been, just below Wilshere, if things have gone a bit differently.
Right, that’s me done. My laptop finally gave up to the extent of no return, that’s why you don’t see a complete makeover of London Is Red before the season begins. I am still searching for a good one.
See you in the comments.
Arsenal given final deadline to submit £128m Julian Alvarez bid to complete transfer – football.london https://share.google/ZXEV6bIuawyjaJFGe
Fuck Athletico, fuck fucking Someone and fuck the player if he doesn’t want to come. I recognise he’s a decent player but you don’t want to be held hostage by a bunch of snivelling cunts like that.
Simeone of course …who’s really a no one not a someone. What is it about Argentine football that it produces so many wankers? Rhetorical question: I know the answer.
TRVL
Arteta will be under real pressure if he doesn’t bring in a left sided forward – how motivated will Martinelli be to perform for Arteta after being punted round all summer.
Tzolis is making a massive step up from the Belgium league, Madueke looks poor on the left, Eze doesn’t look great on the left.
The left side should have been our first priority – we’ve spent circa €225 million so far and only one player isn’t a defensive signing.
I’ll say it again – why the fuck weren’t we in for Barcola?
Vera
“looks like both Endrick & Rashford have rejected our advances.
the fact that Barca wouldn’t pay his(Rashford)26M release clause does give me cause for pause…clearly they saw Gordon as a considerable upgrade, which means he shouldn’t be good enough for us”
Yet another episode of jackanory from Vera.
Ornstein said today that Alvarez has talked to Mikel and doesn’t want to go anywhere else than Barcelona. So, that chapter is over.
Now, with 60+ games, and one LW in Tzolis, who is new to Premier League, can we do better than Trossard+ Martinelli?
I doubt that.
I would rather play Zubimendi at LW than to bring in Rashford, don’t understand this infatuation me
Ambarish
With you on the Rashford love in – he’s OK but for what he’d cost (salary as well as fee) w could do a lot better.
Liverpool still looking weak at the back.
We’re running out of time to sign a left sided forward – what odds there’s a panic buy on Monday / Tuesday when Arteta finally realises Alvarez isn’t coming?
What really over priced shit have Chelsea or City got that they’re looking to offload?
I see no problem if we don’t sign another left winger, I also see no problem playing any of our left footers on the left as Gyokeres (when playing)will benefit from a winger who feeds an early low ball across the face of the goal into the corridor of uncertainty rather than a winger who 90% of the time will cut back on to their favourite foot.
Anyone who understands how a striker like Gyokeres plays will know that playing with a wide player who constantly cuts back onto his favourite foot will do him no favours.
I’m not Gyokeres biggest fan but we certainly don’t play to his strengths, playing a left footer on the left will give him the confidence to make those runs in the knowledge that the ball will arrive…
Getting your excuses in for Arteta early?
You’re actually advocating having a weaker squad this season than last.
No need to make excuses Marc , unlike last season we have Havertz , Saka and Odegaard 100% fit.
If I had a choice I would go for Ndiaye to replace Martinelli and Alvarez to replace Gyokeres, though I believe we will still win the league without any additions.
Spudmageddon! Notable that their unwashed hordes of cnuts couldn’t even be bothered to jeer their team of abortions off the pitch.
Wicksy
So which of Havertz, Saka or Ode are you going to play on the left wing? Rumours are Martinelli’s agrees terms so we’re going to have Tzolis (unproven) as the only natural left sided forward. You’ll be telling us playing one of those three or Eze on the left isn’t shoe horning next.
I won’t even bother with 100% fit as players are fit until they get injured you berk.
Marc—I find it difficult to believe that Arteta would sell off Marts without having a backup plan to his backup plan to his backup plan to his backup plan…you get the point…if it’s not Alvarez it will likely be something so stupid that we’ll be inundated with fake news narratives being floated about by all our paid online “media” hacks for the next month or so
I think we missed a trick by not pursuing Cherki last season when Ode was dealing with injuries and an extended period of poor form…with that in mind, we need a player or two who can create their own opportunities in spite of the manager…just like MA, Enzo probably still sees a player like Cherki as a bench option unless he continues to produce each and every time out…I still believe that the best defence is a good offence and if you look at the most dominant “dynasties” in modern footballing history you will find that they likewise prescribed to that philosophy
…Spurs just need to go out and sign 11 new players.
Getting the sense that De Zerbi’s honeymoon period might already be over.
TRVL
As I said yesterday – what odds on a panic buy when Arteta realises Alvarez doesn’t want to come.
The Spud’s have 4 problems that need sorting.
1) the owners are cunts
2) the managers a cunt
3) the players are cunts
4) the supporters are cunts
Sort out those 4 little issues and they’ll be fine.
Martinez is a good signing for Chelsea – Sanchez was a fucking liability.
Cherki is quality as is Eze, they both play similar roles in the team in that they are not regarded as first choice but produced fantastic moments for their respective clubs despite not having the full trust of their manager, to suggest that we should have signed Cherki last season is nonsense as he would play the same role as Eze.
For me , Eze and Cherki should be first choice though Odegaard does look back to his best but he does have a tendency to look elite when we are leading by 2 or 3 goals. At present he is first choice on merit but with 2 cup competitions coming in the next few weeks we can expect the squad to be utilised with the likes of madueke, Eze, Gyokeres, merino , Dowman, Zubimendi etc to be given game time