I have a feeling it’s going to be the Gyokeres day. Leeds are in town for today’s game and we must have practiced some more fluidity among the new signings after a disjointed Man Utd game. We won’t see Eze in the line up today unfortunately but it’s a done deal and he will soon join the pack.
Havertz picked up an injury. He was a direct competition to Gyokeres considering Mikel’s system and his preference to play a #9 who excels in dirty work rather than scoring. The primary reason he didn’t sign a striker so far and have tried to push Havertz, Merino, Trossard in that role. Not that any of them were total failure but we lacked a 20 goal a season player and someone who could make a difference on his own in games where the opposition just likes to sit back and defend. With Gyokeres, we are trying to fix that problem. Havertz’s injury is sad news, at worst – he was a back up to Gyokeres if the Swedish fails to deliver or picks up an injury. But the silver lining out of this I feel, is that, he now knows it’s all him we got and he doesn’t have that additional pressure to score in order to keep his place for the next game(s).
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Leeds were the Championship leaders, finished with 100 points and are always a threat. We can’t take them lightly. Chelsea thrashed West Ham last night, announcing themselves in the Title run, and with Liverpool eyeing an Isak move, Pep throwing money anywhere and everywhere, it would be a very tough season. We won the Man Utd game in a very dirty display and we just need to build on it. Lets go out there and win, keep ourselves 6/6 points and there are some massive games coming up from next week – Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle in next 4 games.
In the team news, we won’t have Kai available due to his knee injury. Norgaard also has some discomfort and will not be available. The RB situation is a bit messy, both White and Timber are a doubt for the game and it would be interesting to see who Mikel prefers if they don’t make it. I am guessing one of MLS and Kiwior would have to do it in the worst scenario. Jesus will be out for some more months, while everyone else is fit for the game.
I am expecting a back 4 of MLS, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori unless one of the White or Timber are available. It would be the usual midfield of Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice with a front 3 of Saka, Gyokeres and Madueke. Martinelli might not make it, because Mikel loves his new suits and Martinelli had a stinker last weekend. I am a Team Gabi but unless he gets back his old self, I won’t complain if Madueke starts ahead of him. After all, we need to know if the 52m GBP we spent was worth it.
Farke, Leed’s manager, was very clear about his approach in his pre-match conference. He promised an attacking game and that he won’t sell out their DNA by going defensive and parking the bus. Well, we love these kinds of oppositions. I am pretty sure they won’t change, Bielsa’s shadow stays with you till eternity. It would be an exciting game and one of those where Odegaard might gets his praise.
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What’s your prediction? I am hoping we get to see the mask celebration today at Home for our new no 14. Saka doesn’t like 2 bad games in a row so he will score one too.
2-0 to the boys, with a much better performance compared to last game; also preparing for the next week’s 6 pointer against Liverpool at their home.
Right, that’s all for today. Man City playing Spurs in about a minute, it’s a bit of a pickle because both of them can’t lose the game so i would take it if both of them drop points. Let the Spuds cherish 1 point after losing on Eze. It happened again.. It happened again..
Cheers
Frank has Spuds playing either quick route one or good one touch through the lines making City chase the ball and look scrappy.
Deservedly Spuds are 1:0
Spuddies just gone 2 nil up.
They have a good record up there in recent years.
2:0 to Spuds with crazy football by the City keeper.
Pep has to change things or face a heavier defeat. Eze would have been a great fit For Franks tactics, so we really have put a dent in their rebuilding.
Time for Pep to play his talisman DM Rodri?
Ambarish
If Farke plays attacking football, he’s playing into MA’s hands with our mean defense.
Should be a comfortable win for us as Imposted on the last thread.
Tony
Today is as much about the performance as the result – we need to get some rhythm into our game before we’re away at the Scouser’s next week.
Might be a couple of players looking to make an impression with Eze (passed his medical about an hour ago and terms agreed) about to be announced officially.
Totally agree, Marc, enjoy the game and Tolly
Toties win 2-0 . Was good Eze moved this side. But think Arsenal can beat them . We are absolutely impermeable at the back . Plus Pep is still confused and overthinking , not to detract from Frank being no nonsense guy
Tony—I think it’s important to remember that not only were City playing a rather dire Wolves last week, the Spuds have had Pep’s number for some time now…even when they sucked, like last year, they won at the Etihad…Spurs were good on the press and took their chances, whereas Marmoush missed a grade A opportunity that might have changed the outcome…I do agree that I think it’s not wise to judge City too harshly until Rodri is in the starting 11…he’s the table setter at both ends, when he’s fully healthy
Marc—you will never convince me that Ozil wasn’t a Wenger buy…his quiet disposition, at least back then, and his ability to marshal Arsene’s “pass the ball into the net” tactical objectives, made him a latter days Wenger wet dream…I think Gazidis wanted Di Maria, as that was the predominant rumour being bandied about, then all of a sudden it was Ozil…no one thought MO was leaving Real, as.he was by far their best facilitator…I think Norg said it earlier, Wenger had grown tired of Sanchez’s diva-esque antics, even though I heard he was simply demanding that we show some more intent in the transfer market, and the fact that Ramsey had rejected his re-up, provided Ozil with more than enough leverage to secure the most ridiculous and undeserving of raises…I might of thought a bit differently if we had won some major silverware during his time here, but if that were the case I highly doubt such an offer would have been required
we had better beat the living shit out of a bang average Leeds side…I feel for you Marc, in that if this were to happen the Kool-Aiders will be signing Arteta’s praises throughout the night…good luck with that
sorry KP, I didn’t mean to suggest that you didn’t have a solid Ozil argument…I probably shouldn’t have ended ny diatribe with a cunty “enough said”…it wasn’t meant in that way
“my”
I was almost right, Martinelli on rhe bench while Madueke starts ahead of him.
Timber made it so no need of MLS at RB.
Max Downman on bench, his family must be proud of the 15 year old.
Good to see Eze walking out. Happy to have him with us. Also happy Dowman is on the bench.
I still think a rotation of Noni and Saka from right to left makes the most sense…unlike Noni, Saka has shown that he can actually produce some goals on the left…it could be a risky proposition, as there will be a notable backlash, but I always felt that Saka was a more all-around dangerous player on the left…just imagine if we played Eze in the left-sided 8, along side both Saka and VG, with Ode, Noni and Timber on the right, we would be incredibly difficult to defend against…talk about a much more forward-thinking balanced attack
We look disjointed like last week in an unbalanced way with little traction in left MF. Noni not getting the support he needs same Marts.
As you say TRVL LW and RW need to switch during games.
surely if Ode is injured it will be Ethan and not Merino…anything longer than a short stint out will mean that Eze will become the presumptive starter for Ode…of course if it weren’t for the whole Rice agenda, you could have both Ethan and Eze on the pitch together moving forward
Same old same old then. £260m to be the same as last season.
Did Spuds look same as last season?
32 minutes against an a well drilled side and no shots on target.