And, we’re off.......2018/2019

[Dan2501]

This is by no means a dig because i play as much FM as you would care to imagine, but this had me howling. I see im as more of a Segundo Volante!

The Regista and the admiration of Yarmolenko makes me know you play loads of Football Manager Dan :Rofl:

Haha - I do play FM indeed sir. And nah, he's not a Segundo Volante - that's a more defensive role than the one Jorginho plays. Bakayoko fits the mould as a good SV though - he's one of the best Segundo Volante's on FM - just a shame about real life. Looking forward to seeing how Sarri uses Willian as a Raumdeuter this year

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Other clubs spending millions of £s trying to catch the club that has spent the most millions of £s last year and won the League by 21 points.

Sounds like a good business plan, what could possibly go wrong.

 

[Jates12]

It’s not just about the top 6 and signings though is it?

Liv, will all their signings be happy being squad players, will it upset established players?

Only Signing we have made that will be a squad player IMHO is Shaqiri. Keita is a replacement for Ox who, as we know, is out all season and Fab is a direct replacement for Emre Can and obviously Allison will start in goal over Karius.

Im more concerned about Wijnaldum, Lallana et al being worried about now being squad players.

 

[Jates12]

Haha - I do play FM indeed sir. And nah, he's not a Segundo Volante - that's a more defensive role than the one Jorginho plays. Bakayoko fits the mould as a good SV though - he's one of the best Segundo Volante's on FM - just a shame about real life. Looking forward to seeing how Sarri uses Willian as a Raumdeuter this year

:rofl: The best SV ive had was Neves from Wolves. Worldy. Im just waiting for someone to snap up Walter Gonzalez from Pachuca (On loan from olimpia), he is a goal machine at every level and an out and out complete forward, a work permit may be an issue though when we leave the EU!

 

[Dan2501]

Neves very good - Danilo Pereira from Porto is also brilliant in that role. Can't say I've heard of Gonzalez. Will add to the shortlist

 

[Dan2501]

Leicester have just signed a new centre back - could Maguire be on his way to United?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Only Signing we have made that will be a squad player IMHO is Shaqiri. Keita is a replacement for Ox who, as we know, is out all season and Fab is a direct replacement for Emre Can and obviously Allison will start in goal over Karius.

Im more concerned about Wijnaldum, Lallana et al being worried about now being squad players.

Sturridge? By all accts he and Shaqiri have had a great pre-season, yes it’s a good headache for any manager to have, especially with the CL as well, but not all players take to being Squad players.
Keita was signed before Ox, so not really a replacement.
What would be your best XI?

 

[Deleted member 1418]

The 'new man' is hardly a huge name though. He's done reasonably well with Napoli without winning anything. That's it. After two years of playing wing backs the players will have to adapt to 4-3-3 now as well. They've signed Jorginho and Kovacic, fair enough, decent midfield signings if they settle quickly. They've spent a vast sum on an inexperienced and very young keeper, who I cannot see being an upgrade on the excellent Courtois by any stretch. They're still relying on the woeful Morata up front. Hazard desperately wanted to leave and hasn't got his wish, so we don't know how focussed he's going to be. I think their season is very up in the air.

Nope, our new man isn't really a 'name' and hasn't won anything. But then again Poch wasn't really a 'name' before he joined Spurs, but look how he's turned out - one of the best in European football currently and wracking up the silverware at Spurs............oh hold on!!!

As for Courtois - how many times did you see him last season? I thought he had a terrible season compared to his few previous ones so cashing in now when he clearly wanted out and with only 1 year left is good business. Morata - yes a tough first season in the Premiership; but anyone who thought he was going to be a like-for-like replacement for Costa was either blind or an idiot......or both.

As for Hazard, do you know him personally to know he desperately wanted to leave? The interviews/quotes from him over the last few months have always been along the lines of 'may be the time to leave, but if Chelsea say no then so be it'. I'm expecting him to have yet another great season at Chelsea........provided he doesn't leave of course in the next 6 hours.

There were quite clearly major issues at Chelsea last season between Conte and his players, but still ended up finishing 5th (up until the last 2 games were still in the running for top 4), qualifying for Europe........oh, and winning the FA Cup. That's actually not bad for a club that was clearly in turmoil!!!

And with Sarri looking like he'll give plenty of game time to a few of the exciting youngsters we've got coming through I'm optimistic about our season. Yes we won't win the PL, but I think we'll definitely have a squad that will finish top 4. Those that are playing CL this season will have far tougher seasons than Chelsea.

 

[Jates12]

Sturridge? By all accts he and Shaqiri have had a great pre-season, yes it’s a good headache for any manager to have, especially with the CL as well, but not all players take to being Squad players.
Keita was signed before Ox, so not really a replacement.
What would be your best XI?

Yeah sturridge has had a great pre season, i was including him in the GW, AL and others.

I know Keita was signed before Ox but with Ox being injured he wont have to split time was the point I was making.

My best side would be

Alisson

TAA - Lovren - VVD - Robertson

Keita - Fabinho - Henderson

Salah - firmino - Mané

 

[PJ87]

West Ham sign Lucas Perez .. 4 million plus 1 million add on

Tidy player to add to our squad

Apparently 2 more to add today one rumoured to be Sanchez the Columbian who got sent off in the World Cup aha

But the squad is getting some depth main thing

 

[PJ87]

If we're doing predictions:

1. City - just too good. They'll win it again.
2. Liverpool - made some solid midfield signings and sorted the keeper issue out. They'll push a bit harder but City will pip them.
3. United - Mourinho is just distracting us all and getting his excuses in early, but their squad is still solid.
4. Spurs - a lot may depend on what happens today in the market, but if we don't sell anyone we don't really need to buy anyone. Our squad is pretty solid as it is.
5. Arsenal - done brilliantly in the transfer market, and they'll push us very close for 4th.
6. Chelsea - not sure about the new keeper, not sure where goals are coming from if Hazard has a strop because he didn't get a move away. Not a lot of strength on their bench either.

Relegated:
Southampton - Mark Hughes is their manager. They still don't have any goals in that team either.
Brighton - much as I like Hughton, I don't think their squad is good enough.
Cardiff - they've got no chance. Championship squad with a Championship manager at the helm. They'll be lucky to get 20 points, never mind 35-40.

Your squad is solid but you need to spend 50 million these days just to stand still

Risking getting overtaken with a poor window

 

[Orikoru]

Nope, our new man isn't really a 'name' and hasn't won anything. But then again Poch wasn't really a 'name' before he joined Spurs, but look how he's turned out - one of the best in European football currently and wracking up the silverware at Spurs............oh hold on!!!

As for Courtois - how many times did you see him last season? I thought he had a terrible season compared to his few previous ones so cashing in now when he clearly wanted out and with only 1 year left is good business. Morata - yes a tough first season in the Premiership; but anyone who thought he was going to be a like-for-like replacement for Costa was either blind or an idiot......or both.

As for Hazard, do you know him personally to know he desperately wanted to leave? The interviews/quotes from him over the last few months have always been along the lines of 'may be the time to leave, but if Chelsea say no then so be it'. I'm expecting him to have yet another great season at Chelsea........provided he doesn't leave of course in the next 6 hours.

There were quite clearly major issues at Chelsea last season between Conte and his players, but still ended up finishing 5th (up until the last 2 games were still in the running for top 4), qualifying for Europe........oh, and winning the FA Cup. That's actually not bad for a club that was clearly in turmoil!!!

And with Sarri looking like he'll give plenty of game time to a few of the exciting youngsters we've got coming through I'm optimistic about our season. Yes we won't win the PL, but I think we'll definitely have a squad that will finish top 4. Those that are playing CL this season will have far tougher seasons than Chelsea.

1. Not comparable - we were not at Chelsea's expected level when we appointed Pochettino. And he still hasn't won anything with us, so would Chelsea be happy with the same? Expectations are different. Usually Chelsea appoint managers who've won titles, because they expect to win titles.
2. Courtois was the best goalkeeper at the World Cup, see no reason why he wouldn't carry that into this season. Regardless, he's gone now.
3. Yeah, by all means Hazard seems like the type who may just knuckle down and play well anyway. But since you haven't sorted the striker issue, there's still a hell of a lot of weight and expectation on Hazard's shoulders.
4. On giving time to youngsters - what was the point of signing Kovacic today then? I bet Loftus-Cheek and Barkley are well pleased with that.

 

[Orikoru]

Yeah sturridge has had a great pre season, i was including him in the GW, AL and others.

I know Keita was signed before Ox but with Ox being injured he wont have to split time was the point I was making.

My best side would be

Alisson

TAA - Lovren - VVD - Robertson

Keita - Fabinho - Henderson

Salah - firmino - Mané

That first team pretty much picks itself, other than maybe TAA/Clyne. Maybe Matip if he regains any form. Stronger bench though with Shaqiri, plus with all Sturridge's problems, I think a super-sub role is probably perfect for him now. Even he must admit he can't manage playing week in week out. He'll be like we had with Ledley King years ago - manage his playing and training time and get some decent cameos out of him when needed.

 

[Orikoru]

West Ham sign Lucas Perez .. 4 million plus 1 million add on

Tidy player to add to our squad

Apparently 2 more to add today one rumoured to be Sanchez the Columbian who got sent off in the World Cup aha

But the squad is getting some depth main thing

Depth??? At this rate some of your players won't be able to make the 25-man squad!

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Yeah sturridge has had a great pre season, i was including him in the GW, AL and others.

I know Keita was signed before Ox but with Ox being injured he wont have to split time was the point I was making.

My best side would be

Alisson

TAA - Lovren - VVD - Robertson

Keita - Fabinho - Henderson

Salah - firmino - Mané

Like I said, it’s a great problem to have, but if the results don’t come then it could create upset amongst the fringe players.

 

[PJ87]

Depth??? At this rate some of your players won't be able to make the 25-man squad!

A few are leaving today on loan.: hugill, byram and Fernandez I believe

However MP has said he won’t count long term injuries in the squad so he could be set to leave out Reid, lanzini and the greasy pikey

 

[pbrown7582]

Youve only signed Fred, Dalot and Lee Grant.

Who is this second quality midfielder?!

andreas

 

[Jates12]

andreas

Pereira? a player that played around 1000 minutes of football last season that yielded 1 goal and 3 assists. If you united fans see him as a quality midfielder for this season your standards are seriously dropping.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

1. Not comparable - we were not at Chelsea's expected level when we appointed Pochettino. And he still hasn't won anything with us, so would Chelsea be happy with the same? Expectations are different. Usually Chelsea appoint managers who've won titles, because they expect to win titles.
2. Courtois was the best goalkeeper at the World Cup, see no reason why he wouldn't carry that into this season. Regardless, he's gone now.
3. Yeah, by all means Hazard seems like the type who may just knuckle down and play well anyway. But since you haven't sorted the striker issue, there's still a hell of a lot of weight and expectation on Hazard's shoulders.
4. On giving time to youngsters - what was the point of signing Kovacic today then? I bet Loftus-Cheek and Barkley are well pleased with that.

1. Of course it's comparable! You appoint a manager who you think will develop the team, take the team and club forward with the expectation that they will win trophies (and ultimately match the ambition of the owner/board). For years Spurs were way above Chelsea in terms of expectation levels and ambition - not now. Personally I don't care who manages Chelsea provided they get the best out of the players and challenge for honours. But if I was a Spurs fan I would now be questioning whether Poch is the man who will deliver those. And don't forget the longer he doesn't the more likely Kane, Dele etc start looking towards clubs that can match their ambitions.

2. Yes he was the best GK at the world cup, but the last couple of seasons at Chelsea he wasn't at his best. And for those last couple of seasons there was always rumours of him wanting to leave and go to Real. So personally I'm happy he's gone. Good bit of business bringing in a younger keeper who - I imagine - has a lot of ambition and wants to prove himself at what he may perceive to be a higher level.

3. So why say he was clearly desperate to leave then? If he was that unhappy he would've surely done similar to Courtois and not reported back for training and forced through a move? IMO he's easily in the Top 5 players in the world and has been for a while so level of expectation from him is no different now to what it was last season or the season before, irrespective of the striker situation.

4. Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, League Cup. Chelsea will be challenging on all 4 fronts and therefore need a squad with enough depth and quality to compete in all four competitions, particularly after a World Cup (although apart from Hazard, Willian, RL-C and Kovacic), not many of the Chelsea boys had especially lengthy stays in Russia). I would imagine the youngsters will be given plenty of game time if they don't go out on loan anywhere else today. I expect there will be a few movers out of Stamford Bridge by the end of the day, but probably the likes of Drinkwater & Bakayoko (which is a shame as I think he would be better this season).

 

[Dan2501]

Courtois has been brilliant since he got back from Atletico; think it's a little bit of sour grapes under-playing his performances now he's left. Also think the "replaced him with someone younger" take is being a little over-played. Courtois IS older, but he's only 26 which is still young for a goalkeeper, and Kepa turns 24 this year, so there's only 2 and a bit years between them - hardly like Arsenal replacing Cech with Leno.