Brigadeiro

At least he'll be able to say he's not joining a winning side already 🤣

Most likely because Martinez isn't a deadly finisher as well, even though I like him and would consider signing him if Haaland or Lewa aren't really available. He's just a different kind of striker than what we're supposedly going after. A bit more similar to Leipzig's Werner, which is why he had a great season alongside the "true 9" Lukaku for Inter.

Baba's touch is so poor, even last game when he got the assist he lost it there for a second. Finding Sarr a little bit raw so far, kinda off with his positioning and not really imposing physically. Chalobah's been the more impressive one.

That way Partey intercepting a RLC pass for either Kova or Ziyech I think. On the other side it was Elneny who lost the ball for our chance. Loving Hudson-Odoi, causing them lots of problems. We probably won't see lots of it on the season since Chilwell won't be playing inverted, but it's a nice option to have.

Plus 1 & 1 always makes 3, right? Right?!

I believe the only one with a feesible chance to get a spot on the XI (most likely a 12th player) is RLC in place of Kovacic if he's now fully fit and ready to kick ass. Besides the 9 situation it's the only other place up to grab IMO. Jorgi and Kante are a lock, and Kova is a very reliable option just missing that final pass or shot, if RLC can bring back his runs from deep in the Sarri days we may well stop complaining about lack of numbers from midfield. Based on this game I'd keep Chalobah, Broja and RLC for the squad. I liked Rahman's directness as well, which was a bit of fresh air after Alonso impersonating Eden, although he seems a bit sloppy or reckless.

Pretty sure Zooms was the one who took that photo! Right @Valerie? 😅

Btw, if anyone's a bit disappointed and wanted Varane, this Kounde news appeared on the same day that United pretty much confirmed their deal, so it's possible that we were trying to negotiate with him but maybe we're unwilling to double his 170k/week wages like Utd is rumoured to do. I would love to give them Alonso or Emerson... Lets us keep Happy, please...

His English was fine, it just didn't look like he meant any of his words 😅

Ziyech is an awful liar

Mendy learned the triplets technique with Kante and stopped the sure goal

Will we ever win a game with the new kit though?

🤣 Respect our captain! (It's a captain armband on Alonso's arm, right?) Who would've thought we'd live to see this day!

1st pic: Nah, he looks soft as a puppy. 2nd pic: Okay, he can impose himself, let's get him! Can't trust my judgement at all... 😅

Honestly you could say that about every single transfer window for them and they're always not delivering somehow and having to repeat the cycle looking for the holy grail. Needed a CB, signed Baily, then signed Lindelof, then Maguire, then Varane, then... Needed a CM, resigned Pogba, signed Matic, then Fred, then Bruno, then Van den Beek, then... Though I'll admit it's the first time in ages I think they've got good deals for the money instead of overspending, let's see if the tenth time's the charm.

Funnily enough, had this weird nightmare in which we were playing Arsenal (I think, can't really say for certain), losing 2-1 and in the last breath of the match JT flicked a ball to Eden who didn't hit with power and their GK saved it. Then woke up to this news. Hopefully he'll get a job with good chances of either staying in PL or promotion from the Championship.

I think Barkley will stay for the season actually. I believe he's that player that impresses coaches at training, works hard and at the same time it's a relaxed environment where he can produce just fine, plus he's versatile (equally not good enough everywhere), so is someone helpful to keep at the squad considering our shortage of midfielders.

New content! I'll go right away on twitter to post "I'm told Roman isn't happy with Mr. Leaker so he'll send him on an underseas trip. If it's not a trip then I'm told Mr Leaker will become fish food." Seriously, those damn "insiders" should just shut the f*** up and come here instead start a thread cause they seem to know f*** all like ourselves.

@Paddy Oh for sure, and I do agree with all your points above about "luxury" and such. To be on the team he's gotta start producing and putting the effort consistently. I'm hoping for the best because we can see he's talented, so all we need from him is attitude. When you say he doesn't look confident in himself is the part where I start wondering if he's really one for "tough love" like Frank said, because most of times he looks exactly like that, not confident at all to go out there and stamp his authority on the game. Maybe what he needs to perform is some "cute love" and most likely he'll get it at a mid-table side where he's the star (think Zaha at Palace). I do hope he starts performing here though, because as you stated, he earns like a top player already. I do think he's upside as an attacking RWB though, he's a liability alright but has also shown commitment going back to defend our own area (I can't recall the game, but remember him doing a last ditch tackle/interception to save us). It can be effective whenever we have to take the game to our opponents (most of the times). Nevertheless it would require lots of work and to find some balance on the team whenever he's out there trying to be a menace on the right. We could do it considering Chilwell can provide some discipline over the left side and Reece keeps improving as RCB (plus Azpi).

Don't know if you all seen that video in the official app where it shows Callum training some long passes with Mendy. I was pleasantly surprised that in the last one it was a poor ball from Mendy, and Callum desperately goes for it trying to get it under control and I thought to myself "Well, I believe he isn't overthinking anymore" as iirc it was a simple long ball trap that got him his injury.

I remember that Frank also said something about CHO needing some tough love, although from the outside he seems exactly the opposite, like someone who needs to be embraced all the time. Dunno which one is it, but hoping TT can bring the best out of him, think his development will be pivotal to our title chances. He scored on our intra squad friendly yesterday, and seems to be "the star" of our preseason videos so far. Hopefully he's out for a truly breakout season and I believe he's the tools to do it at that attacking rwb position.

@Gol15 No problem, mate! I was the one kinda off-topic so no wonder you got it mixed up. I do think we all have to be careful so this doesn't become another Jorginho x Kante x Kovacic never ending debacle. Werner and Tammy both bring different things to our side and so far in terms of team play I like better what I see when Werner is on, even with his personal failings which I'm hoping he'll improve (especially that bloody first touch). If/When Tammy improves his main weaknesses like aerial play, holding up the ball, being a bully/nuisance to the defenders in general instead of being frustrated by them, then I can see him getting that 1st spot, even if we have to adapt tactics/players again. But so far it seems Tuchel doesn't see enough to put him there or it could be he's not improving because he's not getting regular football here. Either way I will trust Tuchel on this one, both because he's proved to be a capable manager and he does have confidence in young players if they're good enough. It's hard debating without actual games happening... Come quickly season!

If we're really selling Tammy for 40m and replacing him with 50m Lewa, I think it's a good enough deal. Similar to the Kepa deal where Courtois money slashed the fee in half (but still didn't make it worth it)

Oh, I think you got me wrong. When I said youngsters aren't trusting the club, I meant those 16, 17, 18 year old who aren't renewing their contract, because they believe they've a better chance going for a mid-table side instead of going out on loan. Which they're entitled to do, it's well within their power although we'd love them all to stay and replace our Bakayokos, Drinkwaters and Zappas... It's just sad because at 21, players like Jorginho and Kante hadn't made their debuts yet in a top league. Sometimes it does pay off to have some patience. On Tammy, he is absolutely right on wanting to leave (that is, if he wants to... don't think he said anything clear yet), because atm he's indeed the 3rd option. Maybe not even that. Whether that's fair or not it's up to debate. I want him to stay as the 2nd option, just don't think he'd settle for being that. I believe that at the start of the season he thought Frank would let him lead the line with Werner being his partner and then things went downhill (for everyone). Tuchel arrived and tried him twice, probably thinking in going with him as the 2nd option, didn't like what he saw in 45 minutes and off he goes to the 3rd option again... So the best decision is letting him go for 40m, so he'll flourish and we'll get money to spend on someone Tuchel will actually use. Hopefully.

People comparing Frank's and TT's youth policy (wrongly imo) also seem to forget the situation we were in when Tuchel had arrived (besides everything @Argoalready pointed out). When exactly should he be integrating youth in the 1st team? When we were already 9th/10th with 17 games to play in the PL trying to reach 4th? When we were facing Atletico in the CL so we could concentrate in the PL? In the FA Cup which was the only truly realistic salvation to our season? Even so he still found a few minutes for Anjorin, had Livramento on the bench iirc... it's not Tuchel's fault that this new generation of players aren't trusting the team to give them a chance. It's both our bloated squad of fringe players from years ago + the overall quality and age of the current team. We lost Lamptey to Brighton, and it's a shame, but maybe that's exactly what made us win the CL with Azpi there at the right side when he could've been left out as it was starting to happen under Frank. Anyway, Tammy... Decent striker, good enough for 2nd option at our side considering his upside, but won't stick around for that and good for him. Will wish him all the best wherever he goes.