13 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I'm not liking how physical this game is. Colwill's injury is too fresh on the mind for this.

Yep. Dirty tackle on Estevao there.

We are off our heads if we stunt George's development and opportunities by signing a bang average muppet like Garnacho

Can we have Nevin as pundit for all our matches?

Mata & Hazard vibes with Palmer & Estevao.

Well played the first 45 XI ...

Different team second half ?

At times Palmer is still trying to do too much. Couple moments Delap and George were clear on goal yet ignored the pass.

Potential second half XI :

Sanchez

James, Anselmino, Tosin, Hato

Rak-Sakyi, Essugo

Neto, Enzo, Gittens

Joao Pedro

Enjoyable half, good play , a few choice tackles

Estevao looking the real deal…George has been good too( would be just us to let him go and then buy Garnacho)

Cucerella starting where left off

Jorgensen made a very good save from the free kick

Atwell reminding us that our officials are still top of the tree when it comes to being garbage

Imagine all games being on channel 5 like this, stuff of dreams. The premier league really needs to get their act together with a streaming service like Netflix style.

We were pretty much dominant all half. Estevao is a good player.

Just a reminder Estavao only turned 18 in April.

Honestly don’t want to get carried away but I can’t see how he doesn’t start. Neto, Palmer, and Estavao. Who’s gonna play over him? Saying that we’ve not seen Gittens yet.

9 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

We are off our heads if we stunt George's development and opportunities by signing a bang average muppet like Garnacho

George was okay but him being the first choice on left and we are not ready for the season.

Just now, evissy said:

George was okay but him being the first choice on left and we are not ready for the season.

I'm not saying he is first choice, but he should definitely be the back up ahead of a limited player like Garnacho. Tyrique showed why in that first half ... or weren't you watching it ?

Kid with an Enzo 8 shirt gets Estevao's match shirt. That #8 will be back of the wardrobe post haste now LOL

Edited August 8, 2025Aug 8 by Sexyfootball

5 minutes ago, charierre said:

Enjoyable half, good play , a few choice tackles

Estevao looking the real deal…George has been good too( would be just us to let him go and then buy Garnacho)

Cucerella starting where left off

Jorgensen made a very good save from the free kick

Atwell reminding us that our officials are still top of the tree when it comes to being garbage

We have CL... need a lot of depth and wingers work hard these days. Reckon all these players will play a lot this season.

I for one like the shift from power to skill on the ball, which is clear with the likes of estevao and andrey (not to mention Joao). That should also help Cole as he will have players to collab with. Wonder why the club wasted time with Ugo having Andrey.

Estevao is very young and at the same time looks unfazed at this level esp considering the hard tackles--mostly from Quansah.

Hato coming on - #21,

Essugo and Neto on as well

I think I saw Tosin too

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I'm not saying he is first choice, but he should definitely be the back up ahead of a limited player like Garnacho. Tyrique showed why in that first half ... or weren't you watching it ?

I was. Again George was okay and I am not sold of Garnacho but he is not the solution. Squad player for sure but should we look to loan him out...?

What were the subs?

Just now, Drogba1 said:

What were the subs?

Tosin for Chalobah

Neto for Palmer

Essugo for Caicedo

Hato for Cucurella

Edited August 8, 2025Aug 8 by Sexyfootball

I agree re George. Tidy footballer. Doesn't have any outstanding traits, but also no clear weaknesses. He is decent to good at everything and plays with a maturity betraying his age. I'd much rather keep him and build him than go for Garnacho. He might never be a world beater, but he's a tidy little player with a good work rate.

Garnacho on the other hand may have more talent but he has some clear deficiencies and his football intelligence is lacking. Add his reported attitude issues and it's a clear no from me.

Palmer, Estevao, Simons, Neto, Gittens and George, with Enzo and Joao Pedro being able to fill in is more than enough for the 3 positions behind the striker. Especially if Jackson ends up staying.

Edited August 8, 2025Aug 8 by True Blue23

Cole is gone as well. Good after that nasty tackle in a freaking friendly!

Jury is out on Delap. Pedro is obviously going to be leading the line and Delap coming on to close games out. Batshuayi level of signing.

Delap needs to hold up the ball better

Just now, acaeus said:

Cole is gone as well. Good after that nasty tackle in a freaking friendly!

Yes I thought Neto had come on for George, but it was for Palmer

13 minutes ago, Term_X said:

Imagine all games being on channel 5 like this, stuff of dreams. The premier league really needs to get their act together with a streaming service like Netflix style.

It would be amazing, but between Sky and TNT, they paid around £7b for this season. I don't know how the Premier League would make up that money through streaming alone. I could imagine it would cost a lot just to subscribe.