With my earlier post I mention Ceballos and Willian. But I didn’t mention Saka. All three played yesterday. I still question this belief that’s doing the rounds here that we’re lacking creativity in midfield. With Willian, Ceballos and Saka in the team how on earth can we lack creativity?

In my view the best midfields need balance with a mix of different types of player, rather than jam pack them with creative midfielders. It wouldn’t surprise me if a midfield four of Brady, Hudson, Hoddle and Gascoigne (a mix of arguably Arsenal and Tottenham’s most creative midfielders since I’ve been following football) would get overrun by more balanced midfields. Especially if you have an ultra-creative front two of Charlie George and Ginola in front of them.

I’ll be in a minority on this, but I still question why Willian, Ceballos and Saka won’t give us sufficient creativity for the modern game.

Because in 24 games last season Ceballos scored no goals and got 2 assists in the premier league. Kevin De Bruyne got 13 goals and 20 assists. We aren’t asking Ceballos to mirror that but if you have aspirations of getting into the top 4 you can’t have such little output coming from the middle of the park. Everyone can see this and is aware our midfield is an issue.

Also because of a lack of decent penetrative midfielders we have to play 3 central defenders which sometimes like yesterday really give the opposition too much respect when an extra pair of hands in the middle would help.

I said to manage expectations and was proven right. We won't be a fully settled squad till a few more months. If that.

Brighton number 8 sent off. Vardy on Mustafi last season should have been a red as well.

Like an Oracle eh? Almost omniscient.

How does he do it?

Pity poor sods like me who didn't manage expectations and were lulled into thinking we'd win both of our opening matches!

Lamptey at Brighton is some player. Tearing Newcastle apart this half from right back. Wonder why chelsea let him go permanently?

If RM is looking for the next Ronaldo in terms of merchandising and advertising revenue, Son could well be that player. Potentially the next Nakata.

If RM is looking for the next Ronaldo in terms of merchandising and advertising revenue, Son could well be that player. Potentially the next Nakata.

Before Son scored to make it 2-1, Southampton had a great chance themselves. They played quite well in the first half in fact.

Nevertheless, Spurs may be a handful this season

If RM is looking for the next Ronaldo in terms of merchandising and advertising revenue, Son could well be that player. Potentially the next Nakata.

Nevertheless, Spurs may be a handful this season

Apparently Chelsea are looking at Guendouzi and Arsenal might be exploring the possibility of a swap deal. Supposedly immediately rebuffed when asking for Kante. Hudson-Odoi and Rubens Loftus-Cheek mentioned.
Both are interesting players who would meet home grown quotas and fit a profile of a more athletic, physical and pacey player. Hudson-Odoi was being chased by Bayern 12 months ago. Right wing isn't really a position we need to recruit in though. Loftus-Cheek, a player who's career is stagnating, but has plenty of talent.

I'd rather take straight cash for Guendouzi but perhaps there is a swap with cash that can be done?

Apparently Chelsea are looking at Guendouzi and Arsenal might be exploring the possibility of a swap deal. Supposedly immediately rebuffed when asking for Kante. Hudson-Odoi and Rubens Loftus-Cheek mentioned.
Both are interesting players who would meet home grown quotas and fit a profile of a more athletic, physical and pacey player. Hudson-Odoi was being chased by Bayern 12 months ago. Right wing isn't really a position we need to recruit in though. Loftus-Cheek, a player who's career is stagnating, but has plenty of talent.

I'd rather take straight cash for Guendouzi but perhaps there is a swap with cash that can be done?

Cash only, no swaps for players we don't want I'd say.

Just watched the highlights. I hadn’t noticed during the game. Both of our goals were initiated by a killer pass from Saka. Almost Bergkamp like.

Weirdest move in the transfer window yet is Morata getting another potentially expensive move. €9m loan to Juventus, with option to buy for €45m. Went to Juventus from Real Madrid for €20m, then back to Real for €30. Then moved to Chelsea for £60, and then on loan to Atletico who then signed him permanently for £58m. Since that first season in Juventus he has scored an average of 15 goals per season. In all competitions.

Son's full market potential is wasted at Tottenham. He needs to go to a bigger club. :)
To this day you can still see people wearing Nakata's shirt in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Similarly I think people will wear Salah's shirt for the next couple of decades after he retires where there are sizeable Liverpool-supporting Muslim communities.

Surely the agents giving people brown envelopes. How can you explain that

There is definitely some strategic accounting going on. Take for example Pjanic going to Barca from Juve and Arthur going to Juve from Barca. Both good players but they were each signed for about £50-60m. Easily double their market value.

In England?!