Martinelli is due to be in full training by the end of December. Hopefully he’s retained his pace. We could really use that threat.

Unless he is one of those players who aren't the same after a big injury, I have a gut feeling Martinelli is going to be HUGE. The little I've seen of him so far suggests he's got all the tools to be a top striker. He times his runs well, he runs off the last defender well. He's a decent finisher. Decent pace.

Hi bromley. I watched a programme called Sportscene. It’s a BBC programme of the Scottish Premier League highlights. A sort of BBC Scotland equivalent of the English BBC’s MOTD. I only bothered watching the highlights of the two matches featuring Rangers and Celtic last weekend. One of the games had a Balogun in one of the opposition teams, who were Livingston and Aberdeen. I assume it’s a different one, or has our Balogun gone to a Scottish club on loan?

I dont think so Bernard, he's listed in our Europa squad.

Andy Green, what's really going on in "our" city?

There's a Leon Balogun playing for Rangers, Bern. Big defender. Wiki says he's German.

Hold on....German.....plays for Rangers? Must be on your radar.

Thanks DHD. Was it Rangers? Thought it was the opposition facing either them or Celtic.

Man U won 5-0 tonight. You just can't play a high line, or play in to their trap. Man U score a lot from a turnover and a single pass through to a quick striker. They rarely pick the lock in close. Man U are setting up to cede possession even at home to underdog teams now. We can't fall in to the trap at the weekend. Give their counter attack and pace the respect it deserves, keep the defence deep and disciplined. If we can also press their back line none of them are what describe as comfortable on the ball. Man U are very up and down, but the times they've been down v Palace and Spurs - and to some extent Brighton, they've been caught at their own game - taking the game on too much and getting done with pace behind. I think we need to go far more direct, have runners off the shoulder - not worry if we get caught offside a few times, keep chipping balls over the top for willing runners.

While I think the league has been looking stronger as a collective, top to bottom, we are playing the clubs likely to be top 4 fairly early. Losses are bad result in our present state playing clubs with a more established XI is going to yield bad results at times.

Let's see how we progress. I'm still fairly optimistic although this team might kill that feeling yet. But for now, I think we'll be okay.

The Man Utd result is very surprising but they can look good one minute and then go back to looking rudderless.

Elliptically related at best to the Baloguns, but Celtic have a player called Frimpong in their team. Young Dutch lad of Ghanaian heritage. Wing back, I think. I'm told by my Celtic mate that he's highly regarded.

Yeah I saw Celtic have a player called Frimpong. We used to have someone with that surname.

The one wonderful thing about this season is that City and Liverpool don't look as invincible (no pun intended) as they have the last few seasons. One or both may end up running away from the rest of the league as they have done, but so far, the league is wide open. Great for fans of the league. There aren't any 3 point bankers as yet.

Serie A has become utterly boring with Juve the winner every season for the last several years. PSG almost the same level of dominance. Bayern Munich with a very similar level of dominance. Utterly boring to me. It's the SPL on steroids.

I agree Liverpool and City won't run away with it but I still think they'll be the top 2 and be a good 10 points ahead of the rest. There will be more surprise results but both of those teams are well established under their respective coaches and can cater for injuries better than the rest. I think they will both have a lot more 'easy wins' - particularly City when they get in their stride. If City can get Dias/Laporte as an established CB pairing they will be hard to stop. Liverpool need to buy a CB in Jan, It felt like they might be one short after letting Lovren go in the summer, now they have VVD out for the season.

[quote="Bernard"][quote="DHD"][quote="Bernard"]
Thanks DHD. Was it Rangers? Thought it was the opposition facing either them or Celtic.[/quote]
Elliptically related at best to the Baloguns, but Celtic have a player called Frimpong in their team. Young Dutch lad of Ghanaian heritage. Wing back, I think. I'm told by my Celtic mate that he's highly regarded.[/quote]
Yeah I saw Celtic have a player called Frimpong. We used to have someone with that surname.[/quote]
Hi Bern,
Emmanuel Frimpong. The "Dench" guy. May or may not be related to this Jeremie Frimpong at Celtic.

From what we have seen so far I rate Spurs as the main challengers. The way Kane has turned provider adds a string to their bow, and once match fit, Bale will add to their already dangerous attacking options. Apart from that wobble against The Hammers they are OK at the back. And, horrible *%^@ that he is, they have a winning manager.

That's what I was worrying about. With 'that' front three, Jose's touch with the defence, and Ndombele looking like he might fulfill his potential ... However, if Kane gets injured its likely to go pear-shape.

Absolutely, the likely scenario is they finish 1,2, in no guaranteed order. I just like how its more competitive. With how the season has started and going so far, the possibility of the season being more competitive or even someone breaks them up from top 2 is better than the last couple years (if someone has a Leicester-esque season).

Hey omoh, there seems to be no middle ground with Mourinho managed sides lately. Either very good or very mediocre.
I also wouldn't count out Chelsea despite their issues. I hate to see it but Lamps is doing much better than I thought he would. As far as Man Utd, I think that project is much too big for OGS. He needs more experience.

Bit of a stretch that, Zed. Their Frimpong was born in Holland. Ours - Emmanuel - was born in Ghana but grew up on the Broadwater Estate in Tottenham, as did a number of our youth academy kids.

Tough place, the Broadwater. Tough kid, our Emmanuel. Just ask Nasri.

Also next year ends in a 1...

Hi DHD,
Yeah, just same last name doesn't mean he is a relative. Good thing Spurs didn't snap up Emmanuel.

Oh MU have quite an advantage with ref Mike Dean and VAR on their side for Sunday.

Is that a first?

MA has the entire first team on the bench................

Faith in our reserves?

Good start in terms of attitude. Final ball though....

Was there really a need for a back 5 in this game?

More like a back three with the full backs playing as wingers......................

More like a back 3, Rich. Not sure formation will be the crucial factor tonight. Composure and accuracy in attack is key

Feel like the ref has helped them out a few times with some 50/50 calls where they might have been in trouble if the ref didn’t give the free kick. That looked like a good tackle from elneny and we’d have been in on the gk from it

Snap!

The point though is you have natural defensive players pushing forward.
Nketiah, Nelson, Pépé and Willock at a push are the only real natural attacking players on the pitch.
You could play a back 4 with fullbacks pushed high and add another attacking midfielder
You need creativity and goals and 7 of the starting 11 aren’t going to give you any of that

Dundalk will run out of steam midway through the second half. They are working really hard without the ball.

Nketiah misses a sitter from 4 yards. It’s a very dull game

You would think so but they are battle hardened in Europe. We need a goal.

For me it looks more like a back four with Mustafi and Xhaka as the central defenders and Cédric plus Kolasinac as the full backs.

That was coming. 1-0 Eddie.

And 2-0 Joe Wiilock.

Screamer from Nketiah

1-0 Nketiah gets one from 4 yards now. Awful gk error

Willock 2-0