17 Jul 2025 17:31:54
Have you seen photos of Havertz. it looks like he is auditioning for the next Superman film.
17 Jul 2025 19:40:35
Jimbo
With all the Arsenal signings, he might as well take up acting.
17 Jul 2025 20:23:49
Bill, not sure the Arsenal signings are that good. Looks like he could rough them up in training.
18 Jul 2025 07:29:09
Probably their kryptonite Jimbo.
18 Jul 2025 09:37:00
Arsenal extrejely likely to be signing Gyokores whose goal stats are frghetingly good for Sporting Lisbon: 68 in 66 league games and 6 in 8 champions league games. Reckon only Haaland had better for Borrussia Dortmund before signing for City: 89 in 88 league games and 15 in 13 Champion's League.
So I know quite a few on here not fans of stats and often those of players coming from less competitive leagues that EPL can flatter to deceive eg Werner's but I reckon Gyokores is also built in same Superman style to nrw style Havertz or hulk Haaland?
The question is always and for every team whether all the various parts fit together to make a tream that is as stromng or even stronger than the sum of them.
But personally I have worried about AFC and LFC strengthening condsiderably - and does seem as though Ekiteke will be off to Liverpool - so still think we may be behind those two and possibly City (if Rodri back fit again plus they have strengthened) in terms of title chances. May still depend on rest of transfer business this window of course.
18 Jul 2025 09:38:50
PS have just checked EPL title winner odds and we are at 8-1 against ie far longer than AFC, LFC and City. But could mean time for another flutter on CFC Tom?
We are odds on, just, to be in top 4 though if other three also on shorter odds predictably for this.
18 Jul 2025 11:05:44
JBS, I think we will have a poor start to the season and our odds will get bigger.
I think Liverpool are nailed on as winners but I think City will disappoint again next season.
The gooners are interesting but they only finished five points ahead of us last season and we had about 10 games mid season of total rubbish. They are stronger but then so are we. I fancy us to finish above them next season
If the transfer window was finished, I would have us 2nd-4th position but I would be gutted if we finished 4th if that makes sense.
18 Jul 2025 11:27:14
Hard to look past Liverpool with Wirtz in the equation now, and especially if they get Isak/ Ekiteke (or both – though seems Newcastle will resist) .
Ed001, what, if any, do you think are this current Liverpool team's weaknesses? They seemed able to win almost all the games when not playing particularly well, which is always the mark of champions (we used to do that regularly under Jose), and Slot seems so tactically adept that it's not like other teams can crack the code of his tactics (as often happens when a new manager comes to the league with a particular setup and in the second season has less success than the first) .
{Ed001's Note - I would say the weakness is the central defence. There is a real lack of a partner for Virgil. Konate only has a year left on his deal and doesn't seem likely to re-sign.}
18 Jul 2025 12:22:09
I think it is way to early to start predicting where we finish, I prefer to see the squads come the first game and again at the end of the transfer window. Last season I had us finishing 3rd and actually got called out by a lurker when we had our poor run and slipped off the pace before finishing strong. To finish where we did and pick up the European conference league and then go on to be Champions of the World has put a smile on my face.
18 Jul 2025 14:14:12
Most of the football pundits pre season will have Liverpool as favourites for the the title and will probably place us in fourth place; which is fair enough. I don’t think any future signings, particularly forwards, will make any difference to where we end up this season but …. ” It’s a funny old game”.
18 Jul 2025 21:18:03
I’ve criticised the SDs but on the face of it we have had a good window so far. I know nothing about Gittens. Delap offers us something different up front and that is needed when games are tight. I was concerned about Pedro but have to say I have changed my mind. He is obviously talented; he runs in spaces and his finishing is excellent and surprisingly he is very good at pressing. Although not signed in this window, I am really excited about Willian, he is extremely talented but for someone of his age has very good football intelligence unlike most of our wide players. No doubt the SDs will spoil it by signing another forward like Garnacho or Eze.
18 Jul 2025 22:03:45
As I said months ago I would like us to sign Xavi Simmons. ?.
19 Jul 2025 10:52:13
We are ow being linked quite strongly with Simmons Tom, and his agent has apparently offered him to us. but not sure about fee or wages levels?
As suggested by my earlier post, I tend to agree at this stage with Jimbo as to where we are likely to finish in EPL this season ie 4th not least cos CWC will surely have sapped some energy from players and this may catch up with us come mid-season. But yes football is a funny old game, and Greenaway is right to be cautious with early predictions, so who knows. Last season after our dreadful pre-season I had us 5th to 9th and we ended up 4th. This season my sptread would be 3rd to 6th. but again this is just a prediction based on squads now and much can change before end of transfer window.
19 Jul 2025 12:48:04
JPS, my last two seasons were 6th-8th and we finished 6th and then last season 3rd-5th we finished 4th. I have to be believe we will improve again this season but then so have all the supposed bigger teams.
So, subject to us NOT signing Sesko, I will stick to 2nd-4th for this season.
19 Jul 2025 16:49:11
I don’t really know much about Simmons but as I’ve said I don’t want anymore forwards unless we get rid of two permanently. It’s very difficult to predict where we will end up next season: so much can happen. Obviously, I would like us to win trophies but if we can’t, please finish above Arsenal ( don’t need to mention the rest of the London clubs ) .