The College Dropout

Even if he’s 85% fit. He starts.

Cheers. Like him for FPL but doesn’t seem likely to start next week based on that.

What’s wrong with you ?

Did he play? Has he gotten a lot of minutes in pre season? Looked fit and sharp?

Astro brought up Grealish not me. If your reply is meant to mean ‘we are still developing post takeover and we have a few players short of where we want to be eventually due to FFP’ I would agree with that 100%.

Disagree tbh. As a player how do you rate Almiron vs Grealish?

If that’s your opinion fair enough. I disagree. I don’t count pre season form Personally. I look at it for fitness and likelihood of starting. If he starts every match he can. There will be a good % of matches he just doesn’t have the ability to trouble defences enough. Different era of the PL. Give me a contemporary example. I love his pressing it sets the standard for the team. He’s got good movement, fitness, pace. But for me he lacks that bit of quality to be a consistent threat and it will show through.

Like the sound of this.

He was brilliant for literally 8 weeks. At a point last season he was fully fit and out the side for Murphy. I didn’t expect him to turn into Mahrez so some regression was expected. But it’s entirely plausible his median level of performance is maybe not where we want.

Because he’s scored in a friendly? He might be a bonafide premier league player but are you confident he’s a bonafide top 6 winger? Is this performance in pre season validating that opinion?

What players am I putting down? I’ve not advocated selling Almiron or Burn or Murphy (or Wilson or ASM etc.) like others have. How else do you want me to describe a solid PL player and squad player that as an individual is not of that level? We finished 5th playing Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson & Danny Simpson regularly. We could all say - yeh these lads aren’t top 6 quality and if we want to stay there we need to improve on them. Harry Kane finished outside the top 6, is he no longer capable of performing at that level? It’s you who is making the arbitrary point. The players are not my friends or enemies. I do not personally insult them, I share my opinion on what I perceive to be their football ability.

Can agree to disagree. Somid as a rock defensively is Kyle Walker. Wan Bissaka. Reece James. Maybe even Akanji or Ake. Burn is slow running and turning. And has costly lapsed in concentration

I do not hate Almiron. I’ve not insulted the lad. He’s been at the club for what- 4 years? And an Eddie Howe player for 18 months. He’s looked a Bonafide top 6 player for 8 weeks in that period. There was times last season he was fully fit and Jacob Murphy was offering more than him and was ahead of him in the lineup. He’s deserved his opportunity to play in the CL and be a valuable member of the squad no doubt. However there is more than enough evidence to suggest he may not be able to sustain top 6 performances as a regular starter. If he does - great I would love it. But there’s no personal vendetta. It’s my own opinion on his ability, potential ability and squad profile. You do not need to tag me whenever he does something positive. It is not a slight to me or invalidates anything I’ve said about him. Tagging me is petty and infantile. I rate you as a poster @Astroblack, you’re better than that. Leave that type of posting to the lads I’ve put on ignore.

What’s the point you are making?

I disagree that he largely held his own against top wingers. Saka ripped him to shreds at the Emirates until we went into a low block and the Joe’s held his hand. We can’t spend CL club money due to FFP. Livra is like the 6th most expensive player in our squad. He cost more than both our leftbacks combined. I think the club think there must be a possible route for him to be a regular this season. As you say, with such potential they must think he could add real value this season.

I wanted us to keep ASM, sign a RW and sign 2x central midfielders. On that basis I was advocating loaning out Gordon. He needs a solid run in a functional top level side to develop his game and learn a proper role. If we had ASM, Joelinton, Barnes, Almiron + Murphy as backup - I would want Gordon loaned out. He would be 3rd choice at best for either wing. As it stands we need Gordon, he’ll get plenty of minutes. Livramento (if fit) will get loads of minutes to develop.

Who plays LWB?

1. I just don’t think we sign a LB. 2. I consider Burn a defensive weakness in the team. 3. The Livra fee is very high. He needs to be more than backup. We must think there’s a way we can play both at times. I don’t love it at all. But it is an option.

Nunez is quick but Anderson is slow. He’s not the pacy RCB I wanted us to profile.

We could do with a loan and an option with one of those Chelsea CashMoney records contract sell-on clauses + buy-back.

Hall is Palace bound according to Romano. Thought we were interested.§

Middle aged men in the main on here. Just want to moan at new things or things that can be easily avoided,

Tbf I don’t think many of the most talented players grow up being fullbacks in academy’s - at least not in younger age groups. I’ve said this before but the more talented you are, the further up the pitch you play (GK, and maybe CB as exceptions). Neville has said something similar - that all fullbacks are either failed wingers or failed CBs. I think in this era a lot of fullbacks are failed CMs. Saw an interview with Trips where he said he first played fullback at 17 or 18. Was a CM through the City academy. I think this is the reason we won’t go for a left back. With everyone fit one of Trips/Tino is a realistic option at FB. A more reserved role may eke out more minutes and career at the top for Trippier too.

Think I’ve seen Olise do it too. Seems to be Chelsea or City bound. I would love for us to be in for him. Price is not crazy. Left footed set piece taker. 21 years old.

That really grinds my gears. Jadon Sancho does that as well. He’ll be 60 / 40 to win a duel and completely bottle it. Didn’t watch this game but every time I see Edozie he looks really bright but doesn’t do much where it matters. A lot of potential for sure but needs to develop.