The College Dropout

Lots of these kids are excellent technically. With increased professionalisation you get players less capable of thinking autonomously and less mavericks. When the minimal professional bar is so high - you exclude a lot of people. I think pure athletes get less far these days. Again, the bar is so high, it's much less of an advantage. I was talking to a friend the other day about that German striker for Chelsea. He seems rapid.. but somehow not as fast as a prime Craig Bellamy. And I thought that's probably because a prime Bellamy was up against some real carthorses week in week out.

PSG have had a a lot of success. They just don't win the CL. Neither have City and they've done things "the right way". Chelsea have won it twice with 20 years of oil money,

Near enough every City starter is a £40-50m player. With commercial deals funded by a state. They're not PSG aye but they couldn't sustain without the State money. Same with Chelsea.

Walker is a better RCB than Trent. TAA just doesn't look good for England and is genuinely a defensive liability. Rheece James in the PL = 5 goals & 9 assists from 22 starts Nonsense from Kaka again

There's a big difference from being bankrolled by a extremely succesful local business people and entire countries who are doing it to soften their nations international image. Like it's ok. We are in a special league with PSG & Man City. At least, we have a genuine fanbase and enduring history. But we can't compare ourselves to Blackburn Rovers of old.

Aye Walker is not done. I think he plays with James in a back 5.

Yeah Rheece James is more complete than all of them. It's not a country mile. He's a better defender than Trippier & TAA and he's better going forward than Walker. 18GA last season, more than ASM. He's the most complete fullback. He even looked good a few times in central midfield last season. And RCB.

Tbf we got beaten 5-1. 0-1 home defeat to Brighton & Wolves. 0-0 away to Brentford & Burnley. Spurs showed they can be devastating last season but also some times could get them on lockdown. I tink the Brighton and Brentford games back-to-back they didn't have a single shot on target. A lot of Spurs fans seem to agree PEH & Benta isn't an elite combination. They seem to think Skipp alongside Benta is the way forward

I think Saka plays left back for England before Targett does. There's better options at RW than at LB. Not true re Chilwell. Chilwell played the last game of the season, he'll have a full pre-season and be fit enough for the WC unless he has setbacks. Chilwell was definite first choice at Chelsea before he got injured. He started the season poorly but was absolutely flying before he got injured.

Not with Hojbjerg alongside him. Bentacur needs a better partner. And no, he's not a top midfielder - he's not a Bernardo, Thiago, KDB, Rodri, Kante, Kovacic etc. He's good but they need someone his level or better to really challenge the top 2 imo unless the shape changes. I think the current Spurs squad + CL football could get about 80 points. A couple class additions and that goes towards 90.

If it's not Shaw or Chilwell - Southgate won't bring another genuine left-back. He'd rather play Trips, Saka or Justin at left back. Cresswell and Targett can do whatever they like. They're not getting in the final squad.

Rheece James delivery is excellent. Rheece James is the future.

Why not? Apart from strikers Chelsea seems a relatively easy place for talent to do well. I think it being a bit sterile as a club helps some players go in and just crack on with the job. Anelka springs to mind.

We haven't achieved anything to be hated on.

Nope. I think Trippier & Saka will need to both get injured before Targett is in. Chilwell should be going

I think it'a moreso the central midfield. Bentacur & Hojbjerg isn't a top midfield and there's a big drop-off below them. If they can upgrade Hojbjerg but have him as back-up, they will be extremely serious. Conte does like workhorses in midfield though. BUt he needs one that can pass it through the lines Thiago style.

Real will and his agent will be hawking him around - Asensio.

I like The Athletic but certain things that aren't actually that good (like Arteta) make for excellent long form writing which is a bit annoying.

Aye Charnley's remit was extensive.

I'd sell Fraser first. He's best on the left anyway. Has some actual value.

He's arguably been a top 10 performer. Top 12 at worst - literally. 5 is a bit high. But midtable safety and a FA cup semi-final was a good season. At the start of the season people had Vieira first to be sacked and Palace relegated and neither look remotely like happening. Eddie's done well.

Mobile, can tackle and pass. Get him in.

It feels like a very similar team to the WC. Aside from the central midfield positions.

I'm loving the transfer window tbf. I've never paid this much attention to it and haven't cared about it at all for a number of years.

The big clubs usually have these players tied up on massive wages (given experience and track record) and demand huge transfer fees - which is offputting. Also - the kids from Arsenal, Liverpool & Man U have a really up and down record. However, I do think the Chelsea and City academy's are head and shoulders above the rest and a lot of those players are worth the money. But they also laden those transfers with high sell-on clauses and modest buy-back fees.