buzza

Aye Bruno has probably been our second worst player, miggy has been invisible for long spells. Would probably bring on anderson or murph for miggy a bit later... BRUNO will sort it for the second half.

I think we have been better than Villa, they have resorted to a lot of punts over the top. We need to keep it tight and maintain the press, their defence is suffering tryi g to bring the ball out.

REF IS A CNUT

GORDON HAS BEEN FANTASTIC

Yep, Gordon and Barnes are realistically the only question for a deviation from last years first eleven... Really can´t wait for this!!

I respect your opinion, but from what i have seen of the pre-season games his passing is way short of Lascelles´standard, and he has looked very shaky against any runs through the channels (space between full back and centre half) which completely exposes his lack of pace and slow turn/acceleration. If you watch the games back and you will see what I am talking about... Yes, he looks fit and is fine for filling in numbers but he should not be anywhere near our bench!

He was caught out so many times for pace and pondered on the ball way too much. If he gets anywhere near the team this season we are going to suffer!

Need a fast centre back for me. Schar is getting on (niggles?) and Lascelles tries his best but just doesn't make the cut...

Lascelles looked very average today. Would rather move dan b into the middle and target on the left if schar isn't ready

Looked to be close to his best again... Can'tbwait for the season to begin

They played the ball around very well with good one touch football but never really wanted to get near our goal???

After today I think it will be: Pope Trips schar bot burn Longst bruno. Joe Miggy. Isak. Gord (?)

Going to be great having two decent, and productive, left wingers fighting for a place in the team! He was very good today, as good as Gordon for me and with goals. But... on another day Gordon would have put two away as well (two posts yesterday)

My thoughts on game: Barnes was very good both with and without ball. 2 good goals. Bruno, big joe and longstaff worked well and will deffo start together next week. Wilson ran his arse off and had a very good game, can't remember if it was one or two assists. Murphy looked surprisingly good at right back, up and down the wing a lot. Ritchie did well. Dan burn had a good game, solid, is in for villa. Now for the less good; Lascelles and Dummet should not get near the pitch, just not good enough. Great effort but not at the level required. Great pre-season lads!! P.S. Eddie, get another centre back as cover pls!!!

Love the way he "Ghosts" the opposition! Pure footballing elegance!

Yep, after seeing the pre-season unfold they deffo look like the hottest options we have at the moment to fill the Maxi and Longstaff holes, unless of course longstaff recovers form/fitness in time...

More like it...

I think we can battle for fifth place this year and maintain the champs league placing and revenue source!! For the players and any future ones, chamos league is what repositiins us globally. Anything less than fifth would be a dissapointment, but not the end of the world.

After current pre-season our midfield three would likliest be bruno, big joe and anderson. Front three being miggy, gordon and Isak. Quite a few to come off the bench also (barnes, tonali, calum, longstaff, murph, miley, target...)

I am still worried about our "slowish" defence against this lot. last season they tore us a new hole by having quick transitions down the wings and with direct over the top balls. Tripps and Schar´s pace were really exposed. Add Diaby into the mix and they have a very quick front four... Still, if we get the first goal I think we will gather momentum and smash them "a la spurs"

Premier League Winners: City Runners Up: Liverpool 3rd-6th: Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea, Manu Relegation: Everton, Luton, Palace Overachievers: Villa Underperformers: Spurs Top Goal Scorer: Nkunku Break Out Year: Anderson Season to Forget: Varane PFA Player of the Year: Bruno PFA Young Player of the Year: Anderson Manager of the Year: Eddie First manager to quit/be sacked: Lopetegui Newcastle United Where will we finish?: 4th or 5th Top Goalscorer?: Isak Season to forget: Schar Howe will we fare in Europe?: reach last 32 Europe La Liga winner: Madrid Serie A winner: Milan Bundesliga winner: Bayern General World Player of the Year: Vinicious or Bellingham World Young player: Bellingham

Makes more sense to swap around the 4 and 6 in the above formation otherwise it seems illogical

By the look of things we are going to be a very fast and direct side! Hard press and quick turnarounds using Barnes and Gordon with Tonali pinging one touch passes... DROOOL

Would like disasi and/or a left back to make the window a real good one. Think the talk about Gordon being like a new signing might just turn out to be true. WE GONNA BURN DA LEAGUE!!!

Always thought he was a decent player, will not get us out of our seats as much as maxi but will frustrate a lot less too I imagine...