Froggy

De Ligt started all the major games and Kim Min-jae was benched. Kim only played when De Ligt was injured. De Ligt fully recovered from his injury in December and since that moment he started every game, except for league games after Champions League games where they were clearly being careful with his fitness. The only CL knockout game he didn't start was the first leg in the last 16 against Lazio. Upamecano and Kim started this game and they lost 1-0. De Ligt then started the next leg (Kim benched) getting an assist as Bayern won 3-0. He also started both quarter finals against Arsenal and one of the semi finals against Real Madrid (the other he missed due to injury). Sure though, De Ligt is the backup. With all due respect, aside from the facts listed above, I'll listen to the German Bayern Munich fans on this matter. Their opinion matters more than mine or yours, and they're desperate for him to stay.

There's a petition with over 70,000 signatures from Bayern fans desperate for the club to keep De Ligt as he's their best centre back. Bayern are only selling for financial reasons as he's on £265k a week and they can bring in Tah for a decent fee and half the wages. De Ligt is obviously class though and a big upgrade on everyone we have bar Martinez. Mazraoui an upgrade on Wan Bissaka as he can attack and isn't as positionally weak, but his injury record is properly shocking to be fair.

Improves our excuses when things go pear shaped.

End of November when Yoro is back aye. Maguire will probably get the nod for the moment. Hojlund is a miss but no real excuses with that one now with the Zirkzee signing.

This season? Probably the following at this stage: Onana Dalot Martinez Yoro Shaw Casemiro Mainoo Fernandes Rashford Garnacho Hojlund Ugarte in for Casemiro would be huge for us. Also think he really wants Mazraoui as he doesn't trust the fitness of Shaw and Malacia is out for months still. Dalot is capable on both flanks whereas Wan Bissaka is not, so it provides more solid depth.

I would say he'll be rotated a decent bit with Mount. Mount will play a lot this year IMO.

Surprisingly I haven't heard anything about us going for him this summer. We were very interested in him before and held talks with him, but they must not have went very well. Ugarte would be enough in midfield this season though. Ugarte, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mainoo, Mount, Eriksen and Collyer would be more than enough to see us through. I'd expect Casemiro and Eriksen then to both leave next summer at the latest, and another midfield signing to be made.

Mainoo and Fernandes.

Ugarte was waiting on the Joao Neves deal completing. I would expect us to push hard for that over the next week. McTominay and Wan Bissaka need to be sold for De Ligt and Mazraoui to come in. All personal terms already agreed with all the players. I do think they'll all arrive before the end of August. Ugarte is essential though.

Without the injuries it's completely different mind. Not sure Ten Hag has ever been able to select his first choice eleven. Could be an interesting season. Having Zirkzee as a backup striker is certainly much better than having an injured Martial though.

Feel free to point out where I said that for the preseason games we've won. Between ourselves and Liverpool there were probably 5 or 6 players who actually start games. Just a fitness exercise. We've a glorified friendly next Saturday for the first teamers.

Is it just me or have the preseason games this year had more coverage/interest. They mean absolutely fuck all.

Almost a full strength Newcastle thrashed by a Japanese side. Will Howe last 10 games with Southgate waiting in the wings?

Nicky Butt.

De Ligt is <£40m. Guehi will cost a minimum of £60m. I can't see us being anywhere near it.

If that's the case you should get a decent fee off Brighton for him in a couple of years.

It could be on the last page, but you'd still go looking for it. Plus, it's Big River's fav thread.

We're all moving towards the same page now.

You're using Ten Hag's word as gospel now, so if you want to play that game we can dig up some of his other quotes. Maybe start with the ones about how annoying Newcastle are and your shithousing tactics. Reverse checkmate. I'm fucking class at chess and all.

He was talking about Chelsea.

£325k a week as per Capology, which is never wrong when it comes to verified wages.

McTominay going to end up going for the same price as Gallagher, which is insane to me.

Best this sort of stuff is contained in here, don't you think?

Morning Rod. Hope you're having a good day so far.