Sibierski

We don't need them to slot in straight away and wouldn't want them too either. Like at others, they require time adapting, have ups and downs. Vast majority would be treated like Hall, where it's building them up. Can play, but rather take a cautious approach so they don't get burnt early on. Get an injury crisis, they will play more and we accept a bit up and down. But one thing I will strongly argue for, it's easier to play one or two raw players when you've got 9 other top players around them and challenge at the top, then it is at the clubs you mentioned. They don't have likes of Bruno, Tonali, Trippier etc. all around them. On players coming straight in, Hujsen people probably think was a starter early on. He only got his break when Bournemouth had an injury to CB and he made it his own 2nd half of season.

What enables Chelsea spending though is their youth and constant churn. They are just as fucked with PSR as we are, don't let them spend £300m disguise that. It's then balanced out by selling £250m, and being worse off for it.

Think people confuse with signing £10m+ players with being a Brighton / Bournemouth. It's about identifying players who can progress in that price point, not being a selling club like them (every club bar Real and PSG are sellers). It's like when Man City were exceptional in signing players consistently in the £40m-£50m bracket. They never got sucked into overpaying, but the top players in that bracket. They've since gone down the expensive route and their squad is worse for it. I've always maintained that whilst we are outside the elite, we should be taking advantage of being the gateway to the top talents in the lower bracket. Join us, you will become better, you will compete for trophies, you will play in Europe. Someone offers £100m for you, you can go. When Trippier, Krafth, Schar, Ramsdale, Pope, Willock and Murphy all leave in next 18 months, they all can't be £25m+ replacements, unless we are selling two first teamers.

Think I'd take Barcelona in KO round all day because of their high line. Probably most beatable big side and Rashford won't play as well again as he did that game (plus we will have a striker this time).

The only games I find hard to call are Spurs, Ajax, Juventus games so went with draws. Rest I've gone with wins (Inter draw) and heavily weighted towards who I could see scoring loads final day. This is with us losing 2-0 to PSG. Us drawing Us winning 2-1 Essentially be looking at Brugge or Qarabag in KO round. Beat PSG, just to get PSG in L16 though would be

We do, but you can assemble the squad for less. Like we may not be able to do any deals in January, because we're eyeing up £35m+ squad players still Osula at a push if you can say he's contributing to the squad is our cheapest at £15m. Otherwise going all the way back to our first window and Burn/Trips at £12m (Targett not here). It's fair to say we don't help ourselves.

Who do Liverpool make a play for at LB this window though? We were lining one up, and they got sniff so making a play?

What are Spurs doing For all their money, they are running things close to falling into a relegation scrap properly next season.

I will be a tad frustrated if we don't make a signing, especially at full back. We can't be falling back on "Players are coming back, squad is looking fine", because an injury to Hall unbalances the side straight away. 2 injuries then suddenly players are needing to play more. February is a brutal month, and to not provide at least one extra body for that will be very dumb IMO. Beating PSG will be huge because the run takes two tough games out, otherwise you are looking at this from this weekend (twice a week games): Villa (H), PSG (A), Liverpool (A), Man City (A), Brentford (H), Spurs (A), Villa (A), UCL (A), Man City (A), UCL (H), Everton (H), Man Utd (H). Then we get a rest for a week if we don't go through in FA Cup, otherwise it's FA Cup, followed by UCL (H), Chelsea (A), UCL (A), Sunderland (H). So many mentally tough games, where everyone will need to be on it to be competitive. No gimmes at all, because of how Brentford been this season (and their physicality) and Everton who did a job on us last season.

It’s when they do the box midfield, that gives me the jitters because it bypasses our midfield easily. They’re always open end to end games against Villa because of that, and their high line meaning we can exploit it. Often a battle of two contrasting styles where it’s down to who takes their chances in first 60 wins. The game earlier this season was first one in a while I remember being the complete opposite, which was probably it being first game of season.

Pretty much. At the real top sides, you need more to your game in final third, which is why someone like Bowen has never interested those sides. He’s clinical, high output but can disappear easily. Semenyo to me is also similar which is why his transfer to Man City will have a very short shelf life IMO. Doesn’t score, he’s nothing to them.

This is the sort of game I’m very confident in. Have no doubts we will be on it from word go, it just comes down to will we be clinical and have no errors at the back, like last night. Villa have injuries, play Thursday, so there’s a good argument a full throttle approach can take the game away from Villa in the first half. Team I have no idea. You need to freshening things up, but then the side executed the plan so well last night, if they all got the energy in their legs, I’d go same. Just Miley in for Bruno, because I’ve done the ankle many a times like he did, and you really need a good rest. Can be bandaged up, but rather we took a long term approach because he will be needed against PSG to play those counter attacking passes. I’d then play Wolte / Elanga / Ramsey all against PSG.

Only Arsenal have conceded less than us so far. Admittedly we’ve got to play the holders away still, but that’s something going into knock outs, that we can keep things tight.

When he plays like that, it feels such a waste him being a LB. Just has no right to be dribbling around so many players Need to ensure he’s protected over this next month so he can get a rest for the odd game, because he’s so important for building attacks from deep.

Nice. Routine win, but that’s because we played perfectly for our style and executed it spot on. Won’t even feel a physically exhausting game for the players I bet because everyone was on it so it made each players jobs easier. This is what we need to build upon, especially away.

Elanga pace then! Forced that mistake. Looks loads sharper.

Bit dirty this PSV team.

Elanga can’t catch a break. Open grass, then gets hacked down

Miley going to lift multiple trophies in his career For us, obvs.

One more goal can be so crucial here going into final game.

He won’t be available for weekend. That’s at least a week off.

The assessment will be ‘adrenaline worn off, it’s fucked, sub’.

Should just shoot. Prime position.

He’s literally limping around ffs. What the fuck are we doing.

His ankle is done, clear as day. You don’t roll it and walk it off