Premier League Gameweek 3

CannonBalls said:
Agree to most part but in general it seems the trend now is to get players when they are younger between 20yrs-24yrs. (This is especially true for Madrid, probably learnt it with the Hazard transfer although they have been doing this for some time now)
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It's always been that way. I remember Bayern buying 17 year old Roque Santa Cruz back in 1999 and now in 2022 Bayern bought Matthys Tel. I see it as a HUGE risk that the club piles too much pressure on the player effectively destroying their careers. I'd rather see the player arrive at 24-25 if possible or at the very least at 22. Neymar for example was properly guided and played 5 seasons (!) in the brazilian league before coming over.

Odegaard was 15-16 when he left for Real Madrid. The better route for most is the Haaland one where you do a couple of years in a Salzburg or some club in the Netherlands before a rather big club like Dortmund or Sevilla and ultimately arrive at a top 10 club.

But of course, Real, Bayern and United want to unearth gems without having to pay high sums to the rather big clubs like Dortmund or Sevilla. And some times it works out like with Davies who came for next to nothing from Canada but in 90 % of the cases it doesn't.
 
JSArsenal said:
He shouldn't be. I think he holds us back in the same way that Giroud/Chesney/Rosicky/Mertesacker/Vermaelen/Alex Song all did. Good but flawed players who shouldn't be part of the spine of the team because they'll let you down when it matters most or just blow hot and cold throughout the season.
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He is the leader in the dressing room, and Arteta obviously rates him highly. I am pretty sure Xhaka will be offered a contract extension.
 
Interesting how arsenal not being in the CL hasn't had the same affect as on us...
 
watching MoTD, virtually every other team looks better than us right now :0(
 
mitchmouse said:
Interesting how arsenal not being in the CL hasn't had the same affect as on us...
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They are going after the players who willing to join them. And kept most of their last season squad.
 
JSArsenal said:
He shouldn't be. I think he holds us back in the same way that Giroud/Chesney/Rosicky/Mertesacker/Vermaelen/Alex Song all did. Good but flawed players who shouldn't be part of the spine of the team because they'll let you down when it matters most or just blow hot and cold throughout the season.
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None of those players were ever the spine of the team.
 
We should have included a buyback option in the Odegaard sale
 
ThierryHenry14 said:
He is the leader in the dressing room, and Arteta obviously rates him highly. I am pretty sure Xhaka will be offered a contract extension.
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A poor leader, every manager has his blind spots. He's holding us back. A leader doesn't break down like Xhaka does or throw fits on the pitch.

Donaldo said:
None of those players were ever the spine of the team.
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I disagree, anyone who's first choice GK, CB, DM or CF is a part of the spine which most of those players were. Imagine if we had Lloris instead of Chesney or Vertoghen instead of Mertesacker or Suarez/Higuain/anyone with a working right foot & left foot instead of Giroud what we could have achieved.
 
Couple of interesting midfield matchups today, Leeds new signings Roca, Adams and Aaronson against Chelsea without Kante

And Caicedo vs Rice
 
Jorginho is captain today, who is the club captain for Chelsea again? Azpilicueta?
 
JSArsenal said:
Does he start a lot these days? I thought he was out the door to Barcelona then he signed a new contract.
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Azpi will probably not play as much as he has in recent seasons. Last year he was still a regular starter but his legs are starting to show some signs of slowing down. Against pacy players Tuchel clearly favors James at RCB and Loftus-Cheek as RWB instead of playing Azpi. If someone like Fofana is signed, he'll be the starting RCB so James can keep playing at wing-back.

As for the captain hierarchy it's Azpilicueta first, Jorginho second, Thiago Silva third and Kante fourth. After that it's probably Mount or James but it's a very rare occurence that all four are out.

Very intrigued to see how Gallagher does in midfield today, his first start for the club.
 
mitchmouse said:
watching MoTD, virtually every other team looks better than us right now :0(
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You have to be the most out of form team in the league if you consider the end of last seasons form as well. It’s no wonder everyone else looks better.. Still it’s a temporary issue though that you would think would rectify itself at some point. But right now it’s crazy how everyone would gladly play you every week.
 
TheReligion said:
Marsch has been very vocal about Tuchel and the red card hasn’t he?
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Its weird. Both of them got red cards, but are present in the dugout anyway. Have the rules changed, because I definitely seem to remember managers missing matches earlier.
 
Easy Chelsea win, West Ham and Brighton could be a draw..?
 
ThatsGreat said:
Its weird. Both of them got red cards, but are present in the dugout anyway. Have the rules changed, because I definitely seem to remember managers missing matches earlier.
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I’m not sure. Tuchel seems to be waiting for written clarification he behaved like a cnut. Not sure about Marsch?
 
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