egg

Yep, they're a decent side, but this arsenal line up is shite. Brentford won't be pushovers this season.

They're showing a bit of class and respect, nothing wrong with that. I doubt it'll be sustained but if other fans want to do the same, I can't see what's to criticise.

Because I think he's better than we have and can cover RB and DM too. You disagree which is cool.

Yep. I'd have Dier or Chambers in a heartbeat.

Nah, this is a Rainbow shirt.

Light

Thanks for posting, that's a good read. Interesting that Matt Crocker has probably helped influence this move. I suspect his presence has also helped us to get Simeu and Livramento, which in turn has helped get Broja. He and Semmens are good news.

Not for me. Van Dijk is as good defensively as all of them, quicker than all, and the better footballer bar perhaps Rio. I think some people's judgement of him can be influenced by the way he left us. Regardless, and back on topic, Philips is unproven, looks a bit agricultural, and is not a £15m player.

To be fair he probably is.

I get that, but has he really had an alternative? We all saw how he got murdered for pace many times.

I've never heard of either to be fair, but I'm not convinced by Phillips. It's a shame Chalobah has stepped out of the shadows at Chelsea.

So what leads you to your conclusion that we'll be "fine" with Bednarek and Salisu as our first choice CB? What did you see as positives about that partnership?

Because your opinion is not fact. You think Salisu and Bednarek are "fine" for us as 1st choice. Many don't agree, and if someone thinks we're "fucked" with that as our first choice pairing, they can have that opinion.

He's played so rarely it's hard to judge him, but from what i saw he could head the ball well but not much else looked impressive. I think Stephens is massively underrated tbh, just lacking a bit of concentration at times and he could be better in the air. Personally I'm not convinced we can't do better for £15m.

So you want us to "stop wasting money" be "smart in the transfer market" and suggest we do that by signing a billy big bollocks has been who'll want massive wages. Blimey.

Lion

I can't agree with your couple of posts on this. Sure the GK isn't Ralph's pick, but 3 of the back 4 are, Diallo is his player and JWP is his kind of player, and I think all the 10's and forwards are as well. This is more Ralph's team than an inherited team, and there can be no more excuses for Ralph if this team does badly.

Just looked it up and it was actually over 4 world cups, 74-86. Found this article https://www.squadnumbers.com/2014/10/18/alphabetical-numbering-systems-at-the-world-cup/

We need someone for all those positions for me. Djenepo at LB is baffling. Absolutely baffling.

Probably 10% "loyalty" fee to the outgoing players as they haven't asked to leave, a big chunk to the new guys as signing on fees, agents fees on all the deals. £39m fees isn't £39m in real money.

Yep, dunno about 26, I'd be happy with 36 rather than 21. We need some proper experience back there. As it is, we're going into the season with Bednarek as our senior defender.

Bingo. Ralph has been dealt a shit hand with the keepers. He's got a choice between crap and crap.

Choices? Unless you're saying a keeper was a priority over a replacement for Ings or Bertrand, I'm not sure what choice you mean.

I'm sure that you're sure, but I'm not sure that anyone can be sure, surely. Anyways, he's on his way and I'm far from sure that Bednarek and Salisu is good enough for what we need. We need experience to replace experience, for sure.

Do you have proof though?