Reluctant Striker

Not sure what is more shocking. Chukwuemeka starting for Chel$ea. Or Liverpool's new 4-0-2-4 looking formation.

England continue to be very fortunate. Any side remaining could win from what I've seen. The England - Australia match will be quite an atmosphere. I suspect the Aussie crowd will turn it up another notch.

Yes, the FFP stuff just gets more & more bizarre. All I hear described is on one interpretation, the accountancy method of showing that the player has zero accounting value remaining when the contract expires. To show, metaphorically, to finance people, that the club have not lost however much money in one hit when a player leaves on a free transfer. Or for Tesco, when old outdated cash tills are scrapped. etc. On the other hand, it could be describing a mortgage or car finance. Neither version sits right with me as the true & proper intent around 'financial fair play' There really should be much more clarity & transparency. Because explanations A, B & C are all being used & referred to as one & the same thing, by many people who are just taking Boffin B's word for it.

It is very early, but Newcastle look quite capable of doing much the same again this season. If not a little bit more. Still really disappointing to get this type beating first up.

I did expect half expect a slow start when it was Newcastle (a) first up. Am mostly hoping the momentum & excitement in & around Villa is not all gone with the opening 6 games. Does feel to me a bit up in the air which way it goes.

I do think it could be. Reminds me so much of Villa slowly, slowly sinking. At least in their demise season they brought in cheap French imports, like Veretout, Amavi & Gueye. Kind of sad to see Everton struggling to even do that sort of business.

Terrible run of injuries for Villa. Had not realised how many, but Moreno, Ramsey, Buendia, Traore, Duran & Dendoncker already out. First 3 of those would have been likely starters. Now looks like Mings could be out long term. Suddenly looking like Villa could struggle to rotate full 11 later on in season, unless they use U21s.

My playgrounds were obviously a higher standard than yours. But yeah, I'm the one to make the awesome Citay comment at.. Whatever axe you have is your own. And completely OTT.

I read 1 article suggesting he could pick up a few medals & still return for the Premier League scoring record. It would be possible if only stays 2 seasons & he's 1 that plays well past 35. Maybe dips a level, 10 to 15 a season. But, I think he already looks to be constantly carrying so many ongoing pulls & strains that I question if he'll last the full 4 year contract.

I would guess Pep sees him as adding a midfield goal threat. Still lots of money though. For someone who failed in Serie A.

3 playground tap ins for Man City. Burnley definitely seem destined for a bottom 6 scrap. More claret on another Man City kit. Bring out Birmingham royal blue trim next season. 4 claret & blue teams is ridiculous.

You were not asking me, but there are 3 distinct types of English obsessions on Germany. The first is Hitler & WWII The modern opposition to the first type are those that think Germany 2023 should be what we aspire to be. While doing away with a whole political party. And then third are those that just like Adidas, Puma, BMW, Mercedes Benz, hot dogs & so on. I am wearing an Adidas item today..

Very good point. Yes, being a serial winner tends to get post career opportunities of Hansen & Lawrenson. Neville & Keane. etc. etc. But nobody remembers Shearer as anything other than the Newcastle & England striker that scored lots of goals & lost 2 consecutive FA Cup finals. I'm not saying he would ever match Kane for Spurs. But they do have that guy who generally is used as a winger. Seen as slightly overrated. Unless he's playing for his nation, Brazil. And then he starts bicycle kicking & keepy-upping on the biggest stage possible. As a striker. If he can't help Spurs get over Kane, there's not too many other options. Especially when you consider Man United & Chelsea's never ending striker searches.

Newcastle vs Villa For Villa: Jacob Ramsey was already out for the opening of the season. Now Emi Buendia has a 'serious knee injury'. Both appeared to be the obvious right footed wingers. So suddenly the wing options are both left footers, Diaby & Bailey. The other left footer, Traore. Coutinho. The younger Ramsey (being pursued by Burnley) Philogene Bidace & advanced McGinn. Not ideal. But not disaster. Both matches were 1 sided home victories last season. A recent 3-3 pre season match. I'd back it to be match of the opening weekend. Despite Chelsea vs Liverpool.

If he rejects, he must want the Premier League scoring record & perhaps hoping an English title contender wants him for free next summer. Going to Bayern for a few guaranteed winners medals would surely save his esteem with Spurs fans, much more than having a try with Man United, Chelsea, whoever next year.

I think Maguire & Ward Prowse could be a reasonable replacement of Rice. If they both get done. They have goalscorers with Ings & Jimenez. Only problem is how many of them have their best days behind them.

Sounds like Moyes won an argument. Supposedly West Ham bosses wanted cheaper lesser knowns. Moyes wanted Premier League experience.

I'm not at all against the idea of Lauren James earning as much as Reece James or Raheem Sterling. But, who should be doing more to make that happen? Broadcasters? Clubs? Fans? Sponsors? Why is this thread nothing compared to Qatar ? Are all the not-even-here posters part of the issue ?

Any ideas why I can not see the 'like' button? I can see others have clicked like on posts. But not there for me to click on anyones post if I did want to?

In America, nearly all sports have that college-draft route. If it is not the same for womens soccer it probably should be. In Britain, every 4 years many watch a group of Scottish women who become the GB curling team at the winter Olympics. I think they & many niche sports receive National Lottery funding. But I would guess it is largely a televised hobby. Soon after the England women won the Euros, some new guidance was brought in for all school girls to be able to play football at school. And many of the leading football clubs have a womens team. There is a real chance women's football could become much more profitable than it is. And like the mens game, there will likely be many generations of former players looking on as the numbers keep increasing. Karen Carney seemed to get it right recently. She was chosen to lead a review into women's football. And in the findings, was asking for minimum standards to be raised. And it seems sponsors are listening. An advert campaign around Wembley today was for girls football.

I know American sport is almost nationalised compared to Britain. But women's football has been given a vastly increased platform in Britain, because they have offered up a viable product. And a very competitive England team. But wherever in the world, more money in women's football, or any sport, surely needs more fans & sponsors. And that is something that is not provided on an equality basis. It's earned by the methods of supply & demand for the product.

Crazy ending to Sweden - USA. I was as convinced as the US goalkeeper the ball had not gone in, but it did cross the line. That really is both giants gone now, in the women's game. USA & Germany both gone before the Quarter Finals? Nobody who has even vaguely followed women's football in recent years would have expected that.

Jesus being injured for Arsenal is a blow. I partly get what Roy Keane made a hash of trying to say on ITV. Talk of what Arsenal may have learned from last season is neither here nor there. Not sure I would say Arsenal look better. But City for me certainly seem at least on the cusp of a period where they could be caught.

The biggest trick any club can do is sign the right player before they become a massive stand out star. If he develops to become 1 of Haaland & Mbappe's nearest rivals, this will seem good business. If he develops into the Danish Peter Crouch, perhaps less so.

Any tactical tweaks/formation updates? It does sound that Emery will be using his take on the latest fad of CB's at FB. Back 4 in defence, converting to 3 CB's in possession. First read suggestion that Konsa & Chambers could be deployed as RB-CB, allowing Moreno to become LWB in possession. Could still happen at times, but in pre-season it has mostly been Cash as the RWB, with Torres at LB-CB. Both Konsa & Mings maintaing their spots alongside Torres. With Carlos & Chambers the bench options. Stand-out youngster: Jaden Philogene-Bidace has been getting very positive reviews. A promising wing attacker. Cameron Archer has played in pre-season. But missed several chances. It seems up in the air as to whether either will be part of the 1st team squad. Most improved player: Since Emery arrived nearly every player seems drastically improved. But for me, the most notable improvement was in Buendia. Who just started performing on a regular basis. Almost as though he just suddenly understood what he was supposed to be doing. And also Ramsey, the elder, Jacob. For me, it felt clear quite early on that he was destined to be much more of a CAM-wing attack role, than in a 3 man CM engine room. Since Emery, that has been the case. But a caution to Fantasy League bargain hunters... he is injured for the opening part of the season. And with the growing depth of the squad, he may also have a period of re-establishing himself. He could easily be looking at dislodging 1 of McGinn, Buendia or Tielemans. Overall view on your pre-season: Lots of promise. Undefeated. Some impressive attacking play. Some perhaps rusty & learning on the job defence. Yet narrowly missing out on a pre-season trophy. No injuries. Further confirmation Ollie Watkins is not a natural penalty taker. Impressive looking transfer business. Enjoying how many media experts, former not-so-glory-era players & online amateur predictors are dismissing Villa really, really, easily from upsetting the Top 7 establishment, again, let alone even more so, because Europe & look at West Ham & Big 6! I do actually hope a large portion of current managers & players are maintaining a similar dismissive attitude to Villa.