The College Dropout

Mateta had some decent underlying data for a while before he caught fire. Some of that is the system, players around him but it's also movement and anticipation. I used to think he was a solid but unspectacular finisher. I think against Liverpool he had one saved on the line but IMO it was the wrong shot selection, that dink he did gave the Liverpool defender a chance to prevent it. I thought that kind of thing was why he was a good/solid midtable striker but no more (like a Chris Wood). But in the last few weeks he's been making the right decisions, his technique and composure always looked good to me but obviously improves a bit with confidence. Will be interesting to see how he gets on next season. Definitely think it's a purple patch but I suspect he'll continue to be a good striker going forward. I always liked Wissa as well. I think he's getting better season-on-season. Under good managers and clubs midtable strikers can really kick-on.

I think we need a playmaker type at RW rather than a goalscorer (like Mbeumo - who I like a lot). Olise would be my pick. No idea how feasible that is.

Love Nick Pope. This guy doesn’t sweeper keep.

Of course you would I'm only joking

All things considered - i'm one of the bigger supporters of players like Wilson, Wood, Murphy and Nicholas Jackson. Try your best, have some ability - I'll like a player as long as others don't overhype them (Almiron, Anita, Colo at times). And I love a physical defender. Every time I see us talk about a Nigerian player - you seem to be a fan I like Awoniyi and he's a handsome lad to boot. Good replacement for Wilson in that regard. Not seen enough of Adebayo to comment jus thought it was funny.

He's been a bit dodgy has Trips ever since that picture was leaked.

Selling Wilson to fund DCL is a bum move.

@kaka is there an active Nigerian under 30 playing in a top league that you don't like?

Bowen signed the super max with West Ham. How is that transfer possible?

Saw somewhere that smaller clubs playing like "top" clubs is good for the sale of players but it's also true of managers. That's one of our mini advantages - I don't think we really play like a "top" side. We are a little more direct. We play to the strengths of the individual players within a structure. Even the level of our pressing is higher than most top teams. That's been part of Brighton's success in selling players. Caicedo was popping balls through the lines like Rodri or Jorignho. Trossard pressing, movement, touch etc.

what's with all the defending clips? Get that ball playing front and centre. What I like most about him is how good he is with the penetration of his passes and the weight - it's really good. He's also got quick feet and can drop a shoulder. IMO that's why I think he can play in midfield. IMO that's the difference between a Kroos and a TAA. At FB or coming from deep, TAA has all the time in the world to pick a pass. But he struggles when receiving the ball with his back to goal or just generally when under pressure. Some of it is movement but Trent doesn't have the touch, composure and ball control to operate in tight spaces that Kroos does. Hall seems to be better in those tight spaces. A proper footballer man. A baller. So yes.. Lewis Hall is a Toni Kroos regen. I also just want to see it just once. Maybe I'm over-rating him. I just want to see him next to Bruno. But yeh my point is, Hall is not just a passer. Jonjo Shelvey could pick a pass - any pass at that. But Hall can really ball. Edit: That's also the major difference between Cabaye and Bruno. The opposition could press Cabaye out of the game largely and overwhelm him physically. Where Bruno is skipping past players if they get too tight and he's better able to cope physically (he also usually has more help than Cabaye did). The opposition could press Cabaye into a sideways pass or a poor pass. Get on top of him. You can't do that to Bruno, he's dropping the shoulder on you then buying a foul.

Tottenham chop and change and sit exactly where they should most seasons. I think "stability" in management is over-rated. Get the best manager possible for the club. Liverpool & City have 2 of the best managers ever. Arsenal deserve credit for sticking with Arteta tbf. But they've backed him to the hilt and they let Emery go pretty quickly. Moat important thing is having stable and good leadership at the very top. Your Roman's, Levy's, Dein's etc. Chelsea don't have that which is the main reason they are in the mud (and have sacked Poch).

The key to what? Chelsea managed to be plenty successful chopping and changing all the time. Because they had coherent thinking everywhere else in the organisation and lots of money. They don't have that anymore. For having a gazillion players, all young, Poch did ok and was finding a real groove.

Botman, Burn, Schar at LCB. It's fine. It's the right footers who are bad on the ball that need to stay right-side.

Bit of a deep lying Luka Modric. Both wonderfully one footed. Glide past players. Dribblers. Passers. Great on and off the ball.