ALC Fox

Nwaneri played for Arsenal's first team aged 15. If he's good enough and there are teams sniffing around, it would probably be a good idea to get him in a squad and let him have 10 minutes towards the end of a League Cup game. I really like the look of him. If he's a Bellingham-esque generational talent then I presume it won't be long until we do see him get first-team action. Whether he is or not remains to be seen. But he does look the business. Though I do worry about some of our young players. Alves, for example, is now involved in first-team training but isn't making match-day squads, nor is he playing age group football or being linked with a loan. Is first-team training alone enough development to see him break through given a bit of time? I don't want to see these players stuck in limbo and then taking longer to develop than they would if they had actually been given a chance. It's good to see Braybrooke playing but it's so obvious he's above U21 level. There are clear weaknesses in his game. Based on last night he misjudges headers a fair bit and can lose possession that way (often making a header on the ball's upward trajectory, seeing it softly loop in the air and allowing an opposing player to challenge him physically for the ball). But his touch, ball control and passing are out of this world. If he's not even where Alves is now in Cooper's thoughts, he needs a loan this instant in my opinion.

Unfortunate end to this game

Monga looks the absolute business

Nice, good to know, cheers

Probably a fair scoreline but not an ideal way to concede a goal. Some nice moments from the young lads tonight, especially with some notable absences. Incredible to see Monga come on against a men's team aged 15.

Oh that's a lovely finish!

Never realised Cover's name is actually pronounced Coh-ver. Unless this commentator has just got it badly wrong for some reason.

Great to see another academy graduate getting game time in the Prem. He probably does need a loan to help him develop but he'll be a decent squad player for us. I think he has the minerals to keep improving.

Obviously extremely early days and it's clear the squad needs improving massively. But the second-half turnaround was excellent. If he can get those players fighting like that all season we might just be alright. Not getting carried away but watching us go for a winner after turning that game around and seeing him stalking the touchline like a lion stalking its prey, I can see the fans falling in love with him very quickly.

I presume Ricardo was benched so we had Justin's physicality up against the athletic Son. I'd say that worked because I saw very little of Son all game. Presumably Ricky and all the full-backs will be rotated to keep them all fresh but both deserve to keep their places against Fulham based on that second-half performance. Ricky could be a good weapon as a super sub as well, if we're chasing a game.

What an incredibly gutsy performance. On paper we're worse than the team that went down but this side could teach that one a thing or two about fight. Bravo lads, bravo Steve Cooper. Just a word on Mads, his performance in the first half kept us in it. We get nothing without him tonight. Top class keeper.

I'd take Chukwuemeka in a heartbeat. He'd instantly become our best midfielder. His all round game is already very strong, he just needs a run.

I think he's ahead of all of those bar Winks to be fair. We still need the creative midfielder, absolutely. But if we can move Soumare on and have Ndidi and Hamza as backups, I think that would be OK. Buonanotte, Golding and Alves can play further forward but we do need a more senior, creative type even though it looks like Mavididi could play inside.

The fee seems exorbitant but it's definitely a position we needed strengthening. Yeah a striker is a priority but if the deal is there and he's a player we've identified as someone who can make a proper difference then it'd be silly not to do it on the off chance we can panic buy a striker we haven't scouted properly, for example. We need strengthening all over the pitch, really, in my opinion, so we have to do the deals we can do. I think he can be a positive signing. Energetic, decent on the ball, can play alongside or instead of Winks. It's just the fee that's less than ideal imo.

Seems an insane amount of money atm. He's a good age though. If he turns out OK then it'll be a snip, I guess. We need someone next to Winks who can actually put their foot on the ball, especially if Ricardo is back at RB. Winks, Skipp and Buonanotte could be an OK, if lightweight midfield 3 perhaps?

Southampton losing to Newcastle when having a man extra and way, way more of the ball is a huge result for us and a massive waste for the Saints. I'm trying not to read into opening day results too much but if we can exploit opportunities like that if and when we get them, hopefully that means at least one team will be worse off than us this season.

The Athletic have our black away kit ranked 4th out of all PL away kits https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5684536/2024/08/17/premier-league-away-kits-rankings?source=user-shared-article

With Daka and Vardy out and no new striker in, it'll be very interesting to see whether Cooper goes with Cannon or not on Monday. If he puts Mavididi or someone else in there, I think that will give us a real indication of where he sees Cannon's place this season. Personally I think that's what he'll do with Fatawu and Reid on the wings. It's going to be a tough night, a long night, but Spurs are not exactly infallible themselves. If we can pull off something special to beat them, it could set the tone for the rest of the season.

Was just about to ask that

Russell Martin and Kieran McKenna will dogmatically stick to their principles with sides that have just been promoted. Southampton nearly buggered it up last season and we battered them twice. Ipswich were fantastic but we outplayed them twice but stuttered to a draw each time. Cooper is more pragmatic and, although it doesn't look like the season will start well, I'm confident we'll at least fight for survival. The points deduction(s) may well be our death knell this season but we'll grind things out and have a go. We might not be pretty at times but we could pick up crucial points here and there that aren't expected at all. So, as much as people are predicting Ipswich to be OK, there's a real chance that they and Southampton could be cut adrift. So just to find one more club: Forest. I think they could implode this year. This could be the year they mess it up and everything comes home to roost. Nuno will be sacked and his replacement will be crap. They'll spend a ton again and it won't work this time. So there we go. Optimism: scraping through to 17th, taking our points deductions and moving on to 25/26 with a bit more money to spend and a chance to build again Hopefully.

Genuinely a nice shirt, that. Shame about the sponsor of course but it's actually smart. Best of the three by a mile.

Tier 4 source as well. This is the reduced sugar ketchup of transfer rumours.

Fvck me, football is shite. Just loads of high net worth individuals fvcking about. PRS, FFP, Clearlake Capital, King Power, Macquarie Bank, shell companies, multi-club models, tax evasion, points deductions, "I'm alright, Jack" attitudes, Super League, 39th game, World Club Cup nonsense. Fvck me.

He's good but he ain't £150k/week good. We need players, especially good ones, but there are other deals to be done. I like Zaha and he would have given us a great chance but he's one player and there are other deals to be done. Ayew would be disappointing, sure, but I think there will be others in the offing too. PSR/FFP and what have you are moving things around all the time, not just for us. Players not available now could be available in a week if other deals fall down or a club needs to find a few quid. Even if we don't get anyone, hopefully that means Alves is more likely to get a chance. Que sera sera.

They'll try and play. We may not be able to hit a barn door at the moment but they can be got at on the break. Their pace in the back line might be able to cover them a lot of the time but they're often criminally out of position if last season is anything to go by. I'd snap anybody's hand off for an attritional 1-0.