1.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 08:01:06
Geez Tris, tell us what you think about Arsenal why don't you? :)

{Ed001's Note - I didn't have the time or space to go into it fully.....}


2.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 08:43:08
Thank you as always, Ed.
About City’s business, how do you rate Rodri as a player?

{Ed001's Note - very very good player, but it will take him time to adapt to the Prem and Pep's system. Not quite the same level as Fernandinho defensively but better on the ball. A huge improvement on Gundogan though in every aspect.}


3.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 09:02:03
Interesting all the top clubs got poor ratings - seems not a lot of top quality talent was lying around to be snapped up? I’m surprised we didn’t see more big moves to be honest, with so many clubs needing a bit of a rebuild.


4.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 09:41:16
Been really looking forwards to this, cheers Ed001 great insight. West Ham are definitely the pick of the bunch in my opinion. It'll take them a while to click, but once Pellegrini has it all figured out I expect them to be comfortably challenging for sixth with that squad.

Leicester a close second, if only for the fact that they somehow managed to sell Maguire for the fee they did. Ridiculous.

Completely agree with your assessment of Liverpool. I'm starting to lose faith In Keita but hoping he can kick on this season and show us the player he was at RBL. Thankfully if he doesn't, the midfield is an area we have covered. Fabinho playing from the start of the season is huge for us.

{Ed001's Note - getting Ox back to his best will be as good as Keita anyway, but getting Keita back too would be ideal.}


5.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 10:15:53
Have been waiting for this article for a long time Ed001 and boy was it worth the wait!

As far as LFC are concerned, I think we missed a trick not upgrading our forward options. Origi and Shaq are squad players at best and have no long term future at the club. Wouldn't it have made sense to sign a young winger/ wide forward who would be a better like for like option for Salah/ Mane and will have the opportunity to grow with this squad in the long term and eventually replace Mane/ Salah?

On the brighter side, I am perfectly happy with our midfield and defense options. Hoever and Larouci seem high potential young players that can be very good backs ups for TAA and Robbo. We also probably have the best set of CBs in world football. Don't even need to replace Lovren next summer as we have VDB or Phillips that can step in to be 4th choice CB.

I'd try to add someone like Aouar to replace Milner and Lallana next summer as well because not sure Grujic will ever be the answer tbh as he is extremely inconsistent which is an unwanted trait in a midfield that is built on solidity and consistency.

{Ed001's Note - you mean like Elliott?}


6.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 10:40:26
Great read, Ed. Thanks for taking the time to put it all together.

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate, glad you enjoyed. It has been ready a couple of days but I kept it back for a day when I didn't get a review of the day ready in time. Glad I did as recording the podcast last night overrun, a lot, so I didn't have time to do one.}


7.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 11:49:34
Although rarely seeing him play for Dortmund, I always read the hype around Gundogan. So i expected big things from him at City. Especially when they bought him right in the middle of recovery from injury and surgery. I thought he must really be good. And then I have watched him regularly now, and he's turned out to be basically a soggy firecracker.


8.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 14:19:46
Good read Ed001.

I just hope not investing doesn’t end up biting us on the rear.

If Ox gets back to his level before he got injured and Naby can turn his liverpool around ( he certainly has the ability ) then I think we’ll be alright

Replacing one of the front three will always be tricky.

{Ed001's Note - I don't think there was a right answer last summer. If we had managed to convince someone to come and be cover, at the end of the season they would be wanting out to get first team football. Then you are going to take a hefty loss because they will have barely played for a season. It was one of those situations where there is no right way to deal with it.}


9.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 15:15:54
It is a long long season but we will be fine.
Lovren
Gomez
Milner
Keita
Brewster
Shaq
Lallana
Allison
That's 8 players who have barely played yet. We are better than last year and have more options.


10.) 17 Sep 2019
17 Sep 2019 18:12:59
Thank you ed only read liverpool part as I don't know much about other clubs and like to keep it that was 😇.

{Ed001's Note - so long as you enjoyed it that's what matters.}


11.) 18 Sep 2019
18 Sep 2019 02:42:35
That was a great overview of each teams business and it's seemed clear that this summer not many clubs have strenghtened largely, with many actually losing their best talent. West ham, Everton, villa on paper seem to have added and upgraded group of players but yet to light the league up. City have not replaced kompany and weakened at the back, Chelsea couldn't replace hazard or strenghten anywhere in the squad, arsenal haven't improved their weak defence or spineless midfield, spurs haven't dealt with unhappy ageing players running out contracts, signings with hardly any PL experience, United only bring in 3 players, 2 of which defenders for 130mil. Lose 3 times as many squad players without any replacing. Liverpool sign no first team quality. Replace mignolet with Adrian, lose only dead wood squad players.

No team did strong business this summer really. When you compare to last year with us signing strong, city previously adding laporte, ederson, bernardo Silva. Chelsea strengthening with kante, rudiger, kepa. Arsenal even perfecting attack with lacazette and Aubameyang. In the last 3/ 4 years each team have had summer signings strengthen them for the most part, allison, VVD, salah, fabinho, kante, rudiger, kepa, laporte, ederson, B. silva, mahrez, Son, Lucas moura, lacazette, aubameyang, (United no player really an upgrade? )

I just feel this summer that no club has improved what they needed. Ndombele, rodri, wan bissaka, Tierney are the only players I think might actually strenghten in their teams role. Only because they are replacing monreal, Valencia, wanyama, and long term fernandinho. Ceballos doesn't upgrade Ramsey, luiz not koscielny, angelino not delph, cancelo not danilo, Maguire and AWB surely an improvement but unlikely enough. Spurs have still used the same players they've had for the last 3 years, Liverpool same squad, Chelsea weakened squad, city defensively weaker, arsenal strenghtened attack but still as weak at back. United strenghtened defence but weakened attack.

Been a poor window I think for most clubs in England and I'm sure the early closure compared to Europe must play it's part. City needed a CB, United an attacker, arsenal a proper defensive leader, spurs a RB, Liverpool a flexible forward.

We've already seen city are bare at the back, United lacking creatively, arsenal shipping goals, spurs getting exposed, Liverpool with no forward on the bench with origi injured.