06 Sep 2025 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Transfer Window Round Up
06 Sep 2025 08:19:05
That was a good read, Ed. Thanks.
Is it the fact Arsenal now have a striker that you think it could be game-changing, or that it is Gyokores?
The reason I ask is because he doesn't impress me one bit. I suppose all they need him to do is bully his way through teams like Leeds, but he's looked poor against better teams so far.
{Ed001's Note - a striker, not Gyokeres. They didn't want Gyokeres, but Isak wasn't interested in joining them. And thank you.}
06 Sep 2025 11:35:22
Gyokeres looks like his lack of top end pace, mobility and technique is going to hurt him in this league. I still think he will score goals but in the biggest games it looks like he might find it rather more difficult. His touch looks so unreliable. In the Portuguese league when he gets a massive amount of chances it doesn't matter so much, in the prem where he might have to survive on scraps it potentially becomes a massive factor.
Between him and Sesko at this precise point in time he still looks rather the better option though. Sesko just looks so incredibly raw, it's a toss up as to whether he will succeed or not. I guess United had to choose between sinking big wages in proven PL quality but zero upside and resale value in Watkins/ Martinez and huge potential/ huge risk in Sesko/ Lammens though, and surprisingly for the first time in ages they chose the latter. It's commendable but who knows how it's going to turn out.
06 Sep 2025 11:49:39
Thanks Ed1 as ever from you a well thought through, well researched and interesting article. Hard to disagree with any of it. Still think Man City could come good. Chelsea rely almost solely on Palmer.
{Ed001's Note - thank you.}
06 Sep 2025 12:01:09
Really good read Ed. Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - thank you so much.}
06 Sep 2025 12:14:22
Maybe City are going to ditch playing out from the back entirely this year and become a lump the ball up the field team, ed, though even then Donnarumma would be a strange buy, he's not particularly good at lumping the ball up the field towards a team mate either, whereas Ederson was a master of passing it long AND short. Or maybe Pep is so scared that City are going to get hit on the break this year (and this is already their biggest weakness, judging from the first few games), Donnarumma is quite excellent in these situations, staying on his line and holding his nerve in one on ones. He never ever comes off his line to sweep up in behind, I don't think there's another goalie in modern football similar to him (maybe de Gea before him? )
{Ed001's Note - he is nothing like as good as de Gea was though.}
06 Sep 2025 12:22:09
Thanks for putting this together Ed. I don't pay much attention to the transfers of other clubs with the exception of the higher profile ones so I wasn't aware of a lot of them. There are a few surprises in there for me, especially with Everton and Brighton. It'd be interesting to see how the PL shapes up this season.
{Ed001's Note - it was a very intriguing window.}
06 Sep 2025 12:43:05
A great read Ed as as per always! I actually thought you might have us as an A- due to just missing out on Guehi. However, I can also see your justification in an A+ as it has been a truly unreal window and one I cannot ever remember as this exciting - perhaps since Barnes, Beardo and Aldo?! To top it off all of the players signed, wanted to come to us. It just highlights how much of a force we have become again and it feels great!
{Ed001's Note - thanks KPee.}
06 Sep 2025 15:57:12
great read as usual Ed. Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - thanks stone.}
07 Sep 2025 13:34:16
Gyokeres found his level at Coventry.
08 Sep 2025 23:21:32
Great read ed,
The one i am most confused about this summer, which i seen you mention is Manchester City. I have always thought Pep was a great manager albeit he does have the cheque book the majority of the time to build his teams.
Anyhow it is interesting that they have not addressed as you said their main issues which is defensively and being far to open. I understand Rodri helped plug them holes a lot of the time but there just seems to be so much wrong with them at the minute, the same as it was last season.
They don't seem the same anymore, always look vulnerable defensively and i don't think its an intimidating defense. I do look at ourselves and Arsenal and think we can keep teams out at times, Virg helps us out a lot i will say.
Anyway with City though they just seem weak at the moment. Really don't know what does fix them at the moment, let's see i guess as the season plays out, but even Donnaruma was a strange signing for me. Enrique wanted rid because he isn’t amazing distributing out from the back, so Pep though he would go and get him when he arguably plays the same style of football? Very bizzare i must say.
Anyway interesting read mate hope your well after the long sluggish window.
{Ed001's Note - yeah City are odd right now. Pep has taken his eye off the ball.}