02 Sep 2026 15:21:02
I think we will be ok. Ekitike, Bradley will be back in December and should be ready by Feb.
We just have to ensure we are in all competitions in Feb that's when the real season begins feb march april and may are the thick months
Leoni should be back soon and macca should be back to best soon also. I d test leoni and jacquet partnership in all cup games and CL games. They are future so we need to give them enough experience together.
Kerkez is a player iraola knows so he will hopefully become the player we bought. Tsimikas for cups and mid week games when kerkez needs the rest
Gravy will play 6 and we have nyoni to back him up
The only problem is frimpong - we can solve it by using araujo there. I really wished we signed a specialist RB but it seems coaches and managers are happy with frimpong somehow.
Also Ali - he has been not himself in first two games. Real ali saves 2 of those 4 goals we conceded.
Isak hasn't looked good but has scored a goal which should give him confidence- i don't have big hopes from him. He wasn't a good buy doesn't fit our style and we probably will be selling him in a season or two but with barcola and munoz i expect enough balls in box for him to get on.
Now huge hopes on our two bew signing barcola and Munoz to light it up for us. Munoz has shown what he can do and barcola is also a proven talent.
I really hope wirtz through now with barcola and munoz stretching defenses he should get enough space and time to work his magic and i have a feeling barcola wirtz and munoz will deliver instant magic. We won't really have to wait, i think these 3 players are made to play together.
Gackpo i am greatfull for the player and his camp being absolute professionals. A deal was there from city he could have acted out but decided to honor the club. He has been the best player and to be very honest i'd drop isak and start him
Gackpo wirtz barcola and munoz as our front four. All of them can rotate play in any position and cause havoc.
All in all i pray things just work out and iraolo goes and gets us no. 21 and no 7.
I don't know where szobo fits. Rotates with wirtz munoz off the bench or just solves RB for us. Either way I know he will be livid. I expect szobo to be the first player to throw a tantrum this season.
I really think macca will be back to his best under iraola. Same language and all.
My prediction is we finish top2 and semifinal of CL. And a cup
02 Sep 2026 16:18:21
I honestly think most people here are extremely optimistic about Hugo Ekitike's recovery time.
A ruptured Achilles is one of the worst injuries you can have in pro sports, and, for example, prime NBA athletes like Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson or Chauncey Billups spent a whole year or more on the sidelines.
Only Kobe Bryant was back after 8 months, and we all know he was made different.
I wouldn't expect Ekitike to be at full speed until March/April at the earliest...
02 Sep 2026 16:33:18
Kameron, very much agreed. It's a year-long recovery process. Tendons are notoriously problematic injuries and heal incredibly slowly. He might be back training in a more familiar capacity by Christmas, but I don't expect him to be anywhere near the starting 11. As soon as I heard it was Achilles I accepted we won't be seeing him back to his best until the 27/28 season
02 Sep 2026 16:37:01
I'm more concerned about whether he will ever get back to the same level again. I don't care if he is out for 18 months if it means he comes back ready. I just hope his career isn't severely hampered long term.
02 Sep 2026 16:49:43
We can only hope the auld medical scientists have found a way to cut some of that time off in the few years since the NBA lads suffered theirs, I suppose.
02 Sep 2026 16:51:03
I’d say that injury probably takes even longer than a year. You can probably play again after 10-12 months, but you’re still going to be miles off your best for several months after that. Especially someone like Ekitike. That injury is going to take away so much of what made him really great to begin with.
I can’t see him playing any meaningful minutes this season.
Just cameos.
It’s why I’m astonished we are going into this season with only Isak as a recognised striker. Someone who’s injury prone and also just coming back off a long lay off.
If he’s out, then you’re using Wirtz or Munez and effectively robbing Peter to pay Paul when you're taking them out of position to cover.
02 Sep 2026 17:30:09
OP, just a quick analysis of your post:
Should count = 5.
Hope count = 4.
Pray count = 1.
02 Sep 2026 18:49:25
Nah, been talking to physios. He will be fine. It's not going to be a problem with him at all. His recovery is on track and you will be surprised. Although club won't take any risks with him.