Btw, when's Hincappie Chappie back? Gabby got a knock and had to come off.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

He's apparently fine, thank Ganpati.

It's great that Triphop's looking comfortable on either side, but given how good MLS is and that Ricky C's starting most games atm, I can't believe we've spent ?45m or whatever it is on a 3rd choice LB.

He should be our LCH cover, no?

Can't wait to see him. Yakob did very well when Gabby was out last season, but if he'd been fit, I'd have liked to see Ricky C at LCH and MLS at LB. Obviously, we should never break the Willy-Gabby partnership for the biggest games, but imagine MLS doing his MF magic with Ricky bringing the ball out of defence. Could be a useful attacking option. But given what Gabby can do from corners, would you ever take him off?

[7sisters]

He's apparently fine, thank Ganpati.

It's great that Triphop's looking comfortable on either side, but given how good MLS is and that Ricky C's starting most games atm, I can't believe we've spent ?45m or whatever it is on a 3rd choice LB.

He should be our LCH cover, no?

Can't wait to see him. Yakob did very well when Gabby was out last season, but if he'd been fit, I'd have liked to see Ricky C at LCH and MLS at LB. Obviously, we should never break the Willy-Gabby partnership for the biggest games, but imagine MLS doing his MF magic with Ricky bringing the ball out of defence. Could be a useful attacking option. But given what Gabby can do from corners, would you ever take him off?

I?m reading later on in the month. Let?s hope MA tells Ecuador to go fark themselves if they try calling him up for the international break

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I?m reading later on in the month. Let?s hope MA tells Ecuador to go fark themselves if they try calling him up for the international break

I've been there. Nice people. But they shouldn't be allowed to mess with our starry new signings.

Do you think he's gonna be 2nd choice LCH? As I say, if Gabby was out I'd like to see Ricky C there. Though whether that risks us getting caught out when he powers forward, I couldn't say.

[Peter]

I've been there. Nice people. But they shouldn't be allowed to mess with our starry new signings.

Do you think he's gonna be 2nd choice LCH? As I say, if Gabby was out I'd like to see Ricky C there. Though whether that risks us getting caught out when he powers forward, I couldn't say.

I dont think Arteta trusts Calafiori at centre back. And I dont blame him

[redgunamo]

I dont think Arteta trusts Calafiori at centre back. And I dont blame him

Right. Full Back is basically the same as Cow Corner; a risky but high-reward position (especially inverted full back), which, despite everything, has been allowed to become critical.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I dont think Arteta trusts Calafiori at centre back. And I dont blame him

Isn't that where he plays for Italy?

[PSRB]

Isn't that where he plays for Italy?

and look where they are in the WC qualifiers

[redgunamo]

and look where they are in the WC qualifiers

Right. The state of Italian defending is rubbish nowadays. Watched Juve-Inter the other night. Porca miseri! Mama mia, as they say down there.

Two best teams in the country; ended 5-4 or something. Nobody serious. Not like our match at Anfield; proper big game between two top sides.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Right. The state of Italian defending is rubbish nowadays. Watched Juve-Inter the other night. Porca miseri! Mama mia, as they say down there.

Two best teams in the country; ended 5-4 or something. Nobody serious. Not like our match at Anfield; proper big game between two top sides.

Really? I'd always though that Eyetie and Argie defenders were the best. When did that change?

Say what you like about modern footie, but it is becoming more like total footie. When I were a lad, a ball-playing CH was a rarity. Now they're all expected to do that, so you now have the likes of Ricky C who can also surge forward with the ball like an old skool attacking MF.

Players are so versatile nowadays. Vik's only a CF, and we haven't seen Willy or Gabby anywhere but CH. But that's in part because they're the best combination and the best two individually. You could imagine them learning to play FB if they had too like BW did.

But BW, JT, Cala, Triphop and apparently Hinchappie can all play CH and FB. Our FB's can invert to MF, our DMs can play as 10s, as can our wingers who can also play as false 9s etc. It is getting towards totaalvoetbal.

[redgunamo]

Really? I'd always though that Eyetie and Argie defenders were the best. When did that change?

Say what you like about modern footie, but it is becoming more like total footie. When I were a lad, a ball-playing CH was a rarity. Now they're all expected to do that, so you now have the likes of Ricky C who can also surge forward with the ball like an old skool attacking MF.

Players are so versatile nowadays. Vik's only a CF, and we haven't seen Willy or Gabby anywhere but CH. But that's in part because they're the best combination and the best two individually. You could imagine them learning to play FB if they had too like BW did.

But BW, JT, Cala, Triphop and apparently Hinchappie can all play CH and FB. Our FB's can invert to MF, our DMs can play as 10s, as can our wingers who can also play as false 9s etc. It is getting towards totaalvoetbal.

These things go in cycles, they say.

Less is more but more can also be less too. I think Calafiori broke Bonucci's record as most expensive Italian defender.