Honestly, this is what happens when you lose big names and think you don't have to replace them. There is zero question that our team is significantly weaker than last season (in terms of players). We couldn't get past the quarter finals of the CL with last season's team, so I'm not sure how the club expects us to go any further with what we have now. Above all, it's really frustrating to see the blame placed upon Emery. Not only is he new and needs time to work out his tactics based on the players available, but the poor guy inherited a weaker team than last season and is expected to do even better than his predecessor. Ridiculous. The sad part is that as much as I want to blame the club, I do think they genuinely tried to replace Ibra. Sadly there wasn't anyone of that caliber who was looking to make a move this summer. But the David Luiz thing is very puzzling. They better hope that we don't find ourselves experiencing a flurry of injuries in that position.
Well said, my hope is that they thought they could phone this one in and keep powder dry for Arsenal, and they almost succeeded, but then the late goal messed up that plan. All will be well again for them with a two-goal or better win over Arsenal, who by the way are coming off of sort of the opposite result -- a late win snatched from a draw by a stoppage time pk.
Thiago Silva should be back, which is a huge relief. I'm sure he won't be at 100%, but his experience and leadership abilities are invaluable, especially for a CL game. I'm going to have to read around in terms of our other injuries since I've been so busy lately. Hopefully we won't be without too many players.
If PSG are running out of defenders due to injury or suspension, then I think Thiago Motta will be deployed and reinvented as a centre back. A backup temporary plan in order to solve some defensive situation.
I think it is a little more than filling the spots with capable soccer players, there is also a 'leadership' intangible. If Silva can't go we know David Luiz won't be stepping up to lead the back line so that extra pressure will sort of fall on Trapp? Repurposing Motta adds leadership back compared to the younger less experienced guys but then leaves a leadership void in the middle of the park. All I can conclude is that David Luiz must have responded to Emery's changes by telling him where to go and exactly how to get there or else selling him at a loss (compared to what they paid that same team) makes no sense.
Well yes, he has done that before, but the point is that most teams top teams have a 4th CB, not just 3 and then other players capable of playing as a CB. Aurier is also capable of playing as a CB though.
He's an idiot and he totally fucked us against City (though that was Blanc's fault for starting him in a CL game right as soon as he got back), but he's still a good player. Above all, there aren't many good deals out there in his position, we'd probably be downgrading or overpaying for his replacement if we sold him. He needs to be banned from social media though. Honestly.
A convincing win on the road tomorrow would go a ways toward settling things a little. http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1980850/caen-vs-psg/ http://www.psg.fr/en/News/003001/Article/76929/Le-groupe-parisien
Pffff quel scandale les choix d'Emery, avec Ben Arfa, il y aura deja 8/0 au moins....— Daniel Riolo (@DanielRiolo) September 16, 2016
Yes, I'm going to count it, Cavani remembers the dimensions of the goal as well -- to be honest when his first good chance missed I thought here he goes again ... ;>)
Back to work already tomorrow, the squad: http://www.psg.fr/en/News/003001/Article/76991/Le-groupe-parisien Aurier and Verratti left off, hopefully not serious injuries but just rest (?) also hoping Trapp gets a fair chance shot, during the match with Caen when Emery went down the line of bench players celebrating a goal he seemed to snub him a bit? http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1980855/psg-vs-dijon/ No live TV options in the USA but on beIN later. Not sure why they don't show more live matches when they have the same chairmen (beIN & PSG)*. On weekends when they get cut or delayed for La Liga I can see it as mercenary for the money -- but on a Tuesday afternoon, getting bumped for the English League Cup match w/ Liechester v. Chelsea, seems rude? But who knows how much they paid for those broadcast rights. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasser_Al-Khelaifi
Back to the top of the table, tied with Monaco with a better goal differential BUT they have a match in hand.
Ben Arfa not on the team vs Toulouse. 4 straight game missed. Augustin in his place. Probably a better option for this team.
Seems to be the big 'miss' of the transfer season, a hard working, hold-up, back to goal, guy that Cavani could work off of would be much more useful than a 'star' in the stands.
Tough schedule, match again tomorrow -- live on beIN for once. http://www.livesoccertv.com/match/1980870/toulouse-vs-psg/ The squad: http://www.psg.fr/en/News/003001/Article/77037/Le-groupe-parisien Notable missing Ben(ch) Arfa, and Verratti (injury?).
Printed on a label sewn on the inside of his shorts? At least lately he has been converting some chances.