Find it hard to believe that we are going into the new season without any new players. After finishing in the top 3 for the last 3 seasons, our lack of ambition to make the step up is really disappointing. Our lack of squad depth stopped us from winning the league title for the last 3 seasons and it might affect us again this season. One positive thing is that we didn''t sell any of our key players including Alderweireld. Let's hope our all our key players will step up their game to help us to finish in the top 3 again this season. We won home and away against Saudi Sportswashing Machine last season. Hope we will beat them again in this match to start the new season in winning form.
With 9 players who got involved in the World Cup semi finals, including Kane, only returning to training this week, it is going to be a difficult match against Saudi Sportswashing Machine. Not sure how many of them will be fit enough to be involved in this match. But without any new signings, our options seems limited. And with Kane rarely turns up in August, we have to hope someone else like Eriksen, Son and Moura will inspire us in this match. Moura has been in good form in pre-season. Let's hope he will bring that form in to the new season as well. Lamela had a good pre-season as well but it will be disappointing if he is not fot to start this match.
Our midfield seem to be affected by injury and fitness problems. Wanyama still seems to be out injured while Dembele never seems to be fully match fit nowadays. With Dier only just returning from the World Cup, not sure who will be fit to start in midfield for us. I get the feeling Sissoko will be playing a big part in this match. Really don't want to see any inexperienced youngsters to start in midfield. Their lack of experience at highest level football will be a big problem for us. Regardless of who play in midfield, let's hope they will play to their true potential to help us win this match.
Our defence seems to well balanced nowadays. Good to see us keeping Alderweireld in our squad. Without doubt, Vertonghen and Alderweireld is our best defensive partnership. Still not fully convinced of Sanchez as he tends to make too many mistakes. I think Sanchez still needs more time to become as reliable as Alderweireld. Until then, Vertonghen and Alderweireld should be our first choice defenders. It will be great to see Lloris playing for us after just winning the World Cup as captain for France. Let;s hope Lloris can lift the entire team with his World Cup winning mood.
It is always difficult to play in the first match of the season, especially when it is an away match. It is more so for us with 9 key players just returning from World Cup duties. No doubt it is going to be a tense match for us. We need an early goal to help us settle down and then go for more goals to kill the game off. Let's hope we will turn up with the right team and mentality to start the new season in winning form.
