Well we start the season with Villa home, City away, Toon home - a week gap between each.
For me, first game we should be winning comfortably, getting players match fit if not already, and preparing for a 6 pointer against City.
Villa: Who will expect a drubbing - big day out, men behind the ball trying to be hard to break down;
433
Lloris
Aurier - Alderweireld - Vertonghen - Davies
Winks - N'Dombele - Lo Celso
Moura - Kane - Eriksen
City: Now this is the big one. They will expect to spank us and limit our chances. When we do attack, a bit of magic will be needed so would go with Dele, but more importantly we need to hound and get at them trying to deny space - so a rare Lamela call up for me here, and a proper defender up against Sterling or whoever else goes against our left back. We went with Trippier and Rose in the champions league games last season, but doesn't look like either will be here. Son still suspended.
4231
Lloris
Aurier - Alderweireld - Sanchez - Vertonghen
Sissoko - N'Dombele
Lamela - Dele - Eriksen
Kane
Toon: Expect that shit show to go down this season, and think we should be going for the jugular on the back of a harsh defeat away to City, which is quite likely. High up wing backs, expect to have the ball more than we need to win it back, but players who can pass through what they will inevitably set up as.
523
Lloris
Kwp - Alderweireld - Sanchez - Vertonghen - Sessegnon
Winks - Lo Celso
Moura - Kane - Son
It goes on form, injuries, performances and everything - but really we should be winning 2 of those games with our 2nd 11. It's the city game we need to look at as the bench mark for our starting 11 being good enough and transfers needed.
The side from last season miraculously managed to score 3 against them away, and the defence held them off at home. But with that logic, City could say 'we should be capable of scoring away to Spurs' when obviously their attack is fucking incredible. They were the better side and lost over 2 legs anyway.
I want us to, and believe we can win the league this season. But that massively comes down to form, momentum, injuries, luck, mental approach to name a few things.
Winning or losing the City game I believe will have quite an impact on momentum and mentality in particular, with Gooners away after the toon game.
Lo Celso and Sessegnon I didn't include in the potential City squad. Do they offer the level of solidity needed for such a task? I'm not convinced. I think that's a game to use our strength and height - dipping into the squad 'depth' for an 11 suitable for the task at hand. Didn't Pep call us the most physical team he has ever played against or something?
Horses for Courses. For me the want of players like Sessegnon or Lo Celso are more about breaking down shit teams we often fail to do with a squad that ought to be more than capable of doing so already.
But my idea is to have a squad that is capable of being the better team in 38 games, or getting as close to that as possible (like City). A bit of form and momentum with last years squad would turn some of those defeats into wins against inferior opposition. But if we sign Lo Celso and Sessegnon, are we really on par with City?
I would like us to bring those players in, but for me it's about having different options for different situations.
With our squad as it is (even if we include Lo Celso and Sessegnon), I would say we lack;
- A solid defending 'backs to the wall' right back
- A quick to release the ball accurately attacking mid (a bit like Eriksen but maybe left footed)
- A fast, potentially lethal back up striker (Gabriel Jesus type)
- And a consistently good corner / set piece taker - which you would hope could be included in the attacking mid player mentioned above.
Sorry to go on a bit. Wasn't necessarily aimed at who I quoted.