Rousseau

Absolutely. That would be fantastic. I'm a big fan of the Red Bull style of football. We've seen a 4-4-2 in defence, too, at times. I just wish we could execute it properly...

Technically I'm wrong: it shouldn't be RB Salzburg any more. They had to drop it, because Leipzig were / are in the same competition (CL). I added it for clarity. I guess it wasn't that clear...

I don't know to your first question, but they certainly expect to win the league every season (they've won 10 on the bounce, iirc), so they'll be touchy if they drop points. Winning is winning.

I think it's a 4-3-1-2 with Cantwell as an #8, Lammers as the #10, as we saw in pre-season. It can definitely transition into a 4-2-2-2 with Cantwell moving forward.

I was watching the RB Salzburg match stream (vs Inter). I was struck by the fans's mindest regarding players. Several comments were along the lines of '[player x] will be crazy in 1-2 years', or '[player y] will be worth 30 million in a couple of years'. The mindset is different from us. We're, 'if they're not the final product, then they're no good ... punt them'. They're seeing potential, and what they can become. Tillman was 'too slow on the ball and gets robbed'. But he was 20-years-old. Where will be be in a year or two when he quickens up and gets stronger on the ball? Yilmaz 'can't cross and is suspect defensively'. He's 21. He can learn to cross and work on his defensive positioning. And the 'we have to win now' excuse doesn't cut it. Salzburg need to win. They look at the attributes a player has now, whilst also acknowledging where they can improve. I really think this is a failing in our mindset.

Deadline is kick-off.

Benfica get 30% too.

On the bright side, we'll get knocked out before Tillman can do it to us later...

Why is he smiling.

Often after slating them every minute they're here.

You'll want to keep track over the season, make transfers, make subs as some players have a tough game and you don't expect them to score points, etc. It's the way you have to keep up with it that makes the PL season a little more interesting, as you try to figure out which players are going to perform well and are good 'value'. I believe you can make free transfers up until the first game, then they cost you points - outside that one free transfer per week. Pick your captain, too. They get double points. I usually went with Haaland last season. You can change this game to game.

It's on the SPFL group chat... 👀

To be fair, it's a pretty offensive and entertaining formation as used by Leipzig and Salzburg, etc. BealeBall is... Zzzz...

I've created another Fantasy League for us. I think it adds a bit of fun to the PL season. Join here: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/tg4esa

Butland Stirling Raskin Cantwell - Hagi Lammers - Danilo - Dessers - Roofe - Sima - Tamundo

We'll just make this the match thread.

@Frankie

I think it was an 'option', not an 'obligation' to buy.

I have been saying for ages that we'd double our money on Tillman within 6 months. Most were saying £5M is too much for him. Alas! It didn't matter. Bayern cancelled it. That's why we got the £1M.

Apparently PSV have an option to buy Tillman for £15M at the end of his loan. No wonder Bayern didn't want to take our £5M...

Absolutely. I said that at the time: '£5M for a geriatric forward that doesn't do much'.

That would help. I was more frustrated at the lack of movement from our attacking midfielders and forwards, though.

How dare you criticise the manager after one game! Ludicrous! Psychosis! I agree.