Williams ramping up his fitness with Blues debut in mind

I'm looking forward to seeing a few more Cahill-esque 88th-minute goals this season. Used to be our trademark.

If memory serves, didn't Duffy also get sent off for Ireland in their last game at the Euros?

Good to hear the guys are tired after training. The first step to curing the mental fragility that has dogged us for years, is to get the players to a level where they KNOW they will be physically strong to the end.

The manager's aim is obviously super fitness aligned with a pressing game from the front and a much more physical presence in midfield and at the back. I'm trying to get my head around how Rom fits into these long term plans.

I'm thinking more mobile, sharp, good first touch strikers would suit the style better. I think the big fella could be found out in the system the new regime will be following.

Can't say the same for the likes of Kone.

It begins and ends with fitness. The game is 90+ minutes long. If the players can only run full speed for 60 minutes, we had better practice defending corners and set pieces, because we will see a lot of them.

Right now I can see the heart and desire, but the legs aren't there yet. Koeman will get it sorted, though.

Long, Remy and Austin.
You are joking aren't you?

The difference in the second half this game v last year was a better understanding of managing the game out despite losing territory to Spurs. The team faced a number of corners in the final third of the game and successfully sorted them without giving anything away.

As you say, Koeman will sort it but already you can see the discipline in "holding on" when required is so much better than last year.

I would have loved to have seen Naismith work under these guys.

Kone, Jesus! Now there is a four letter word...

Looking forward to seeing Williams, in a blue shirt, and I think you might be right Darren, because I would sooner lose Funes Mori, rather than Holgate, from the back three at the minute.

All the whispers and paper gossip about Lukaku leaving have fallen away. It does look more and more likely that he is going to stay. The only club he has been linked with was Chelsea and they don't have what he wants this season, CL football.

Lukaku has time on his side age wise and given that he scored twenty something goals in a poorly performing side last season, his reputation is still okay. A season under a better manager playing in a better performing squad will not do his reputation any harm.

I do think we will get twenty goals plus again from Lukaku this season. Get a decent striker in to both support him and push him and we will do well.

The Premier League is getting quicker and the players are getting bigger, faster and stronger. You can't get away with relying on just skill , you have to have fitness.

I think that if Lukaku stays, he should do well, with a better supply line , as apart from the Chelsea Cup game, he normally needs service. Most of his goals are in the 18-yard box, very few are from distance or at the end of a dribble.

Many of us commented last season on his sluggishness and let's hope that the new regime will improve his mobility by shedding a few pounds of that frame.

As Kieran, says, another striker to give him some real competition would keep him on his toes.

As for Williams, looking forward to seeing him in the side on Saturday, his leadership and presence could be crucial against Pulis'sside who will no doubt lump long balls in to the box.

Not sure Stoke play the long ball game any more and Pulis is no longer their manager!

The logic of '2 hard working strikers who score 10 each replacing 1 lazy striker who scores 20' is totally flawed.

Firstly, only one player can replace Rom, as he occupies just 1 position in the team. You can't replace him with two. The other striking positions are taken up by wingers/wide forwards – Bolasie, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Barkley.

Secondly, Rom can get fitter, faster and from what I saw on Saturday will thrive in this system.

Rom didn't run around like a headless chicken because that is how the team was set up - sit, pass, wait for space. The pressing game is totally different.

If he doesn't he adapt then we will ship him out, but let's see before replacing him with bog average, 1 good season in a 8-year career Premier League/championship level strikers. We've have enough of them over the years, we've had precious few actual goal scorers.

Good to hear Williams's comments about the rigorous training regime.

Hmmm, Ray (26), back to school I think. Not to mention that Rom's goals were all scored in Premier League campaigns. Austin had 2 of those 3 seasons in Championship sides playing more games for promotion hunting sides.

Funes Mori's distribution and decision-making was poor against Tottenham and could've been costly on another day. Holgate done well considering it was his first game in Premier League against a good team but Coleman gives us a lot more going forward!

It's nice to look forward to the weekend again and hopefully get three points on the board!

I think a fully fit Austin would hit 15-20 league goals and is obviously a player that Koeman feels can fit into his system. Hence why he bought him for Southampton.

I haven't seen any evidence that Lukaku can press from the front. He is not going to turn into a hard working striker overnight. However, I would like to see him stay and at least try. On his day, he's an absolute beast. Koeman will obviously be assessing him in training and has a couple more weeks before deciding whether or not to get rid.

Coleman is out for at least 6 weeks I heard. I think for this game we might go 4 at the back and play a slightly more attacking 4-3-3 formation – especially as we don't have another right wing back to properly replace Coleman. Something like this:

Stekelenburg
McCarthy, Williams, Jagielka, Baines
Gana, Barry
Barkley
Deulofeu, Lukaku, Bolasie

If it's this formation (and assuming Williams is fit), it's between Holgate, McCarthy and Funes Mori for the right back berth.

Phil #29. I did in fact point out that most of Austin's goals were scored at lower level and never suggested that Lukaku should be replaced by Austin! My point was that I was challenging the statement: Lukaku has scored more than them put together (Long, Remy, Austin). He clearly hasn't and Austin's record of 18 goals in his only fit season in the PL (for a relegated side) is actually pretty impressive!

I could only see RK going for Austin as a back up at best, but would hope we would be looking at a better quality player than Austin to compete with Lukaku.

I can see that happening next week and us then getting Kone.

I've just watched it on you tube and like you say very interesting comment about Rom.

"Rom' been asking me to come for ages!!!

Might explain the price tag, maybe Rom has tried calling Moshiri's bluff and said, "Okay then, get the hardest defender I've played against, Williams and my supply line needs my mate Bolasie, and I'll sign my new contract; show me you want me and mean business..." and Moshiri's flexed his muscle?

Either way, he's going to look a bit of a twat to Bolasie if it's true and he now fucks off to Chelsea.

It appears we are getting a few "scrappers" in the team which is a good thing as I thought we were lightweight especially in defense.

Arsenal must be kicking themselves for not snapping him up.

Very impressed with all Ronald's purchases so far.

Teams with a lot more money than us all struggling for top class strikers so whilst many of us might not like his attitude, commitment and workrate I think RK will try his utmost to keep him, even if it means him not being happy at the start.