VIEW FROM THE STANDS

The big talking point among the fans is the homecoming of a true Blues legend. I don’t think anyone expected Frank Lampard to be back at the Bridge quite so soon. This season will be different because the transfer ban means we’ll finally get to see some of our youth players given a proper go in the first team. Our fans have been calling for the integration of the youth players for a very long time. I won’t be happy unless those players are given a chance. There is no excuse for them not to be. Our most underrated player is Emerson Palmieri. He only started to feature in the second half of last season, but he’s a solid performer and very exciting going forward. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Marcos Alonso. Scoring free-kicks isn’t enough for a left-back who can’t defend. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that he’s massively popular but doesn’t have enough managerial experience. He’ll be doing a lot of learning on the job, and there’s potential for it to all end in tears. If he left, he should be replaced by Quique Setien, who had Real Betis playing some very attractive football last season. However, I’m still convinced Andre Villas-boas will one day return and dominate world football with us. We’ll finish 4th. We’re nowhere near good enough to challenge for the top three, but we have a better manager than Manchester United and a better squad than Arsenal, who will struggle to upgrade in key positions with a budget only big enough to buy two Tyrone Mingses.