OhForAGreavsie

I can only believe that if we saw what Antonio sees in training, we would understand why he prefers Nemanja over Nat. Since we don't see training however, Nemanja's continued selection looks more and more strange with every passing game.

So boringly predictable. What exactly is it the board have done that you are blaming them for? Why make up just one thing to blame them for? Why not invent 100 things you don't like, and get stuck right in? Let yourself go. Let your imagination roam free then rant away and be as happy as a pig doing what a pig likes to do best.

It's so weird to read the expression "drew to".

😂

I think we are fortunate they adopted that attitude. Had they really gone for it we might have been in even deeper trouble.

In the circumstances this is a great result. That's the only sensible attitude to take when you gain a point from a performance that deserved none. Those who prefer to bury their heads in the sand and imagine our side to be all conquering can get back to that way of thinking tomorrow. For now, our frailties and weaknesses have been on full display but, fortunately, they cost us just two points, not three. I'm pleased and I'm ready to think about Wolverhampton Wanderers. We knew we had urgent work to do this summer even before today's game kicked off and we also knew many tough games remained to be played before then. Nothing has changed.

Time to stop assessing this performance against what is required to win. Instead let's just get behind the lads and judge what we are seeing in terms of hanging on to a point. Anything else will be a bonus. There will be better days.

I'd say that your comment is five words too long.

Sadly you are right. Yet media know-nothing's everywhere continue to speak of him as one of our strengths and not our major weakness, which is the truth.

Being found guilty of motoring offences usually results in a fine and, more than ever now, these fines are related to the offenders earnings. Somewhere down the line we may get some more clues about the income level of Chelsea's development squad players.

Still laughing.

Me too, since half their squad began to be linked with us. There is more than one way to play the 'six' position but to be a genuinely good team you need a player capable of playing it as you describe here. It simultaneously makes your side more threatening going forward and more solid defensively. Before the start of next season we need to acquire a player who can do this. Bakayoko is such a player. It's worth mentioning that he put in a number of really good tackles in those games too. 90% of the time a non-defender touches the ball, the next thing he needs to do with it is make a simple pass. Opportunities to do more impressive things don't happen all the time but the key is having the quality to exploit them when they do. Even players of the highest calibre experience games like Bakayoko endured vs PSG. Games where chances to do special things don't present themselves, or where the player is just not on it. The secret during times like those is to do the simple stuff, avoid hurting your team, and live to fight another day. My feeling is Bakayoko fits the template. Is he the final answer? I don't know, but he would certainly be a major upgrade over what we have now. I've been looking forward to this game for weeks. Can't wait.

This would make Atleti the only 'top' club in the world which makes that definition hard to work with.

Depends how he means 'major' I suppose. He may mean it in the sense of numbers, not of budget. One signing, at huge cost, may therefore fit within his definition of no major overhaul.

Thank you for the correction on Bernardo's nationality. Bernardo attempts more dribbles at pace than David Silva because he has more pace. Their similarity comes in the attributes I described earlier and is clear to see when they carry the ball, which David Silva does do a lot of. He just can't run away from people. Both Silvas beat opponents with sharp stops and momentum deifying changes of direction, demonstrating the tremendous body control I talked about. In those attributes they are indeed remarkably similar but, to me, the City man displays even more control and greater balance than the Monaco player. Something which makes him more difficult to dispossess in tight areas. Where space permits Bernardo has the option to run away from people. Both are, unquestionably, outstanding talents. I don't see why it would be an injustice if Bernardo was not to join us but if that's just your way of saying you really hope we get him then so do I, and a lot of others judging by this thread.

There is a difference between "playing" better, and "being" better. Pedro is a good player whose form, on average, is better than it was last season. None of us need to be reminded that he is not alone in that. Pedro has not suddenly turned into Lionel Messi however. In terms of his individual qualities and attributes, he is the same player he always was. By the way, I don't agree with you about Matic. I talked earlier about my list of players I would replace. Nemanja is at the top of it. As for Mahrez, perhaps Antonio might get his best form out of him but there are a number of players I would prefer the club to target instead.

Again, Antonio's contribution, brilliant contribution, has been to play David in a role which suits him better.

Hello Jay, Everything you say about the qualities required to play the wingback role, and Moses's possession of those qualities, is true. My contention is that Victor always had those attributes in sufficient quantity to play his current role, but that he does not have them to the degree required to replace Pedro, for example. Victor never has had that level of talent and never will. He is not a better player now. He's just playing a role which suits his already existing talents better. I suppose we all have a list of players we would replace in an effort to improve our team, and squad. On my version of that list Victor comes in at number two. Along with Marcos Alonso he has played an important role in our improvement since September. Neither of them is the final answer at wingback however.

Great technique, superb balance, outstanding body control. Bernado's style reminds me more of his Manchester City namesake, than of Eden Hazard. I'd say the Frenchman is slightly less extravagantly talented than the Spaniard, but that he compensates with more pace. This lad is one of the reasons Monaco are right in the hunt for the title. If, and when, he leaves the principality there will be a long queue for his services.

OK, we have a straightforward disagreement. Victor is more effective, because he is put in situations he can cope with but, in terms of his capabilities, he is not any better. That being my opinion, you'll understand why I absolutely and totally disagree with your assessment.

It's a magnificent myth that Antonio has improved Moses. Victor is exactly the same player he ever was. All that has happened, is that Antonio has utilised him better. Victor is now performing a role which is within his limitations. Ask him to function as a wide attacker once more and he would not win a place in the side. The idea that Antonio has some kind of magic wand to transform journeymen into superstars is just wishful thinking.

Don't forget Bakayoko, who I really like, and Mbappe, who everybody seems to like.

Hence the need for a visit and, no doubt, a charm offensive to change JC's mind. My only experience of JC was at Chelsea. I therefore can't be as positive about him as you. Just because I guessed that Antonio's Turin trip might be linked with him does not mean that I want it to be.

Well yes, I did say Juve had bought JC in all but name. I'm reading you to mean that the calculated fee would be good for Chelsea and, in fact, that is what informed guess #1. It may be that Juve have also concluded that the agreed deal is rather good for Chelsea and might be willing to negotiate their way out of it and return the player instead. This prompts the thought that Antonio was over there checking out the pros and cons of bringing the Columbian back.

Guesswork theory number 1: Juve are now willing to renegotiate the deal under which the bought* Cuadrado. Antonio was running a final rule over the player before deciding if he wants to try to persuade Juan to return next summer. Guesswork theory number 2: Attending The Juventus Stadium was just camouflage. The real purpose of Antonio's Turin trip was to meet with Belotti and try to sell him the idea of joining Chelsea at the end of the season. *In all but name.