Supermonkey92

It's mostly about intensity. The first 10 minutes against Leicester, a 15 minute period against Liverpool as well as Norwich and we look the dogs bollox. But there's also still shit on a stick football. Large parts of the Sheffield game were worse than last season, we couldn't even keep possession let all do anything with it. Same against Leicester, the midfield disappeared. It's kinda nuts that the Liverpool game has been our absolutely best performance by a mile. As with all games we were second best at times but always competing on their level. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Nowhere near as bad as people make out. We were 1 - boring as fuck and 2 - pretty toothless up front. Defensively we were miles ahead of where we are this season. It's pretty amateurish if I'm honest Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I don't have too much criticism for zouma. It was a cracking ball in. Azpi just stopped and let him cross Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Cb is the one are on the pitch you don't fuck about with. Frank just gave an interview on the app where he said he thinks players should play a large chunk due to how well they train. All well and good but don't fuck around with the cbs all the time. It's ok now because we only have three, but Rudiger is the first defender on the team sheet. What you gonna do, mix and match between 4 players based on their attitude in training. Once Rudiger is back, figure out his partner and stick to it. It's not about who's individually better than who but which partnership is the best. I don't tomori is better than Christensen though I no longer think he's 4th choice. But it was clear today a few times these two haven't played often together. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I think his derby team last year had one of the biggest expected goals conceded in the championship last year. Oy vey Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

You're all thinking it but I'll say, How perfect would a sarri second half be? 2-0 up, 60% possession slowly locking them in their own half. Not many chances either way. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Stick to Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic until RLC gets back. Pulisic and Pedro fighting for right wing, mount and CHO for the left. James Rudiger Christensen Emerson for defence. Then stick to that for the season. Honestly hope you put the 4231 behind you mate, you won't last long enough to get a midfield that suits it. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Lampard mate don't turn out to be another Harry redknapp. We were good moving the ball up from keeper to midfield last season and it's quickly unravelling. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Let's look for progress. First and foremost defensively. Alongside Liverpool, let's have our first competitive match where we aren't a shambles defensively. Sheffield United attack with kind of organised chaos. I couldn't stop laughing when I heard they use 'overlapping cbs'lol. Also just put mount in my fantasy team. So if he plays shit it's because of me. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

He's definitely an edge of the box guy than centre circle maestro Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

By neck work I meant the deep muscles in the front of the neck which tend to get weak as the neck curves too much. Anyway I leave that there! Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Rows for retraction. Overhead press/Scaption for both upward rotation and posterior tilt. As much work stretching the upper traps/levator scapular and chest as you do exercising the weak muscles. Some neck work does wonders. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I don't think Jorginho can take blame. The midfield doesn't work as a unit. Even in a 3 last year Sarri was conservative ON PURPOSE because it wasn't working early on. If kova and Jorginho are in a 2 and they press forward, the defence has to be about 5 metres behind and well positioned. It's like everyone is positioned to go forward without thinking 'what happens if we lose the ball now?' Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

He was forced to play 433 today but I hope it isn't long before he voluntarily chooses it for most games. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I've still got my doubts but I was much more impressed with his first goal than his second. That first type of goal is exactly the positioning he needs to have. I'm already looking for James to come in which will probably help. His quality aside, he is a genuinely nice guy and I was happy for him, the winner obviously but for breaking his duck and running straight to Frank. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

433 needs to be our formation this season. Unfortunately doesn't suit him. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Plays like his age. Dangerous against Liverpool, a shadow against Leicester. More like the Leicester game today but with an assist and he got in better positions. Just made the wrong decisions. It'll be interesting to compare him with CHO who is 2 years younger. Mount has clearly played the most first team football, he's the most consistent. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

A double pivot is a huge difference than saying in a 3. It doesn't matter if it's Kante, Jorginho or Kovacic you have to drill it. All three take up the same positions they did last season, which is suicide. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Barkley in the 'free' 10 role in a 4231 is his best position. In a 3 man cm he's as average as he was last season. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

We've been defensiveness terrible in all matches bar the super cup Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

He doesn't. Like James does from how he talks. RLC seems to hover. Pulisic (it's early ofcourse) doesn't have any connection yet whatsoever. Hopefully he does after a whole season Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I couldn't agree more. Sign a 5 year deal and ship him for big bucks in 2/3 years. If he fulfils his potential he'll be a top tier winger, but certainly replaceable with the money we'd get. He's not going to be robben/hazard/Neymar level. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I think frank solves much of the problems by choosing the same formation as last year but by continuing to give players license to get forward which cesc was clear in saying sarri stopped after that arsenal home game. Against Liverpool we were great. Mainly because we were *balanced*. The problem is Frank's seems pretty set on the 4231 being his style, or the formation he wants this year with these players at least. If that's how it is top 6 is in trouble, I just hope this season is sacrificed for actual progression in the next. I'm actually a bit more chipper about Frank's chances on changing things though, he's a smart guy. Get that pivot working or drop it mate!! Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I somewhat agree. But my main problem against Leicester was the midfield 2. They had no organisation when we had possession so when we lost it there was no barrier to Leicester waltzing up to our defence. Kante spent so much time in positions he would take last season in a three man midfield - almost on the right wing. We can't have that in a 4231. Some defensive improvements have happened since old Trafford. Azpi for instance is staying back whilst Emerson goes forward. But that's a much more straightforward change than getting the double pivot to work well in and out of possession. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I'm already waiting for the 4231 to be dropped. That's the problem, not any individual player. Rudiger won't transform a defence that is getting run at 5 times a game Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk