Supermonkey92

Midfield can't get hold of the ball

Sell him this summer. Perfect time. We would make a profit at his peak when the only way is down for him. He's not getting better defensively.

To be fair, I'd like to see his tackle win % seems get skipped past quite easy once or twice a match. Beautiful on the ball though.

Hopefully and early goal so Mana and BML don't rip a hole in space and time

Let's just go nuts and assume he is staying. Let yourself go once in a while.

Woooooo

Big difference being we will play with 3 attackers and 3 midfielders as opposed to 2 strikers and 3 midfielders. The midfield will make more chances than last season. Plus Willian and Hazard will play together more often. Giroud will help the wingers and most offensive midfielder get more chances. Batshuayi is more suited than being a target man. He will be better in a possession based team. I know this is a worry you have. So I'll come back periodically throughout the season and we'll see how it's going. I predict a 3rd or 4th place finish.

I got the same impression to be fair.

Zouma to Lyon? Fekir to Chelsea? Willian to Untied? Martial to Chelsea? Batshuayi to Valencia? Nah our business is done!

Let's also remember Kovacic will have 2 years left on his contract next summer. He's hardly happy to stay in Madrid atm. They will sell next year if they do sell at all. Also. Madrid are hardly the only ones with an ace. Don't they want a certain Even Hazard?

All signs have pointed to less spending this summer due to finishing outside the top 4 and so with no CL money this year. If we make top 4 this year, we will spend as much if not more next year. Kovacic greatly improves on what we have regardless of whether he plays to his potential or not. All our other options have huge weaknesses. Barkley isn't an actual CM especially on the defensive side, exactly the same issues amplified for RLC and Fabregas runs like a tubby toddler. Kovacic can defend, press high, has good passing and can drive better than Bakayoko ever did with the ball. I think our top 4 hopes have greatly improved. And if it's only certain for one year, it's better to be a team in the CL looking for a replacement next year than deciding to do nothing this year and leave holes in the team.

Let's keep this in context. We spent 70m on a keeper. By loaning Kovacic, we were able to replace our AWOL keeper with a replacement that suits the managers style. At the same time, we managed to greatly improve our team for a year, for free. Next year, we will have the money. IF WE WANT KOVACIC NEXT YEAR WE CAN STILL BUY HIM. Finish in the top 4 and CL will help recruiting players anyway. As will a settled Sarri side.

Guys. Willy C isn't our number one! Big nose is no longer our problem! We have a good shot stopper who can play out from the back!

He looked kinds grumpy to me today. Didn't react to the fans that cheered him when he was warming up. Didn't seem to acknowledge the standing ovation he got when he came on and was one of the first to leave the pitch even though he was near one end of the pitch due to scoring the winning penalty. Pissed me off to be honest. It could be nothing. Maybe I'll dig this post up in September should he still be here to call attention to my overreaction.

It was meant for Kante

Kovacic can press too. Imagine him along side Kante. Oh boy oh boy oh boy!

I'll be there tonight woooooo

The club should have no problems signing a Muslim. It's irrelevant. However, I know that physical performance can be hampered up to 30% due to dehydration alone. It's absolutely crucial to physical performance. With that in mind, I'd have no problem dropping a first team player to the bench during Ramadan. Although Kante just might be superhuman

He would have improved our pressing much more than the other two mentioned.

Caballero: 6 Not as bad as he usually is as a goal keeper. I actually think he is overrated with the ball at his feet. Takes too long to pass with multiple options and only slight pressure encourages him to boot it. Cannot be in the first 11. Azpi: 6 Questions marks starting to get raised. Offensively second best to Zappscosta. Defensively our best player. Not comfortable on the ball when pressed and played too many passes down the line that didn't work. More pressing issues than him. Rudiger: 5 Far too slow on the ball. Takes to long to make a decision and the attack is shit from the get go. Athletic enough to play a high line and is calm under pressure but consistently has focus issues. I blame him for Aguero's second. Switched off often. Luiz: 4 Makes decisions even slower than Rudiger. Attempts long balls too often. Defensively a shambles. This is not news. I hope he isn't in the first 11. Alonso: 5 Still can't defend but had some successful flashes of pressing the winger. Takes too long on the ball to make simply passes which put a others under pressure. Not suited to this football. Jorginho: 7 Apart from 1 or 2 mistakes he had a decent game. Good tackle on Sane to stop a break but was beaten a few times. The most comfortable and calm player on the ball. Keeps it ticking. Cesc: 3 Runs like a fat toddler. Still thinks it a good idea to press. Ends up just running out of the way. Not suited to this football. Barkley: 6 Not a CM. Probably never will be. Defensivley he is a shadow. But he is useful at beating a press with his dribbling. With the shoddy passing of this time his strength and dribbling will come in handy when put under inevitable pressure. Pedro: 5 Energised bunny than has zero upper body strength. Off the ball movement is good. Rushes too often. Willian has a chance here. Morata: thankfully not a number 9 CHO: 7 Brave. Tried hard and was our most dangerous player in the first half. Keep going.

Fucking hell.

The highlights of the youth final seem like a number 10. Could he take Barkleys spot? He seemed defensively good against Arsenal. Jorginho Kante CHO Pedro Bats Hazard

To be fair the club seemed to buy Emerson and Barkley without telling Conte.

Azpi Rudiger David Luiz Emerson Jorginho Kante Barkley Pedro Batshuayi Hazard Compare with; Azpi Christensen Rudiger Moses kante cesc Bakayoko Alonso Hazard Morata There is a huge difference between midfield and attack. Even if we keep Alonso in and Morata (sob) the midfield and wingers is a huge improvement. He won't win the league ofcourse but I'm confident of top 4. Especially if we drop Morata for just Batsman

If he scored as much as Lampard did no one would disagree.