Supermonkey92

Do you think fabregas, like Pirlo or say Alonso, can run a game from deep? Choosing where the ball goes, when to get possession and slow it down, when to go straight to the striker or wide players, when to play the vertical pass as opposed to moving it around first it a better position? I don't think his brain works that way. I think he always wants to lookforward and if the pass isn't on then he plays it simple. Pirlo takes control and manoeuvres the ball with 2 or 3 passes until the forward pass is on. That's the difference between a deep lying playmaker and a midfielder with a good eye for a pass. Just my 2 cents of course, but from pretty much the moment we bought him I think most people on here have commented on how he isn't a deep lying playmaker but a very good passers around the box and in counterattacking situations. I don't see how playing him in a midfield 3, even with many options in front of him, changes the way he plays football. If it does I will forever hail Conte as the emperor from Italy!!!!

Notice how flexible that is. If apzi drops back its a straight forward back for, hazard drifts to his normal position on the left and we have a 442. Also easy for a switch to a diamond. Apzi drops back, matic or Kante moves to a LCM. It's all really fluid. I remember AVB once saying that formations aren't that important as it changes so much in a match. But from my limited knowledge of Conte, a 352 has certain stricture to it i.e some positions aren't fluid but a player has his area on the pitch. At least it's very easy to switch during a match without subs.

They can both play in games with space, in fact with the players we have currently I'd prefer that. But in the big games we should not play both.

You ignored the post about him being invisible defensively. Also, attacking wise, apart from those two situations he is very average. What else does he bring? Tell me? He's no metronome who controls how we play, he can't dribble or shoot and his corners are average. In matches with space, his defensive weakness can be outweighed by his incisive passing. With no space, he is a passenger. Just watch any game against the top 6 we have played against. Which brings me back to my main point, considering hazard is pretty average at tracking back, fabregas is atrocious defensively and space is generally of confined suppressing the situations he's actually good in - we should not have both fabregas and hazard in the starting 11 against the big teams. we would even be better off dropping him for another striker.

Now for a centre midfield in a 442 - Bazore and Kante would be great!

As Deluded as thinking the 2014 title was anything more than a capitalisation on piss poor competition, a second half of the season when the entire team played defensive relying on hazard's brilliance and a first half of the season where teams seemed to stand off Fabregas (most probably due to his previous reputation with Arsenal and Barcelona)? Fabregas is ONLY very good in two situations. When he receives the ball in the middle of the pitch and plays fantastic balls through/ over the top to Costa and when he was the ball in and around the box, making clever passes. That's it. He is poor defensively in every way. He can't press the opposition half, he want stop someone running at him with the ball and when he takes up a position to keep a defensive shape he's always the weak link - again - because people usually walk past him. Let's face it, he has incisive passing and seems that have a winners mentality. No wonder there's rumours Conte is questioning him!

If we are honest with ourselves, fabregas should start to be moved on with the aim of playing two strikers. You can't fit both hazard and fabregas in the same side and compete with the best.

If we get him, I think we should be OK in the CM department, especially if we play 3 in the middle. That's because I have a feeling matic will come good matic as DM and Kante allowed as a b2b pressing machine sounds about right. Of course I wouldn't say non to Mario or Gomes too.

As SJ mentioned, Morata and Nainggolan were two big rumours that have now died. Both seem to be staying put. Kante is the name we are strongly linked with night now, many reporting a deal is close. It seems we have has two bids rejected for the Valencia and Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes. DiMarzio has mentioned interest in Witsel and Koulibaly. Also, the last few days we seem to be interested in Joao Mario, with on poster with apparent links to Sporting saying talks are happening. Last week eek we seem to have had a bid rejected for Santos striker Barbosa. Reports today indicating he hasn't yet signed a new contract and the €30m we bid would still tempt him to come. The report also mentioned the bid was high enough to salsify Santos, so it's up the the player, though he is wary about game time.

It's not about chelsea not moving fast enough. He could want real Madrid, he could have wanted us but madrid offered him stupid money. Or he could be coming still

Why scoring goals ofcourse! You know, as long as he's scored at least 1 league goal he's already ahead of Hazard in the goalscoring element.

If he uses 2 strikers we must sell fabregas. He is only use full in a 3 man centre midfield. And I'm or counting a 352

I'll reply after the summer. Hopefully it marks the start of a new beginning. Where there is balance throughout the team sheet and an acceptance that progress should always be striped for - whether it's to finally challenge for the title or to retain it.

Really? I guess that makes every other defender bar terry and Zuma jesters.

Kennedy seems to me to be a player suited to space. When it's a case of running at a back 4 or a fullback 1v1 he is good. I think he is terrible in tight spaces. In this loose sense, he's the opposite of Hazard (i think hazard lacks the sprint speed this season to take a fullback on, go past him and shoot. He's more interested in making space than beating the man). This is one reason he has looked so good at fullback going forward. He has acres in front of him and is power on to cross or shoot. I think playing him fullback forces him more often than not into the situations that suits him best. Overlapping for a cross or a shot from the edge of the box. Absolutely no idea about his defending. Perhaps a Wing back would suit him?

As a player I did like this role and going forward to replace the striker. That attacking bent was always in my mentality as a player and now as a Coach, as I always wanted to take the initiative. I say it’s better to lose a game by attacking – as we could’ve done at Lazio last week – than to draw while sitting behind the ball. “As a player I won five Scudetti, the Champions League and everything there was to win, so I can only wish they follow me and do even better. “It’s rare we go on the counter-attack, as we don’t have players with those characteristics. We study our opponents and how to limit their strengths, but still maintain our own strong points. “When attacking, our wingers go on the same level as the strikers. A 3-5-2 is variable and all down to the interpretation. There are others who use this system in a more defensive way and to go on the counter, but that’s not our style.” Can't link articles at the moment

Some of Italy’s greatest successes have come playing defensive football, but Conte isn’t keen to return to the days of catenaccio. “Catenaccio and counter-attacking football have had their day. We have to have a rethink and move with the times. “Football has changed dramatically, and I have a feeling that the mentality is changing in Italy. Good attacking football is all about the art of quickly switching to attack after winning the ball, but still finding the right balance between defence and attack.” this HTML class. Value is http://app.football-

Conte on his 424: “There’s been too much talk on this particular way of playing. In actuality it’s a 4-4-2. I know of course novelty makes sometimes a great topic of discussion. If instead of saying ‘4-2-4′ I had said ‘4-4-2′ from the very beginning, we wouldn’t be discussing this ‘innovation’. Maybe all it is is just a normal idea of play. It is a normal 4-4-2. I think in England most teams that are winning are applying this type of module, which enables you to cover the playing field in the best possible way I think.” Interesting, in England most teams who are winning are playing 442. Could that be our formation? His comments about ‘covering the playing field’ are interesting, reminiscent of Arsene Wenger’s comments (albeit now five years ago): “I think it’s simply the most rational formation in most cases. In fact, it’s the essence of reason. With a 4-4-2, 60% of your players are occupying 60% of the pitch. No other formation is as efficient at covering space.” this HTML class. Value is http://www.zonalmark

I think we should think carefully about selling him. Perhaps it would be best. I don't think he will ever run the league again like last season - does anyone else think that either Hazard has lost athleticism or the rest of the league suddenly became incredibly athletic?! He can't seem to face someone one on one and run past them. He's either out muscled or out sprinted. Take out his dribbling ability, what has he got? His is not a goal scorer. His good at assists, but I'm questioning whether that can't be replaced relatively easily. He's absolutely terrible at pressing with Costa and Willian. He actually slows down the game and hesitates on the ball which is only good when he is at his dribbling best, when he's not then it's detrimental to our attacks. When he's back to his best, I will change my mind in a snap, but the doubts are starting to grow that he's lot interest in England now he's won the league. Pep is at city, Jose most probably at United. Most importantly, his mind just sucks. Even cesc is seeing it. Not only should that give you food for thought about how much potential he fulfills, but especially how dangerous it is to base your team around him. He need to rebuild and at huge sale of Oscar and Hazard could really allow the manager to rebuild the team.

Always great full for you updating with what the rumours are, Big Pete.

Explain why you aren't convinced

I think Max will go to Chelsea and will do very well . And ' one of the five best coaches in the world , will go away from Juventus , still does not make sense to remain in Italy . " Giovanni Galeone is convinced that at the end of this season Massimiliano Allegri will leave Turin and accept the proposal of the Blues . And if to be convinced is his mentor, perhaps , would agree to believe. PROPOSAL FANTASTIC - The news about the future of coach Juventus has left England , where for several days , the British tabloid talk of an offer of 10 million per season for four years . indispensable offer according Galeone , who in an interview granted to Radio Radio , said: " For me it will go away from Italy, and I see him well in England because the proposed Abramovich is really fantastic . " COACH AT " MAX " - Contacts between Allegri and his great teacher ( so he called himself) have never interrupted . Galleon is a kind of father to the coach , tied to Juve until 2017 : "He's doing very well , indeed authentic miracles , with game idea not his because he asked for two years a playmaker and they only pretended to take it . E ' was just as good at reinventing Dybala player behind the strikers . " Honey words for his favorite pupil .

Good thing about Simeone above the others is that he is hot property. He is up there with Pep and Jose. So, if he demands significant transfer activity, you can be damn sure he'll. Get it, especially when the club sees now how bare the manager options are

Yeh because we have a midfield that can keep the ball for more than 4 passes, I'm sure baba will help with that

Yeh because baba rahman's defence is as water tight as the Thames barrier. If the only reasonfor playing a fullback is because he's a good attacker, you better hope you have the ball more often than not