Mufassir08

I'd say Hazard is behind Messi when it comes to dribbling but on par with Neymar even though they have different styles of dribbling.

After watching Costa yesterday, I've finally come to terms with the fact that his head is just not here anymore. He needs to be replaced in the summer and that's a shame because we already have so many areas like RWB, LWB, RF, CM in which we need more investment and Conte probably wants a CB too not to mention Bego's replacement if he decides to leave ( at least Bego will fetch us good money). So either we'll have a truly massive massive summer or we'll have a couple of weak spots in the team come next season.

I'd be more than satisfied with a draw tbh.

I could see a deal taking place which would see Ake go either on loan or permanently to Soton to replace the departing Virgil.

Still in disbelief that he didn't head the ball into the back of the net from that position with so much at stake.....

If we do sign Van Dijk as it's being speculated right now, How do you think that'll affect the mindset and development of Andreas? He' certainly won't be first choice so it'll be interesting to see how he copes with the situation.

I would say he is a massive prospect. To be widely recognized as one of the top CBs in the bundesliga at the tender age if 21 is quite an impressive feat.

Agreed.

Fair enough, I agree that dribbling is a huge asset that can be used to counter the press but the thing with Baka is that even though he is a goodish dribbler, there will be plenty of instances during which he'll loose the ball trying to dribble too much or fail to dribble past the press. He is a good dribbler but is he that good a dribbler that we consistently rely on him to break the press via his dribbling against the best in Europe? I've got my doubts but if Conte thinks he's the man for our midfield then he is the man for our midfield.

Torres to replace Costa

Kante and someone like Baka shielding Cesc is definitely something that excites me I'll be honest. Two defensively dynamic players sweeping the midfield so that Cesc can focus on what he does best.

I disagree, Toure always had great technique and was incredibly hard to disposses. It's only that at City he got more freedom to show the more expansive side of his game.

My biggest gripe with him is that he looses the ball way too often due to his sloppy passing, we already struggle against teams that press us high and having a midfield pairing of Baka and Kante would see us struggle against the high energy teams albeit defensively and in terms of athletic ability, we would be very good. I do realize that Baka might wriggle his way out of some situations due to his good feet but more often than not due his general sloppiness on the ball, I think we'll see a lot of turnovers in midfield.

His passing, decision making and general awareness do seem to be quite lacking, won't you agree?

He really doesn't fill me with confidence when he's on the ball, Tolisso was far more composed.

That West Ham back flick

Something to bring joy to your eyes during this dour international break

I think you are underrating Tolisso's defensive contribution a bit but I do agree that Baka seems better of the two when it comes to the defensive side of the game but make no mistake, Tolisso is no Pirlo defensively. Also I agree that Tolisso is no playmaker but his distribution and range of passing is crispier, cleaner and more efficient than Baka. Maybe I need to watch more of Baka but whenever I have watched him, I haven't thought that 'Yeah, this guy is what we need in midfield'.

They have different skillsets but they play the same roles, do they not? They both are essentially box to box mids, one is better in the defensive phase of the game and can make surging runs from deep once the game opens up and there is space to run into while Tolisso may not possess the same explosive running ability with the ball but has far more quality on the ball not to mention is much more of goal threat. Tolisso's shooting is also an asset.

Tolisso to me seemed far more composed and incisive on the ball as compared to Bakayoko. I think the only thing Baka has over Tolisso is dribbling ability.

His passing ability seems painfully average to me tbh. I'd much rather Tolisso or Strootman.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic of Lazio could certainly be an out of the box and an interesting option for the the midfield role. The guy has got the potential to be a one man midfield under someone like Conte.

It would be fantastic if Eden could get a nice two weeks rest before the real shit starts boiling up.

Don't think the RF role would get the best out of him, Of course he would be able to play at a good level over there but he's at his lethal best either from the center or the left, most preferably center with the license to drift in and around.