El P.

I think someone may buy this guy for a really good price. Just show them the statistics and get some serious money...

You are pissed at the wrong transfer, mate. Be pissed at Morata's one, he is the one who should take us on next level, his price was 70 millions, and he is not doing that at all. There, at THAT transfer we haven't improved as we should have.

I get what you are saying, but Giroud is still very good back-up option. Other positions (wingbacks and central midfield) are the ones we need to strengthen, not overspend on striker backup. Hell, this summer we've spent 70 millions on a striker. I know it's hard to be rational when everything seems to go downwards, I am experiencing the same from time to time these days.

He is a reject because they, for whatever reason, got themselves TWO good enough FIRST team strikers, in Lacazzete and Aubameyang. It's very rare for a club to have two strikers of that quality.

We are signing guy who was their first choice striker for years, as a back up option. Let's not over exaggerate.

I guess we will get more ladies fans from now on...

Yeah, agree. Morata isn't settled at our team, is often off form, suspended or injured. Plenty of time for Olivier to show what he got, and maybe sometimes even to start ahead of Alvaro, why not?

I think board actually wanted to place veto on their 30+ policy regarding Džeko, but for let's say 2.5-years long contract. 3.5 is just way too much, especially with that kind of money. That's not the problem - problem is it took too long, this should've been sorted out a week ago. Now we have only couple of days left to get another target.

I think Michy actually is good enough for a back-up option. Problem is that our main striker isn't consistent enough, either caused by his bad "form", or injuries/suspensions, so we need to use our backup striker a hell lot more than we would want to.

I think Džeko is twice-as-good shooter of the ball than Giroud is. Olivier on the other side is the best in the league when it comes to headers. And is strong on the ball as hell. All in all, in comparison with Morata, Giroud provides a lot more strength, and somewhat better finishing ability with feet. He is not much better finisher (with feet) than Alvaro. If he was, with added brutal areal presence and heading skill, he would play every game at Arsenal. And he is not. Also, he is slow as f., probably slower than Džeko. Džeko's finishing with feet and shooting in general is light years ahead of others two.

Good-ish win mr Conte, good minutes for youth too!

We need to see more of Ampadu in midfield. Those passes and ball control are lot better than of Bakayoko/Drinkwater.

Oh nothing, I'm just imitating our #CONTEOUT brigade. I edited it.

Meanwhile, our board can't even sign injured Palmieri and 32-yo Edin Džeko, which maybe are Conte's wishes, but certainly not first choices. 'Oh pls Conte stop trning our club in to sheeeet we was so good club, so great, you RUINED IT! Pls leave.' (/sarcasm)

200 millions? Morata alone is 70. And let's not pretend we haven't lost good player (compared with Bakayoko) in Matić, also in Diego Costa. It's not like we have spent 200 millions on IMPROVEMENTS. No. We got 100 millions for Costa+Matić and bought Morata+Bakayoko. That's not SPENDING money. That's just reinvesting what we earned of selling. ------ We didn't spend shit, we have spent about 100 millions on backups, with no clear plan from the board, and certainly no plan to INVEST. We didn't spend shit!

This platitude I'm hearing at recent times is ridiculous - CONTE'S SIGNING. My God. Imagine this: Marina: "Hello mister Conte, we have 25 millions for a fullback" Conte: "Oh, all right, I'll see what I can do..." * finds Zappacosta / injured Emerson for that money * Fans: "You stupid manager Zappacosta is YOUR SIGNING and he is sheeet!" Conte at press: "We need to do better in transfer market..." Fans: "OMG he always moans and gets in conflict with our board!!!" ... leave him alone, for fuck's sake.

Woah, didn't know prince William was so good in driving with the ball.

Let's be realistic - any wingback that we ever get won't be really technically sound (like heavyweights - Marcelo, Lahm, Alaba). We may upgrade on that, buy someone faster, more proactive etc, like Emerson for example, but he won't give us possession dominance and better all-round team ball playing skill. It should be easier to buy midfielder with good ball control/passing/dribbling than look for that qualities in the wingbacks or relying solely on our attackers to do all that and drop deep to create something.

I won't slate Kante for not-so-good performance. It happens, he is our most consistent player. One other thing is bothering me. It's like people are not aware of his deficiencies. Ok, sure, he is great in getting the ball, covering, tackling, intercepting, running etc etc. And he is great. But to even THINK of buying midfield partner for him who isn't really good on the ball is almost a suicide. His midfield partner first and foremost must be somewhat comfortable on the ball. And that's why I think, among other reasons, Bakayoko wouldn't ever be enough for us. He may improve, but he would need to get on some AT LEAST Herrera/Ramsey, or Dembele from Spurs technique level to compensate Kante's lack of ball playing ability.

Yes, if only we've won some important title in recent times to prove ourselves BIG again.

Willian, with all his deficiencies, is on fire. Him coming out for unfit Barkley really damaged us. I can name 20 better full/wing-backs better than Alonso, just from Premier league. Bakayoko played better, but still needs to improve a hell lot. Kante is average on the ball, we all know that, but tonight wasn't at his best defensively. Moses is only slightly better than Alonso, I guess, he isn't playing very good for weeks now.

Tonight he wasn't shit as usual.

I think Bats needed to start, but Pedro gave that nice assist so I'm not so sure... but we should have gone all-offense later. Bring Michy for Alonso, put Pedro on the LWB, something like that, it was clear we needed to go all in. Bad performance from our manager, even worse from our players.

And here goes your Marcos Alonso. Without a goal to hide it, he is just a very very average football player.

It's not irrelevant at all. Barkley and Mahrez would most probably take "same" position in today's squad. If we play with Barkley, it's most probably in 3-5-2, with him as a most advanced midfielder, Hazard and Morata upfront. No place for Mahrez. If we play 3-4-3, Hazard - Morata - Mahrez, the only way Barkley could play is in 2-man midfield. And I can't see it happening. One thing is what we hope for (Barkley to kick ass in 2-man mid), the other thing is what Barkley probably actually is (baller with no real tactical discipline and stamina). We'll see, but I'm not overly optimistic.