El P.

I am watching second leg, Greece - Croatia, Manolas could be one of the best center backs under right manager. Monster defender. Rudy is good-ish, but think this guy is level above. Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

I totally agree. Drogba was good with the ball, but that's it. I mean... Dude was strong as a bull, and actually fast enough (at least when he was younger than 30). If his dribbling/ball control/close control were that great, it would mean that he had strength, speed, and great technique - full package - which wasn't the case. He mainly used his strength, and even when he'd failed to control ball perfectly, he was just too strong in shielding the ball with his body. Berbatov, Henry and Ibrahimović are the best examples of Godish ball controlling, and Drogba wasn't so close to that level. Van Persie was also brilliant, but he didn't keep that level for so long as others mentioned. I think Drogba and Morata are in same bracket, ball controlling-wise. But, Morata is sure better and faster dribbler.

At 4:22 some crazy skills. So elegant and comfortable on the ball... On the other side, Abraham was really poor.

I thought of him first, too. But wasn't he more of a second-striker, not really #9?

Yeah, RLC would thrive in 3-5-2, for sure. He is actually one really special CAM, with all those passing/dribbling qualities, but also tall and strong. Him and Bakayoko could end up playing together.

I too think he is. But do you think RLC can really play in midfield two? I'm still skeptical about that...

Berbatov. Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

Top of midfield diamond has nothing to do with "help" of other players. Top of midfield diamond usually is for players like Ozil, Isco, Zola etc. Those are not "midfielders", per se. Or is the #10/Second-striker and CM the same to you? I acknowledged, yes, because you didn't seem to consider types of players playing, of course. Same is with our defense - Luiz needs two friends, if he has brain-fart and tactical fail. Also is not good in one-on-ones. Secondary - because he is solid playmaker., so he could roam a bit and have some insurance at the back. Azpi needs two tall friends, he is short. And Cahill... he just needs friends. A lot of them. No need to explain. Same could be said about Fabregas. Sometimes with specific players you play specific tactic to focus on their strengths more than to cover their weaknesses, if there are any. Sometimes you play specific tactics just to hide some player's weaknesses and just hoping that their strengths could produce something. Bakayoko-type of player should be great for 2 man midfield, something like Dembele of Spurs. He just doesn't cut it, yet.

Give him time? I'm analyzing what HE IS NOW. What he will/could be is irrelevant in my posts, and it was clear from beginning. We could start entirely new topic about that what he could be. Or I don't have right to analyse for which player we payed decent price and gave some of our players exit ticket? It's VERY different from player to player. Hazard with passive full-back was PLAYER OF THE SEASON, for Christ's sake. It's different because Lampard and Hazard are in some systems working very good, and in some excellent. Because they are top players. Bakayoko of these days is very different, if he looks like player less on the field with no 2 friends in midfield to help him. And comparing Lampard in 2-man midfield with Bakayoko in 2-man midfield is really cheap, sorry. Lampard is one of the best goal-scoring midfielders in HISTORY of football. His passes were masterpieces. Of course he won't be that effective with less freedom. On the other side Bakayoko is more defensively minded, has good dribbling/run here and there, hence, he should be good in midfield 2.

Yes, they work sometimes better in different systems. Like Hazard is better in 3-4-3 with active full/wing backs, than in 4-3-3 with more passive fullbacks. That's maybe the best example. But most of the time it's really like I said, especially in our cases - players are better with more help. Defensive midfielder or defensively oriented box to box (like Baka I guess is) should work the same in 2 or 3 man midfield, if he is really good. EDIT: Difference between Hazard and Bakayoko case - Hazard in 4-3-3 with more passive fullback (lets say non-overlapping Azpi like under Mourinho) is still very good player. In 3-4-3 he is maybe excellent. Bakayoko in 3-5-2 is good-ish player. Bakayoko in 3-4-3 is really poor. Also, Essien would be perfect in 2-man midfield. Lampard is a case for himself, he is too good of a goalscorer to play in 2-man midfield, but he still wouldn't be average in 2-man, he would be good/very good player.

Expecting Marinas' resigning too. First time after a lot of years we are witnessing managers' power!

Thank you Conte, you beauty!

"Works better in three". If I had a penny everytime it was mentioned. Everyone works better with more help. "Works better in three" mostly means - needs a lot of help, is limited to the bone, can't do things by himself. Just like with our central defenders. It was good game by him, but let's not get carried away.

People are wrong to already put Neymar in top 3 players. Most of people thinks: 1. Messi, 2. Ronaldo, 3. Neymar I think Neymar has to prove himself a lot, he is no finished product nor good enough to be considered 3rd player of the world permanently. Also, CR will fall out of top 3 after this season, most likely.

"If we think I click my fingers and we are ready to fight. It's not simple. Last season happened. A miracle. "It was a miracle, because we had the same players that the season before finished 10th." - Conte, pre Manchester United Miracle is the word, yes. Glad he is thinking that way. EDIT: AND, it's getting better: Asked how Chelsea's "miracle" compares with Leicester's, Conte added: "Chelsea's name sometimes covers the miracle, only because your name is Chelsea."

Just watched his pre-United interview, he said: "Last year we were more or less in the same position [same point difference to leaders Man City] and we ended up 15 points ahead of the City at the end. Anything can happen." It's ok to say that in front of camera to show hope and spirit, but I really hope our players are more aware of situation and that 2nd or 3rd place in EPL would be massive for us too. I don't think they are, actually, I think they too think - "OMG, we are champions, what the hell is happening with us?" Well, Leicester too were champions... I'll just quote Conte here, Fabregas should listen to him carefully: "If we think I click my fingers and we are ready to fight. It's not simple. Last season happened. A miracle. "It was a miracle, because we had the same players that the season before finished 10th."

Fans should bring banners to the stand to show this man a support and to send clear message to our board. This is our club, not theirs. #WeWantFutureWithAntonio ! Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

Conte had the balls to drop Ivanović, to drop Terry, to drop Fabregas. Conte had balls to make Alonso and Luiz our first XI players, and that worked well last season. Conte had balls to reinvent Victor Moses into RWB. Conte had balls to change our whole system, multiple times (first to 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 if I recall correctly, after that 3-4-3). And now you are telling me that he isn't tactically sound, that he doesn't know how to react? He changed that last season because it was obvious we need to change formation to fade out old unusable players (Oscar, Ivanović), especially after we brought Alonso and Luiz, both tailor made for 3-4-3. Conte obviously has reasons not to change formation now, it's not like there is general truth about what team should we play. Ok, maybe he should've generate our defense a bit better, but I don't remember any time this season we being comfortable at the back at all, maaaybe against lesser opponents, and he gave chance to lot of our players at the back. Fabregas and Bakayoko as midfield two... well, maybe Drinky would be better, yes, but I doubt it would be by big margin. He is actually trying 3-5-2, trying 3-4-3, trying different approaches in defense, but I am sure that if our players were good enough, some set up would be successful by now this season. So yes, we can criticize Conte too, but thinking that any of our shits are his fault and thinking that he needs sacking are pure delusion. Antonio Conte is the least of our problems. HE is the main reason we've won league last season. If we are gonna place our bets on someone - it should be on him.

I still cannot believe how Montella is shaping that team. Rodriguez at LCB, chaos in midfield, mostly playing wrong players. And I don't see what anyone sees in that Chakanoglu guy. Free kick is all he got. Bonaventura and Suso are both better than him.

It's cute how some of fans think "but but same situation was with Mouriho, and he got sacked and we are still fine". Lol. We are just so damn lucky that we've won anything in last years, considering what is happening "behind the scenes", with our board and considering the team we have. Most of other clubs are trying so much harder and doing better work, better business in market, better work with team development and have more patience and are still nowhere near winning the title. We should really be more thankful, we really got in way way more than we gave in. ... sack Conte and we are mid-table team in no time.

Premier league clubs finally doing something in UCL. Hope they all go to the semi-finals and get knocked out. Couldn't stand Man City winning it, cause if they do they will get a lot closer to us in big trophies number.

I think PSG would be good option for him, but they are overloaded with players at his position. They play 4-3-3 with front three of Cavani - Mbappe - Neymar I believe, and there are also Di Maria, Draxler, Moura. And are already suspicious with FFP thing. Can't see it happening in next years. And if Barca get Coutinho, and I think it's a question of when, not if, can't see him going there either - they overspent on Dembele too. Actually, could see Real reaching for him in next years - Cristiano won't be so dependable anymore, he is in decline and isn't creative at all anymore, and Bale is just too inconsistent. Actually, I think Real will start to build Galacticos v3 in next years. Benzema, Ronaldo, Bale, Modrić, Marcelo all getting old and declining. Hazard and Kane could be at the top of their wishlist. EDIT: Also, they didn't spend money at all last summer. They are saving up for spending spree.

Why not? We don't even need to find another midfielder that is creative as some Fabregas-type player. Someone like Koke or Rakitić (don't know are those two in form, but that kind of player), that should be enough. But no, we have CF4.

I too think he shouldn't mix our defense up so much. I think Cahill and Rudiger switched placed today, don't know why. And let Azpi play at his position. It won't help much, but could help to not look ridicules like against Roma.

Well, I didn't expect much from this bunch this season. But that was just terrible. We can comment on midfield, wingbacks, strikers, etc etc, but let's face it - our central defenders aren't very good either. Being that Christensen, Rudiger, Luiz or I don't know. You know, if they were very good, we wouldn't need three of them (considering the need of our squad to play with more midfielders/attackers to gain more control). There is no part of the team that doesn't require upgrading.