El P.

Well, that's the thing. I think even Conte sees him for more than he is, considered everything. Conte didn't really look for his upgrade, for an upgrade for a creative part of our midfield. Don't need to say that the board probably thinks he is best creative midfielder in the world. We were not in the talks for another creative midfielder since he arrived I think. Weren't really looking for another one, because we always counted on him.

Problem with him is, even when you have him on the bench as a "squad player", everyone thinks "omg omg you has Cesc Fabregas the best passer playmaker famous Spaniard at your team dude, just use him smthimes, he is genius". Well, he is average. Been saying that for a long time. I have a feeling that we could move on to another creative midfielder only after we offload him. So overrated that it's crazy. Even his passes aren't that good, not just now - always. He is not that Pirlo/Xabi/Xavi level and I don't think he ever was, especially not now.

Well, ok. Act professionally, respect your contract until the end, and don't ever, ever flirt with other clubs while being here. Don't be another Costa. And we'll get along.

Oh, well I would think the same, of course. I don't see that big of a difference between Chalobah and Bakayoko. Both raw, both unproven. In that case I would like to stick with Bakayoko. I think both of them are good potentials. Not great, but good.

You mean - if Bakayoko had been really great from the start? Look, I'm not mad that we've bought Bakayoko. I just don't see a point in bringing players who are MASSIVELY unproven, very young, etc etc, for large sum of money, if we have opportunity to try with some of our players. So he had good season with Monaco, they were really good, so what? Wasn't their key player and that was for only one season. This is not me saying - Bakayoko is not good enough. Hell, he could become another Essien some day, and that would be great .This is me saying - we need to scout better and if we are really gonna offload our young fellas for someone else (like we did offload Chalobah and bought Bakayoko), that someone better be good, better be really good. Not like this. So, my answer is - it's a gamble. With a guy like Bakayoko, it's gamble. So why not gamble with our guys instead? (And I'm not even big fan of Chalobah, and I think Bakayoko is slightly better, just for the record.)

So we will probably need to wait season or two before this fella becomes great player (EDIT: If he ever gets there, of course) It was mentioned hundred times, but here it goes again - same situation would be present if we took time and gave REAL opportunity to some of our youngsters (especially Chalobah, for that place). Only difference would be having 40 millions more in the pocket, and having actually our "product" in the squad (+ one more home-grown player). I don't see Bakayoko anything above Chalobah level at the moment. And the guy is getting first XI start every game. If Nathaniel had this kind of opportunity, to play every game at top club, his story with us could've been very different.

Good thing about Morata - even when he doesn't score or assist, he contributes in our link up play. I remember games when Costa was ineffective, it was almost like having player less on the pitch.

Drinkwater will push Bakayoko out of the squad I think. Because he is less bad.

Morata played good, but shame for that missed chance. Expect more from him, that was really easy chance. And that great counter that Cesc ruined with an awful long pass... He isn't THAT great passer actually. Nowhere near likes of Xavi, Xabi, Pirlo,... (mentioning that since it's his only strength)

He always looks stoned.

Well, I don't expect from this youngsters to perform good every game. In some games opposition will be just too tough, in some games Willian, Cahill and co. will ruin all that is good. But that won't happen in every game, those young boys will get their chances every now and then and it's totally up to them to show their qualities in some of those games, games where some things actually goes our way.

No much positives from this game. Conte wanted some players to show that they can be counted on - Musonda and Ampadu weren't good at all, Drinkwater and Kenedy were average, Rudy and Christy a bit better. Willian continued with his "form" from this season. Caballero, Zappacosta and to some extent Bats were the only positives from the match for me.

Rudiger needs to calm down, that goal and this foul really gave him wings.

Zappacosta seems smart, not too talented, but smart and aware of his strengths and deficiencies.

I think Bats is ok-ish, looks a lot better than Willy and Musonda.

Really disappointed with Musonda's first touch. Awful. You cannot dribble if you don't even receive the ball.

He will for sure be faster than Alonso, and more disciplined than Kenedy. Could thrive at LWB with his attributes. Ofc he could be valuable option, only question is - how fast could he get in match form?

I don't think he was that bad, even when I said I miss Matić. The way he shields ball sometimes is just immense. I can see already what kind of players he could develop into - good player, but the one which will require our wing-backs to be much much better in offense, i.e. our wing-backs not to be Alonso and Moses. Can't see him becoming world beater, but could easily become more important player for us than either of our wing-backs.

It's great to have players which can make up for their mistakes with that kind of passion and attitude. He will have more of those not-that-good performances, but will always be irreplaceable. Way to go, captain.

Looking forward to this game. After positive 4-2 win we have another chance to bolster our confidence and try some new options in midfield and other field areas. God knows we need them. This game is coming just in right time if you ask me.

A lot of guys said that he would be great in that "Pirlo role". Pirlo role or not, most of the times this season he played with 2 physical midfielders alongside him, Kante and Bakayoko. And yes, that didn't work out, we weren't dominant enough in any game besides Atletico. Been saying that for a long time - he is not good enough for our starting XI; in either formation. His only attribute is one or two brilliant long passes per game. Other than that, he brings almost nothing.

Spurs are amazing. I thought this season would be between Manchester clubs, with Spurs somewhat behind, but I think league table doesn't lie. Spurs are better than United I would say and City is still class above. Wouldn't be surprised if league finishes like after this weekend (1. City 2. United 3. Spurs 4. Chelsea), but Spurs could really even surpass United. Sadly, I'm not seeing us getting in front of Spurs or United, especially not City. But 4th place isn't that bad either, it would teach us a good lesson. And about Liverpool and Arsenal... Pool is just too much mess. My God that defense, relegation level defense. And Arsenal is Arsenal, no way in hell they finish in first 4.

I think he played full-back today. So, FULLBACK, in huge 4-1 loss. Great move, fella.

This team/squad falldown has a lot of similarities to that Mourinho's, 2015. But Conte is managing it and coping much much better than Jose. Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

Agree that Christy should play, don't agree that Luiz should be benched just like this. I prefer Zappa/Moses - Azpi - Luiz - Christy - Alonso. But, Conte made things up with super subs, Bats and Willian won us this game. And who in the right mind would think those two could win us a game? Yeah, nobody. Only our brilliant Antonio! EDIT: Or Azpi - Rudy - Luiz - Christy - Alonso