CurlyHairLikeLuiz

Beginning not to care - everybody else is doing their best to undermine us, so I see little reason to care. Plus it's a good sign the Club is showing solidarity with José.

Soton do have the best defensive record this season, though. Plus they were so lucky when we actually woke up. Burnley was because of a dodgy ref

Lol. Nobody mentioning that all the English teams in at least 1 leg played like us vs PSG...

What? Where? Seriously. I haven't read the thread

Finally, a post that makes sense...

Liverpool was the last big game I remember we got really stoked for. It's not just the match; the pre-game build up is everything, I assume Scumpool is a bigger wind up to us, but if we could do that against every team our atmosphere would be impeccable. Idk, maybe getting the players involved more would help too. And that lighting thing we did was cool, surprised we didn't do it against PSG actually.

Yawn. Send him on holiday, he clearly needs a rest. So does Cesc. Until then play a 4-3-3, which eliminates the #10 completely.

unless we make season tickets cheap and increase their share over general sale, that is the only way I can think of that would get proper lads through the door. Oh, and standing again.

Supporter, you've outdone yourself this time mate, great post. Regarding Mata. I'd like to see him come home, but I think that it depends on many factors. FOR EXAMPLE: Unless we are playing a really small team, we could not play Fabregas and Mata together. However, he's played in our team where we had far less skill than we did now, he had a free role, but the one issue is that Hazard has the same role, so I imagine that to accomodate that, our CM set up would be a b2b/DM rather than DLP/DM. Cesc does need to be rested, of course, and he could be a really good option, especially if we offload Oscar, which I hate to say but I can see it happening tbh unless he stops sitting back. Koke is probably first choice to be a backup, though, considering that he's more of a DLP, therefore a more direct replacement for Cesc. I loved Juan, though...him coming back would be amazing. I think that in the case of Mikel and Ramires, though, we should have more faith in Ake and RLC. IMO, (I know many would disagree) in our system, RLC and Ake are both better than their counterparts already, imo, especially in the case of RLC. Ramires is a BWM, which is not something that we are in need of. RLC on the other hand is a B2B, and if we DID bring Mata back or we played Cesc more advanced, he could give those driving runs that Yaya does for Silva and City. Midfield experience is needed, though, and I think that for DM, Ake should continue his development on loan, and similarly, we loan maybe an older player to be the backup of Matic. Not sure who a good candidate would be, though. If RLC learns how to shoot outside of the box, I think he could be our next Lampard, this is something we lack, and due to this, often we are caught on the very outside of the box and we knock it about to try and find an opening within the 9 bodies there. Regarding Cech and our centre back pairings: I worry for Varane, I really do. He did not look good vs Schalke. IMO, it might be worth getting John Stones instead... Otherwise I think Kalas would be good enough for us. As you say, we should be playing Azpi-Luis in fullback, it is waste to have him benched. Ivan should be a CB/RB backup for us next season, unless RM or PSG put in an offer we can't refuse. But I think the priority for us should be a quick defence, because the attacking system we wish to employ requires quick defenders. Kalas can do this, with Zouma. Which leads me onto the issue of Cech. I think that, as JT declines, we're going to have to play a centre back pairing with less experience than we have with JT now, which is why I believe Jose will try his best to keep him here. If he can't play JT he will want Cech to give that leadership element, which, ironically, I think means that the share of games between Thibaut and Cech will be more even next season. If Cech and JT both don't play, Cesc will be our next captain. Also, I think Cesc should not be playing CAM, he likes space and time to create, which is why Mata would be good when he doesn't play. Finally, with Messi and Willian. I mean, it COULD happen...but I just don't see it. I think Willian will remain our starting winger here, who knows, without Iva behind him maybe he might surprise us, it must be intensely draining to have to mop up for Iva and then get up the field to attack within 15 seconds. If Messi came here, though.... I'd like to see Bamford return from loan, and I think Remy will go too. Drogs can be a Giggs-style player manager to make a few cameos in the season, milestones etc... Courtois/Cech Dave/Iva Zouma/Kalas JT/Stones Luis/Ake/Azpi Cesc/Zouma/RLC Matic/Ake/(Loanee) Mata/Messi/Cesc Messi/Willian Hazard/Bamford Diego/Bamford Outs: Oscar Remy Ramires Mikel Cahill(?) ^^^This team would be a personal favourite. Forgot to mention, if we stick Zouma in midfield then having 4 normal centre backs is not a bad shout. When Mata's in the team, it would tighten up the mid and might be a sensible change. Cheers.

I don't mind us playing ugly football, but if we do, we need to play Zouma and Matic together in midfield because otherwise we are vulnerable to be pressed, which is how we used to beat Arsenal. If we want to play the style of football we want to play, however, our slow defence needs to be phased out Azpi - Zouma - Terry - Luis should be our first choice defence for attacking football. Oscar needs to step up big time, otherwise we might as well play a 4-3-3 with a b2b there. What I've noticed is that none of our players can shoot outside of the box anymore, like Lamps did. That's a problem for us.

Yes, he is.

Just play a 4-3-3 and get rid of our 10 role, loan out Oscar to Spanish league to get some technical skills and use Cuadrado for another year while our very own Traore develops. If Thorgan becomes as good as his brother then we can always get him back Unless we can get Isco then where is any improvement? We should put some faith in our loanees for once.

Bradford. I want him gone since we need a b2b rather than a ball winner, and someone who can shoot. Poor on the ball, no vision. RLC is already better IMO, especially in a 4-3-3 for us. Unless we shove him out on the wing just to push the ball forward, but Willian if he has Dave behind him can do that too.

Depends what you're looking for. IMO, if you're looking for physicality (which we needed against PSG) then Matic-Cesc-Zouma/Ake is an 04/05 ugly football option for us. However, considering that atm our #10 is rubbish, Matic-RLC-Cesc is the best option, with RLC the box to box helping on both sides of the pitch. Don't care how old he is, Ramires is not good in our modern system, he is a ball winning mid and it doesn't wash with the system. He is too poor on the ball, which hinders the mid/attack transition and when his pace helps him along he can't shoot for shit. The most frustrating player we have. More so than Mikel, at least he can sweep.

Fabregas needs a holiday. It did wonders with Hazard at Crimbo, and Luis can play at CM, his ball distribution and vision is excellent. Then after that he must move to LB.

Use Luis instead and send him on holiday then, along with Oscar. He's no use to us in this poor a form.

I'd like to see Matic, JT or Hazard win it IMO.

Cesc in an advanced role is ghastly...Just saying.

Needs more physicality so that we don't get bullied off of the ball Courtois Azpi Cahill Terry Luis Zouma/RLC Cesc Matic Willian Costa Hazard Or we go for an attacking line up, but we can't keep trying to play like 04/05 with players that aren't buff enough for it Courtois Azpi Zouma Terry Luis -- Matic -- RLC Cesc Willian/Juan Costa Hazard IMO, I think that if Cesc keeps underperforming we should send him on a break and put Luis in his place, as he is as good on the ball and is creative enough. In an attacking system the defence needs to be quick too.

Jesus Christ, what does it take to get our team rotated

Chelsea material you reckon?

As in, getting hacked down faster than you can scream 'stretcher'?

Did he play today?

We need a proper RW...

Courtois controls his team really well, as demonstrated at Atletico. Fabregas if Iva leaves will be our next captain, he has the characteristics of a leader. Maybe Matic in the future.