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I agree with Conte about their recent form. Liverpool is going to come ready to play and extremely motivated, wounded animals are the most dangerous. Matic/Kante to start then have Fabregas on in the 2nd half when their legs tire. My position on away games against the top 6 is always the same, any points won is a success. Would be happy with a Draw, would be thrilled with a Win.

Seeing Links that conte has his sights set on Belotti if Costa gets his wish and moves on this summer. Obviously option #1 is to keep costa but for me Belotti is the next best thing. would absolutely love to see him here. Could just be lazy links to get dummies like me to click but still a little hope.

Would be a huge statement if we managed to bring in this warrior. The cost will be high but he will set the tone for our midfield for the next 3 years. Kante/Vidal is a terrifying prospect for other teams. I still think this is doubtful BUT would be over the moon if it happened. Side Note: Who would win in a fight Costa or Vidal!?

I can't remember if i read the point on here or elsewhere (if it was here, sorry for lack of credit tag) but it was essentially that all of the feeder clubs are still holding out for top dollar until the last moment, there is still 6 days(not including today) left in the transfer window. Rumblings will continue to grow and I am hopeful we can pick up some players. Buy + Loan back is what will get this deal done, just a matter of them wanting to cash in now or the summer when bidding war can happen

I am with @Rekin on this one. Kessie might not be a direct upgrade (or downgrade) at the moment but he has the skill set and physicality to grow into a beast. The partnership of those two could be absolutely killer for us. In regards to Semedo, I personally havent seen much of him so my knowledge is limited but everything I have read from people who watch him regularly point to him being extremely talented and tailor made for an integral position in our formation. As i said in another post its not choosing one or the other its having the depth and competition in position that will push us forward. Moses and Semedo might offer different things but thats just more for Conte to choose from game to game which makes us harder to play against. All great teams have competition across the board, That is what we need to build.

It is not that easy, Sandro is vital to Juventus. Juventus doesnt often sell vital pieces. I like the pairing of Alonso and Ghoulam, gives Conte options and changes the look of our team depending who he chooses for the game, keeps other teams on their toes.

I think he gives us a great option for a different type of LWB, Marcos will still get lots of games and so would this guy. As we all know Wing Back is the most tiring position on the field which is often overlooked in how solid Marcos has been. Give Conte another option and another problem for our opponents to gameplan against. Ghoulam, Alonso, Moses, Semedo and we went from needing positional depth to one of our team strengths.

if you believe that, I've got a story to sell you about Messi and Ronaldo plotting to join Chelsea next year.

Tore his ACL, what a shame. Had hope for him being potentially useful next year. Hope he recovers fully.

This is what stands out to me and why I think it is possible, he is so sure of himself that if he doesn't rate a player than he doesn't view it as strengthening us. He would view it as him ripping us off for whatever the fee is.

I know its tricky but if history is any indication if Jose doesnt rate a player he doesn't particularly care who he sells them to he just wants them gone. Who would have thought Mata to ManU would have ever happened?

I agree, but as we have seen confidence plays a huge role in a players mind. A full summer and training camp under Conte and I think he would regain full fitness and some confidence. His entire time at ManU has been full of uncertainty and a gruesome injury which is a shame. I disagree, LWB would be the only position I would want him. 6'1, lots of pace and strength and can whip a cross in. What exactly is the LWB required standard for attacking qualities to you? I think he posses the qualities we are looking for in a LWB personally. EDIT: Found a scouting report on him after he joined ManU As an attacking outlet, Shaw completed more than twice the number of take-ons that Evra did last season, meaning he will add an incisive presence down that flank that United have been missing. His strength in the tackle will aid him to post even better numbers next season, given the strong positional and tactical soundness that United’s new manager Louis van Gaal will instill in him. There are two attacking routes that Shaw offers: Shaw likes to run at opposition right backs and once he hits full speed, he is very difficult to stop. His crosses account for more than 50% of his chances created. With United’s traditional preference of attacking wingbacks and Louis van Gaal being a known advocate of pace, pressure and width high up the pitch, Shaw will fit into the United philosophy seamlessly In instances where there is no resistance on the flanks, instead of going wide to cross, Shaw prefers to advance with pace into the inside left channel, where his speed and decision making skills will allow him to enter the box. This forces a foul and most probably will lead to a penalty There is no doubt that Shaw’s speed, skill and confidence on the ball coupled with his willingness to take on defenders and cross with power and curve will make him one of the finest attacking left backs in the game down the years to come. and the link to his Whoscored: https://www.whoscored.com/Players/118244

Clearly out of favor with Jose, grew up a Chelsea fan(I think?) energetic, athletic, left footed. for the right price i would certainly be open to him occupying our LWB spot. Thoughts?

fair point, I just see it as maintaining our lead over city while extending our lead over spurs. Any dropped points by spurs is best case scenario for me on Saturday

Any dropped spurs points is great for us. Would love to see a City win for some more breathing room with our Liverpool/Arsenal games coming up. Think they will stick with 3 at the back since they have looked really good with it or go back to 4?

Agreed, but lets say Conte gets his assumed main striker target in Morata. It is well documented Morata is a more well rounded ball player, a front 3 of Hazard Morata Griezz would be absolutely terrifying. I fear he is too far down the road (or up the ass) of united. He dreams of Pogba, and Money.

CONTE IS A MIRACLE WORKER ahaha just kidding, im just trying to find the bright side and think from a positive perspective. I am not championing for it but his does have one world class skill you cant teach which is hot nasty bad ass speed. This surely wont happen and then we can continue to argue about Diegos replacement

my thoughts exactly. Would be scary as a wing back getting up and down the sideline. if the price is right I wouldnt mind him. maybe he can be a conte miracle.

just to clarify I think we will only get one or the other not both. I would be over the MOON if we got BOTH of those guys. I think if Conte gets who he has been linked with most in Morata it will be the best thing for Batshuayi, he needs a strike partner and Morata is certainly an excellent secondary striker/strike partner. I have a gut feeling that Diego is going to move on and we will see Lukaku and Morata in blue next year. Lukaku/Morata/Bats Also as much as I prefer Belotti, i havent seen any concrete links between Chelsea and him at all. I know the media mostly makes up their stories but it might be nice to see some indication of interest

100% I completely agree, I think Diego will have to fight to earn contes respect back of course. But Conte is a smooth operator and also knows that he needs Diego to truly shut down the title in the next month. It reminds me of the story about Conte yelling at GiGi Buffon who brought up Bonuses before a game and Conte LOST it on him even though they had already won the league. it is all about winning and respect. They will work it out for the next couple months I think. Diego has created so much good will with his play and improved attitude it would be an absolute shame to destroy all of that so quickly. It is also great to see other players and management seemingly backing the coach and not the star player. Love to see that

I think they will sit down and come to a handshake agreement. Diego will apologize and behave the rest of the year, help us win the league then in the summer IF china is real he will go there and get paid. Its a win across the board. Diego gets more money than he can count, we get a HUGE transfer fee for a 29 yr old striker with injury issues who doesnt even want to be here. and Conte is a PL title winning coach in his first year, with 140 Millions pounds from Chinese sales PLUS however much Roman wants to spend on top of that. He can go on a shopping spree in the summer and build the juggernaut he wants to.

I asked David Amoyal on twitter who he preferred this was his response "Belotti considerably better goal scorer while Morata much more complete, quality wise comparable depends what you need" "I think it would depend if Costa leaves which would make Belotti a more logical fit"

My Mistake. Apologies! lets say Conte is more familiar with Morata due to the juventus connections.

If it is between Morata or Belotti, I would prefer Belotti personally he seems more Costa-esque and a mold of striker conte likes. But conte worked with Morata and helped him grow, I think if Conte had the choice we will be seeing Morata up top next year. Why not both! haha 352 Morata + Belotti with hazard behind! im just kidding, but it is a tough choice just comes down to which style you prefer i think

Would absolutely love to see Belotti up top if Diego wants to go get paid in China. I havent seen much of him but from everything i have read and heard he seems to be one hell of a player. I also am extremely biased towards italian players. I am Sold with this quote alone: While there are some important technical subtleties to Belotti’s game, he's made his name predominantly through sheer physical and mental force. Indeed, it's his relentless attitude – an attitude shaped by his family and background – that has underpinned his career path thus far. In an October interview he spoke of the work ethic imbued within him from a young age. “My father told me: 'If you don’t leave the pitch absolutely exhausted, it means you haven’t given it your all,'” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I like to work hard.” Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/meet-andrea-belotti-old-fashioned-no9-whos-just-dealt-man-united-a-blow#5ESLY4FerXGSeYDo.99