MoroccanBlue

Comparing Tuchel to RDM is just so, so wrong. One was a manager that was carried by the players. The other is a manager that carries his players.

I'd say we are still a little weak at CB as well.

When interviewed in 2018 he publicly stated he wanted both (Drinwkater and Bakayoko) because of the qualities they brought and that they were tailored to play his systems (352 or 343). This notion that he never wanted either of them is quite honestly ridiculous. Also, hindsight is 20/20. At the time Drinkwater was a solid player. No one knew he would completely give up on his footballing career for the drink. Conte wanted to keep Matic and then slowly integrate Bakayoko in, but when United come in and offer an absurd transfer amount for a declining player, we were obviously going to sell. Nainggolan and Vidal wanted absurd wages and the club has strict policy in offering long term contracts for players over 30. This policy helps the club in long term sustainability. Bonucci & Candreva. Same as above. There was Tolisso but he preferred Bayern. VVD also preferred Liverpool (if you attempt to refute this I genuinely have articles bookmarked stating such) Spurs were never going to sell us Walker. Alex Sandro should of been signed I give you that. (Although playing hindsight he hasn't set the world alight since 2017) Lukaku was a better fit than Morata but even then I doubt it would of catered much success compared to having Diego Costa. So the vast majority of his first choice targets would've prevented long term sustainability, were unrealistic, chose other clubs or would've held us back (Lukaku and Sandro in hindsight). We then ended up with Emerson, Rudiger, Drinkwater, Bakayoko, & Zappacosta. These were still Conte's targets, back up targets, but still his targets. This goes to show why its always best to wait for the right target, then to go for the wrong one. Which is my main point.

Oh bore off. He specifically said he wanted both because they could play in his system. All of his midfield targets were shite.

Lying through his teeth then as he was on record stating he wanted Drinkwater and Bakayoko.

Those need to remember we literally had no midfield the entire 90. I will say Tuchel has been very reactive tonight.

His choices. They are all on record. What separates Conte from the likes of Pep and Klopp, is that when the right target isn't available, those two don't go after the wrong one. Conte was guilty of that enormously that summer window.

You realise Morata, Drinkwater, Zappacosta, Emerson, and Bakayoko were all Conte targets too, right?

Because he realises our best attack is on the pitch.

Love how he needed a touch to score the goal.

Taking out Barkley just completely switched momentum.

All Barkley that. Timo and Lukaku did the easy bit.

That first touch from Lukaku was just so vintage.

We all knew when we make too many changes we turn shite.

I'm almost there.

Not even remotely funny. We took all that effort to beat Juventus and it cost us losing Chilwell for the season. Now we are seeing this horrific display making that Juventus win completely pointless. Fuming.

2nd spot it is.

Zero pressing and our backline ball watching since the first whistle. Equaliser was coming.

Poor

As Nikki has alluded to, at this point I would trust Barkley to do a better job as the #6 than Saul.

From Lampard's interview with Neville, he basically confirmed that he was never kept in the dark about certain targets the club identified. He was always involved and his input was always heard among the scouting staff. He essentially pushed for all of his signings and Ben Chilwell was his target alone. This has to be applied to every manager that's been here recently and judging from Ray Wilkin's biography about Ancelotti and the whole Aguero/Torres dilemma, it should be treated as gospel.

Broja is continuing to impress tbf.

Appears to be fit. Tuchel didn't name him as the 5 players that didn't make the trip to Russia. Chilwell, Kovacic, Kante, Chalobah and Jorginho out.

Tested positive for COVID

Karim Ademyi expected to complete his move to Dortmund.