The Skipper

Why hjperdeath?

Varane would be the ideal JT replacement, yeah.

I would love to see a back four of Luis - Cahill - Iva - Azpi sometime. Especially if we're really trying to play that high press, high line system, and we need to put pressure on an opponent.

I still think Fabregas will be fine for quite a few games in the pivot - what we really need to do however is sort out our pressing and positional game in centre midfield. What Fabregas is trying to do (as Neville said) is hunt down the ball - but you can't do that in the manner Fabregas is doing when he is playing in the pivot, especially against the 4-3-3 midfield Swansea played. I still think Fabregas is fine in the pivot for some games (not the bigger games though, but I've said that from the start anyway), honestly do, he just has to tweak his positioning and when to engage in pressing. The effort is definitely there, he just needs to be smart with it. Fabregas is an intelligent player so I'm fairly sure he'll grasp it over the course of the season (last clip in the Gary Neville analysis where he swooped up the ball and laid it off to Matic before JTs own goal is a prime example - excellent defensive positioning). IMO he can be that complete midfielder for us, competent defensively and great going forward.

Why is that comparison even being made? Those weren't his first 3 games in the PL...

Completely disagree, certainly not in this state. They've started off very badly in the Bundesliga and have got quite a few key injuries. We've faced better teams (on current form and situation) in Everton and Swansea.

You do know Schalke have had a very bad start to the season right? They are currently 3rd bottom in the Bundesliga and have quite a few players out injured. It's not like we're facing a fully fit Schalke brimming with confidence. Honestly I don't see anything wrong with at least rotating 2 or 3 players. I think we have 4/5 games on in the space of the next two weeks, squad rotation at this point is important. The drop off in quality (i.e. Our replacements) isn't that high either. We should be able to beat this Schalke team without playing our entire first XI.

Making the most talented player in our squad out highest paid player isn't sensible? Okay...

If Rooney is on 300k, 250 for Hazard, our most talented player is chump change - especially considering his age and the fact that he still has room for growth as a player.

We are still developing our understanding but doesn't mean we should flog our first XI until they've fully understood everything. Besides, our squad players need to buy into our philosophy as well, and they are all decent enough for us to do a job over Schalke. Yeah, Schalke are a good team but they aren't tougher than most we've faced already this season, especially on current form. Again, I'm not saying Jose will change or rotate that many, it's just something I'd like to see. I do expect at least 2 or 3 changes though - we have a very important game against City this weekend and we need to ensure our better players are fresh for that game.

Nah, that's Costa - Fabregas.

People are underrating our squad depth. Schalke is a decent team but IMO resting the likes of Terry, Ivanovic, Fabregas, Costa and replacing them with Zouma, Luis, Willian and Remy is okay, it's still a strong team we're putting out there.

Well, it's easier for those because at least they have decent CB partners. Not saying Diego can't take Kompany, just saying it'll be an interesting battle.

I think he is. Certainly better than Ramos, Godin and Miranda get a lot of protection in their system as well. Kompany for me is still a top 3 CB. Sure, he wasn't that great last season but you have to look at his overall body of work as a player. What does Ramos or Godin or Miranda do better than him?

Kompany would start for all of those teams ahead of those players IMO.

Should be an amazing duel. Both are absolutely outstanding physically.

Why should he apologise to Rio? It's Anton's problem isn't it? Why should he apologise if he wasn't found guilty? Is Rio that thick? This is why I can't stand him.

Ah I see no it was just funny how some were so certain Diego would flop so I thought I'd remind them

Haha why do you say that? Have I posted a lot today or?

Never mind that... You don't even have to go that far back. Just go back to our last game before Swansea vs. Everton. Clinical finish from Ramires there.

Di Maria and David Silva are clearly not attainable. Sanchez is not a number 10. Sterling is not a true number 10 either, never mind him being the number 10 in our system (which requires a different skillset). Reus isn't a 10 either.

Certainly, but if we manage to do that this year will go down as the greatest PL team ever.

Yes, simply because we haven't been perfect at CM. Matic is still on his way to reaching top form, and we're still trying to figure out which combinations work best against certain types of teams. Once we've got that perfected (plus the fact that Fabregas will know his teammates even better then), Fabregas will be even more of a force IMO. He's already been awesome but he can be the best CM in the PL, certainly has the ability, circumstances must be right though.

I remember you were quite skeptical about the transfer when it was just rumours i.e. you weren't sure he would fit into the Mourinho system - but as we've seen there has been a slight change of approach this year, the underlying Mourinho system is still there but we're far more cavalier which suits our attacking strength with Costa and Fabregas now integrating will into the team. Cesc has turned us into a well oiled machine, he's like our engine. He's done very well so far, and I feel like we haven't even seen the best of Cesc yet.

Nothing I would love more than to go unbeatable this season in the league whilst breaking the 100pts barrier.