The Skipper

...So you're suggesting Mou will get sacked if he doesn't win this?

He can't lead the line effectively IMO. Doesn't get the same space to run into. Far better out wide.

I never said it wasn't his fault, he definitely gets the majority of blame for us conceding the goal, but he's been okay this season in general. My point is that it was an isolated incident that I don't think would've happened if he wasn't just coming back from injury. I would be saying the same if it was Lukaku who was in the same situation I would be saying the exact same thing.

He's not been consistent enough this season IMO. Schwarzer is good enough to deputise while Cech gets his stuff back together. A period on the bench might refocus him.

If you can't understand that any player will be rusty after not playing for nearly 3 weeks (if I'm correct, might be longer) then I can't help you. Doesn't matter if it's Eto'o, I'd be saying the exact same for anyone else.

'Playing' being the key word here. I'm not arguing about whether he's better than our current strikers - I've always said he is but you and I both know that Mourinho was not going to make Lukaku his number 1 or even number 2 with the way things were looking, which is why I said in the first place that it's better that he goes out on loan to a club with the right manager, ethos, ambition and where he'll play a lot.

Jose would've loved Sturridge.

Surely Ashley is fresh enough to contribute again now.

It's a shame, because in pre season he really pushed for a decent role this season, but I'm not really surprised this is happening. I said it as soon as Willian signed that it'll probably be the end of KDBs CFC career and I and some others got flack for saying that the signing was unnecessary but alas, here you have it. KDB will likely leave us in January IMO.

I'll hold my hand up and say that right now, I'd drop him for Schwarzer.

He can take up the 6th attacking mid spot.

Gave up on him being our number one striker nearly a season and a half ago - thought he'd produce decently as a squad player which he has been doing in general this season but he needs to stay at that level and not go back down to that horrible poor form of his.

He just came back from injury and hasn't played in ages ffs. Of course he's going to be rusty. The overreaction in here is ridiculous.

Do you agree with me now that they do play the right sort of football for Romelu (who has started almost every game since he's gone there) to be developing at?Honestly, this is good. Everton loan spell will be fantastic for Romelu's future here IMO.

Yeah, I was saying in the match day thread Luiz would've thrived in this game, the space they afforded our CBs was absolutely criminal.

People are forgetting Arsenal have City then us after the Everton game. Relax guys, it's a marathon not a sprint.

People are getting over excited. He was brill today but he needs to prove he can pull of those performances in a better league, on a regular basis.

Ah, misread what you meant. Yeah, I agree with you.

I agree. Dropping Cech isn't so much of a problem now either since we have capable hands in Schwarzer.

I really wish people would stop saying this. We scored 9 goals in the last 3 games - granted not many of them by our strikers but the main problem we are having right now is our defence being too vulnerable. I agree having a top class striker would definitely help the situation but we should not be conceding 3 goals against teams like Sunderland and Stoke, sorry. That's the main problem right now.

Yeah because not scoring goals is our problem at the moment right...

Rotation is vital here. Any team we put out should be able to beat Steau.

Uhhm... Benzema is obviously a good enough striker. He's killing it this season. 12 goals and 8 assists in 21 appearances. Nearly a goal/assist every game.

Hmm, I get your point but hopefully the last few performances has opened Mou's eyes and made him realise that it'd be better to just stick with Luiz because he brings so much more to the team anyway. Cahill isn't even 'on form' anymore at the moment so there is no reason to play him ahead of Luiz anymore.

Tbf, Arsenal have been the only consistent team this year and it's why they're on top. I'm just hoping us and probably City hit that consistency too - that's when the title race will get interesting.