The Skipper

Di Marzio has been quite innacurate recently.

Isn't the very definition of 'a bit of both' box to box? I guess if you wanted a good term for it, I'd call Dahoud a mobile regista. We've been rumoured to be after players like Bakayoko more so than the type of players you're looking at. Think Vidal, Nainggolan. Kessie. That's the type of player Conte wants in my mind. N'Zonzi and Kondogbia are DMs. Different profile to Bakayoko. Bakayoko is more akin to Vidal and Nainggolan. I don't know how many times I have to say either, but Kante isn't a DM. Kante is a destroyer. He wins the ball all over the pitch, not just in his own half. We don't need a deep lying playmaker when we're playing with 3 CBs, essentially Luiz fulfils that role anyway. We haven't struggled in midfield because we don't have a deep playmaker, explain how? Conte's system doesn't really require one to be in midfield. The central midfielders in Conte's system aren't there to 'control' per se. They're there to provide a base for the WBs and forwards to instigate quick attacks. You need to understand that Conte's system isn't based on possession. It's based on his style of positional play. And his CMs are more of an engine room than controllers for him. What we really need is better quality in our wing backs and another CB at the back that's comfortable with the ball ahead of Cahill. The problems we had versus City for example wasn't a lack of control in the centre of the pitch. They targeted Alonso and Cahill! If Conte wants possession he usually introduces a third CM. We can still do that with Cesc. Bakayoko - Fabregas - Kante is a nice midfield.

He averages 1.2 dispossessions this season which is quite low for a CM so, I do think you're underrating him in that aspect. He's very good at shielding the ball, uses his body well in that aspect, so he doesn't often lose the ball.

Fair enough, I was like that before, but don't think a DLP works in Conte's system though.

Glad that you admit that he is a rough diamond that can turn into a great player. Fair enough. I must mention that Dahoud isn't a deep-lying playmaker, he's more of a B2B player. He's often very far up the pitch. We haven't exactly massively struggled to create against middling PL teams this season have we? And that's with Matic next to Kante as well. You have to take Conte's system into consideration. What does he want from his CMs? How does having a supremely technical CM next to Kante exactly help us not to get dominated vs. the bigger European teams? If that's the case, why don't we just play Fabregas in them? If you look at the system Conte is implementing, we don't really create specifically from the middle of the park. If we did need that, he can bring in Fabregas and have him in a trio next to Kante and Bakayoko which would work very well in my opinion. Do you honestly think we won't get dominated in midfield if we have a Fabregas who's a bit more competent defensively? Doesn't work like that. Being a technical midfielder does not mean that you instantly get more control. You have to take the system into context. People need to look at Conte and see what sort of system he wants to implement. We clearly create far more in the half spaces and out wide than we do from deep in CM.

They're all very different players. Sounds like you just want a name more than anything to me?

He looked very reassuring when he said it in the actual press conference. Basically trying to get across that right now we're focussing on the title, and that rumours for your best players are normal.

Spot on. Best post in this thread.

Him and Courtois signing a new contract next season is as important as any transfer we'll make. Hearing good news on both ends though, which is good. Would truly help us cement our status as a super club, coupled with the right signings of course.

That's fair enough, but if you want a ball playing CB, Christensen's ball playing ability is better than Van Dijk's.

What a poor visual that is.

I don't think anyone is advocating for him to be bought, let's be honest. His injuries have prevented him from becoming a much better player imo. PSG fans absolutely love him.

He completes most of his passes, it's around 90%. It's not so bad. It's not a problem in Conte's system. We don't really create much from CM. He wouldn't struggle against high energy teams because of his dribbling ability. And besides, Kante and Bakayoko shielding Fabregas would be an option if we needed more control in midfield.

Agree with passing and decision making but that'll get better. Don't agree with general awareness though.

Remember when we were linked to him a few years ago? He's still a fantastic talent, injuries have ruined his career progress big time though. Could've been a massive player otherwise. One of his most recent performances: Really knows how to control the tempo of the game.

Hazard is fit. Great news.

Wish the Chelsea kept the Blue/Yellow tradition going. Way more iconic than the simple Blue/White.

Apparently Gladbach's GM has said that Christensen is definitely coming back here, which means that he'll be given a big role here next season, considering his father said a few months ago that his father said he'd leave if he wasn't given first team action next season. The fact that Gladbach have given up means that its likely that he's been promised some things, we'll have him in the team next season.

Dahoud - Weigl midfield is going to be special.

My point is that he is a very dynamic player, if you watched him play you would know such. Completely different to Matic, much more athletic, way better in his close control dribbling as well. I think at Monaco, he is instructed to be less adventurous because they only play with 2 CMs. It's how their systems work. Both of their CMs are not as adventurous because they provide a platform for the true attacking talent to showcase their exactly that. Bakayoko is underused in that aspect, held back a bit. He has the ability to execute some amazing long bursting runs from box to box to truly instigate attacks, with his athleticism and close control, but because he's a real force defensively as well, his manager has decided to tap into that more to get his system to run well. And its worked very well, they are top of the table in France atm. That's what I mean by you completely describing a different player. He isn't the black Matic at all. A black Matic wouldn't have the attributes he does.

You proceed calling him the black Matic and then continue to describe a completely different player... If you don't think that he's a player not capable of carrying the ball then you obviously haven't watched him enough.

Think we should go for Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer, especially if we don't manage to pinch Alexis from Arsenal and sign another RF. Best young English talent out there that can actually contribute well to the squad. Could play at RWB imo.

Preach. Ball playing ability vastly overrated because he was dribbling past some Scottish farmers a few seasons ago. No disrespect to Scotland obviously, I'd say the same about the Dutch league.

Sorry, Christensen is one of the most elegant defenders out there. Way more elegant than Van Dijk anyway. If you want a creative CB, you should be wanting Christensen over Van Dijk who is more of an athletic ball carrier.

People watch one game and that's it? Kante and Bakayoko are much better than what they showed today. Completely forgetting his performances against top teams, including one you mentioned in PSG. The way Deschamps set up his team was bad. Not utilising the talent there well at all. You want a technically brilliant CM who can be proactive and control the midfield. Who's available? Verratti? For what, 100m? Here's your desired CM being absolutely bossed by Bakayoko several times in the same game: My overall point is, don't be so silly to judge a player off one game. The guy has potential, and has been showing it all season at Monaco, even in the CL, against the best in Europe. One average game.