The Skipper

Alright fellas, let's leave it there. Please continue to talk football but let's not take swipes at each other.

Griezmann is too small to play the number 9 role up front alone. He'd get bullied in the PL. He isn't a point of reference - doesn't play with his back to goal as well as someone like Benzema, Suarez or Lewandowski. Heck, even Costa is better due to his physicality. He definitely isn't a pure no. 9. Always has support up front, either at Atletico or for France. Swapping Costa for Griezmann would be a very very bad idea.

Hopefully he stays at United for another season so he can get rid of their young potential superstars like Martial and bring in an awful replacement like Eder or something.

Play him as a B2B CM.

I actually do believe there is some merit in the notion. The correct term we're looking for however is 'smart' attacking. Attacking recklessly like those teams you've mentioned will not do it. Being smart with the ball and covering the right spaces is the way to do it.

Hazard had a bad game, doesn't make him a bad player...

His all round game isn't that great tbh. He's just a very good, clinical poacher. Could make a career as that but from what I've seen he needs a bit more if he is to make it a CFC. The Championship is an entirely different level to the PL so I'm not getting my hopes up yet. He should keep proving me wrong though.

Ivanovic is our worst CB, why would you start him there?

I follow Villa (nearest club to my university) and the dude always looked talented. Him and Amavi were a cut above the rest, shame Amavi got injured. Both massive talents.

Only way I'll accept Fabregas leaving soon is if we sign this geezer.

Oscar actually had an ok performance in general but his finishing was atrocious. Because of the misses, he had a bad game overall imo. Hazard had more than enough touches in the game but was extremely average. Don't blame Oscar for his performance. I wish you could just analyse these players without involving Hazard though. I find it quite incredible how you seem to ignore the fact that Eden was average but lay it into players who actually performed better on the day.

I just thought it was a normal Kante performance. Sort of performance you expect from him. I've seen him have better games for Leicester, so for me an amazing Kante game he plays better than yesterday.

He was good yesterday, not amazing though. Felt he struggled in bits but imposed himself very well in other situations.

Yes, support him, but he isn't immune to criticism. I can't believe people are trying to blame someone like Costa for his extremely average performance.

Watch a replay and you will see that he was gearing himself up for a shot but Fabianski impeded him. Fabianski more like ran into him then anything. Their knees connected. He was definitely going to go down regardless.

A tactical foul that came about from him losing the ball just before. Wouldn't praise him for that.

Costa has, with Hazard, won a lot of points for us this season. Hazard was extremely average today and Costa was very good, yet you always seem to criticise the former and think the latter is immune from it. That's not fair. Would love to see these countless off the ball runs Hazard did today too, because I just watched the game again and he didn't have that many.

Still believe he'll play more when we have a faster back line (so when Zouma returns and Luiz starts). Hope so anyway. What I'm loving about Cesc is how professional he's being with all this going on. Dude changed the rhythm in our midfield when he came on. Looked so much better.

It was a quality performance from Costa. Two great finishes. Was very efficient with the ball - didn't lose it too much and actually linked up play a lot and well. Can't see how anyone would complain about his performance when there were so many others who were hiding for the whole game. Shocking. Just keep scoring Diego. I think he can grab 25-30 in all completions this season.

Has anyone got a gif/video of when he butchered the Swansea back line with some really nice close control on the left wing after the ball got cleared to him?

He got fouled. Fabianski's knee went into his. Watch the replay. Definitely didn't dive.

Very talented chap. So unlucky with injuries.

Because we can easily morph into a back 4. Azpi is competent at LB, and it pushes Christensen to become a RB. Azpi also helps cover Fabregas' weaker defensive abilities.

I would be more adventurous and go (when we have Christensen back next year): Courtois Christensen Luiz Zouma Willian Kante Fabregas Azpi x Costa Hazard With 'x' being a superstar signing like Griezmann or James. Now that would be an impressive XI that can easily metamorph into a back four as well: Christensen Luiz Zouma Azpi Willian Kante Fabregas Hazard x Costa or Willian Kante Fabregas x Costa Hazard

Why is it embarrassing?