King Kante

As I have said a number of times, if we defend and control play like this in a 3atb, you would have to be an absolute crack head to want to change to a back 4. For me, if you get a proper CF and think of Werner as a Pedro rather than a out and out CF, then we are pretty set, bar a bigger CM and a left footed CB. As for the game, not the best City side but the tactics were spot on. That is exactly how you're meant to deal with City.

You wouldn't want him defending in this game but if he got that chance Chilwell just did Alonso would've absolutely nailed that.

Don't be silly, Kepa wouldn't get his hand to the ball.

How bad is Kova's injury? I thought it was one or two games? 🤔

Yeah, I get that. The shirt you posted is much better than what we're getting, my point was more of a board one. I also think the same of the PSG shirts.

Is there anything more idiotic in football kit design than having a MJ slam dunk logo on the shirt?

Nike kit designers be like:

I seriously question how long some people have been watching football. How old is James? 20/21? What are people expecting from him exactly? World class performances week in, week out? I am sorry but it doesn't work like that. With young players you have to give them opportunities and time to develop. It is very unusual to get a young player like Rooney or Mbappe who are ready from the age of 18 or in Rooney's case 16/17. This thread is starting to become reminiscent of the Mount one, who at one time should've been replaced with Gallagher and only played because he was SFL's son. Furthermore, some of the people complaining are also probably the one's who moan about us selling KdB and Salah. However, guess what, they were sold as they weren't 'ready' to play at world class levels, week in, week out at 22-23, let alone 20-21.

All I want to know is if Chelsea and City make the final, will UEFA do the right thing and move the final to London? It would be insane to send two English clubs to Turkey in the circumstances, especially as by then Wembley would probably be able to hold a reasonable amount of people.

This is a very good post. People here need to get with the times a little bit and realise that the PL is the preeminent league again, like it was in the late 70-mid 80's and from about 2004-2009. In 2019 the EL and CL finals had four English clubs and 2021 has a good chance of it happening again, or at least 2-3. I rate Håland as he has a lot of qualities I like in a CF, however, I don't see him coming to the PL and instantly becoming a 25+ a goal striker. My prediction would be something like 15+ for his first season or two (see Drogba's initial start.) However, owing to his age, you would hope he would then be able accelerate his level and become a elite/25+ goal a season player. That promise is a major reason he is so expensive, rather than his actual level right now. As for your comments about teams like Fulham and WBA, your also right but this has been the case for longer. I would say people also fail to recognise that the teams in English football ranked 12-25 would typically be fairly comfortable in most of the other top 4 leagues in regards to relegation. That is one of the principle reasons the PL sells so well, its low rank teams are still competitive.

That may be the case but history tells us that we only win big titles with CF's like Drogba and Costa. I get that false 9's can work and do elsewhere, however I have never seen it with Chelsea and I am personally not a fan of false 9's as I prefer more combative players. Personally, I am sick and tired of being bent over like Marcellus Wallace whenever we play a physical side. For me a CF is still priority no.1 with the following positions coming after: 1) New CM 2) New left footed CB 3) GK2 Get the CF right and the other options are fairly straight forward as there are at least a few options in every position that there is a chance of getting; unlike CF were you only have about 5 of them in world football (Kane, Håland, Benezma, Lewa, Kun) of the right level, but of those three are old/impissible and the other two are impossible/eye watering expensive.

My thoughts exactly. However, we aren't the Dippers so we won't have the media demanding that fans return as obviously Dipper fans are so well behaved and nice.

Semi will be tough regardless of who we get. Personally I prefer Real than the Dippers as I hate all English ties in the CL and I feel we always get done over in them when you also take Utd into consideration. If we do manage to get to the final then I think we will have a reasonable chance as I don't actually think City, Dortmund or PSG are actually that great and in a one off game we could do them. I say this as are principal issue is when we play low block teams and none of them play like that.

1998 was the last time in the Super Cup Final, time after that for a true competitive game was the ECWC Reply in 1971. It is pretty insane how we have not played each other since. Our record is also pretty good: Won 2 Drew 1 Lost 0

Sevilla don't do wages like Ziyech is on. Also, not sure about signing a 5'9" CB. If he comes in would would need to stick with 3atb.

Come on buddy, Real aren't dog sh*t but they also aren't prime CR7 or Di Stefano Real. The way I see it, I wasn't expecting to beat Atelti when we drew them so anything more, such as a Semi Final is a bonus. At the moment, things are shaping up as follows for the semi's: Chelsea PSG Real/Dippers City/Dortmund Whilst, I would say we aren't favourites, none of those teams really scare me. Real have a geriatric CM (I mean seriously, if our midfield were as old as theirs there would be people on here ringing up Dignitas trying to book them a slot). The Dippers don't have any CB's and continue to play a high line that most teams have figured out. PSG have a suspect midfield and defence and we have inside intel on them with Silva and TT, while they have recently been beaten by Monaco and Lille. City are the best team in England but again, they can be got at. Leeds gave a very good blueprint on how to beat them and if it were not for an incompetent ref, they would be in trouble going into tomorrow's game at 2-2. As for Dortmund, they are current 5th in the Bundesliga and 7pts off 4th with 6 games to go. They really haven't been playing that great. The way I see it, City are favourites, then it is a bit of a toss up between the rest as they/we all have weaknesses. However, it is a pretty good position to be in considering where we were in January.

Boring but it will do.

Mendy Dave AC Rudi James Jorgi Kante Alonso Ziyech Werner Giroud Just control the game and do not do anything stupid and we should get through.

Are we sure we haven't signed him to a pre-contract and the Chelsea CF curse is already starting to kick in?

Firstly, I completely agree on Puli. As for CHO v James, I just do not see it. TT is pretty pragmatic and the thing to do in the Porto game is to not let them score. Do that and you win. I can see your logic but it carries more risk, which is why I have serious doubts TT will do it. Makes more sense to start James then bring CHO on than vice versa. Not sure about CB, for sure a LCB would be fantastic but, take away WBA, and the CB's have been great. For me, if we keep the 3421 then CB is not super important like CF. As for CM I agree, but again not as important as CF. As for GK2 were talking peanuts in comparison to the other areas. Areloa and Romeo would both be free and on reasonable wages. Problem however is Kepa's wages and fee. At best we get a loan were we only have to subsidise 50% of his wages so it may be we have to just grit our teeth and play, or hope that Mendy has to visit the dentist in January again.

Problem for me with CM is our complete lack of physical presence. So, whilst I do like all of our individual players in CM, I think one will have to go to get the balance right. If I were a betting man, I would say Gilmour on loan is the most obvious but I could see Jorgi being sold if we get a decent offer. As for SMS, yes, he isn't really a true DMF however he can play a No.6 role, which probably makes him a better fit than any of the others (I have my doubts over his ability to pick up the pace of the league, for instances.) However, I digress, my principal point was that Rice is not a £70m-£100m player. If WHU want that then go for someone else. Those three are options but obviously they all come with potential issues.

Yeah, for sure. A 20 goal a season striker and we're pretty much set. All we need after that would be a non-funsized CM.

Nah, we have two goals. No way is he playing CHO at RWB because if Porto get one early the nerves will kick in. James will start 100%. CHO could start against City though depending on how brave TT wants to be.

Well, as I said, it was a hardball tactic. Tammy will have plenty of teams that will pay £35m for him as he gets enough goals that will interest 5+ teams and doesn't earn ridiculous that then need to be matched/increased. Barkley isn't a good comparison as he is older and has been proven to be a bit of a dud; so you know there is no potential upside with him. Personally, when it comes to Barkley I would be amazed to get £10m+ owing to his wages. Same goes with RLC who I think is an even harder sell. As for Rice, if he is now worth £100m, I say go for one of: SMS, Garvanberch or Camavinga. In fact if he is above £70m I say the same.

There won't be 7 attackers. Tammy and Giroud are almost certainly gone and I expect if a decent offer came in for one of the AM's the club would sell and try and reset it slightly.