Mhsc

Jamie managed to make the build up more about Liverpool than about the game LOL

Seems likely. I imagine Cucu will come into midfield to make a box midfield.

I don't think he "wants" to leave, he wants a much bigger contract than we've been willing to give him, and he wants to play somewhere that will give him it. Which honestly is fair enough TBH, if that is his priority I don't judge - anyway, this thread is not for that, obviously.

Could be two years if it is true we can extend him by 1. If it is just one year I can see his point - walking on a free will make him a TONNE of money, but not playing for 2 years is a LOT to give up for money when you're going to get minted one way or another anyway Cynical view: it is just to maximise his future transfer value Most crosses IMO is a huge red flag, implies lack of ability to create 'real' chances and resorting to plan B constantly.

Got to be about his contract. Sign or go innit.

Surprising to see Broja start but maybe he plays 45 mins?

Maybe we'll see Enzo as a false 9 lol I reckon we're gonna win this and kick start our season onto a good run that marches us towards top 6 over time. Call me naive... I reserve the right to be an optimistic idiot about my club

Might be our best option tbh. Would obviously rather have a real 9 that is PL ready but I don't think we do with NJ out.

Wonder if Cole Palmer will start up top as a false 9? He did that for City a bit.

Sanchez is a known hot head so it is not that surprising that he let the boos / playing against his old club work him into a bit of a state. His distribution was terrible but hopefully he learns from this from a mentality PoV as in other games he's not been anything like that so imo it was just they were in his head. Honestly think he was a really good signing and feel so much more comfortable with him in goal than I have in years. He's played really well recently and wont let this one game in hard circumstances bother me.

We're still bad, basically.

Is that four left backs in an XI? Wonder what the world record is? Poch is a meme artist.

Bit of an agenda you've got eh

Wouldn't have even had a review if it had been the other way around.

Referee defos had a bet on about something in the first half

Commentator is so brain dead, saying that Nkunku is mostly a wide player and we don't have anyone to play behind Jackson even when the team is fit. Lol.

Reminds me of Azpi when he first joined, a little. Came with a rep as an attacking RB but actually looks v good defending in 1v1s and not crazy threatening going forward but consistently runs and helps out, plays a good supporting role for those around them, churns out 7/10s games.

Of course it is a handball when it touches NJ's hand but would never be if it was a Villa defender.

I suspect the high-level strategy is a Boehly / Eghbali strategy, probably one they already had in mind before acquisition as part of their mission / vision for the new Chelsea that they sold to their fellow investors. Then the team they have hired (PW/LS etc) is the group of people they think can execute their strategy to deliver short/medium/long term success within the scope of the company values and mission they have defined. Of course, you can argue that Poch, PW, LS etc should have found a way to make a winning squad with the amount of money available in summer and money was spent excessively in the wrong areas (e.g. Caicedo+Lavia for huge fees vs finding a cheap supporting option for Enzo - like just buy Ugo, keep Andrey Santos, and then spend the rest of that money on buying goals)

At least Poch has a decent time with the squad this week to work. Leaves him with little excuse on the weekend. We absolutely have enough fit players to beat Villa.

Definitely not Poch's fault in entirety, I think a series of bad decision from him has not helped us but can't blame all of this on him. Of his many mistakes playing Nkunku in that preseason game on the dodgiest pitch I've ever seen and getting him injured killed our season before it started. But the fact we are nothing without Nkunku is not his fault in entirety. Obviously, he could have been stronger willed in pre-season about who he wanted and let the others have less say but that's not easy when you're new to a club. The club should have backed him a little more with some more players with experience which he asked for repeatedly all preseason. I still think given the money and long term thinking involved EVENTUALLY we'll become a really good team, but the pressure to win immediately only seems to be felt by Poch - I can't believe PW or LS would have snubbed so many ready made options if they felt that pressure.

The squad today sure, but a fully fit squad with Reece James and Nkunku (nevermind the rest) is different level to Palace.

Chilwell's injuries have finished him IMO, been thinking it for a while, but hoping that there is gonna be a turnaround. He's our new Alonso.

Sanchez MOTM so far?