Tomo

I actually think it's a pretty rewarding system if you can get it right (changed my mind in recent years as I wasn't a fan initially). With it becoming harder and harder to find truly reliable strikers it's one way to negate that problem. Liverpool are the biggest poster boys towards how good it can look with the right player playing the role, remember when they brought Firmino on in the super cup? It genuinely felt like they brought on an extra man. I feel Hakim unlike our previous attempts will have a better understanding of when to drop and when to go, which Eden and especially Schurrle never really mastered. And also not to mention we will have a lot more goals elsewhere this time round compared to when we tried it with them two. CHO, Pulisic, new winger, Mason and Ruben will probably produce about 50-60 goals between them and that's before we even factor how many Tammy or Hakim himself will get.

I really hope he sticks to the right hand side, his link up play with James is genuinely sensational. Telepathic understanding between players is an overused phrase at times but it's no exaggeration with those two. I know that brings an issue with where does Ziyech go, if we don't sign a new striker I genuinely wouldn't mind trying him out as a false 9, unlike Hazard and Schurrle (who weren't suited to it) I think he has the skillset to play that role, and given he's played at CAM/CM before gives us an extra body in the middle when we need it.

For some bizzare reason praise of Odoi is treated as an unpopular opinion these days but I feel we're in for a breakthrough from him next season/restart of this. In January he really stepped up a level and i think/hope he will carry that on when we restart.

My bad i misread your initial post.

I don't think there's any chance we will void the season, far too many compliications. Forget Liverpool for a minute, out of everyone who will suffer they will the least, there's clubs who's long term future rely on this seasons finish, imagine if this was 2003? A void would have destroyed us financially. Sheffield United is another example, they're on course for CL football, with it they have a money to truly establish themselves as a top PL side, with a voided season they're technically back to being a newly promoted team and will probably disappear into irrelevance again (not a chance their current squad with a few journeyman signings minus Henderson keep up this years pace). It would be the biggest footballing injustice if Spurs and Arsenal get default entry into the CL at the expense of Leicester and Sheffield. Not to mention the free money Norwich and the likes will get. I don't know when or how, but this season has to be finished somehow.

He's definitely above Schurrle but he's also a very frustrating player for me, sometimes he genuinely looks as good as Hazard (Super Cup and Burnley) but other times is a complete ghost. I've far from given up on him (that would be hypocritical of me given the patience preaches I've given re Mount and CHO) but he needs to start impacting games a lot more consistently, Callum i feel could play dogshit and still come up with a matchwinning moment (for example Newcastle at home this season he was dreadful then all of a sudden set up the winner) whereas i don't yet feel CP does.

Imagine if Drogba missed on top of that..... Makes me feel for Valencia and Atleti, they lost two finals in quick succession and it looks like their chance to get that elusive one has passed, especially for the former, getting that 1 is really a weight off.

Because we make Real fans look like the epitome of patience.

My theory is why would he have left his post as Ajax manager to become assistant all over again? Also from what i recall there was a distinct improvement in our attacking patterns of play after he arrived.

I've always been slightly curious about the regime that season, my gut instinct is Ten Cate was informally incharge.

The J League is scheduled to restart in early May, if that happens without a hitch then a clear prescedent is set. Plus it will nice to watch football again.

Doesn't matter if Jadon was born on August 31st and Callum September 1st, the former was still a year ahead in leaving school, becoming scholar/full time, playing in youth/reserve league's etc. If you were a college lecturer would you hold it against a second year student for not being as advanced as the third year kid? Regarding Sarri i was and still am in the minority that thought he managed Callum quite well, he should have played more the League Cup and Europa group stage but his overall appearances exceeded my expectations at the start..

They're pretty close in terms of DOB but Sancho left school and became full time pro a year before CHO did which triggered my comparison between Callum's season under Sarri and Jadon's very first at Dortmund, as it was their respective 17 turn 18 season's. I don't disagree that CHO needs to step it up a bit more consistently now (especially in the league as you say) but i do believe he well and truly has the capability to be showing a level similar to what Sancho is. Hopefully he kicks on from what was a very strong January before he was injured again.

Hudson Odoi 18/19 5 goals in 24 games (can't remember assists but I think it's 5/6) Sancho at the same age 1 goal in 12 games.

Thinking about it he's been stupidly unlucky this last year. In the Sarri season he was on a similar trajectory to Sancho then had that awful injury. Then after a few months getting back upto speed he finally looks back in a position where he's going to kick on and become a game changer for us he gets the fucking coronovirus. I really hope he's ready for next season because if Sancho goes United we will really need him to step up a gear consistently.

I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt he would have learned his lesson

Idk I personally think the halt came at the worst possible time for us. Billy's emergence and the performances against Liverpool and Everton gave us some serious momentum and I felt we were lining ourselves up for a really strong finish, to add further alongside Billy's emergence Mason and Kepa were returning to form, Barkley and Oli were hitting a hot streak while Willy and Pedro were well and truly geared up and motivated for a last horrah. The Villa game was genuinely the most confident I felt for a comfortable win since during Conte's title season. Had we carried on from there then Frank would have had no choice but to leave Kante on the bench when he returned, now he's probably back to first name on the teamsheet when the league kicks off again. Also the odds of Ross and the experienced front three all being on the same rich vein of form they were in is next to none. When the season restarts all that strong momentum we were building and picking up ahead of steam will be well and truly lost.

I had Mount down as the cringey celebrations guy going forward, guess I was wrong

Could the season potentially rumbling on into July give him some leverage? I hope not (i don't dislike Willian atall but it's the right time to leave) but i feel it is a possibility.

Worst case scenario could be next calendar year although from what I'm hearing things are getting slowly back to normal in South Korea so hopefully we won't be too far behind. Never realised how much I've been taken football for granted in recent years till now, atleast through summer months you have a definitive return date, will cherish every second once we get it back, even another 15/16 season is better than nothing. On a side note if the league gets voided do all the results and stats go with it? Would be a shame for the win Vs Arsenal and especially the wins vs Spurs to get voided now.

If they enforce it they'll threaten the owners with their license if they disobey.

From what I'm hearing the season has to finish else they'll void it and go back to last season's placings. Which will mean if City's ban goes through Arsenal get a CL place, surely that means they have to reinstate Emery?

Just watched the highlights again and lol Trent got put in his place by Morata of all people The latter squared up to him and the former shat himself.

Im always wary giving a definitive judgement on a defender who's played under Simeone. As much as he can make the best strikers look shit he can make really average defenders look outstanding (Trippier and Savic).

Not sure how anyone can want Simeone here, the lack of ideas going forward from Atleti is mental.