Tomo

Not every game but there was just no need to instantly change what was working. Kante playing his first season in English football would have had to work his way in yet because of what he's done in the past mainly in a team playing a completely different brand of football he's straight back in and we break up something that was working so unbelievably well. Our most complete performance (well 80 minutes) of the season was against Watford and we haven't seen the same midfield and front three combination in the league since, I'm not saying it's the sole reason for our collapse but do we lose 5 in 7 sticking to that blueprint for the most part? Not a chance in my opinion. Soon as the festive period is over Frank needs to be starting the Watford front six against every team outside the top 6/7, possibly including in some cases.

I'm sorry but that is just way to premature. He's had some bad games but there's also been some excellent games which can't be pulled off without some quality coaching in the training ground. He's earned the chance to pull out of a rut, admittedly a very bad one.

Probably Lampard's worst decision so far, he did an interview claiming he's learned a lot from Sven shoehorning him and Gerrard in the same side yet is showing similar traits trying to force Kante back in.

We were onto a good thing with the Jorgi/Kova/Mount midfield in the winning run. While I'm not trying to suggest it's the only reason everything's gone to shit and we will start looking great again should we bring it back trying to shoehorn Kante back in straight away was a decision right out of the Sven Goran "the big names must play" Eriksson handbook.

Yes

I said this at the time, people were so desperate to see Alonso dropped they turned Emerson into something he's not, just like they did with Baba Rahman when Ivanovic was declining. Say what you like about Marcos and god knows he's frustrating as fuck, but atleast he has an upside of some substance even if we only see it about 20% of the time. Emerson may aswell change his name to John Doe while on the pitch, plain and ordinary is an understatement.

Jorginho/Kova/Mount is my preferred trio against lesser sides. That game at Watford was an absolute delight.

Agreed, although I don't think he's as average technically as made out he will have quite a decline when his engine goes. I think a £100m plus offer should be accepted, even from a rival.

I was sceptical about the back 3 yesterday pre kick off but that was the least of our troubles when things kicked off. We were moving the ball well and finding Cesar in space time and time again so if the plan was to stretch the game in theory it worked, however as soon as we got to the final third Cesar and co froze, system wasn't the massive issue yesterday, execution was. I think if we want to play with wingbacks against lesser sides we need to do three things. 1. Sign a dynamic attacking left back in January. 2. Play Reece at RCB. 3. Convert one of the wingers to play RWB, probably Pulisic the most suitable option.

I'm going to put this out there, he's our most important player. He has to be the first name on the team sheet in every league and CL game from now on, Jorginho and Kante can be the ones rotating depending on opposition.

Kovacic is good with one or the other, but the Jorginho-Kante combo is woeful.

I raise you losing to Monaco in the CL semi.

That's like saying Norwich shouldn't say they're in the relegation zone because they may go on a run and end up in Europe.

Off all the times to go after Odoi it's today. He is amount the least of the problems with today's performance.

The second half against Villa was sensational.

Maybe this is a time for a left field option and bringing on Pulisic at RWB. We are getting space out wide that side at will but the ball keeps going to Cesar. Get one of the CB off put Azpi RCB and bring on Pulisic.

I've always found the hype around him truly bizzare. I see literally no upside with him as a player bar the one time in 1,000 he gets the final ball right. Say what you like about Marcos, but he atleast has a 1 in 5 great game Emerson simply isn't capable of.

What does anyone see in Emerson? Absolutely plain ordinary player.

It's Mason Mount's fault.

If we want to play 3atb in games like this we need to convert a winger in that position. I fear this may be a bit after the lord's mayers show like Valencia was after Wolves. Early goal is crucial I think we should at the least be able to hold a lead should we get it with this lineup.

Don't think Willian is a RWB, apart from Hazard he was the only other winger/fullback Conte didn't try there, there's a reason for that. It's one thing tracking back Infront of your fullback/wingback, it's another actually being said fullback/wingback.

The reason a "hard stance" was taken with Solanke was because he wasn't good enough nor had the potential to be. The writing was on the wall for him once he had (our versions of) Torres esque goal numbers in a league known for generous defending, a league that duped the world into thinking Afonso Alves was world class. I don't particularly like it but it's the way football is nowadays, if we want to compete we have to get with the times.

I think it's pretty safe to say Mourinho will never manage Chelsea again. It would be Rafa mark 2 in toxicity if that happens.

Wanted out of United after his second game due to critisism on social media. And we thought Morata was mentally weak.