Tomo

That's the thing, i don't think present day versions of Vertonghen and Alderwierld are very good atall, they look like caricatures of their best selves. Rose reliable? His fall from grace has been even worse, he's relegation fighting material at most these days. Furthermore it wasn't Tottenham's defense that got them to the final, it was being clinical and getting the right breaks at the right time. Liverpool a year back got to the final with Karius in goal (granted they lost it because of him). On our best days i honestly believe we can beat any side, if we get past Lillie then two performances like Istanbul and Amsterdam could be all it takes to make the semi.

It's about the team balance, if our 4 CB's were the most inform players would you try and shoehorn all 4 in? Mason may not be at his best right now but he offers an extra dimension to not only our attack but off the ball pressing that those 3 simply don't (consistently). We were attacking with one less threat in Valencia and it showed, we were relying on Pulisic to counjuer up magic the way we were Hazard last season (when those 3 played).

The problems with that midfield three won't go away just because Sarri's gone, they're's simply not enough threat in the final 3rd with them all on. I agree Kovacic has to play against West Ham but it shouldn't be Mason making way.

Real, Atletico and Inter will probably be just as hard as any of the group winners on current form. Either way the odds of dodging a killer last 16 tie ain't great.

They had about a 15 minute spell in and around their equaliser where they really turned it on and we couldn't live with them but beyond that we were more than a match.

It depends on the night. I feel it's a little harsh to say if we play like we did tonight or at home Vs Ajax we would get hammered, while that's technically true I can flip that round and say if we play like we did in Amsterdam and Istanbul we have a chance against almost anyone, which is also true. The reality is we're an inconsistent team right now and we won't be troubling Liverpool and City in the title race for that reason, however if our 'on' nights can fall on CL ties you just never know, if Tottenham's stagnant side can make the final it's certainly not completely beyond our reach.

Hyperbole Well in 24 years of watching PL football i genuinely can't think of a worse one, do you have any names in mind?

That's a good point, which promotes a question that would have been deemed unthinkable 6 months ago!

Please stop. Kepa has been very disappointing this season but you're taking the piss if you genuinely believe that.

It's a big/good problem this midfield situation. Kova has to play right now, his level has simply been world class since the 2nd international break. So it's between Jorginho and Kante for the other spot at the minute.

Then he should be drug tested on the spot. Quite possibly the worst keeper this league's ever had.

Villa maybe but at home we should have enough. As for West Ham, if we can't get the required amount of goals (to win) past this Roberto geezer then we will rightly be the banter club for the weekend.

Quite lucky with the next two games, if there's two fixtures that should be Michy's bread and butter it's the two coming up.

The change to the seeding system has made finishing 1st and 2nd more of an even playing field than it use to be.

For one season? Point i was making at the time was the current Ajax side even without Frenkie are better than every side we will face domestically this season bar two, so if Arsenal/Spurs/United are classed as big games/teams so should they be.

I hate the 3atb with the wrong players, to pull that system off you need certain players in each positions. The three CB's need to be James/Azpi, Christensen and Tomori/Rudi but with wingbacks we haven't really got any bar Alonso who should be backup, i don't think any of our fullbacks suit that position, not even James. If we are seeing that as a serious go to option specalist players need to be signed, one being a convertable winger ala Moses and Dujon Sterling could/should be in with a shout.

No i wouldn't, i just said they're a bigger game/team than United right now, which they absolutely are.

Wait, you think Valencia are a big game but not Ajax?

It's strange as I thought Pedro was going to be playing the role Willian has, because on paper he's perfect for this type of football AND he was in the exact same situation as these kids a decade ago.

Frank's been rotating well in midfield and defense lately but I'm a little worried up front. That front three are being overplayed and by the time we go to Goodison a week on Saturday could be exhausted. I would give one a rest on Saturday and another against Villa.

Would you say we've had our time in terms of dominating the youth competitions or Is this a transitional period and there's more top players (who are currently 14/15) on the way shortly to put us back on our pearch at that level? Would be a shame as I enjoyed watching us make mincemeat of even the fellow top academy sides, although if that was to make way with the first team being so dominant I guess I could live with that

Is it a coincidence that the Gallagher coming back rumours started around the time Ross was caught topless? I had sympathy for Barkley at Everton and under Conte because there was clearly something a miss in the way he was being coached and looked after but in Sarri and Lampard he's had two managers who put great pride in developing players and he's totally wasting/wasted his opportunity.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/11/jamie-redknapp-highlights-major-tactical-mistake-maurizio-sarri-made-manchester-city-8519694/

According to transfermarkt he's played every single position in midfield for Charlton.

In 2009 we got a bit lucky at The Camp Nou with the Henry should have been pen alongside Eto'o and Bojan missing sitters (although noted Drogba missed one also). At Stamford Bridge we were anything but cautious and absolutely battered them, we all know why we didn't qualify that night. 2012 we sat back and they created chances at will, we couldn't have complained with a double figure reverse over two legs but the stars were finally on our side in CL. In Conte's first season we were the inferior side up until the equalizer away, to which point we upped the intensity and they couldn't live with us (which kind of backs my point up). The home game i was on a flight and still haven't to this day watched it (goals aside) so can't comment.