Tomo

I disagree, I feel we approached the game the correct way tactically and were quite unlucky. It's a myth that it's best to sit off a Pep side, that's exactly what he wants, they just wear you down physically and mentally to the point they have you doubting your own sanity, case in point our two games Vs them in 17/18. The best way to play City is to try and impose your own will on them, yes that can be pretty risky as was found out in this fixture last season, but there's a much higher chance of reward. It's no coincidence Klopp has the best head to head record against Pep while the pragmatic managers get their arses handed to them most of the time.

I would agree if we were actually going for short term results. Jose thinks that because it's all he knows. Pep had a poor record Vs the top six in his first season (W2 D4 L6, and the two wins were by one goal) because he was trying to build the system to eventually dominate those type of games instead of going for a short term result, and the next two season's he was rewarded as his record against top 6 opponents was W18 D2 L6, a record which helped them win back to back titles, would they have had such a strong record over such a period of time had they just gone for short term results in season one? I have seen enough from the games against big sides to know it's only a matter of time before that improves, law of averages, when a team rides their luck constantly eventually that luck runs out (ala Spurs last season) and comes home to roost, the results so far are mildly irritating but it's also irritating so many people implying were becoming as soft as Arsenal, something that couldn't be further from the truth.

I wouldn't say we conceded that many against Liverpool in either game, especially from open situations. We didn't concede that many chances against Ajax either, we were by far the better side in Amsterdam and Stamford Bridge they were ridiculously clinical.

We've only had three games Vs big teams this season, one of which he scored in and was arguably MOTM!

I think that's very harsh. Torres's presence actively prevented us progressing as a club, I can't see us ever getting to that point with Kepa mainly because Lampard will intervene before it gets to that point.

It's meaningless in terms of the result but it's something to build on in terms of actually competing with City and therefore winning the title (eventually). Let's say your ideal played out and City pissed all over us with 98% possesion and the one time we managed to turn it over we pumped it forward and João Cancelo put the ball in his own net, yes three points ahead in the table but in terms of actually competing with City properly a massive step back. There's elements of today that has annoyed me but the fact we went to The Ethiad played our own game and not looked atall out of our depth is very encouraging, infact I think it's quite frankly exceptional we went toe to toe with them so early in our cycle and competed, something no other side bar Liverpool in this league will be able to do against them, especially in Manchester.

If we were told we would narrowly lose at City on the face of it I would say okay par for the course at this point. But after about half hour that was bull. City were there for the taking in the second half and we were far too slow in our build up. We played like a Van Gaal team in the second half and left the subs too late. I do believe we will be a great team in the long run as we did play City at their own game and didn't look completely out of our depth but In terms of today we could and should have done a lot better.

Think every club bar Villa has out shot them.

Feeling very nervous now. It's easier when these games are free hits.

Once, 2007 was mutual consent.

Grimaldo would be a better option than Telles.

Going a bit under the radar but in about two weeks he will be returning to The Bridge for an opposition side. Will probably be the most surreal one of the lot in terms of the old guard, I sort of mentally prepared for Drogba, Cech and even Lampard playing/managing against us at some point but Terry doing so never once crossed my mind, it just feels so unnatural.

My gut instinct has always been he won't make a great manager. Although that said I think he's more covering a friend's back in this case as opposed to it actually being what he thinks.

Can't see it happening under Marinas watch but if Cech ever got such decision making responsibility's it would worry me a bit.

I'm guessing that's a typo and it's meant to say if instead of when?

Do we? It could end up with an unhappy player. 3 players for 2 positions gives us enough scope to rotate and distributing minutes, 4 will likely leave one unhappy with little minutes like what's currently happening to Pedro. If we can find a fourth winger who comes in, happily knows his place, can contribute to a solid level and is content with just filling in whenever (like a winger version of Huth being 4th choice behind JT, Gallas and Ricky) then by all means go for it but i feel having 4 wingers all wanting significant minutes is asking for unrest. Loftus and Mason may not be naturals there but can play there to a decent level in emergency's, especially the former, if we can sign a striker who can play on the wings (like Morelos) that will give us enough cover incase two go down at the same time.

Spurs have to win the PL or CL under Mou or his tenure is a failure. As much as it will be good for a club like Spurs to win the FA Cup, would that alone justify the rebuilding job that will likely be required when he leaves? Ever since his second spell here he's well and truly laid his colours to the mask, he's short term win now, so to justify his appointment you have to win a big one during his time.

Pulisic out will be a huge huge blow. On his current form he can really hurt that back line of City's. I don't think Odoi is ready for a game like this, certainly not from the start.

If that's his response to Jody mocking him then wow, of all the things he could have said to hit back

I'm not sure tbh, I feel those two years was when the decline of the old guard subtly began despite winning the title in 2010. IIRC Hiddink himself said we needed a rebuild just after he left.

I think he did but it wasn't unconditional like it was for the old guard/RDM etc. I think he always expected to either be successful with us or failing that at our expense, so his two spells here and Inter in between worked out exactly how he liked it. Conte's title win while he was in 6th with United was the first time we were better than one of his sides (while not together) in his entire career which is when (in my opinion) the bitterness from his side started.

Jovic played against Benfica in the Europa League last year aswell while still their player. I'm not sure on the rules in foreign league's but in the PL and FA Cup you can't have loan players playing against parent clubs but the EFL cup and CL/Europa allow it.

Not in the CL. They have always let loan players face their parent club, Courtois played against us and Morientes faced Real for Monaco. I recall Crespo said in an interview a few weeks before the semis confirming he would play against us.

I think the point Jason is making that he could have still got on with it and focused on getting the best out of what he had despite not getting it all his own way. The way Lampard has managed a potentially perilous situation has well and truly taken away the transfer market excuse from Mou. And I think it runs a lot deeper than players supposedly downing tools, they supposedly did the same under Conte yet we still finished within one win of top four, they supposedly did it under Ancelotti yet finished 2nd. Even that squad not putting in maximum effort shouldn't be getting toyed with at home to Southampton, Bournemouth, Palace and the worst Liverpool side for generations, when that happens you have to look at the coaching.

I'm not sure tbh as I haven't read the statement. What I do know is he's going to be unbearable in the lead up to our game, he will 100% turn against Lampard if we beat them, possibly even if we don't.