Tomo

Tbh I don't actually think playing the game in itself was a bad thing, there was a two and a half week break between the last PL game and Europa final and that long without a game then going into such a massive one would have caused a hell of a lot of rust (something Conte alluded to in his time here when he explained why he played a lot of the first team in an FA Cup game). I think that match may have actually helped us in the second half in Baku as we looked sharper than Arsenal all over the shop. However playing it on that pitch all the way in the USA with the one player who should have been left home wrapped up in cotton wool was inexcusable.

Maybe we're deliberately letting United stuff us so Oles job security is back to safe as houses again?

Can't see it being anyone other than AVB given he started the segregation. Conte a potential outside bet (possibly wanting the funds used for his transfer wishes) but unlikely. Mourinho in fairness did like the idea of promoting young players he just bottled it when he came to realise it would take time instead of win him a title there and then.

I do wonder how Frank will approach things if Liverpool drop a few points before we drop our next set. Given the type of personality Lamps is and how hungry and confident the young players are I could see their eyes lighting up and sensing an opportunity. It will still more than likely be in vain but I can't imagine Lampard taking it lightly and saying "meh top four will do for now" if we can somehow claw a few points back of Liverpool and are only 6 points behind after a high number of games, he'd want to chase them down.

Wouldn't say United have quite hit them lows, yet.....

Basically a Poundland Chelsea 10/11 and 17/18.

I really wanted to keep him at the time, I do believe he would have given us a solid 15 maybe 20 goal season with a pre season under his belt and at the point of last season ending it was looking like we were going to need all the goals we could get this season. Thankfully Tammy and Mason have stood up meaning it doesn't matter now but my preference was to let Oli go and extent Higuain's loan for one more year.

I'm quite a big advocate of the XG data but how on earth has it come to the conclusion United should be 3rd? They're barely even creating anything of substance.

What did he say?

Is it extreme to say United and Spurs right now only look a mere one step above us in 15/16? With that in mind top 4 has gone from a nice bonus to something we should be getting.

Even if hypothetically that becomes his ceiling that would still be very good for us, after all it's squads that win titles. He's a bit of a blank canvas right now, can see him becoming a pacey suber sub type player but equally could see him evolving to the level Mane and Sterling are currently at, usually I have an idea on what a young players ceiling is but with Pulisic I really can't call it.

I haven't seen the game yet but I heard we managed it really well in the second half which has pleased me as I didn't hold back on my dissatisfaction on how we pissed away the Sheffield match. It is a really strong sign how Frank is learning from his mistakes (which are inevitable so young). As amazing as the first half hour Vs Leicester was to watch the intensity we played with had us tanked for the second half and Leicester took the piss out of us and we haven't gone full pelt since and ever since the Sheffield match we have managed winning positions a lot better. Compared to OGS up at United who's making the same mistakes again and again and again it's so good to see Frank evolving and learning and although he doesn't have the prior CV those two did, he's showing similar early signs to what Pep and Klopp did when they came to England in terms of the encouraging football we're playing.

It also helps we have Tammy and Mount well on the way to atleast 30 for the season between them, meaning just like in the days of Diego Costa and Hazard it's back to the days that whatever numbers Willy produce is a bonus as opposed to nessesity.

There was never any danger of them securing the title against us last season, the race was too close for a mid April win but this year it's a different story.

Yeah I've come to make peace with it now but what is making it difficult is we are the last visitors to Anfield, meaning unless it goes to the last day we're the clowns in the circus

He tends to respond well whenever his place is under threat, it's when he's safe he tends to get complacent and/or knackered.

In PL and CL (knockout) games I genuinely can't remember the last time. I'm a bit more relaxed in the domestic cups though.

My rule has always been never get comfortable until it's 4 up, even in Jose's first spell.

Following the game on the match thread is more heart stopping than watching the game, every time I see something along the lines of a "FFS" I think we've conceded

He gives a good balance to the youngsters in not only experience but style of play.

Just typical, the one game it seems to be coming together is the one game I can't see (I'm in holiday in Turkey the sports channels are showing the other two games and wifi is too weak for a stream, btw City lucky not to be three down against Wolves). Is there any site that shows the full game or at least extended highlights back?

They are arguably the two best players in the league, which we let go. Don't expect us to live it down. Still, bringing them up whenever an under 23/24 leaves is tiresome. Like we could have a youngster who can barely kick a ball straight yet we can't let him go just incase.

Annoyed Zouma's in but other than that it was the exact team I wanted for this one.

While I do agree that Pulisic needs time to bed in bringing up De Bruyne and Salah everytime is getting a bit tiresome, even with Bakayoko the sentence was used by some.

According to transfermarkt Conor has played in every single midfield position for Charlton already, maybe he could be that guy.