Tomo

I think the recruitment has in general been quite good in recent times with the exception of the two title defending season's. I think the big difference between us and City (under Pep) is they are ruthless in getting rid/dropping of players if they decline or underperform (Hart, Bravo, Zabaletta, Kolorov even an Aguero replacement was signed until he pulled his finger out and adapted to Peps ways) whereas with us the likes of Cahill, Ivanovic, Matic amoungst others were still regulars for years after falling off a cliff.

The level City are at now is even more incentive to build something more sustainable as the quick fixes we went for under Conte and especially Mourinho just won't work now. Thankfully Pep will be gone in 1/2 years so let's make sure we're the ones to pounce when the times comes.

Conte would spend his whole time moaning about how shit they are and calling the owner a cunt for not bankrupting them with expensive signings.

I feel sorry for anyone who still try to deny Pep is a great manager, it must take some serious mental gymnastics.

I really really don't like VAR. I'm going to be too paranoid to celebrate any goal that involves runs in behind, ruins part of the beauty for me.

Blimey, a post where you're not slagging off Kovacic

Chelsea Transfers Chat!

I've always said that when you resort to telling anyone that will listen how "big" you are it's a sure sign of a club in the gutter. For example notice how the noises of United being "the biggest club in the world" have become more frequent since Fergie's gone.

Part that annoyed me the most about it is we could have used it to reverse the "no history" chant on the Scousers, would have triggered them like nobody's business. Now given they will likely win it this season it looks like an opportunity missed permanently

Furthermore we shit all over them in Europe, not just in trophies won but overall performance (we have numerous deep runs in European competition's) and that was the case even pre Roman.

Lukaku's strength? He may be built big but he hasn't used it to his advantage often for years. Take at Everton for example, biggest game of his career in the semi Vs United and was comfortably pocketed by 5 foot Daley Blind. Serie A is full of clever tactical defenders and I can see many having him firmly in their pocket.

He needs to be careful. If the next 15 years go like the last 15 we will have 11 titles, 12 FA Cup's, 8 League Cup's, 4 CL's and 2 Europa's while they will have 13 titles, 16 FA Cup's and 2 League Cup's . History's the only thing they've got on us in the present day and they're potential a decade away from losing even that.

Think people will be surprised at how poorly he does in Serie A. The league may have declined in overall quality but it's still comfortably the best league when it comes to defending (even CR7's record looks more human in Serie A) which will lead to many games he doesn't get a look in. I'd be amazed if he even sniffs a 20 goal season.

Lol at how it says "not for everyone" under his name. Quite the understatement.

Let's hope it ends up similar to the last times you've hyped up Arsenal and played down us

I think he's pretty wack so this will sound seriously contradictory but I think we should keep him around as a joker card for the season. He has a Kalou vibe about him that not even he knows what he's doing next, which sometimes in its own wierd way causes problems for opposition. There will be a few games a season we could do with that off the bench (similar to the times last season Klopp randomenly chucked on Origi and he ending up getting late winners). I must stress for the season though, soon as we can sign reinforcements he should be gone.

Yes, something broke with him at White Hart Lane In that 5-3, the way he was destroyed in that game and the PSG one made Mikel at his worst look like Maka. Then 15/16 well needs no introductions, Jose subbed him on and back off then Hiddink dropped him completely. Even by the standards our squad set that season he was woeful. 16/17 he did okay in the 13 game winning run but had life made easy for him next to Kante. After that the old flaws returned with a vengeance and there were many debate on here about whether Cesc or even Chalobah should be replacing him in the team. He was widely regarded as the weak link and the first port of call when it came to upgrading the side in the summer (if you don't believe me search his thread for posts around that time). His decline post 2014 was every bit as drastic as El Nino/Alexis in my opinion.

Matic was average at absolute best for two and a half years before United signed him, we may have ballsed up his replacements but £40m for Matic was one of the best sales we've ever made. As for Cech he lost his edge (his last great season was 10/11) and was replaced with a world class young keeper who's (along with Eden) stood up and won us the league while the rest of the squad were losing the plot. Mata was still quite good but all things considered in 2014 a £37m offer from a player that didn't really fit the way modern day football was heading (athleticism, high press etc) was a very decent deal, even more so now he hasn't even come close to his 2012 self at United.

Bid £40m for Claudio Bravo, £40m for Phil Jones or £50m for Ben Davies and see how long that stays true. I was absolutely delighted we got £40m for a heavily declined Matic and spent the season hoping United were going to give us even more for Willian.

I remember when he came back and thought about how surreal it was, his transfer to Paris felt like a sure goodbye and his return didn't really sink in until he started playing again. However this trump's in the surreal nature, I was busy last night so only found out through a phone call and I checked the BBC site and stood there for a bit as to say "what the fuck". The timing makes no sense, less than a week ago he was talking about how much he loves the club, was buzzing for the new era and his bromance with Mason Mount and within a week he's forcing a move to Arsenal However something is wrong if we are selling him for £8m, even pre inflation players of that calibre weren't going so cheaply unless there was a very good reason (Deco, Schweinstieger (spelling) for example) so that will be interesting.

Am i the only one that doesn't really get this "never sell to rival" mentality? I mean for the top/crucial player's and the young lads with potential to hit that level absolutely but anyone below is fair game under the right circumstances for me. People will say "United don't do us a favour back" okay then bid £40m for Smalling and see how long that statement stays true. I remember when the Baka/United rumour surfaced and someone gave me the "we shouldn't help out a rival argument" umm mate that wouldn't be helping them. I was personally delighted that we got £40m for a heavily declined Matic and i spent a while hoping United were going to give us even more for Willian.

I disagree, Luiz is the type of player you add to an already solid defense not to try and fix a weak one.

I love(d) Luiz but his leadership qualities atleast on the pitch have always been overrated. The one time he was seriously relied on to take charge of things and lead his side through a huge game they wound up 5 down after half an hour. While we will miss his ball playing ability, he's not going to walse into Arsenal and organize that defense.

Then that would be a gamechanger but if they stop at just Luiz i can't see that improving them much atall.

I wouldn't say CB has been adressed for them. As much as i thought the Luiz critics often overplayed his flaws, he still has never boosted a weak defense himself (case in point the 2014 world cup with no Thiago Silva out there).