Tomo

1. I never fully switched to "out", I was concerned about a few things I saw in January/February. 2. As I've said before, it's fine to change your opinion based on new information, if hypothetically he stayed on and won the league with Loftus Cheek scoring 20 goals and Reece James winning YPOTY, would you still stubbornly bang the narrative that he's a shit manager who doesn't play youth?

Will they be blocked? Arsenal signed Lacazette while out of it and Auba at a point another season out of it was looking likely, while United got Pogba and Ibra to give up CL footy at clubs in good positions to strongly challenge to play Europa at United, also Kante, Jorginho, Luiz, Sarri gave up CL football to come here. I don't think it's half as bad a market handicap as people think.

Klopp's all action direct system protects his midfield, if they can hit a through ball into space, defend well and have good athleticsm they're set, whereas us and City need midfielders comfortable in possession first and foremost as our first aim is to control possession and the game.

Quote from the shed end that sums up what I want to say better than I explain. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But you have to change your mind as the facts change. So i have to ask some of the doubters - how can you persist with the same criticisms when, one by one, they've been answered, to varying degrees? here are a few: 1. Sarri stubborn on team selection: see others' stats above on RLC and CHO. Whether it was fan pressure that did it or not is irrelevant - the stubbornness argument no longer holds true. 2. We always lose when we concede first: ahem Cardiff away, Burnley at home, United away, Frankfurt away... did i miss any? ok all but one ended in draws (again, did i miss some?) but still a hell of an improvement on what was going on in our dark patch. 3. No team spirit: see 2. 4. Lack of imagination on subs: when was the last time we saw Kovacic for Barkley or vice versa (and this ties in with one)? 5. Always play worse in the second half: last two matches the exact opposite. 6. boring football - ok this is somewhat subjective, but i think it's unfair. While we have lacked consistency, there have been some great performances with top quality football - off the top of my head - Watford second half, belly of the Frankfurt game, Tottenham at home, West Ham at home, City final.... As i said, you are entitled to think Sarri is not the coach for us. But i don't think it can any longer be based on any of the above. Kudos to abramovich (not THE abramovich, or at least i don't think so) for basically acknowledging this and giving credit where due. And he may well yet be right to still be sceptical. We "ins" could easily be wrong come next season and should be ready to change our minds too. But for now - the table doesn't lie (solskjaer said so and it's hardly in his interest to say it), and there's no point rationalising it with "it's only because man u, tottenham etc were crap". 1. they're probably not that crap (one is in CL semi); 2. so what (great even!) if they are."

In theory him and Higuain would probably be the best options if we are banned, but if we recall him against his will he will sulk into oblivion.

I think he missed 3/4 for us, missing in Munich and twice vs Birmingham while netting against QPR. I didn't like Ash's penalty's either, he always went to the keepers left and it was only a matter of time before keepers clocked on, luckily it was for Euro 2012 his luck ran out and not Munich.

I got nothing to say just commenting because i know what you'll be thinking when you see i quoted you

It's easy to identify who were board and manager signings during Conte's reign, the board signing's were ignored outside of cup matches (Bats, Barkley, Drinkwater, Emerson) whereas his signing's were given chance after chance until it became impossible to even remotely justify them playing (Baka, Morata, Alonso, to an extent Zappacosta).

Well last season playing to those supposed strength's we wound up 5th with our second worst run of form in the entire Roman era. What exactly was the plan when Bournemouth came to Stamford Bridge and took the piss out of us? Baka was a Conte signing, else he would have been frozen out by November.

Our current points total would be enough for top four in 20 of the last 23 season's.

Sarri has outsmarted Pochettino tactically in 3 games out of 4 this season.

Could what i alluded to earlier be an option with Higgy and Tammy (if the ban sticks)? Gonzalo against the bus parkers and Tammy against teams that will leave space in behind, not the most exciting duo to ever exist but possibly the best options at the minute out of who's on our books. Morata can't be recalled (and would likely sulk into oblivion if he was anyway), Bats just doesn't cut it in any aspect bar finishing and the only competition Giroud is delivering in we ain't in anymore.

I'm a bit paranoid about Ruben, he's played two (near) full games this part week the first of which his back started playing up, I fear he may go the same way as Kante today if he has another full game so soon. Which makes me think given our advantage and the fact Frankfurt look tanked we should start with Barkley and Kova do the boring side of Sarriball and have them chasing the ball, then unleash Rubes after an hour to finish them off.

I think we can extent Higuain's loan as an option to extend is already pre agreed.

I'm a bit paranoid about Ruben, he's played two (near) full games this part week the first of which his back started playing up, I fear he may go the same way as Kante today if he has another full game so soon. Which makes me think given our advantage and the fact Frankfurt look tanked we should start with Barkley and Kova do the boring side of Sarriball and have them chasing the ball, then unleash Rubes after an hour to finish them off. Edit: wrong thread

Yeah but it wasn't helped by the sheer amount of ridiculous excuses and allowances that was being made (one point the MHL grumbled at the announcement of a Lampard goal because they thought it was Torres initially).

The ironic thing is, the two times the average fan broke the mould and shown a bit of patience was the 2 times it would have been 100% the right thing to do to lose patience early (Torres, Jose's all time collapse).

Yes he did, 433 or no 433 he needed a lot of tactical work and sarri has done that with him (for the first few months he was constantly calling him over for instructions in game).

Unpopular opinion maybe but aslong as we get a viable alternative/safety net I wouldn't actually mind. His movement is actually fantastic and a reason we have improved our play vs low block teams, BUT as was clearly shown at Old Trafford he's a non entity against sides who leave space in behind so we need another striker who's usefully in those type of games. Ironically Morata would compliment him in that regard as he's useless against low block sides but relitevely successful against sides who leave space.

I stick by my assessment last summer, at that point he wasn't doing nearly enough to impact games. Absolutely delighted with his rise this term, the best thing about the season bar nothing.

I didn't think they could co exist in the same side but maybe now Mount and Ruben could work together one day.

If we play that game we would be challenging for the title had our final 3rd quality been better.

Worse than that i think, before our OT clash it was there worst run since 1962.

Isn't Deeney suspended?

It is often the case in the top four race of teams dropping points and getting away with it due to others doing the same. The only reason it's been further emphasized this season is because of how good the top two have been.