Tomo

I don't want us to lose but there would be a silver lining if we did. As it stands Watford at home is on Monday after Roma in the CL, if we go through the game will be moved to Saturday.

And to think, people thought his sacking was the reason 10/11 went tits up

On balance we are likely 3rd fav's admittedly, but i believe we certainly have a chance and even if we didn't i would still rather we fell flat on our arses trying than just settling for mere top 4, why? Because it could quickly become a habit and subconsciously the 'top 4 will do' mentality will seep it's way around the club. Look at Arsenal as the big example to that, it was suppose to be top 4 until the stadium's payed off, yet that happened and they were still happy with just top 4. Liverpool another example, last season was suppose to be a season they got top 4 and progressed from there, but talk to anyone associated with Liverpool and they will say they will be more than happy with 4th again, and that was the case even when it looked like VVD and Keita were signing. We are at a disadvantage depth wise to both Manc clubs and in quality to City, but that's where the coaching comes in. Tottenham by right's should be 6th if not 7th but they punch above there weight due to excellent coaching and honestly? Rivalry aside i am certain they were winning it or coming very, very close (last day narrow loss) this season had they stayed at WHL (they still might), the trajectory they were on was ominous. I believe the minimum points tally we should be raking up is 83, which will see us in or around a title race bar a side reapeating our sheer consistency of last season.

I felt we had the right idea playing it short and at times only desperate last ditch Arsenal defending stopped us getting our reward. I watched the game with a few Arsenal fans all of which were complaining about how they kept getting duped by it and they were convinced it was going to cost them. Furthermore Arsenal don't have Almunia, Vermaelen, Song and co anymore they instead have Cech, Kolasnic, Mustafi, Giroud they don't have the shame set piece chink they use to.

Fuck that, id rather finish 5th aiming for the title than settle for mere top 4. Furthermore if we can somehow navigate Stoke and City and still be 3 or less points of the top then i feel we are well in it as after the international break we will have Baka and Eden up to speed plus a kind set of fixtures until we go to The Emirates new year while the Manc clubs have a tougher run of it.

Caballero, Rudi, Andreas, Cahill, Zappa, Scott, whichever of the 3 CM's need rest the least, Kenedy, Musonda, Hazard, Bats. Hate the idea of Kenedy at wingback but needs must.

But i bet those CB's were technically more refined even if they weren't better CB's overall, improvement usually comes from a tactical point, going from awkward on the ball to very good just doesn't happen. Our CB's are asked to repeatedly pass out of the back these days and only hoof when they are totally boxed in, the wide CB's are often asked to get forward and affect the forward play, as we see Azpi especially do. Cahill will likely lose his place because he is merely standard in those regard's so Zouma who's worse hasn't got a chance. Ofcourse the CB's need to be good at defending too but the way the game is evolving ball playing CB's and even keepers are becoming more and more crucial in a back 4 let alone back 3, and if you don't have the skillset you will be left behind no matter how good defensively you are.

Cahill may not be Bonucci but he is far far more suited to 3 at the back, especially Antonio's 3 at the back, than Zouma ever will be.

New player syndrome, always a new player (especially a signing that excites fans) will always have performance's reviewed as better than they actually are in the honeymoon phase.

I do think age played a part in it, the board are probably cautious of the squad's average age getting to old and leaving us with another massive rebuild job like it did at the turn of this decade.

He's good at consolidation and getting relegation level teams punching above there weight, he stopped West Broms yoyo reputation and was probably the reason Fulham lasted as long as they did, but has he got a track record with developing young players?

I think as blue in my viens alluded to, Zappa will probably shift grok right to left and back to give Moses and Alonso adequate rest.

Cesc will get more rest when Baka and a drinky are more up to speed.

Yeah forgot about Alonso, don't think Willian will start, probably 3-5-2 again.

Excellent squad management tonight. Only Cesc and Courtois out of the likely starters vs Arsenal played a full 90.

I have never been convinced by him and i believe he was massively overhyped because he's an academy boy but it seem's like he has found his level and will be a good PL standard midfielder around 8th to 12th place, happy for him.

A moment vs Everton on day 1 summed Kurt up to a tea. He made a borderline impossible interception to prevent i think Rooney being clean through then tried to play out of the back fucked it and nearly cost Stoke a goal. However he is a stellar defender in the correct system so if he does go hopefully it's abroad.

Not as good technically Essien wasn't great technically, that's why he declined so badly when he lost his athleticism.

He seems to fade a bit late in games which is understable considering he's use to playing rotation, but he will get there.

If Hazard shot more he'd score more but at the same time become a lesser player. I have never been a fan of speculative shooting, even shots on the edge of the box are more likely to come to nothing than something.On the odd occasion fine, but taking to many low percentage shots is infuriating to watch and murders good attack's.

Can't see it, i think Conte will ease him back in at a similar speed Hiddink did in 2016. Meaning between these 2 international break's he will probably start vs Qarabag and Forest but be super sub in the other's. Palace away will be his fulltime return to the lineup if i was a betting man.

Like he was ever going to play. Plus he was pretty useless post 2015 title, i know we were in a shit situation under Jose but thing's got better under Guus but he got even worse. And at Palace he looked awful with the few chances he got and never got a look in again. False 9 is 100x a better option than playing Remy in 2017 if it came to one or the other, if there is one that got away in the striker department it's Traore.

Good shout, however hopefully unlike Gary he get's used appropriately and not made an untouchable.

Remember Conte's quote where he said he was going to play Matic a lot and bleed Bakayoko in slowly? Maybe Drinkwater will start games (at least initially) more than we think.

You Should be banned, thinking outside the box and not declaring our immediate decline to the conference is not allowed here.