Tomo

Seeing Moses in all these provisional lineups is hurting my eyes.

Southgate The appointment of Sam finally gave me some hope the National team might get somewhere (despite myths on the contrary, Sam is a fantastic manager), now we are going back to clueless clowns and massive underachieving guaranteed.

If we hypothetically played our team from last season tonight, we will probably win due to the fact they are even worse, that's how Liverpool benefitted last season. City game fair enough that one was very impressive.

What are you yapping about? The Burnley and Swansea displays were as good as anything we have seen for 18 month's, yes the opposition wasn't the best but worse opposition were outplaying us last season. Burnley we dominated from start to finish totally which is rare regardless of who the opponent is, especially in this country. Also I find it hilarious you bring up Klopp, about the same stage of his Liverpool tenure that Conte is now, he lost 2-0 and 3-0 to Newcastle and Watford respectively which outside of Villa were the two worst displays I saw from any side last season, and considering I watched most of our games that's saying something, oh and did I forget to mention he came within seconds of losing at home to Tony Pulis in between those two horror shows?

Well if that's true that kind of confirms my view off Roman from earlier on and that his trigger happy nature is widly exaggerated. I am in the opinion that managers need to earn time, even if the results aren't there immediately show signs of progress and positivity that will make the club believe that we will be rewarded by showing patience. That's were the likes of AVB and full time Robbie collapsed, because they shown nothing.

Ask one of the admins to change it for you.

Tbh I think Romans sacking record shows a bit of a weakness in his hiring, I think/hope Conte turns out good mind. But AVB, Scolari, RDM (full time) and Avram were brutal appointments. Jose mark two, AVB and you could argue Ancelotti would have been gone a lot earlier if Roman was as bad as popular opinion suggests.

2015 was a disgrace but last summer? Ok the defender thing was frustrating but we signed the best DM about andin Michy have a competent alternative striker for the first time since 09/10, maybe it was an average window considering what we needed Ok, but those two signings mean it can't be classed as disaster, in my opinion. Also Cahill has been playing by default so far, Hiddink dropped him when he had alternatives and hopefully Antonio will to. As for Ivanovic, Jose dropped Rooney, so maybe god for bid Ivan is the best option? As for Liverpool, they are not out of the woods yet, they still have problems vs the flat tracks and also bare in mind they won at The Bridge and The Emirates the season they finished 8th under Kenny.

Mourinho has benched Rooney within two months but didn't bench Ivan in two and a half years. Maybe he actually is better than the alternatives, frightening thought but hey.

Jose wasn't wrongly sacked, okay the players didn't cover themselfs in glory, but to be one point of the relegation zone at Christmas is unacceptable, Jose could have won the previous ten titles and his sacking would have been justified. Jose did a great job in his combined 5 full seasons at the club, but those five months were the worst performance by a manager in PL history. I will be more than prepared to give Antonio a pass for this season if we show positive signs of progression AND are in somewhat a respectable position in the table, if we are lurking in 16th in December, I'd clear his desk myself.

No, but that's the point, if we set out to stop them playing first and foremost we wouldn't have been 2 down. For top teams wityh good players a minimum 0-0 is on offer vs Arsenal every single time, to lose like this is unacceptable tactics and management.

Im thibking maybe the 3-5-3 might work, we did shut Arse down when that happened. This season has come down to hoping we get fourth whatever means how and praying we evolve more like a Poch Spurs than a LVG United.

Was they really that less up for it today than last season? Difference is, Hiddink applied the right tactics to beat them, Conte today didn't, he played the tactics that suited them to the ground.

You're preaching to the converted mate, let's hope Antonio follows the Fergie blueprint when Arsenal come to The Bridge.

We were even worse defensively last season yet two easy clean sheets vs these lot. We played into Arsenals hands today and they killed us, you don't play high and try to play out the back against Arsenal, it's suicide. If Conte followed the usual blueprint we would be celebrating three points tonight, I've still got faith in him, but when it was reported he wanted to attack Arsenal from the off I thought oh no.

You don't think? Well Styles, you know I even turned against Jose last season, so I'm my eyes no one turns against the club, but we have to allow what he has taken over. I've alluded to this before I think even in a response to you, its a similar situation to Poch in his first season at Spurs, he took over a group of underachieving players who's professionalism was widely questioned and at the start he struggled, in fact things Spurs fans said about Poch was similar to what said about Antonio here. I see some signs he can be the right man, yes of course if things don't progress in coming months I'd waver to the out side of the fence, but unfair to juge in seven games.

Already three more pages than the Leicester match thread, I rest my case On the game however, Conte screwed it up, their is a clear blueprint for Wenger's Arsenal since late 00s and that's sit back, stop them playing and hit them when they overcommit, Fergie created it, Jose, Carlo, Moyes and Hiddink adopted it and Conte should have done the same, hopefully he does when we get those cunts again. As for Cahill, I love the fact he plays with his heart, but he is a limited player who will hopefully be third choice when JT and Kurt are fit.

As already alluded too, Tammy is light years ahead of Bamford. Bamford was already in his 20s by the time he got a Championship loan, and at this rate Tammy will beat Bamfords goal record by Christmas.

He's head and shoulders above Bamford.

Luiz in midfield could be an option in very big games when we will not see the ball for long periods and need to contain our opponents as much/more than attack them, so City, Spurs, and maybe the return Scouse game at Anfield, especially if Zouma is back for them games which means we can do it without Cahill starting. Those games mentioned are the only games I could live with him in CM. Lesser games however when we need to take the initive I don't think him in midfield works in the slightest.

I like Michy and he is defiantly our best alternative forward since Anelka, but Costa is a level above him.

Cesc is probably the best passer in the league, yet when pressed and denied space he isn't as effective, thats why he is rarely played further advanced despite his defensive handicap. So for the same reason he doesn't have as big as affect going from number CM to CAM, David won't going from CB to CM. It's also like that every time a defender is good in an attacking sense, be it a fullback with wing play or a centre back with a strong passing range, it's almost assumed that they are meant to play in a further advanced position which is quite odd, Dani Alves will always be a big example, people thought he was wasted at fullback then got tried on the wing and was 55 shades of total shite.

Neither will be any more than squad players, especially if we plan to get back to challenging on all fronts. Moses could maybe be our 4th choice winger in the long run and Nate can be the midfield Paulo, ie the squad player that fills in about 10 times a season.

Only danger is if Conte does a Villas Boas/Van Gaal and ditches the "it works against Arsenal" tactics. He needs to follow the blueprint Jose, Hiddink, Carlo and even Di Matteo has used against Arsenal and Arsene then we get at worst a point.

Ivanovic was an average CB even in his prime, he is a formerly great RB who is now past it.