Tomo

For today I'll give the benefit of the doubt Callum is being rested else that's an absolutely outrageous decision.

The Villa and Zenit games are actually proof that he needs to score to justify his inclusion. The signs he was comprising the system were there even then, we created little to nothing and in the case of the former match we were battered for the first half (granted Saul was the biggest culprit but still). My biggest issue is his pressing. I think a manager as clued up as Tuchel can work around his deficiencies going forward (like he did with Werner) but his lack of pressing is a massive massive problem. We are arguably the best side in Europe at it when he doesn't play yet this season pre his injury our pressing stats were near the bottom of the table and at the same level at Spurs, the lifeless Spurs under Nuno. Not only is pressing the first line of defense it's our biggest creative outlet (as we aren't brilliant at breaking down structured teams set in position) so it's simply not sustainable for us to have relegation level pressing stats and if it weren't for Edou we'd have lost likely lost to Villa, Brentford and received an absolute royal hammering by City. I remember in his first season at City Pep dropped Aguero and told him he'll return once he adapts to his system/demands, given how well we've played without him it's now upto Rom to adapt to us, not the other way round.

Lukaku is largely getting critisised because he is being played unconditionally when fit and not only is his performances not justifying such an untouchable role his inclusion is totally compromising a system that won us the UCL and almost every single big game. If he was rotated more adequetely and saved for when a tactical situation required him I doubt they'll be many complaints but I'm personally finding it hugely frustrating seeing such a promising/successful system being ripped up to accommodate him and for such an adjustment he needs to be offering both the performances and numbers to justify such and he simply isn't.

Real fans want what's best for the club not a replaceable employee who fucked off at the first sign of trouble at previous clubs which includes out very selves. On another note is it me or is it always the most expensive players that attract people acting almost as lawyers for them? You get some so quick to jump to the defense of the likes of Lukaku and Kepa but I can't remember similar dedication to defend say Kalou and Turnbull. It seems the more someone costs the less expectations they get held to.

If Tuchel is going to insist on shoehorning Rom in then it has to be on the RF role. It's the only way he can even potentially work without compromising the entire system.

Then he'll have no one to blame but himself if he squanderes all his great work upto this point.

I really hope the rumours are true about Adeyemi. He'd be the perfect balance of finding a reliable scorer (I still think Kai will turn into one eventually) without compromising the system.

You say his mistake could have cost us the league, well apart from Tuchel he's the main reason there's currently a title chance to blow. When players are winning you points (sometimes single handedly) then yes you should ignore it when the very rare fuck up happens. Cech usually made atleast one big error a season (and if we're going to be technical about it his one's vs Villa and Bolton in the Avram season cost us the league), it was never held against him.

Edou really? This is the first time he made any form of mistake since the super cup

It's always bloody Burnl...... oh wait.

I wouldn't be so sure. If there's one thing he can be firmly relied on it's that he will find a way out if hes not guaranteed his place.

Have we actually conceded on the counter under Tuchel? In theory we'd be ripe for a counter but in reality Tuchel will likely find a way to protect from it.

On current form he doesn't deserve to start but I would start Mount to compensate for the energy we will miss out on with Kante not playing. Hudson Odoi starting should go without saying and I think Ziyech deserves the other spot.

It's annoying but we faced Nuno's Spurs while Liverpool have to face Conte twice so I guess it's swings and roundabouts.

The thing with false 9 is they don't have to be that great themselves to elevate the set up, Firmino at Liverpool is the prime example of that, he doesn't hog the limelight like Mane and Salah do but I bet the latter pair would be worse off if they were flanking a traditional number 9, even Haaland. The fact we have shown how well we play without Rom means it's now up to him to adapt to us and not the other way round. On the ball I think a manager as clued up as Tuchel can find a solution but my main concern is off it, his pressing game is absolutely non existent, case in point being before his injury we were marginally better than Spurs in that regard and it's well documented how lifeless they were under Nuno. If Rom makes the most of his next chance(s) and earns his spot on merit like Callum has then fine, but I don't want him walsing back in and playing every minute unconditionally like what Lampard did to a wildly out of sorts Kante.

Well on the assumption Azpi is going we will need some cover/competition on that side.

This also shows we need to do all we can to get Livramento back next summer *just incase* something similar happens to James.

I can't find the article again but I read somewhere (just before Rom got injured) that we were marginally above Spurs at pressing at that point and we know how lifeless they were under Nuno. If Lukaku comes back and earns his spot like Callum has fine, but given how good we look without him it's up to him to adapt to us not the other way round.

I always see people say Jose's (first time) Chelsea and Ancelotti's Chelsea are so different style wise but I don't see it. The core of players and style of play were largely the same, the only huge difference is Mou would chose game management after 2/3 goals whereas Carlo would have us carrying on like we were still chasing something.

A lot of credit must go to Tuchel for his tweak allowing him to come inside a lot. We don't see this if he's playing as a pure chalk on his boots wingback.

If he's going to break into this team i feel it will either be as that or even a wingback. His direct competition for a place here either simply offer more (Werner) or are just better (Callum).

If, buts and maybe's can work both ways though. If we succumbed to Brentford or that first half vs Villa.....

I would say in this current system James and Chilwell are attacking players. Since the shift to inverted wingbacks they've practically been number 10s in possesion.

We may aswell keep him for the season if he's happy here but barring a spectacular comeback I think it's safe to say we won't be activating the buy back.

One of those deals which suited every single party down to the ground.