Tomo

Large stretches against Burnley? We were every bit as good if not better than we were against Leicester and Juve but sadly Pope was sensational. Brentford fair enough, however yesterday we played the midfield 4 we would usually only see in the league cup, ofcourse it was going to get a bit chaotic.

The most damming thing is I can't think of a single positive attribute he brings to the table and it's the first time I have felt like that with a player since Torres. Werner's been a disapointment over all but we can use his pressing, movement and pace tactically. Morata was sh*t overall but he had movement and ariel ability. Even Bakayoko and Drinkwater had a few upsides to them. But there's not a single thing with Saul I look at and think "atleast he has that despite everything".

I know someone who went to school with him, the internet warriors are small fry by comparison......

And we'd have never won the UCL if played as poorly in the final as we did against Porto in the quarter. Two games are never the same.

The only way he should be anywhere near this team right now is either a) an impact sub or b) trying him as a wingback in Ben's absence. Callum is infinity times better.

Where i am we have to leave the bar. Usually I'd be annoyed but this time I'm rather glad.

For this match i would go back four and put Trevoh in midfield. Far from ideal but we will have no control of this match with Saul and RLC the two man midfield.

It's the midfield that's going to fuck us here, Saul is totally out of his depth.

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.

Viruses tend to mutate to over time be less deadly, the common cold was lethal once up on a time. It makes no "business sense" for them to keep killing host en masse because that means it can't keep spreading as much and as effectively. It would literally be the most unprecendented event in human history if a mutation effectively sends us back into March 2020. Is it technically possible? I guess anything is, but as far as plausible possibilities go I'd say Exeter City getting three promotions on the spin and winning the PL at the first time of asking looks a decent bet by comparison.

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.

I get the paranoia (I've been travelling on and off since May so I've had being caught out with Covid abroad hanging over me) but even if some variant turns up that totally evades immunity (which is obscenely unlikely) the vaccines can be modified accordingly within weeks. All the signs so far suggest it doesn't even make people ill, fingers crossed it stays that way.

I'll defer to my favourite expert on the subject (a thread if you click on it). Furthermore if it was really more dangerous we would be seeing India April esque signs from South Africa by now. Even Devi Sridhar (who's basically like the Mana of Covid discussion) doesn't think there's an awful lot to be concerned about. We have to be cautious but the sensational headlines the last couple of days have been awfully irresponsible.

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.