Tomo

I posted it on another thread but I don't think reverting to a 4 will be anything close to he disaster it's portrayed as. We were solid as a back 4 under Sarri with Kepa, Luiz and Alonso starting every week and even under Lampard were solid in one once Edou was in the nets. The problem with the back 3/5 is unless Alonso is on form we simply do not have a specialist in the area and it's really starting to show.

The Di Matteo comparisions are so lazy. They lifted the same trophy but that's where the comparisions well and truly end.

Bar two games we were pretty solid under Sarri and that was with Alonso, Luiz and Kepa playing every week. We were even pretty solid under Lamps once Mendy and Silva were in. I don't think it will be the complete shit show it's assumed it will be.

His big game jitters date back the best part of a decade, this isn't some reaction on the basis of two games. Rom has it perks and hopefully he will flat track bully us into a title race (or at the very least comfortable top 4) but his record in the crunch games simply doesn't justify untouchable status in them. The most frustrating thing for me is it appears he's going to be immune to rotation in a way not even Mendy is which is just bonkers. Above everything else, maybe if he was dropped for them in the short term he would knuckle down and adapt parts of his game (especially off the ball) to become suitable in the crunch games, what motivation does he have to do so if he's going to get picked (and play the full match) unconditionally?

In the context of big games Kai, Werner and Mount is a proven trio. All heavily involved in the build up and offer elite level pressing.

Our biggest 'creator' last season was our pressing, Rom is awful on that aspect.

That was the main reason I was against signing him, I just knew he would be untouchable. Does Tuchel genuinely believe he should be or is he wary of Rom's history when he's told to fight for his place? I'm not sure which would be worse. That said he'll score us a truckload vs the lesser sides so should play them but against the big teams he should be supersub until his performances warrant more.

And a Scandinavian side the MD after playing here. Does this mean Benitez is in tomorow?

Pulisic has been Iwobi-lite ever since the start of last season.

It's more off the ball, his pressing is non existent and every successful team presses well. His spell here is starting to go just as I feared, gets goals but makes the dynamic weaker.

I think we need to revert to a back 4. Azpi/James and Chilwell are fine as fullbacks but don't cut it as wingbacks (attacking wise). The only way this wingback system works in an attacking sense with this current lot is if Alonso and/or CHO are having an ace game, it's no coincidence our best display so far is Spurs where Alonso pulled a 10/10.

Missing out on Hakimi is coming back to haunt us. That was the position that needed urgent upgrading this summer.

Record signing or not Rom should be dropped for the big games until he proves himself in them.

Is Chilwell going to get better the more he doesn't play ala Emerson?

Alonso will be a key figure while we still play a back 3/5 because he's the only natural wingback we have. Missing out on Hakimi or even failing to convince Livramento to stay was a killer.

Only two open play assists in the PL in a season and a bit so that automatically means he's rubbish.

I think he did at the back end of last season, aside from the finishing issues Havertz, Mount and Werner was working really well.

@robsblubothas largely covered a lot of my response but the way i see it is we had a perfect set up for big games last season and Rom's presence has compromised it somewhat. What makes City so hard to play against is they have everyone heavily involved in the build up and the off the ball work and what made us so strong against them last season is we matched that. However that said I wouldn't be surprised if he flat track bullys us into a title race but I don't think there's a chance of us retaining the UCL or even giving it a big shot if he plays every minute in the run. Everything i feared would happen by resigning Rom was on display yesterday and not only that Havertz is looking half the player he was at the back end of last season playing false 9 (which suited him and this squad down to the ground especially vs opponents like City).

What worries me is he appears to be untouchable. Record signing or not he shouldn't be immune to being rotated or brought out of a match.

I was suspicious when he signed. He knew he had a fight on to even be first substitute and was still happy to come.

I still wouldn't be comfortable with him back as number 1 for a prolonged period but I must admit he's certainly starting to make me feel a lot less uneasy about the ACON next year. Hooefully he keeps this momentum up because I remember everytime I thought Hilario was starting to become a reliable back up he'd ruin it and have an absolute disasterclass, really hope this is different.

Yep, he was playing DM and Villa were countering us and him at will. It was his usual a few explosive moments making it look like he was having a better match than he actually was.

I don't get what has happened to CHO of late. I don't even think he was bad under Lampard (argument for another day) but since his early burst under TT he's started to regress hugely.

I love Chalobah and think he could become a good squad player but he has too many sketchy moments in games to be starter level.

Which brings me to another issue, Kai so far is not looking anything near as good behind the striker as he did as false 9. Hopefully Tuchel at one point tries the Martinez tactic of false 9 with Rom coming in from RF.