Tomo

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.

I'm not sure. He does seem to have got over his destructive form (thankfully) but his core weaknesses won't go away. Take the second half at Anfield for example, history suggests no way would Kepa have held out against all those long shots Edou faced (Liverpool were silly for using that as a stragedy, most teams don't even bother trying those with him in nets) and that point could ultimately win us the title.

Yep that's what I was saying all summer, the idea of a poacher to finish what we create is well too simplistic in reality. Second half today aside we are creating a lot less with Rom in the team than last season (my biggest fear when we signed him), all Is well and good while he is actually is taking those said little chances but he has to keep doing so to justify what we've taken off the system as you imply.

Three guarantees in life. Death, taxes and Harry Kane getting schooled by Thiago Silva!

I'm actually pissed Nuno is at Spurs, thought we saw the back of him when he left Wolves. Every time we've faced him bar the 2-5 he's murderered the match with his shit house tactics.

On form Pulisic maybe, the version of late would have made it worse. Ironically the player we're missing in a tactical sense is Werner.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt it's first game jitters but Saul looks totally out of his depth.

Thiago Silva's first game infront of a full Stamford Bridge crowd.

Their transfer business is just so odd. If we look at awful transfer windows in hindsight (us in 2017, United under LVG to name two) there was atleast some logic towards the deals at the time and some hope it may work out, with Arsenal this window is such an obvious bust (unless they are actually embracing mid table). It's got even funnier with their new signing.

Last year he wouldn't budge on his three year demand and now he's ripping up two years of it. This combined with the Maitland Niles comment and Ozil's tweet makes me wonder just how toxic Arteta is as a boss.

The obsession of physicality and height over technique is what caused us to have a few years of 'transition' in the first place.

Wow what a late twist this Is, City have signed Kane. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58393587 Biggest late deal of all time for me, especially when the swiftness of it is considered.

As fantastic as a coach as Tuchel is his record in the market is historically sketchy, that plus the experience with Conte means I can understand why they're a little sceptical going all in on all his wishes.

Because Tuchel doesn't rate him and gave his spot to an academy player.