Tomo

If we're going to play a back 3/5 for this (hopefully not) CHO has to be one of the wingbacks. We'd be setting ourselves up for a frustratingly infuriating night if we went with two fullbacks in that system. Personally I think last night's horror show has made selection pretty straight forward. Mendy Azpi (I'd rather James but Tuchel will pick Azpi) Rudiger Zouma (Christensen if fit) Chilwell Jorginho Kova Mount CHO Tammy Werner

It was no "worse" than the runaway leaders performance vs them on their own patch the week before. It wasn't the greatest display granted but given the circumstances (cold night in Yorkshire vs a side very well coached in defending/frustrating) it wasn't "horrid", far from it.

Tonight yes but how was Sheffield a "horror show"? I know they're bottom but that's mainly because they struggle to score, they've competed well and made it tough for every big six team this season, even City could only manage a pair of 1-0's against them.

Yeah but while they still have something to play for you just know he'll use the game to explain his tactics.

Probably because he secretly wanted to lose to get the FA Cup off his hectic PL/Europa/LC final schedule. Could explain why he threw caution to the wind aswell, bet you he points to this match if/when he's criticised for his tactics against City and beyond.

I agree but I also thinking of it personnel wise too. As you've alluded too his direct competitor is Kovacic and the latter just simply doesn't deserve to lose his place right now. Kante simply isn't at the level anymore where he can bypass competition for his place and for now Kova should have the shirt and it be up to Kante to win it back. Regarding the last point, Tuchel has historically favoured a metronome infront of the back of four with Julian Weigl at BVB then Verrati in Paris.

I just hope Tuchel utilizes him well, even when things were looking good/hopeful under Frank the use of Kante was the one thing he was getting laughably wrong. He punctured our momentum three times by shoehorning Kante back in straight away once he was available again.

Given Tuchel's reputation for his tactical edge alarm bells would be ringing straight away if he said his best position was anything else, or worse, sitting DM (single 6 as he puts it).

OGS with Maguire as captain outsmarting Pep over 38 games. They've got a good sense of humour i'll give them that!

Tbf letting your attack "freestyle" in the final third isn't nesseserily that bad a thing atleast sometimes, if you micromanage their final third movements too much there's a risk it could look like LVG ball. Where the coaches are needed the most are the first two thirds of the pitch and in that respect you can see the huge improvement already. Henry said that was pretty much how Pep managed at Barca, told his squad that he will help them to the final third but then it was down to them.

It's not just English manager's though, Arteta has built up a truly bizarre cult following at Arsenal, fans (DT prime example) are literally changing and shaping their opinions based on what best protects the manager, this one the pick of the lot😂 The media have simply brainwashed the football population into thinking giving manager's indefinite and unconditional time is the way to go.

A lot cite the romance aspect of it which makes me wonder, where was that energy when we ditched him as a player and replaced him with a Gooner legend? The media have created such a cult of manager's in this country it's insane.

Tbf this is probably the first time we've had a proper mid season new manager bounce in the league since Hiddink 1.0. Hiddink 2.0 i guess you could say but that was more by default than anything else, while RDM rallied us in the cup (understatement) in the league there was no real improvemeng from what we saw under AVB. Rafa improved our shape but there was no immediate results upturn.

In a back three RCB is RJ's best position.

I don't think they did, maybe a small minority but most didn't. It's more the media that targeted him, Redknapp's comments especially were outrageous. Even the most angry reaction (the creators of "the circus continues" banner) made it clear there's no ill will to Tuchel and are behind him.

The most pleasing thing so far is he isn't shoehorning Kante back in. Really?

The first 20 were horrendous but since then we've been fine bar maybe should have created more. SHU are tougher then their position suggests, the runaway leaders had to work hard for a 1-0 against them twice.

So it turns out he actually was injured during that clash with Grealish and played the rest of the game through injury....

We don't know the extent of the conversation but I very much doubt it was a blanket three year promise. He was probably told he'd get a bit of leeway but also handed minimum requirements (both in terms of league position and how the team is looking tactically) that need to be meet.

Number 8 is Havertz best position. If my word isn't enough, how about the lad himself? https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/transfer-news/kai-havertz-chelsea-transfer-position-18392673

Will be like it at first but eventually the old habits will return. Like how when football was suspended supporters vowed to never take it for granted again and we'd cherish even Burnley vs West Brom.

I'm sorry but last night's actions put me off him, it's so small time to act like that over a mere 3 points even against the Champions.

I don't really get this, we can still be unhappy with the current situation and would still "be here" in such a hypothetical situation (which wouldn't happen, we're too big and generate too much money to dive to those depths now even if Roman did leave). For me it's all about context, if we have the worst squad in the league then i'd demand a statue of a manager if he gets us 17th, someone finishes 17th with this squad then they're the worst manager in our history.

Yeah but at the same time as Milan said a shithouse win would just kick the can down the road and probably ultimately see to our top 4 hopes. On current form who are we beating out of Leicester, Wolves and Spurs? Maybe 1 at a push.