Pizy

This is going to be a pattern all season long. One good performance followed by a shocker. And ironically the good performances all happen against the better opposition and the dreadful ones against the small teams. Our attacking play is totally devoid of quality and imagination. Literally just give it to Willian or CHO and stand around. Awful to watch. Could've put a stranglehold on 4th spot but of course we choke AGAIN against one of the worst sides in the league. And with our luck United will pull out a totally improbable win at Anfield.

This is also the sort of match where an alternative to Tammy who is lightning quick and great at running channels and is decisive around the box is sorely needed. Tammy always looks at his least effective against sides like this who mark him with 2 CB's at almost all times. He's not quick or good enough technically to get the ball in space and run at players. He's very much a target man only.

Mount is good when we're playing a team that gives us space. When a team sets up with a massive block of players around their penalty area he's simply not effective. He's suited for a counter attacking game. Nothing against him, but we need a change here.

Kova for Mount, please. Offering NOTHING.

Another small team that simply look hungrier than we do. And fuck me, Azpi is (understandably) even more useless on the left than he is on the right in attack.

Yep, both of their best players are of course fit just in time for us. He and Lacelles.

I would've rested Kante one more match so we can have him for the huge games coming up. Other than that I'm fine with the XI.

Must win game. Let's go.

Mou & Spuds was a really poor fit stylistically and personell wise. Think Arse would've been the job he should've gone hard after. A side that already has lots of attacking quality and don't need much coaching in that department. He could've gone there and maybe solidified them at the back and in midfield. Become a hero for pushing Arse through their glass ceiling. Without serious, huge investment in the summer I think it'll be disastrous for them/him next year as well. And with Levy above him...

Spuds are absolutely turgid to watch under Mou and very rarely even look like scoring without Kane bailing them out constantly. Really paying the price for years of neglecting the attacking areas with serious competition. Now we watch for a decent result between Sheffield United and Arse. No Auba so I like Sheff United's chances.

Don't think Newcastle have been atrocious lately so I don't expect this to be a straightforward 3 points by any means. Especially if they have St. Maximin back fit who, much like Zaha, can cause a major headache for any team with his pace and dribbling. If we do win though this has the potential to be a fantastic weekend. Think both Liverpool and Watford will beat United and Spuds. Arse could easily lose as well.

Victor Moses, holy shit. I completely forgot he was still on our books. Feels like an age since he was a key cog in the Chelsea machine. Must be so weird and kinda sad for him to go from a nailed on starter in a title winning side to irrelevent that quickly. 😕

Agreed. Only real use I could see for him is in those matches where Frank sits Joriginho to give us more defensive solidity.

Having watched Soumare a bit that's very harsh. He is about 1000x the footballer Bakayoko is. He's very composed and classy on the ball whereas Baka has the touch of a brick wall. I just don't think we need a pure DM like him. He's really a player Arse or United should be after, not us.

Hasn't Kurzawa been shit for quite a while now? Arse fans I saw yesterday when they were linked were not happy about the potential signing.

The likes of Lautaro and Dybala are key parts of their clubs. Why would Inter or Juve sell either? Especially with Conte and Sarri in charge, neither of which will maintain good thoughts of Chelsea. Conte in particular would probably do anything in his power to never sell us a player.

Lampard already said that selling Giroud doesn't necessarily mean a replacement is coming in. Giroud didn't play anyways so his absence won't really be felt, tbf. Fact still remains that an injury to Tammy would likely spell disaster for our top 4 prospects. Especially if we make no signings while United does.

Pretty clear that journo's haven't got a clue. If we sign anyone at all (which is bet against at this point) it'll be completely out of left field. A move that happens suddenly with no warning.

Speaking of Portuguese Fernandes's, I see Bruno to United is heating up again. Is he actually as good as hyped or are his stats massively inflated in that shit league?

Nope.

Think Lewis Dunk is a solid player, tbh. Wouldn't be a bad buy at all. As for Ake today, keep in mind that he was stupidly deployed at LB by Eddie Howe after being out injured for a while. I don't think he was bad at all even playing out of position. Only thing I really saw him struggle with is chasing back after the RW which of course he'd struggle at since he's a CB.

When in form City are still the best side in the league. If they had a fully fit defense it would be much like last season with only a point or two separating the eventual champion from second place. They're also much more pleasing to watch than Liverpool for me. Whereas Liverpool are a blunt object that blugeons everyone to death, City are like a surgical scalpel. I hope Frank is eventually able to have us be as clinical and ruthless. And fuck me, I'm still jealous and angry every time I watch KDB. After Messi, I'd have him over any other player in the world.

Ross is an enigma of a player. Some matches he plays like Bakayoko where he can barely control a football and passes it to the other team more than our own. Other games like yesterday he looks smooth and silky with the ball. Frank has liked him and backed him in the media from day one so maybe now if he can stay fit he'll have a run in the side.

I'm starting to lean more and more to the thought that the club have got word from our main targets that they're willing to come here in the summer and that's why we aren't signing anyone now. Could possibly see Ake near deadline day but not any attackers.

United have Liverpool away whilst Arsenal have Sheff United who can compete with anyone. Victory plus favorable results and we can be comfortably above the former and all but put to bed the latter. This could be a massive 3 points on the line for us with the very tough run of games we've got coming up. An absolute must win for me. Another team that will set up deep and play for set pieces. I imagine Frank will deploy the same XI as today since we've got a full week to rest and prepare. Maybe Kova comes in for one of the 3 midfielders. I would keep Kante out of the squad even if he's fit because we'll really need him at 100% soon.