Pizy

When teams are able to grind the play to a halt in their half we are hopeless. We still suck at breaking down parked buses. If our players don't receive the ball while running or get a quick passing move going we just can't do anything. It's infuriating watching Willian and whoever is on the left swinging in terrible crosses along the ground to nobody over and over again.

Of-fucking-course we decide to put in our sloppiest, most lackluster performance of the season at home to arguably the worst team we've faced. A team who benched a couple of their best players and had a new keeper. A team who has been conceding goals for fun and who were on the verge of sacking their manager. And we barely even troubled them. Absolutely embarrassing. That huge cushion we built for ourselves nearly pissed away with Mourinho's Spuds surging.

Reece, Pulisic, and Kova are dominating this game. Just the final touch missing. Dont know how many more times we're going to try the same exact corner over and over again. Looping, floated ball to Zouma who tries to head back across the area. It's not working. Pedro and Giroud both looking rusty as I feared.

Hopefully our crossing is good today from the fullbacks with Giroud in. Reece has put in some delicious crosses recently and we need more of that.

Kinda crazy how we've got to the point where we have so much midfield quality that Kante can be rotated and we don't immedietly think "we're fucked." I like the look of the XI assuming Pedro and Giroud don't look rusty. That's a big if, though. Surprised and kind of glad that Haller and Yarmalenko aren't starting becasue I figured they would both give us problems. West Ham fans don't seem pleased at all that Haller is on the bench and even angrier that Anderson is starting for some reason. I thought he was their best player by far?

So, any big injuries or suspensions for WH? What kind of lineup is expected? Haven't watched them since the beginning of the season when they were actually decent. All I know is that Pellegrini is now on the verge of being sacked. No idea if I should expect a more open team that's easy to score against or if they're one of those sides that defends deep and will be super frustrating.

Probably annoyed at us picking up constant injuries to key players...

Our hand was pretty much forced in that situation due to Courtois being a massive rat. I just think Chelsea is now a club where we don't shop from the absolute highest bracket anymore and look for players who at most cost £50-60m. I think the Pulisic & Morata level is the most we'll go to in normal circumstances. I think Kepa was an extreme outlier. Happy or be proved wrong, of course.

Oh, I certainly think the club would have him here in a heartbeat. But for 100m? That's the sort of money a club spends for a potential world beater. Question the board has to ask themselves is if Sancho is really worth that much more than the next best RW target. I admittedly haven't seen enough to say.

Giroud is the more complete CF and I agree he should start. He'll be desperate to prove a point. Sadly, can't see Frank throwing him in ahead of Bats out of the blue.

I did actually completely forget about that. So yeah, I think that rules us out of the running. Can't see us paying near that much for any player.

I actually don't think Sancho will be as pricey as people think. Don't think anyone would pay anywhere near 100m for him. Even a desperate club like United. Even a club with infinite money like City wouldnt. He'll probably go for €70-80m because he'll kick up a fuss and Dortmund will want him out. And for that price I'd love him here. Pedro out, Sancho in.

Rumblings of Pellegrini being on the verge of the sack for being so poor and they've conceded goals for fun (even more so than we have ) so this is a must win. Curious to see who starts for us up top since Tammy will likely be rested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HOW IS THAT A PENALTY?!!!!!!

Without exaggeration this is the worst refereeing performance I've ever seen. BY FAR!!!

Man, we desperately need Rudiger fit. Someone to command the defense. I can't take much more of this clownish defending. AND ANOTHER BULLSHIT FOUL!!!

HOLY SHIT THATS THE THIRD TIME THIS REF HAS PENALIZED OUR PLAYER FOR SHIELDING HIMSELF!!!!!! WTF!!!

Fine going forward, all over the shop defensively. It's the quick turnover that has killed us since the start of last season under Sarri. Opponent wins the ball or intercepts a square pass and we are immedietly fucked. This is the problem with Kante playing so high up the pitch.

My word, this defending....

They're hurting us in the same way every time. Just one simple pass straight up the middle and we haven't adjusted. Ffs...

AND AGAIN with a cheap dive to halt one of our attacks!

As is typical of Spanish teams, Valencia players throwing themselves to ground theatrically with even the slightest contact. So annoying.

Yeahhhh, I really don't want us to drop into the EL. Last thing we need while we have a healthy position in the top 4 is loads of fixtures against a bunch of clubs no one has heard of.

Almost forgot Pedro existed, tbh. Kinda sad. Guess Frank just fancies Willian's ability to carry the ball more than he fancies Pedro's better eye for a goal. We'll 100% be after another winger either in January or the summer.

Wow @ that team! Some huge calls from Frank.