Pizy

So just how good have Atleti been so far this season? I haven't seen a single minute of La Liga football yet. Are we entering this as huge underdogs?

I know the table is a bit meaningless this early in the season but it's really strange seeing that Newcastle can move just a point behind us with a win today. I've seen them a couple of times this season and they looked right there with Palace as the worst side in the league. Like absolutely dreadful.

I just can't wait to see the football he and Hazard will play together once they've had more time to gel. Eden and Diego had a great understanding between one another and Morata is a much better footballer than Diego is so this'll be fun.

Pedro was almost nonexistent today but I thought Willian was great. He was destroying Stoke when he ran with the ball. You really do see a huge jump in our attacking play when Hazard and Cesc come on that's for sure.

For those talking about Bakayoko, I too thought he was a bit sloppy on the ball but great at winning it back and getting it forward. Couple of times where he received it and dwelled for a second too long getting it pinched off him. He'll improve steadily just like Kante has. It's what Conte has been saying for weeks now. Kante was fantastic once again. Getting better and better with the ball. Feels like he's made more surging runs forward carrying the ball through 6 matches than he did all last season. Popping up more and more around the opposition box and joining the attacking players. Great to see. Azpi in the past has always been considered an elite defender whose only weakness is his game going forward. He and Morata have a telepathic understanding and he has exploded this season. Like someone mentioned earlier in this thread, with the amount of quality we have at CB we should really try playing Azpi at wing back at times. Much more solid defensively than Alonso and we don't lose much going forward.

Totally dominant and not even a hint of trouble once Cesc and Hazard came on.

Fabregas in God form!!!

GET THE FUCK IN THERE!!!!!

We keep giving away these ridiculously stupid free kicks. Keep doing it and we'll concede.

We look calamitous defensively and our attack is nonexistent. Need to change it.

What the hell are we waiting for to bring Eden on!?

Get him the fuck,off before he costs us 3 points!

Alonso a liability today. Been awful.

We will 100% be punished because of this against top sides. Probably later this week. He turns like a giant truck as well and is so easily beaten by the ball played behind him. I cringe and hope for the best whenever the opposition have the ball on that side.

Not a great first half. Two clinical finishes but very sloppy all over the pitch. Left side of the defense struggling. Rüdiger can help that by just being a little more aware about when he goes forward. Getting caught upfield too often leaving Alonso exposed. I want to see both Cesc and Hazard on soon. They can both pin Stoke back and stop allowing them to counter.

How on earth is that a foul on Baka!? Barely touched him!

Game is calling out for Cesc.

Losing out on every 50/50 ball and getting out hustled here.

Looking at that Stoke team, we may get the most joy from wide areas. Without Cesc in the side to spray the ball around and play over the top it's difficult to see Baka or Kante creating much. Especially when they'll probably be outnumbered in the middle. Pedro and Willian really need to kick into gear and start playing better.

Wow, no Cahill. Disappointing that Hazard doesn't start but understandable with the games coming up. I do worry where the creativity and service for Morata comes from here, though.

Oh, yeah. Forgot about Jesé. We definitely need to be fully at it today. With their defensive injuries and issues our attack should be having its way with them. At the same time, our defense without Luiz marshaling it needs to be on top form. I would say that I hope both Christensen and Rüdiger start in Luiz's absence but Cahill is a 100% certainty.

I seriously don't even know who Stoke have in their attack now. I know what's-his-face went to West Ham and was their best player.

Desperate for him to score again tomorrow just to so these endless articles about him will stop. FFS...

Has to for me, surely. Although, it wouldn't shock me if he doesn't because of the extremely tough next two matches.

Which means we should be tearing their defense to shreds, really. No excuses not to be beating Stoke when they're missing their 2 best CB's.