OneMoSalah

He played as the deepest of the three, Kante and Kovacic flanked him on the right and left in the MF. I wonder if he played him there to use his height to try and stop the long balls directly into Toney? Maybe not but at the beginning I was a bit confused by the use of him there. Also, he did make a lot of tackles and ball wins to be honest which you don’t associate with him but he has to become a specialist or offer something consistently. He has now played as a winger, 10, 8, 6 and a CF throughout his career and nobody is sure yet where he is best. Concerning despite the snippets here and there that he is improving although again, he doesn’t offer any real end product or influence on the game of any sort. As @Jase said, I do think he is only here because nobody would sign him for his 1) wages and 2) potential transfer cost. I think Saul will eventually usurp him and feature a lot more in the next few months once he is accustomed to the system and the intensity, he is still a quality player.

I wouldn’t be so sure tbf. I think TT knows that Lukaku maybe needs a goal and Malmo are the sort of team he could grab a couple against with ease I would imagine. Hopefully we see 343 again though, we have played worse using 352 than 343 this season.

Every player can improve but asking someone who isn’t a target man to all of a sudden improve and become a target man isnt going to work. Hes said that himself re being a target man - its not his game and never has been. All in all he’s not the worst at using his body at times but he does need to work on things, as does the whole attack. He is pretty mobile for a big guy but he’s not really the sort of player you want drifting out on the left or right wing constantly when he’s here as the focal point surely? I think thats why this 352 has to go and the 343 has to come back, to play with two 10s/attacking midfielders to try and play in the pockets or a bit wider if needed.

Yeah but asking Rom to be like Didier is just not going to happen though. Is it?

Aye thats clear and he could have got at least one or two in the last four games but the whole teams lack of goals is much more concerning than just Lukaku’s right now. But everyone is quick to highlight Lukaku only and not the others too. Maybe there is going to be more adjustments still, no doubt he’s a fixed 9 compared to what we had last season but even if he scored 15/20 league goals we need more from the others 100%. Frankly, between the CBs and WBs in our team, they have scored 50% (8 of 16) of our PL goals this season. Then in midfield and attack, Lukaku has got 3, Werner 1, Kante 1, Kovacic 1, Havertz 1 and Pulisic 1. Its good to have lots of scorers obviously but no point having 10, 11, 12 people with 2 or 3 goals over the course of a season and not having that 2 or 3 who get 10-15 goals minimum. Particularly if your looking to try and push for leagues and trophies. This is the issue TT has. He has to get Lukaku and the others scoring goals, making assists, creating chances etc. It was the same last season with Mason, Werner and Kai too, there was promising signs but also not enough goals. You don’t win games on chances created, its on goals scored. So something was always going to have to give. Be it Lukaku starting in one of their places or those getting more goals.

One quality goal from Ndombele and then 2 bad bits of defending really. Shame they scored so early, just made it even more difficult for them.

But people have also argued he’s been less effective because he drops deep too often for England and for Spurs under Jose as opposed to being more of an actual number 9 and getting in the box also. Its tough but I think having Lukaku signed if gives us the options to play with a fixed 9. Or play with those 3 from last season but we still needed someone who is going to be able to score regularly and Lukaku will undoubtedly be the guy ahead of those others.

There was more fluidity with Havertz, Mount and Werner but also not enough goals as you’ve said which is why I think Tuchel and the club had to go and bring in a CF to improve this season. We didn’t see any signs in pre season that we would see an increase if proficiency in front of goal from Werner, Havertz, Mount or these other guys so the decision to buy a CF surely was one that was justified. I don’t think it would of mattered who it was say if it was Lewandowski, Haaland, Kane, Aguero or Lukaku, there would still be similar problems perhaps because who is the best 2 to play off our CF? To keep the fluidity we had, we probably would of had to go sign a more prolific number 10, second striker-esque player or maybe someone like Karim Benzema who is perhaps the only player who I think is capable of playing in that way and scoring a lot of goals. I don’t think there are many of this type of players about that could score 20+ a season and do everything else to the level we would expect. We have to find a way to get them in and be effective with Rom because undoubtedly he will be our top scorer if he plays regularly.

What an atmosphere by the looks of it at St James. That sort of atmosphere is going to be very intimidating for Spurs/other teams who go there. Even today, with Steve Bruce there despite several people trying to tell me he would of been sacked in the buyout thread before this game 😂 Would be cool if they got a result, compound Nuno’s miserable start even more.

Still concerned with his delivery. In fact, him and Azpi’s final ball was near shocking 99/100 times yesterday. As wingbacks, they need to do more in the final third in those crossing positions. Especially when we play 352 and they are going to be one of the most vital attacking threats in the team.

Was the argument last season not that we needed a number 9 to play with the likes of Werner particularly and also Mount/Havertz/Ziyech etc though? I remember on Werner especially it was always brought up that he played with a number 9 at Leipzig… I think it was actually a point you had made. The attackers are out of form/not productive enough though - all of them more or less. Still not overly convinced that its quite panic stations yet but need to see something from these players v Malmo, Norwich, Southampton, Newcastle in the next 2 weeks.

His endurance should be good already. He had a full pre season, no injuries, nothing. Not to forget hes 26 years old in January. Played 90 minutes today but I don’t think he really played the last 25/30. I was surprised he didn’t get subbed but suppose his height and also first half performance was his saving graces. Throw in Kovacic doing his best to make him look as if he wasn’t the worst player in MF (Kova was a brutal watch today).

True but again, we have seen with Costa upfront who was more of a penalty box player that this can work much much better, because of this I wouldn’t necessarily panic on the attack just yet. Not fully anyway. Lukaku will get his X amount of goals this season undoubtedly and we will win more games/points than last season but out of Werner, Pulisic, Havertz, Mount, Ziyech, it is concerning on who plays. We need to find the right 2 to play off him as he’s undoubtedly going to be the number 1 CF. That is clear. Regardless of if people think he’s the right man or not. Who is going to be the best players to combine with him? Who are going to contribute goals, assists, key passes regularly too? The front 2 of him and Timo doesn’t fill me with confidence. You could argue we have too many options in that positions and there are some who are very similar players bar Werner and I didn’t even mention CHO who is an attacker on paper.

Again did feel Christensen lead the defence very well moving to the middle from his normal side when Thiago is there but really felt Sarr was very strong in his duels and it didn’t phase him at all. Showed physicality, athleticism, technical attributes - after a loan spell at Porto where many thought he wouldn’t ever be good enough too. Maybe just difference of opinions and supposing how Christensen has been virtually faultless majority of the games under Tuchel, maybe its to be expected from AC now as much as anything this level of performance.

Yet neither are CFs which this team needed so its a pointless comparison. Both would of been excellent signings, Hakimi especially, but still still leave us short uptop because if there is one thing we have seen from Timo and Kai is they still aren’t fully dependable as strikers at a big club. Thought he would of done it sooner, he didn't play well at all. Issues in attack with not releasing it quick enough is one thing, his play today was also not good at all. Obviously perhaps its not going to happen overnight but shoehorning him and Werner together in a front 2 doesn’t look exactly brilliant yet either. Re subs RLC as well second half should have went, very concerning he still struggles after 60-65 minutes with the intensity of the PL. Did well first half too in phases bar not being progressive enough with distribution. Just like Kovacic but bit more physical.

Wtf did you watch!?!? out of the three he was probably the best, or was it just me no?

Where the defenders actually poor though or did Brentford keep winning a lot of second balls in midfield/keep overloading the far post in the second half? Lets not deny that Kante, Kovacic and Ruben struggled in the second half with the intensity and once we got the ball, we lacked the composure to keep it and play through them (ironically think Tuchel missed a chance to bring Jorginho on for RLC last 15-20 mins or so to try get control in there again). I don’t think you can say those 3 in the backline did poorly or didn’t play as a unit. For their first game together, I felt every one of them did well and whilst we struggled with Brentford overloading the far post a lot (as did Liverpool and Arsenal), you cannot say it was really the 3 CBs who were really at fault. The wingbacks when they dropped in to help out, aren’t particularly great in the air and were always likely going to be second best up against their men. Obviously you defend as a team, all 11 players and today the midfield and the wingbacks weren’t particularly good by any stretch of the imagination. Even more so second half, where the midfield was very exposed and very reactive instead of proactive to second balls. We seen this v Spurs for us. Brentford upped the intensity and worked their arses off in there.

Very true. Seen a moment where Chilwell could have then he eventually does and Lukaku’s offside - was chance he tried to cross for Werner low and hard across the box - which happens 4/5 times a game. Ball doesn’t come soon enough, he is offside - same with Werner sometimes also. This will hold us back a lot.

Massive result despite the performance. As mentioned by myself and many others, Liverpool and Arsenal dropped points vs them. The performance wasn’t great first half or even close to good second half - they absolutely battered us last 30-35 minutes - but we would of lost this game last season. 100% so for me, albeit with a lot of questions still, its another sign of progress - winning when playing poorly. Like we did at times with Jose, Carlo and Conte as well as in 2012. Hard earned win clearly but again, sometimes the best results are the hard earned ones. Brentford are no mugs. They look up to the standard Wolves were when they got promoted and will remain in the PL for the foreseeable if they maintain their approach and manager. Also after an international break, make shift back 3 (all who played extremely well), still an attack that isn’t exactly anywhere near as potent as it should be or on the same wavelength, don’t let the bad performance necessarily cloud that this is a good result.

How did Mendy not get nominated for the Ballon D’Or? I mean he made some big saves all of last season and today is an example of how he is genuinely world class. Ridiculous.

Another game where our attackers have done zilch though. Really. Werner and Lukaku’s runs maybe a positive at times although final passes haven’t helped but your not judged on runs, your judged on goals and unfortunately none today. Back 3 and GK only people who’ve performed all game though. Cannot believe Tuchel has given Ruben and Azpi 90 minutest both are absolutely fucked and getting done at every opportunity. Nvm Azpi off. 1-0 here is a great result though lets not kid on, Liverpool drew 3-3, Arsenal lost 2-0.

This is why I am worried about RLC playing in a 3 man MF as the deepest player. Whilst he has done well first half, he has been shocking second half along with Kovacic (poor all game). Look at the lack of control as well as the spaces between MF and backline without the ball. Also look at how easy the centre backs are being got at. We cannot afford to have passengers against a team who’s looking to go direct and play off second balls in and around those areas. Also as poor as Kovacic was, he has an engine and gets around the park that bit faster than Ruben does unfortunately. Kante hasnt been great either but you keep him on because he is Kante. Sarr has been fantastic though. Rock solid debut.

He has impressed me a lot tbf. Physically he’s done well, looks like he has a good blend of physicality and athleticism on top of showing he's comfortable in possession in that LCB position, which is nice to see an actual naturally left footed player there too. Not a big deal but in terms him positioning himself to receive the ball, letting it come across him with real ease and being able to find his wing back quicker, its only maybe a millisecond or two quicker (and whilst Rudi is also good at it despite being right footed), it gives us a bit more speed in our build up. Kovacic playing rugby there by looks of it

Chilwell in a Marcos Alonso-esque position!!!! Fuck me Werner-Lukaku have been pretty much tragic together, need a third attacker on.

Hes looking good in most things except for his distribution, still concerned because he hasn’t broke the lines once and hes had a lot of opportunities/touches of the ball. Even playing sideways, sometimes just needs to be one touch quicker. Particularly in that deeper position. His recoveries and duels have been very good though. Which has surprised me. Just there he got caught out a bit but felt that was a foul too.