OneMoSalah

Exactly and managers are the same as players, capable of getting it wrong/making a mistake but ultimately the first 45 minutes as negative as it was, still was 0-0. Barring a deflection probably remained 0-0. So did he really get it woefully wrong? Similar to Contes approach v City in his second season, again lost 1-0 but was same argument. Maybe a bit wrong but woefully wrong? You’d think we got skelped 5 or 6-0. End of the day 3 points lost on game week 6 wont decide anything.

Jesus talk about knee jerk. Honestly, you’d think it was Wycombe Wanderers who beat us today.

All well and good saying that but I mean, who aren’t? City are the best team at that in Europe and have had 5 seasons working on it with Pep. Anyway, jesus, overreaction from some on here. It is one game against the reigning champions. All I am seeing is this is a reality check/embarrassing performance/whatever else which is ironic. I mean obviously the goal is to compete and be much closer this year for the title, 100% but how is today a reality check? Did anyone think we would blow City away and win 8-0 or something? The positives is from the first 6 games it is so clear we are comfortably better already than we were last season at the beginning of the season, mentally, physically, tactically and as a group. Are people also forgetting we have played 6 games so far - won 4, drew 1 (10 men v Liverpool) and lost 1 (against reigning PL champions). I mean you would think its the end of the world losing today. Or that the league was done. Considering we have played Spurs, Arsenal, City and Liverpool in our first 6 to have 13 points out of these 6 games that is a pretty good start. And better than what we would of gotten at the beginning of past season in those same fixtures. So we will clearly be up there towards the end of the season, I dont think anyone can doubt this. This reality check bullshit, give me a break. One game.

Hardly half as bad all things considering its still 0-0. We have had arguably the best half chance despite being penned in against the best passing team in the world, whilst it being our “worst performance v them under Tuchel” is hardly a tragedy is it? How many times have City isolated our back 3? How many shots on target? How many goals? How many big games under other managers have we shithoused despite playing averagely/poorly? If we continue playing like this and draw (or win), its still a good result.

3 men in MF helps congest it in there but also gives us less threat going forward. Either way though, still 0-0, haven’t looked great but City have hardly had any clear chances. Could be worse. Tuchel will not be completely happy though and will expect better second half. Every time we play City though and the games go like this - us being deeper, getting penned in - everyone always fawns over how they play with the ball and how they press, end of the day means fuck all if they don’t score though. CL final was the same, as was the game where Alonso scored. People Moaned and moaned, look at what happened.

Playing as a 6 or 8 when Mount came in for Ngolo and left far too many spaces without the ball as mentioned in match thread and above by Tomo. Was pretty meh first half higher up too. Not good enough. This deserves more game time thing is surely a joke. He isn’t creative enough or isn’t capable of holding his position as a deeper midfielder, he literally is the definition of a luxury player who has no actual defined position or contribution to the team.

Just play James there from the beginning and use CHO further forward or not at all. Not rocket science. What has CHO done bar 3 or 4 games at the beginning of Tuchel’s reign? I get rotation but if he started and played like that against Spurs he would of been off after 20 minutes never mind 45.

Not going to lie the fact we are still seeing RLC and Barkley in a Chelsea kit horrifies me. Particularly seeing RLC playing in the deeper 2 and Villa on transitions were killing us. Barely disciplined enough to play in a 3 man midfield bar the odd flash of dribbling, never mind a 2 man midfielder. Also Hudson-Odoi is likely finished this season here if he doesn’t pull the finger out. The fact Tuchel hasn’t subbed him is absolutely mind boggling considering he subbed Mason, Saul etc in last 2 games without hesitation.

How is Callum still on?

Sitter. Wish someone would just put their foot through it in those moments like what Costa used to do, he would put the ball through the keeper if he had to 😂

Callum looks so poor going forward. Just dribbles backwards. Chilwell not good enough closing the cross and Chalobah not sure of his man. Awful goal to concede, basics of football is stop the cross, Chilwell gives him 3 or 4 metres

Then he misses again 👀

Will say it again and again and keep saying it, Thomas Tuchel, his ruthlessness and sheer will to be the best is the most important thing this group has. Best manager we have had in years. If we keep him happy we will become an absolute force, I am fully convinced. He’s never fully satisfied. No slacking off or oh we did this so we should be ok. First half wasn’t good in terms of the basics and you seen the reaction second half. As he said post match, the duals, recoveries, 50-50s etc he talked a lot about them and whilst its not a big thing in smaller games, in big games, these are key. We rolled Spurs over second half despite our quality not being at the highest.

Wont get the credit but again almost faultless.

Why would he bring him on though? I genuinely believe Tuchel has lost faith in him/sees him as a squad player….. The irony is people claimed he would be “undroppable under Tuchel” which couldn’t be further from the truth clearly. The next 4 or 5 games will be telling for his career here.

Please dont bring on Werner

Unfortunately, the type of player he is, he will always get hard knocks or tackles in games. The club, his NT and himself have to find a way to strengthen those areas/rehabilitate so that he doesn’t get as many knocks and can play more games. Maybe genetically he is unfortunate too but I remember Joe Cole being someone who got a lot of knocks but never really changed his style. If Puli was to totally change his style though it would be a waste of incredible pace and 1 v 1 ability. He has had a lot of knocks and maybe it will be an issue for him in his long term career but also Arjen Robben was the same. Look how that went. Went to Spain then Germany and played a high volume of games. I don’t get what you mean by he has to stop taking unnecessary risks…. I mean really what does that mean? Stop going in for 50/50s? Or stop taking people on? Be scared of getting tackled? If he starts doing that he will get criticised for it.

Remember when he was going to be undroppable under Tuchel even with Lukaku? 🤣🤣🤣 Honestly, we may only be 3 games in to the season but if Mount and Kai stay fit he will be struggling to get in. I would say Mount, Rom and Kai will be first choice barring injuries. Also factor in if Ziyech comes back firing also he adds another interesting proposition to challenge the two of the front three playing off Rom. There is lots of talk he will go back to Germany in the summer with Nagelsmann wanting him at Bayern apparently. If they offer more than what we paid, for someone who cannot get into the starting 11, be daft not to take it. I really think the links to Sane and Coman weren’t by chance, more so now the talk of Bayern and Nagelsmann wanting Werner.

I don’t think he will be asking to be a top earner considering the likes of Werner, Kante, Havertz etc are on a lot more but he will want a pay rise for sure. Although this happens with 99% of all contract renewals so its only to be expected. This is probably his last big contract too hence why he is maybe taking his time, with clubs like PSG and Madrid looking at him but I am sure we will make a good offer. He has said he wants to stay before and his role in the team as well as Tuchel’s clear belief/faith in him so I doubt it will be a major issue unless we are going to not offer something reasonable to reflect his role here.

Tuchel questioned PSG letting players such as Thiago Silva and Edison Cavani leave on a free… this led to him and Leonardo disagreeing over recruitment and eventually his dismissal as manager. Based on how much of a fan Tuchel is of Toni, not convincing him to sign a new deal would be stupid. Not that it would necessarily go that way for instance re TT and Leonardo but if he is a key component for Tuchel, it would make sense to try everything to get a deal over the line.

Gareth Southagte again exceptional on racism “we haven’t got our own house in order” … 110% correct. Doesnt justify it from other countries obviously, absolutely not but hard to blame other countries when 90% of the racist abuse the guys who missed the pens got v Italy probably came from people within the UK. Poor again though, no place for it, horrendous. UEFA, FIFA, do more and soon

Personally looking back, we probably should of just sold him to Bayern whenever it was they bid for him. I don’t think he’s any better than when he was the kid who made that cameo v Newcastle under Conte or the pre-season with Sarri. His career is stagnating because when he does play, be it as an attacker or as a wingback, he seems to find it very hard to take risks or what I feel, maybe its the fact he’s on a big contract and he feels he should be starting most weeks as opposed to earning his spot. Thats now Sarri, Frank and Tuchel he has been in the squad as a full first team player and has been in and out in phases. Its a worrying pattern.

Only taken a day for the Saul thread to turn into the Jorginho thread. Excellent.

Honestly just gonna say it. €5m euros loan. Unbelievable deal. He is so rounded as a player - dribbling, tackling, interceptions, reading the game, goals, assists, athleticism, versatility - you name it, he can do it. People reading too far into Atletico wanting or willing to let him go, its not because of his quality that is for sure, it will be the player wanting a new challenge or his salary or the fee they could get for him maybe.

This has been said multiple times but Barkley hasn’t been given a squad number and ordered to sort himself a move. So many would assume he will not be playing at all - which I am sure you’ll be devastated about because after his mandatory 4 good games a season at Villa, you were ruing our decision of loaning him out and not Mason 🤣 If Saul signs surely Ruben can see the writing on the wall. If he really thinks he is going to try play ahead of Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic and Saul, then he should be drug tested.