OneMoSalah

To be honest I did think he would of done better. Or at least in terms of minutes played anyway, but I suppose if your managers picking Eric Lamela ahead of you reguarly or using him as a sub first somethings not quite right. Hes not set the world alight and probably would never have reached the heights he did at Spurs before and Real but he has 10 goals and 3 assists in 1135 minutes. Not necessarily a bad return considering its a goal involvement every 87 minutes or so. Fair some are in the Europa but also in 569 minutes in the PL he has 5 goals and 2 assists (more a purple patch though). Didn’t justify the huge wages and loan fee though... even funnier how hes basically fucking Spur off to go back to Real in the summer by sounds of it to continue picking up his pay check. Think the money he’s on and his treatment at Real now has probably killed his desire to try kick start his career. A similar sort of situation has occurred at Arsenal with Willian also, huge wages and not the level of output you’d expect after his returns last season (although probably more a one off as was best statistical season in his career for G and A), has 0 goals and 7 assists (5 in league).

This Yes the passes were good but a bit of pressure on the ball and Kroos doesn’t make them. Simple as that. Tbf they only had their 3 goals, one chance from another Liverpool mistake and maybe one or two half chances. Wouldn’t say they had 6 or 7 big chances. Liverpool also had a decent couple of chances, one that required some excellent defending from Varane and then Farlan Mendy. Real are a good team but have shown huge inconsistencies for the last 2/3 seasons plus have multiple ageing players who I think with some of our younger players and a bit of luck (which all teams need in the CL also) we could definitely give them a good game and shock then. I think Liverpool would be the worse opposition for us out of the two in all reality because they know us better and would probably be better suited to playing us than Real are tbf because Real aren’t really a high intensity pressing team either, they are a bit more pragmatic with Zidane. Liverpool may have a worse defence than Real in comparison to Ramos and Varane but I think bar Benzema, most would say Mane and Salah start at Real over the guys they have (Eden included right now because hes been shite for Real). Their MF is obviously superior technically but physically they also struggle at times and they look a bit leggy. Plus Kroos and Modric aren’t as interested in the combative stuff going back the way unlike Wijnaldum, Thiago, Henderson, Fabinho etc are. I still think if Liverpool get off to an an early goal tonight they have every chance of going through so hopefully Real do.

Real are pretty decent aye but what they have got is that knowhow in the CL and on their day can step it up. But lets not pretend that nobody else can step it up on their day to perform at a very high level or that Real are the force like they were the first time round under Ancelotti and Zidane when they had huge CL success. Without Benzema they would be nowhere in the last 2 or 3 seasons or if Atletico didn’t choke 2/3 leagues games in the same time period we played them they would be the 10 points clear they once were. Our performance v Liverpool was also impressive, bar it being only one goal. We were very complete I felt, solid defensively, good in building the game, had a few half chances which was the only disappointment. Tbf, 2 of Real’s goals v Liverpool come from real poor moments from Trent Alexander-Arnold, if he had tracked the run of Vinicius and tucked inside, the guy would never have scored the first goal. Thats not even mentioning Liverpool giving Toni Kroos the opportunity to get the ball under no pressure, turn around and get his head up to play the pass. Yes the pass and finish was quality but poor from Liverpool, particularly a team that press and play at high intensity normally, Jota (IIRC) just looks at him and lets him pick his pass, its a matter of 2 or 3 yards he doesn’t even have to go full tilt to put pressure on him and he didn’t. I mean how many times have people seen Kroos do that throughout his career? It is not rocket science, he has quality giving him time on the ball with no one trying to close him down is not good because he will hit forward runners all day long. Then again the second goal, Kroos again too much time and space, Trent mistake, Asensio goal. Then the third is a GK mistake. This assumption Real bossed the full game and destroyed Liverpool is a bit far fetched. They had another big chance that came from a Kabak mistake and a few other half chances but take the mistakes out and if it finishes 1-1 people are saying its not an amazing result for Real. Id fancy us against them also, probably more so than Liverpool, we have plenty of pace on the break and also legs in MF with Kovacic, Kante and Mount whilst they may have quality they have got ageing legs in MF and in defence. I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool went and beat them later in fact, if they play with aggression and intensity and actually defend it will be a lot closer than many would think. Salah, Jota and Mane against anyone as well gives them as good a chance as they can get.

Jorginho's been one of our best players I felt? Recoveries, interceptions and tackles have been good. Needs to take a bit more control of the game but he’s doing the other side of the game well which people usually pan him for. I get the feeling we have another gear or two to go up though. Most of the players can do better though in midfield and attack.

Also this sort of performance is why I felt CHO would have been better suited, offers much more with the ball and has also shown defensive awareness. I suppose we have the 2-0 advantage so we aren’t desperate to be pushing for more goals but CHO would give us so much more I think.

Not been the worst start but still look a bit meh. That was a big chance and Chilwell done poorly there. Personally, Jorginho has been very good and very combatant so far lots of good interceptions/tackles whilst Kante hasn’t impressed.

If we get him in, its a huge signing especially for a free transfer. I mean look at Cavani at United this season as an example. And considering Aguero is also younger and a better player probably at current when he is fit and firing. His injury record as we’ve mentioned before is also hugely exaggerated. For 1 season, 18 months, 2 seasons, he would be better than hanging our coat on the ever decreasing chance we might get Haaland or on the chance Timo Werner or Kai Havertz are going to score those sort of goals we need next season. Yes I would hope their goal returns improve but we need a striker who can get 15-20 goals a season also on top of players who can contribute 10+ goals from other positions such as Werner, Mount and Havertz.

Would agree with that team bar Werner, would put Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi in ahead of him for sure. Unfortunately, can see TT using Werner v City, but again I would prefer to see that same front 3 v Palace line up v City. Would also imagine that Mount will play regardless.

Doesnt happen often enough though and thats what separates world class players from the potential world class players. No doubt winning a world cup etc plus trophies at Juventus and United, Pogba has achieved good things in his career but has never truly reached the heights he should have and thats on him more than anything. If he played like he did today, he would get in any team on the continent probably, but he will probably be average for 3/4 weeks now and churn out one other performance like this before the season ends. Then United fans will go why did we finish so far behind City and think that its purely down the OGS and not buying more top class players (which counts obviously for some of it) when guys like De Gea, Pogba, Martial, Maguire (yes hes overrated but clearly can play better than he has at times this season) have been so inconsistent costing them big points/lack of points from not being at it.

Honestly dont know who is going to finish top 4, its so tough to call. Leicester seem to be doing what they did last season dropping off a bit and then you’ve got the likes of us, Liverpool and surprisingly West Ham. Everton still have 2 games in hand also so its going to be an incredibly tight finish. The bigger games are going to make all the difference as well, we have to play West Ham, Man City, Leicester and to a lesser extent Arsenal in the league still. We have to win at least 3 of those remaining fixtures as the City game will be the toughest I think to give us the best chance (although I would take a draw at City as it wouldn’t be the worst result and if we take full points off Leicester, West Ham and Arsenal, it wont be too bad) and that is considering we win the other games v Brighton, Fulham and Villa. Arsenal not in the running but a big game none the less and we should be beating them and well if we drop any points at Fulham, Villa or Brighton we probably dont deserve to be finishing top 4.

Big goal from Cavani for United in the Spurs game. Something like 7 PL goals in under 1100 minutes. Maybe not hugely impressive but hes gotten some big ones and if he played more often from the start would probably have more. Must admit a very decent free for a player who still had plenty to offer and was saying that when we were linked in the January too.

Dont say that people will think hes Tuchel’s son next... It is mind numbingly annoying how people are seeing his value now because hes been playing under TT. Its quite embarrassing really. He may of had dips and games where hes not been at his best but it happens with young players. He is going to be a key figure here for the next 10+ years if he keeps going the way he is.

Typical. The Gary Neville’s etc of the world will say hes done an outstanding job also... United hypothetically could have been at the top/much closer if they had a coach who could tactically outmanoeuvre other coaches, they’ve had 9 draws this season. Or if they were better defensively. Crazy because the guys ex United they drop their standards/arent as critical, not saying they should be winning the league but even under Mourinho they managed a 2nd place finish and they were a considerably worse team probably. Every time they seem to look as if they are making progress with Ole they go and shoot themselves in the foot 😂

I dont see why not though? Tuchel isn’t going to let us sit off and just settle for a 0-0 its not his nature to play for draws. If we play like we did today, having Callum at RWB could be more fruitful than having James in to be honest. Both good players and good options but I think Porto are going to have to come at us as they did at times in the first leg so there will be gaps and having Callum in definitely bears more of a threat than James does in an attacking sense because he can go at players. James offers more defensive security to be fair but I think at 2-0 up if we play anything like today, we will be fine. I was concerned if it was a poor performance today going into it that we would find it more difficult as shown last week after WBA. Either way Pulisic has to play at all costs. Another timely reminder than without the injuries he is probably still our best attacking player considerably.

Milinkovic-Savic not a more advanced midfielder? I know Lazio play with a 352 more often than not also with him and Luis Alberto flanking Lucas Leiva so maybe he is a bit more box to box as Alberto strikes me as a number 10 but still, if we want/need a holding midfielder we need to get a holding midfielder. Not another round peg for a square hole, regardless of how good he is or what his name is. The guy at Ajax and Camavinga are good talents but I do think the fact both are only 18, they still could easily do another season at Ajax and Rennes and be no worse off for it. Another 30-40 games of playing every week undoubtedly wouldn’t hurt them or stunt their growth. Ajax are incredible as well as keeping young players, I mean de Jong and de Ligt both left at ages 20 and 19, having been playing regularly for at least 2 seasons and were clearly ready for a big big step. De Jong had over 80 games at Ajax and de Ligt over 100. Gravenberch has only played one season as a regular and that is this one. Ultimately it depends as well, would either of them be guaranteed to come in and start? They're only gonna move where they get a lot of minutes at that age, for sure. Plus, I dont think midfield will be an area we are particularly going to look to recruit in to be honest. If TT really has any faith in Gilmour it would be a daft move to bring another CM in when it is clear he has a preference of either one of or both of Jorginho/Kovacic and Kante as his first choice selections. So for two talented 18 year olds, I think they would be less inclined to think they’d get a lot of minutes here.

Same front 3 and Callum at RWB v Porto please TT. Will tear my hair out if Tuchel drops Pulisic for Werner after today.

Very good half. Good attacking play. Big difference with Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi in ahead of Werner and James.

Aye people thinking that 2012 will repeat itself (really was1 in a million despite AVB telling the players at the beginning of the season we would win the CL apparently) already before the QF 2nd leg are definitely tempting fate. I am not confident about playing Porto 2nd leg never mind Real Madrid or Liverpool afterwards... 2 away goals would normally be comfortable but if the performance this weekend is shite and we play like we did in the first leg for the majority of it... it will be close. Tuchel may have gotten to a CL final last season too which is maybe why people are also jumping on this.

This is why Pochettino for as good a coach as he is, only has 1 trophy, in which PSG were already in the final for (I think?). He doesn’t understand the magnitude of winning trophies and more so, at clubs like PSG, it is an absolute must. I think Lille will win it. And yet people will say he doesnt have his own players, he didnt get Dele Alli etc, I mean jesus .. look at their squad. Look at it and the value of it also. I still think if Tuchel hadn’t been so outspoken with Leonardo he would of still been there and turned it around.

Would be an improvement on Boothroyd but to be honest he has been stealing a living in that job for years. For the players they have, the u21s play absolutely brutal football at times. Seen in the article “Lampard, a more modern coach” as if that means anything meaningful though..... good old British media. He was anything but a modern coach here he seemed more old school in didnt coach shape by the looks of it and just let the players figure it out in the middle and final thirds. Interesting interview though, was always too big for him this early in his career and I have no doubts he will eventually bounce back. A club like of a Celtic or Rangers would be a good grounding for him. Plenty of expectations, lower standard domestically and budget wise but definitely the sort of place which could make him as a manager. Every game is a cup final for the opposition and also there is European exposure through CL and Europa.

He will be in demand, very true but nobody is going to he that desperate that they will make such a daft deal. I agree with the hardballing them approach and its how Marina usually operates anyway but, that or leaving them to consider who else is potentially available and they could try sign at CF or entertaining the idea of giving their best player who they value at over 100 m to us for Tammy and 10m are totally different things though 😂 Not even the club would be so daft to propose that. Marina would get laughed out of London. Nobody is going to value Abraham at over £35m just like nobody is going to value Barkley at over £20-25m (although we have moronically set a £35m asking price). Even more so during a pandemic. If we want Abraham in a deal for Rice the money side will more than likely start at around £40-50m. As it will for Unites if they include Lingard. Nobody will be interested in selling their best players cheap or taking bad deals this summer as well more so due to the pandemic hitting so many clubs also. So it will be top dollar or nothing for most top clubs wanting that bracket of players.

I am sorry but I thought April fools was over a week ago.... £10m and a player with a little over 2 years left on his contract? For someone who West Ham reportedly value at over 100m and has a contract to 2024 with a 12 month extension option? As well as the fact there’s talk they want him to sign a new and improved contract... I think some people are dreaming here. Its Tammy Abraham, not Leo Messi, who we would be trading here to West Ham 😂 going to take a lot lot lot more than £10m and him in any potential deal if this is to happen.

Sooner hes gone the better. Never fit for the shirt and never will be. Just not Chelsea level.

Exactly. As if people don’t expect players to argue or be competitive etc in training or to get a bit intense. Its just more bullshit as usual. I always wonder what footballers would of been like with social media 20 years ago. What peoples opinions on the Roy Keanes, Patrick Vieras, Alan Shearers, Duncan Fergusons etc would be if half the shit they got up to in training/behind the scenes/before and after games was leaked out in the manner things are now with social media 😂

You must be stoned, no way that deal come off. They value him over 100mn. I must admit I have seen an improvement in Rice this last year or so but I dont see him as a Chelsea player under TT. And the price will still be too much.