OneMoSalah

Tbf sick of hearing if this guy wants to stay or doesn’t and Frank’s constant non definitive answers don’t help. Just ask him Frank. Straight up. Your the manager. Not the kit man. Fuck sake. Played a good second half to be fair to Callum but if he wants to make it here or at any other top club, he has to play like that from the start not one half.

Played excellent today. Proof of why in these sort of games where we dominate the ball throughout and teams try let us break them down, he is vital. Yet again though some people fail to see the value of having a player like this. Still think if he went to City instead of here the summer we got him that people would truly appreciate the quality he has. Suppose though typical Chelsea isnt it? Limited player or not - which players dont have some sort of limitations? Bar a handful - if you build a good system around any good players they will perform. If we get Declan Rice he wont be taking his role in the team in these games 100%.

Lacks the tactical discipline to play as a defensive midfielder. That's why he is a 8 or a 10 for me. Think as well, like Kante, if you just ask him to play in front of the defence you do take away his ability to break away and get further up the pitch. Regarding that tweet as well with the different screenshots, yes and no partly on him partly on the others not playing higher. There is no need for Kovacic and Jorginho to both be so deep. Even if we are playing 4231 there but again, you've got the ball, your under no pressure, the CBs are both there, your outnumbering them 3 to 2 if their strikers push up. The way I see it is: Jorginho should be the deepest when we have it (position hes in in both photos) because he is arguably the most comfortable on the ball and can play through the lines from that sort of position or switch it as well as pick the ball up from the CBs if they are under pressure. Kovacic can carry the ball really well so for me should be taking the ball further up/looking to break into those spaces and drive the team forward in these situations. Mount can drop in there but not always necessarily have to if the ball can be carried by another MF player such as a Kovacic or even a Kante and then he is able to try find other spaces or get in the box. There's no doubt it could be worked on but if he comes into there in the first one he's surrounded by 3 Tottenham players in close proximity and then the other 2 aren't a million miles away. Plus your taking him further away from the goal minimising his affect on the game even more. Okay he gets the ball but what does he do with it there realistically? The first photo they have the numerical advantage in that situation, that's why they are set up like that, its a small area, you can beat the first man or set yourself to play away from them but probably 9/10 times your probably going to be forced to go backwards or lose the ball trying something you'd see Messi do or Eden do or Neymar do etc. As mentioned, if it were a player like Eden, the odds would change for instance but again, you probably wouldn't see teams trying to play through their midfield there and most would go wider to where the space is. The space is there with Azpi and then you can possibly create the chance for a 2 v 1 situation on Regulion. Really the issue for me is Kovacic not going deciding to be more progressive and try pass to Callum, Azpi or even carry it forward himself in the first picture because he can take players on and carries the ball very well as we seen last season and in bits with Sarri. The second image is more applicable as an issue for Mason though for his actual positioning or even Giroud there, one of them gets in that space and receives the ball, their MF isn't an issue. Or even if Jorginho finds Giroud which I think is possible there surely? Really where Mount's standing is ideal for them because they know they wont try to play through that gap to get to him. He's basically hiding from the ball there because they've shut that pass off. Even with Werner as well we can't get him into the play because they've shut that pass off and if it was switched out there Aurier will not be far away either as he will be tucked in on that side as it looks like they've got a back 3 of Tanganga, Dier and Alderweireld visible in that photo. The most logical thing to do there is probably to go to Giroud who can play it to Azpi and again you get the opportunity to create a 2 v 1 on Regulion. Again. And if one of the CBs (Dier I think?) follow Giroud and he gets rolled, then you've taken someone out of position and are running at their backline. Maybe thats what happened I can't find an actual clip of it anywhere though or a replay to watch it. For me, the first photo Kovacic is capable of playing that out to Callum's feet who has a few metres away from the fullback. Or Azpilicueta if he wants to be a bit safer. Or taking it forward himself 10-15 yards. In the second image Jorginho can surely find Giroud there? Who in turn could find Mason as he looked pretty close to him and could surely make a movement to get it or go to Azpi or Jorgi could lift it to Azpilicueta in the firstplace. Or again go a bit more progressive and look to try get Callum in behind their fullback? Both have the ability and passing ranges to do these passes. This could all be a load of shite in someone else's opinion but thats just the way I see it. Spurs wanted us to try these passes through their midfield, into a position where they have the numerical advantage when they sat off us and could the break on us as we'd have too many players up the pitch. Its typical Jose Mourinho. Their 352 set up they matched our CBs with two strikers, they outnumbered us in defence 3 against our 1 upfront and in midfield they also matched us up, having a holding player who could mark that space a 10 would play in and then two players to the sides of him who would match up Jorginho and Kovacic who didn't really venture forward too much. I mean they probably wanted Jorginho to have the ball and try find people like Mason in these central areas as it would allow them to break on us. Remember when we drew with Arsenal years ago when Jose came back and he said something along the lines of "we controlled them/the game" because they couldn't get the ball to the likes of Ozil, Sanchez etc. He basically did the exact same against us at times. Packed midfield, make us go wide as opposed to playing more centrally, cross it, 3 big CBs, a GK who's good at claiming crosses. First half even then we dominated but never really threatened them enough. So it was very much the same. Also apologies for not putting this post in same one as last one. Didn't see tweet link in here to after but felt the need to reply haha.

Pretty sure you can't play with two different numbers in one season? Plus Barkley had already played and wore 8? Might be wrong but pretty sure he can't change it to 8 now as its been used and hes already been registered as wearing 19?

Think it was obvious he would get playing time this season regardless. Just look at his minutes last year. He played 90% of the league games. Where do these fannies writing these articles appear from?

Why do PSG want this clown? Hes shite.

100% agree. Same as the John Stones situation under Jose. Which for a club of our stature, similarly like United with Sancho, is pretty pathetic - even more so if we don't get him and either go for an equivalent to a Papy signing in that position which scares me or don't get someone at all. If we cannot get him we need a reasonable plan B or plan C. Thomas Partley has a 45m release clause and is twice the player in my eyes. Plus if we do sell Jorginho we are going to need someone in this ilk to replace him who can dictate a game and play through the lines from deeper positions, Thomas is a lot better on the ball and has the physicality, mobility and tenacity you'd want from someone there I feel. I think if is a purely defensive minded midfielder we were after, its a shame Javi Martinez is the wrong side of 30 because he could do a very good job for us for 2 seasons yet I reckon but he has only got eyes on returning to Bilbao and is probably at an age where he isn't a viable option for us - despite getting Thiago Silva who obviously is better quality but Martinez is only 32 I think and has life in him yet. Even then, Wilfried Ndidi is arguably better than Rice and a definite improvement with the ball, why haven't we been linked to him if we are after a youngish DM with PL experience and still potential to grow? It baffles me that we seem to be so set on trying to sign only English players at a huge cost. I know we haven't just done so this window but we have signed Chilwell for a fee of over 50m. We were linked with Nick Pope, Lewis Dunk, Ben White, Jadon Sancho and Declan Rice still etc. I don't know where its coming from be it the board or the manager but there is so many better players out their for better value - some bargains perhaps if you look hard enough - that would fill some of these roles. The other side also, we urgently don't lack HG players now. Reece, Andreas, Fiyako/Fikayo - never get the spelling right -, Ben, Mason, Callum, Tammy, Billy, Ruben if he stays, that's what 9? I mean if Partley wasn't possible or Ndidi wasn't a viable option or any of the other however many DMs out there okay I can see the want for Rice but I can't believe he is a first choice and only choice for us right now - it may have worked for Chilwell but it won't necessarily work for us getting Rice, clearly the desire to leave West Ham isn't as much as it was for Ben to leave Leicester. Its also a bit off topic but its not as if Frank can turn around and say if the seasons not gone as he'd have hoped or come January or the end of it he hasn't been backed with the players he wants or be as frustrated as he was last January at the lack of incomings. Who was the last manager to have been given a window as good as this in terms of recruitment? Jose the season we won the league with him? Even then Costa and Cesc were the only ones who played regularly along with the return of Courtois. In terms of recruitment this is our best window in years and years based on the quality we've taken in. With or without a DM.

Let him go on a free if it comes to it. Not good enough. But has done more than Ruben has under FL tbf. Okay hes off just seen it.

Ruben or Ross plus Rudiger and 30m for Rice. Would be a decent deal in all and all. Still dont think Rice is or ever will be a 80m player but hey ho.

Do agree with some of the Poch reasonings but think his general improvement of Southampton and Spurs as units was impressive as well as the progression some of the players made under him. The likes of Luke Shaw, Son Heung-Min, Adam Lallana, Harry Kane, Victor Wanyama, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld etc. all throughly improved under him. Lucas Moura as well sort of rejuvenated a struggling career with him. Even Eric Dier has carved out a career as a semi decent footballer with him. Kieran Trippier as well. Suppose there are the duds but I do think with a bigger budget he’d maybe manage to get one or two players who are better than what he had to sign at Spurs, where their budget perhaps restricted them.

Not bad. Had that iffy moment with a cross but looked comfortable enough. Improvement on Kepa so far, wouldnt be difficult but has to show over course of a season hes going to make a difference. Didnt do anything well in the penalties but neither did Lloris. Some of the worst GKing iv seen in penalties think like 10 were taken they guessed right way twice between them. 🤣

After watching Frank de Boers fall from grace after leaving Ajax, I would be hesitant about approaching Erik ten Hag. Not just for us, I dont think ten Hag would of faired well at Bayern either when they wanted him. I think the demands on him at Ajax are nothing compared to a Bayern or a club like us despite Ajax’s success under him. His CL success was good to see and for someone who likes to see these clubs will lesser resources provide a shock, it was refreshing but I think he still has a bit to go before he will get a job of that magnitude. Nagelsmann, Allegri and Pochettino would all be ahead of him If the club were looking to go for someone else I would think. Its a weird time now because the number of hugely successful coaches around has dwindled. Clubs have to take a chance more than ever now with younger coaches.

Would say not being concerned about a cup would be a luxury we could afford if we were going to win the title or something or if we had already won one or two this season but its a trophy and realistically this group needs to win something together to get the taste for them. Packed fixtures or not. Because we most likely arent going to win the CL and aren’t going to win the league unfortunately. Not that we dont have an outside chance but we lack the mentality and quite frankly dont have the ability to win these gritty games that championship winning teams do when they play shit. FA cup or Carabao cup would be ones that would build this group a bit and push them on.

Perhaps but its all superficial to say that. Attack we were predictable. Again 2nd half two big chances and the execution was poor. We could have won 1-0,-0, 3-1, 6-4 or 18-6 but the common thing is we are still conceding stupid chances/goals due to poor organisation and that will continuously follow us wherever we go if we dont sort this. That Emerson mistake is something we would probably of seen in Villas-Boas’ side here. As Ive said before all these individual errors, which are happening far too regularly, wouldn’t happen as often if we were better organised. Yes we have some players shitter than others but do you think if the defensive shape was better some of these things wouldnt happen? Because I certainly do. Also Lamela has run past Kante from MF IIRC, MF runners are hard to pick up as they make late runs but how nobody noticed him is alarming.

Too many individual mistakes since last season is concerning. But if the team was better organised these mistakes wouldn’t happen so commonly IMO. Could have the best GK, CBs, FBs, whatever but in terms of being hard to beat if, you’ve not got that, your going to see guys make mistakes regardless or if their Sunday league teams or CL teams because they will be thinking if I don’t do something then its a chance or a goal.

Unfortunate. We didnt deserve to go through though probably. Why didnt Werner take one though? Wait he was subbed NVM.

This is brutal. Both GKs - theyve put 5 pens same place and theyve never changed their direction once 🤣

Azpi to change it up? Nvm. Get in though.

Was this as bad as Sarriball? Or is it worse? I think its worse if I am honest. I think this season in terms of performances we generally couldn’t have started any worse. Suspect in every game defensively. No real cohesion in attack either, everything’s down to individual qualities as opposed to being worked upon by looks of it. Jorginho, Werner, Tammy and Mount will be taking 4 of first 5 I would imagine.

Cant say it hasn’t been coming. Theyve been much much better than us this half. Genuinely have had some quality in the final third unlike us. Regulion making a decent contribution every time he gets within 30m of our goal.

Hudson-Odoi there. Had to hit the target at least with that chance. Or pass to someone else who will. Fanny. Also Mount SMH telegraphed that pass to Werner.

Emerson for Chilwell? such an underwhelming substitute. Need a change in midfield or attack.

How was first half? Second half so far looks very much like we want them to get back into it. Bergwjin looking likely to cause us issues everytime he gets it.

I had seen Something on twitter from before the season ended. Maybe misread it. So he passes left 4.6 percent more than forward. And 2.3% more forward than right. Still. Stats aside. I cant imagine our build up play and getting into the opposition half will be better with Rice there holding than Jorginho if we go for Havertz and Mount as the advanced 8 like everyone seems to believe Frank wants to line up with. Rices tackles, interceptions, recoveries etc would be a boost maybe but again anything over 40-50m and weve been had because he doesn’t particularly offer anything particularly good with the ball and we will have the ball the majority of games, lets be honest. Kante when he’s on song - albeit he’s struggled and needs a back up - he does all that and more also. Rice would add height to the team.

Obviously. All midfielders do at some point but the high percentages of Jorginho’s passes are forward and he normally plays one or two touches when he can. Plus when he plays our ability to get up the pitch quicker is clear to see. Rice’s passing isnt as progressive and quite frankly dont see how he improves our team in all reality. All he does is add height but still, take more than 11 6 ft plus players to sort our defending set pieces.