OneMoSalah

Think Enrique is just mixing it up giving guys who are playing well a shot and to see how they do. Spain did the same with Pau Lopez a few seasons back after he did well for Betis. DDG still be their number 1 in serious competitions I would imagine. Would imagine Simon being number 2 if Kepa doesnt play regularly before Euros. Which is more and more likely now with how Mendy is doing here. Spain still have v decent depth in most areas maybe not the level of quality they previously had but most teams would struggle to recreate that generation in terms of quality every 10 years.

When he came in for Emerson at the start for a few games he did ok (ok being passable - not great) but obviously got worse as the season went on. I get overall he was shit mostly but if its going to be one or two matches its hardly worth getting in a twist over.

I think the world cup 2018 run will always give some sort of barometer of what they believe Southgate can do regularly. Without being overly dismissive on that campaign for England - because one as a Scot I cant say fuck all about world cup or euro campaigns as we've only just qualified for one after 22 years and two getting to the semis in a WC is still decent enough considering the expectations were very very low compared to how it would be with the so called golden generation in tournaments past - when they played the good teams (Belgium x2 and Croatia), they got beat and were a class below clearly. This England squad has huge potential undoubtedly but I think they wont come closer to winning anything with Gareth Southgate because in the bigger games they are outdone tactically, sometimes due to teams being better but a lot of the time due to his short comings as being a decent manager but not a top one.

I know Chilwell has started well here and depending on the injury or if it was precautionary substitution or not it, we may see Alonso (preferably over Emerson if I had to pick from the two personally) or Emerson in some capacity. I am sure it was the same when Alonso came in last season for a few games at the start and he did ok after Emerson had that decent few games under Frank, despite the doom and gloom of “oh ffs now Alonso needs to play” “hes so shit” bla bla bla I am sure for a week or two these guys can surely fill in and be reasonable enough 😂 Hopefully precautionary but again if it means letting BC miss one game to be rested/fully recovered so hes fully fit to go for the week after (Spurs isnt it?) then surely Alonso/Emerson would suffice for 1 game. Or will it be a meltdown if one of them are named in the starting 11 next match 😂?

Its not as if this is the first season its been happening regarding the schedule. For over 10 years particularly in the PL and other British leagues the scheduling has been brutal and thats due to the money side of it now. COVID yes is a new element but it was the same with the whole swine flu incident also. By the looks of it, unfortunately, its just a matter of like it or lump it because it will take some incredible to stop football matches at the cost of losing that much money. Even more so its like it or lump it for football players who are paid to play football and make more money than is imaginable for how ever much % of people on the planet. Yes its shit and yes theres more to money and whatever else in life such as your health and yes it sucks that there is pointless games such as friendlies and that its a congested fixture list but lets not forget they have the perks of having much better safeguards in place for COVID, more regular and easier access to testing for COVID than the millions of people around the world who watch football as well as the obvious other perks being a footballer has. They wanted football back like we did, so realistically what did they expect to happen? Euros have to be played this year also so the congested fixtures wont stop when the seasons done either. Football is effectively a business so after the months on end of some leagues not playing and losing revenues and stuff, teams and countries will want to play games to start making money from TV deals etc. If anyone was naive enough to think they’d stop friendlies and shit instead of wanting to be making money, well, as I said naive. They will never put footballers because the money they’d stand to lose would be hugely significant.

Its as you said, money making above all regardless. Same with PL Christmas schedule. Same with World Cup in Qatar being played in the middle of a season etc etc. Nations League is a bit odd aye. Again though, any chance for $$$. The Euro 2020 play offs to go to a tournament, for Scotland, for Northern Ireland etc is a different story, its another chance to qualify for teams and can see why there shouldn’t or wouldnt be any objections. But overall even with the ever more so gruelling scheduling, they will not let us have club football without internationals friendlies included, as you’ve mentioned again the money side of it is a big factor also as well as letting teams use it to try things out as clubs do in pre-season. Obviously with UEFA and FIFA I would say right now money is the more important factor.

Not a chance. They still have every chance. Nobody loses a title in 8 games when they are currently sitting 2nd/3rd. City maybe as well with them would be the favourites still because they’ve been there before and done it. Liverpool still have huge fire power (Thiago also) and can undoubtedly add a good CB in January. Spurs would also be my next concern because they just look different this season in approach of mentality. We can be up there but we need to ensure we don't go to games v big teams and just take draws playing like we did v United. Talk about jumping the gun. Hardly as if they are 5 or 6 points off of first already and even then Gomez and van Dijk had been making mistakes almost every week prior to their injuries (just look at their goals conceded this season - even taking out the 7-2 Villa game they'd have conceded 9 which I think after 7/8 games is poor for any defending champions or most seasons any top team in the PL) and they still have 17 points from 8 games. Defending champions are always the favourites to win it the following season.

The thing is, regardless of club or international football, if you have one you need to have the other. It’s unfortunately that simple. Friendlies or not. International friendlies not being played could also be argued as why did clubs play pre season friendlies also? Yes international friendlies are a bit annoying and have been for a huge time but they allow managers to do what club managers do in pre seasons, change team line ups, try new systems etc in the run up to competitive games or tournaments. If we start saying only play club football and not internationals, will it be long before someone turns around and says why are teams playing in the CL or Europa League as this could also increase the risk of catching COVID? Travelling for a footballer can be from a coach from London to Liverpool or a god knows how many hrs flight to Baku. Your still going to be slightly at risk either way despite all the safeguards and actions put in place because the nature of this virus is that you can catch it anywhere, its basically world wide, its not limited to one place so be it needless friendlies, competitive games in domestic leagues or European matches, it doesnt really make a difference where its played or what sort of games it is because your still just as likely to catch COVID going to play Chelsea v Brighton than you are going to play for Brazil v Argentina or something. Its not like most European teams and international teams are not taken precautions because they will understand players may be going through 3 or 4 airports to get to wherever they have to go also and ultimately they want to ensure the players they’ve picked are going to be able to play. The likes of this Ajax, Shakhtar cases etc could of just been sheer unluckiness or could have stemmed from an incident which we seen with Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell having a gathering for Tammy’s birthday. All the precautions being in place is good but players need to follow them. Even then it could be a member of staff that catches it. Also you look at who these guys are at home with wives/girlfriends etc. What are their jobs? Are any of them nurses, doctors or school teachers etc? Its not necessarily just down to travelling. Then if one gets it goes to training and gives it to someone else or 7 other people, you cannot just cancel football. Also players will undoubtedly want to play international football, theres no bigger feat to most footballers than playing for their country. Even if they play for clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, lets not forget how big international football is to players. You’d say win a CL at club level or win a World Cup and 99/100 would say World Cup. I can see the argument for the overplaying side of it with shorter pre seasons etc but we are in a league which is so financially profitable now because of television rights so its not exactly as the Premier League didn't bring this upon clubs. Obviously nobody overseen this virus coming but they've always fucked clubs for scheduling and it wont stop if it stands in the way of them making mega money unfortunately.

Totally agree with everything you've said there. Mount v Burnley was better than any performance Kovacic has put in for us since maybe the start of last season and was on par with his game v Bayern. In fact better than any performance any midfielder has put in for us this season or last perhaps bar that Kovacic v Bayern where I felt he was very good. Both views make sense but Kovacic hasn't shown the goals or assists on a regular basis and he's in his best years as a player. Yes he plays further back in 4231 and is a different player in a 433 but the guy used to be a number 10 and even since being played deeper hasn't managed to affect game as much as he can with his skillset and obvious ability in the final third. Its frustrating because he should be able to get 5+ league goals a season and 5-8+ assists a season. I know those numbers are perhaps little but for someone with his obvious qualities from his time at Dinamo, Inter, Real and here, he should have more. Very defensive? Because of Jorginho? And the first 4 months under Frank last season when it was Jorginho, Kovacic and Mount in a MF 3, was he very defensive? No not a chance, just another excuse to deflect the blame and say its someone else's fault as usual on here when its so obvious a player of his ability and attributes can contribute more in that area. Also the free role thing is bullshit because nobody in this team has a free role. Nobody. Barely any teams play with such a way, Messi, Ronaldo and maybe Neymar the only players in world football who get a such luxury and even then its not continuously happening every week. Kovacic definitely should be more creative than Mount or you'd hope he would be with his skill sets but his numbers, aren't great or a good argument to use in regards to this. We should be happy to have such depth in MF though, Mount, Kovacic, Kante and Havertz can all play on the sides in a 433 next to Jorginho or Kante if hes holding. I know Mount divides opinion but this season so far he has been good and the Burnley game was exceptional. Jorginho and Mount seem to be scapegoats regardless of how they perform and quite frankly it is embarrassing. Someone said Mount played average or looked average in that position in a 433 after the Burnley game a few weeks ago which goes to prove how people let this sort of vendetta against Mount cloud their judgement regardless and quite frankly it is embarrassing as mentioned before. Yes he could of done better last season, no doubt, who couldn't have? But he's earned his place in the squad undoubtedly and this season his spot in the starting 11 has been justified in recent weeks. So if set play assists aren't going to matter or be seen as something that shouldn't be hugely considered what about Ziyech's? Because he will undoubtedly get a good number from set plays also because his delivery is fantastic. This is what I mean, its always been one thing for one player and not for another. Since the likes of Mikel, Ivanovic, Cahill... players who if they played well or weren't as flashy or weren't the best players in the world or team, instantly the criticism was 1000 times worse.

Its poor decision making sure and the coaching as with OGS is questionable but even then if Ba beats Matic if he has been goal side you’d be asking wheres the CBs or FBs? Has OGS said to his whole back 4 to stay up there? Or have some inexperienced CL players been naive thinking nothing will come of it and haven't made their way back when they should? Wan Bissaka, Tuanzebe and Maguire have barely played a lot of CL football (Maguire is a disaster anyway). Dean Henderson also made his first CL start. You could be a coaching genius but the fact nobody switched on, noticing Ba and that nobody tried getting back. Yes they could have said stay back but the fact they didnt try to get back in is even more embarrassing. Regardless. Poor decision making at any level. Embarrassing goal by all accounts.

True but you can see that these things can also happen due to naivety which stems from a lack of experience at that level.

Has been the standout fullback in the PL so far this season for me. Made the right move leaving here and tbf I think he should be very wary about moving somewhere after 1 season. If hes gonna play every week at Brighton and they remain in the PL a second full season would be hugely beneficial. He’s still young and will get the big move eventually.

Not a surprised when you look at their backline is it? Full of inexperienced players at that level. Also an inexperienced manager at CL level really.

Did Jorginho really play that badly (watched the game so its a rhetorical question)? Thought he did alright, solid enough, kept it simple when he had to, had a few diagonals and didnt overly commit at times. Its not as if hes a league 1 player which you'd think reading some of the embarrassing posts on here. When Jorginho doesnt play who is gonna get it next 🤣 Good win, clean sheet, Silva-Zouma partnership looks good and Mendy is great. That 2nd pen is ridiculously harsh and killed the game as a contest really although playing v 10 men is harder and a good test.

Barca 1 up (need an Ansu Fati goal for my bet....), us up 1-0 (Werner anytime again in), Juventus up (Morata anytime) and PSG 1-0 up also. Could be a good night! Watch now Fati probably subbed off in 5 minutes and PSG lose. United are a fucking disaster hahaha. Ole is getting sacked soon 100%.

Werner winning what the 5th penalty or something since signing?

Na defo a foul every day of the week for me. If we got something like that against us I would be disappointed.

Tbf you dont need contact to get a hamstring injury. Could be an accumulation of many things. Hopefully 2/3 weeks then he is fine because we need him to he fit. He is probably still our most important attacking player.

Very good again. Pity hes 36 and not 26. Even if he was 30,31 the way he's played the last couple of seasons we could easily have given him a 3 year deal and not expect him to become a very bad player over that time. Pity though but I think this is our best signing this summer. The wealth of experience, the leadership, the mentality on top of the level he's at. I would say adding that to the squad was vital. The other signings are very good additions too but I think Thiago will be the most vital one to this group, not just on the pitch but off it. Once he gets a good grasp of English it will be great for these guys around him. Him, Kurt and Mendy, all being French speakers has undoubtedly helped him settle into the team as seamlessly as he has done since that WBA game. As well as Ngolo. Then guys like Jorgi, Oli, Emerson too, all speaking French/Italian.

His best performance in a Chelsea shirt for me. Better than Everton game last season. That's his position and as I said in the other thread, he plays like that consistently he will deservedly be one of the first name on the team sheets for Chelsea and England IMO. I was critical last season because while he was doing the hard miles running, tackling, intercepting etc you see here today that as an 8 and not a 10/winger, he can affect the game but that other stuff is more crucial to the team in central midfield than it would be out wide or in the 10 position. You don't want your 10/wide player to be getting great stats in those tackling, miles covered, interceptions, duels won etc and not having scored/assisted/created many chances and that was unfortunately the story for him at times last season playing out of position and being kept in the team (rather foolishly) when he was underperforming. Keep it up and as I said above, he will be in the team for the foreseeable. He knitted things together so well and he was probably my MOTM by a good bit if I am honest.

Perhaps they could be the second best pairing but I do think we need to see in some bigger games where they will be challenged more against the top quality players. Like I really wasn't impressed with them v Liverpool, both Reece and Ben, they just looked off it for me. Reece's intensity has been something that has been mentioned and he just looked half arsed v Liverpool at times. Against United, we were very solid and they did their jobs to a degree but again (Reece v good offensively I thought also), I would say the games after that match they've been much better in all round though. That Southampton game again as previously mentioned in the other post, I think Ben did the going forward side well but he switched off when they had the ball at times, but the whole teams arse collapsed that second half so maybe might be seen as harsh but I did notice it a few times and that's what was happening with him for Leicester at times last season also, needs to be committed to defending as he is going forward because if he does that most weeks, he will undoubtedly be a huge asset for us. Seville though was a tough game to play and they did do well in it, the pair of them but I still think there will be tougher tests. I do like the potential makings of the partnership though, there is lots to be positive about regarding it. Plus this is potentially a partnership that can last for 10 years so I am hoping that it works and gets better and better. Better partnerships is difficult because the ones bar Liverpool's I was going to say really hasn't had a proper run together for a while. When City signed Walker and Mendy I thought wow, before they'd even kicked a ball I felt that they were going to be an amazing pairing at full back for Pep and well we seen that season how effective Mendy was and the difference he brings to that City team. If he was fit the whole time and playing at a good level, him and Walker would be up there. I also have to admit, while this may not be everyone's cup of tea, I also think Coleman and Digne is a very good partnership also. I think people have acknowledged Everton's good start and maybe have accounted it down to Doucoure, James, Richarlison and DLC but for me those 2 have been very consistent in the games for them and offer a good threat going forward and also defensive contributions. Spurs have started well also and while Docherty isn't someone you'd say is a top player, him and Regullion look very decent and have the potential to grow. I think Regullion for 35m buy back or no buy back for Madrid, is a steal, he really stuck out at Seville for me in the games in the second half of last season I watched and if Leicester were going to continue playing funny buggers over the price of Chilwell, I really just wanted us to go and get him because I knew someone would get him and be a good addition. I think we have got the potential best pairing I would have to agree to a degree but don't want to jinx it or get too carried away (same with this being the 4th/5th clean sheet in a row now in all competitions) because there's still inconsistencies in some areas of their game/the teams game as we've seen over the last 14 months. Totally agree regarding Reece defensively but at the same time, Trent also can grow defensively but I do think he will go to MF at some point, he would be amazing on the right hand side of a 3 man MF I think. I think Reece could maybe also go to the MF also though but I really like him on the side, he has a robustness about him, he is direct, he has good delivery and is able to get back and do the defensive side. Only problem for me sometimes is his intensity but the last 4 or 5 games he has been much better in that regard, he looks like he wants to engage players, to defend, to press the ball etc. I still think TAA is ahead aye but the potential is there because Reece can be more complete. I still think Klopp is missing a trick not playing TAA in their midfield but the defensive and positional side, while TAA has improved that gradually under Klopp since getting a foot in, maybe that's why he isn't getting a shot there because you see the work rate and the ground those guys cover in MF for them. Although he is such a key part of their team from RB as Robertson is at LB and finding a RB to replace him and slot in and offer the same is probably very difficult.

That's the thing though. If your CF plays poorly and can still be involved in 2 goals, that's when you know he is a very good player. Burnley was always going to be difficult for him, hence why he wasn't in the starting 11 (obviously tiredness and did think one of Giroud/Abraham good move not only for attack but also for defending corners/set pieces etc which is a Burnley strength) because the space in behind wouldn't of been there as much as they like to play quite deep. Pity Christian had a problem and had to be changed but again these things happen. His finish was ice cool. Brilliant. Ziyech as well, the pass, the weight of it, the simplicity, top notch.

What? Sorry but Mount was excellent today. Not sure what you watched. Like what more could he of done? I think as Skipper posted, his stats were excellent and while football isn't purely down to stats even watching the game, everything he did today was to a high standard. His work with the ball, his work off it, everything about his game today was very good and if he keeps playing like that he will be starting every week for Chelsea and for England 100%. Lets not get too carried away with the fullbacks yet and go and say they are the 2nd best or whatever in the PL yet after maybe 7 games together. Good performances yes but I still think that guys like TAA and Robertson are the best pairing in Europe not just the PL. I will agree Reece is better defensively right now than TAA and while he is also good in the final third, Alexander-Arnold is like Kevin de Bruyne at right back and even with Reece's delivery I would be taking TAA over him all day long in the final third/general play. Its scary. Chilwell has been good so far as well but I think we still need to see how these guys do because 4 or 5 games ago we were defensively a mess and the fullbacks were also exposed. The potential for this pairing is very good though. I think if they can continue to build on this though and Chilwell doesn't switch off like he did at times v Southampton going the other way, which I think he was lucky didn't get highlighted as much (was a issue at Leicester at times) and if Reece can maintain the sort of intensity he's shown in recent weeks, the potential is there for a great partnership. Still would say that we have to be patient with them though because there are still bigger games to come and there will be teams who test them going more the other way and that's where I want to see how they cope. Thiago Silva again today also very good though and you can see his influence already on Kurt and I think with him, Zouma and Mendy all being French speakers its made his transition into the team seamless.

Hopefully. Be nice to have him back.

Hmm this is interesting. But also makes me wonder is he ready or is this too soon after his injury?