OneMoSalah

He still stood out for me individually that night, despite them playing poorly as a team, tidying up in midfield and getting interceptions/tackles in at times. Couldn’t do it all himself though and Liverpool basically ran over the top of them and as you said Oblak was key to them going through but he wasnt poor by any means and played better than the majority of the others. His performance at Anfield was better though (first leg was at Anfield IIRC?) and you got to see much more of his ability on the ball as Atletico were much more effective on the break. Think he will surprise a lot of people in a much more progressive team. £45m is a snip these days as well for a proven player at his age with lots of games in La Liga and CL experience.

If we are so set on getting another defensive minded MF I dont see why we weren't in for him. Top top signing for Arsenal. Performances in both legs of the CL knock out games against Liverpool last season more than enough proof to show he good he is.

Yawn. Surprise party or not he was still there and didn't object to it or tell people to call it off after finding out. Irresponsible. Do these guys think they are above the rules everyone else is following in the country? Obviously theres a minority not following it but when your representing clubs like Chelsea and Dortmund as well as your national team as well as being in the public eye, really really should have more sense. Not as if their brickies, IT consultants, sparkies or whatever that wont end up in the paper for such an event is it?

When will these guys learn? Definitely should be fines. Perhaps dropped from England squad too? Only way to drum it into them. Just because they are young guys who are millionaires doesnt mean they are above the rules everyone else is following. Extremely arrogant and stupid. Sancho has been dropped for Dortmund as he broke covid rules to get a haircut and the next international break after Foden and Greenwood thinking they could get away with inviting girls round, the three of them do this? No wonder people think English footballers are arrogant braindead twats 😂

I think it will be after that. Could argue signs were there v Leeds. Makes it even more maddening that we tried to sit in and didn’t make any real forceful attempt to impose ourselves and go at them in our match prior to going down to 10.

It was more than likely but again Leeds exposed Liverpools defence on their first game and other teams will again. Also still better finishing from Villa and they would of been on 10 goals or plus. Easily. Barkley had decent chances, Grealish also could have sealed his hattrick and then Watkins hit the bar. It was bad enough but imagine it got even worse.

Could have easily scored a hattrick if he was clinical enough. Clear signs of why he is never going to be a key starter for a huge club competing for trophies where these moments are the difference between a top player and a good one. Or winning a big game in a title decider or cup final, or losing it. But promising debut.

Dont agree about clubs being banned from buying players for instance but the point he is trying to make is right. These billionaire owners and clubs should be trying to help lower league clubs out. To preserve these leagues and these clubs.

“I dont promote the violence” did he not kick a fan in the face pre match after the warm up 🤣 the guys a clown. The passion is good but him and Neville continuing to not mention Ole’s obvious short comings is a bit of a shambles. You could break that game down tactically as well as the Palace game and Palace game and its clear That despite player performances that tactically there are huge issues. United could be sitting 12th with 5 games to go and they still wouldn’t be criticising Ole who is an average manager who only kept his job with that his 18 or 19 game run last season if I am honest including when Bruno Fermandes arrived. They were a mess. Could give that guy 5 of the best players in the world and theyd still be a mess. Suppose when your ex team mates are pundits on your game you get some leeway.

95m for Pogba and 80m for Maguire.... Maguire thinks hes a midfielder and the other cunts hopeless unless you let him stroll around as a luxury player which for a club like United, horrendous.

Lampard played in two Jose Mourinho teams and a Rafa Benitez team here. Its not as if he’s never seen or heard of tactical fouling being used by top managers when these situations arise. So to credit it purely to a new coaching addition doesn’t sit for me, I think Frank’s realised you can’t try and play like we do and win the fair play award also because we will leave spaces. I think he’s learned that the hard way through last season and the players also have. Pep encourages his players to make fouls if necessary to prevent these situations, Jose does, Klopp does.

Robertson still head and shoulders above but the battle between Chilwell, Regulion and Tierney will be intriguing. All young and all talented. Tierney for me, as a fellow Scot so maybe biast, has a huge influence on that Arsenal team IMO in terms of his mentality and approach. He’s said himself he isnt a leader who shouts or that in an interview on a Scottish football podcast but in terms of leading by example, he is a huge influence as well as being a serial winner having won trophies every season he has played. Plus he can play. Think hes the best of the rest in the league in my eyes in that LB position. If Benjamin Mendy wasnt a clown and fit, it would be him though.

Mourinho masterclass at Old Trafford. Regullion has looked very good, as has Ndombele. Ole’s out of his depth. Men v boys.

An improvement in using tactical fouling is hardly something you can solely accredit to Anthony Barry. Its the players being a bit more cynical and realising that its stop it here or concede a chance more or less. I think Frank has maybe said it to them. I mean that Spurs documentary on amazon showed the situation at Spurs, they were too nice according to Jose and not horrible when they had to be. City do it, Liverpool do it, we've done it in past title winning teams, United have almost certainly done it with Ferguson. Maybe he’s highlighted we were caught on transitions too much last season but a blind man could see that if I am honest, I mean when you have both fullbacks and 3 attacking midfield players pushed up as well as a CF almost all the time that tends to happen. Plus if Frank and Jody couldn’t see that we were caught out on transitions and they needed this guy to show them then I really would be surprised and shocked as it was a major downfall to our season. He is known for a lot of work on set piece analysis, maybe we will see an improvement over the course of the season, too early to say we have improved that already IMO. I am hopeful that will change because two of our biggest weaknesses last season was defending set plays and transitions.

An improvement in using tactical fouling is hardly something you can solely accredit to Anthony Barry. Its the players being a bit more cynical and realising that its stop it here or concede a chance more or less. I think Frank has maybe said it to them. I mean that Spurs documentary on amazon showed the situation at Spurs, they were too nice according to Jose and not horrible when they had to be. City do it, Liverpool do it, we've done it in past title winning teams, United have almost certainly done it with Ferguson. Maybe he’s highlighted we were caught on transitions too much last season but a blind man could see that if I am honest, I mean when you have both fullbacks and 3 attacking midfield players pushed up as well as a CF almost all the time that tends to happen. Plus if Frank and Jody couldn’t see that we were caught out on transitions and they needed this guy to show them then I really would be surprised and shocked as it was a major downfall to our season. He is known for a lot of work on set piece analysis, maybe we will see an improvement over the course of the season, too early to say we have improved that already IMO. I am hopeful that will change because two of our biggest weaknesses last season was defending set plays and transitions.

Personally I don’t see how it does. Klopp overhauled their squad but it took him longer due to not having the same finances we have if I am honest but before he got Alisson and VVD At least you could see his clear identity on the team and how they would play, with the signs that they were short of two key positions: CB (VVD) and GK (Alisson). Would you not say the additions of Mendy, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz on top of using Mason, Tammy, Reece, Billy and Tomori last season is basically overhauling the squad so to speak plus Kovacic joining permanently and Pulisic joining up last summer also. Thats 13 changes to the squad in 1 and a bit seasons. Plus the club allowing Ross to leave, David Luiz to leave, Gary Cahill to leave, Eden to leave, Willian to leave, Pedro to leave etc the squad has been refreshed and we really should have built a platform of some sort last season but after December we didn't make any real progress and regressed due to poor performances and questionable tactical/in game management. Klopp had to take 2 or 3 seasons really to fully overhaul that squad but the identity was always there and we have basically done an overhaul in 18 months in my opinion without a clear identity or way of playing. If he has to spend another 200m or 300m to be successful in some regard thats proof enough Frank isn’t the right man for this job in my eyes because a squad with this quality of players now, the Ziyechs, Werners, Havertz, Chilwells, Jorginhos, Kantes, Kovacics, Thiago Silvas, Azpilicuetas, this should be enough for any reasonable manager worth their salt to make a formidable team and this season if it doesnt happen then questions should definitely be asked. 100%. How long has it taken Arteta to put an identity on Arsenal? Or win a trophy? Or how much spending did it take him? Those players we have signed are definitely good enough too to be aiming a bit higher than just finish 4th now. Or waiting another season so we can spend another 200m and make a go for the title or push them closer than last year. If this were a Jose Mourinho, an Antonio Conte, a Maurizio Sarri - there wouldn’t be the same attitude. That is a fact. He has to deliver a trophy and we have to be in that top 3 being much closer with a much better GD also.

Even more so the give him time to build a squad. Hes spent just north of 200m this summer on Mendy, Werner, Havertz, Chilwell, Silva (free yes), Ziyech and Sarr (another free) and wants to spend more on Rice. If we get Rice thats what 8 players he’s added to the squad. Plus he okay’d the signing of Kovacic also so can put him down to one of his buys if you want to. Getting time to change say 14 players in a squad isnt a valid excuse for me if a sign of progression in 1 and a bit seasons is hard to see. Klopp spent a lot then won when he spent 75m on VVD and 67m on Alisson in space of a season. After realising they needed them. Guardiola won after spending 200-300m his second year. What more do they want him to do? Spend another 200m? The backings there he has to turn it into wins and trophies. Cannot keep spending 200m every season and use this as an excuse. Same with Pep now again, hes spent near 400-500m on CBs and FBs alone if he doesnt win anything with City this season he will have failed this season.

Have to disagree, think he’s shown more than enough in his spell here, even in some games last season with Frank he can be more than just a good CB with a bit of fine tuning. He still can be rash, give away stupid wee fouls for wanting to get too tight to players at times but the defensive problem here isn’t purely just down to him. Also I think Mourinho’s set up would suit him immensely, playing 20m deeper, he would probably try coach him out of that over aggressiveness and rash decision making we see at times. As he has done with Eric Dier. Selling/loaning players to other PL teams with similar goals or targets to us for me is still daft. Get him sold abroad. PSG apparently want him. Letting Arsenal sign Willian as well for me was a bad move, regardless of how much people didn’t rate him or did rate him etc. Luiz and Cech only recent examples I would say were acceptable in recent times.

Good performance. Keep this up all season and 50m will look a sound investment.

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.