OneMoSalah

True but the role is the same, hes free to go hunt the ball high up. He isn't fixed like many people want to see him be, which is ironic because hes never played as a fixed 6 in his whole career in the PL.

So I see Kante playing same position Sarri used him. In a game like this, absolutely, wonder if anyone has questioned Frank using him there yet? Pedro and Pulisic looking decent so far.

First I've heard of that. Guy was clearly deluded if that was his stance. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10484288/Jose-Mourinho-Romelu-Lukaku-likes-to-talk-but-he-wont-say-why-hes-at-Everton-and-not-Chelsea.html The article in which Jose questions him to say why he doesnt say why he went on loan. Turns out was before he made permanent move to Everton this quote did the rounds from Jose. "He wanted to play for Chelsea but wanted to be the first-choice striker. That's very difficult to promise." From this article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28569197 The rumor was that this was also the same after his season at West Brom when Everton got him on loan but its never been confirmed although Jose calling him out to say why he left to the media makes me think it was the same reason he left for Everton permanently.

I hope not. Christensen is better with the ball and was much better than Zouma v United. In the way of playing Frank is implementing, Zouma would be a weakspot. United targeted him. Other teams will do so too.

Imagine if he had scored. Mou might have had some faith in him. He was always gonna go, the rumor was he had basically said if he wasnt first choice after 1 season at West Brom, he wanted to go on loan. Hence why Mourinho said to ask Lukaku directly he wanted to go on loan to the press.

Loan fs, just sell him. Even for 20m. Even 15m.

Should lodge a seperate case to CAS or whatever it is. Surely FIFA cant hold one team to a different standard over the same offense? Ridiculous.

Silly move for Madrid I think. Yes Neymar is a great player but they havent offloaded Bale. They have that many players where LW is their preferred/best position too: Hazard, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz and Asensio (think hes injured, could be wrong). RW is where they need to improve as they only have Bale (who isnt part of the plan) and Vazquez. Most of the others can play on the right but its just daft to overload their squad with another left winger.

Again it is easy to do. I agree. The first half as you said, if we took our chances or the final pass was better, the likes of Tammy, Mason and Frank would be getting huge praise. And with the ban, injuries etc yeah using younger players is going to be common this season, no doubt, a 4-0 beating off United as well as possibly another similar result if we play anywhere like that defensively against Liverpool who are arguably the best counter attacking team on the planet though can make or break youngsters. I do think though, in the first half, both played well enough and generally the team played well bar the penalty incident and maybe 10 mins after that. I can see Mou's point although wouldn't necessarily agree not starting them was the issue, perhaps in the second half they could have been changed earlier. I don't think anybody can safely say subbing Barkley off and keeping Mason on who was very very anonymous 2nd half was the right move and thats me being brutally honest. Giroud offers more of a target man than Tammy I feel too but Lamps made the change not too soon after anyway. True but United played on the cohnter attack, Liverpool like mentioned above, best counter attacking team in the world (for me) will exploit us time and time again if we give them that same chances or more. I'd like to see us better as a collective, the defending and pressing in blocks comment for me is bang on the money. Pressing is pointless unless the whole team do it, teams can beat presses, players like Pogba can ping passes through the lines, Henderson, Fabinho etc all can too so we need to do it all together and keep the distance between the midfield and backline small to recover the ball. For all of last seasons difficulties I think under Sarri our press was very effective at times and maybe with the change of shape and manager it will take time to build it up again. I think in the modern game you need that, as most good teams are very happy to build up in their own half, even the not so good ones. Fair enough we wont always play United or Liverpool or City but theres no doubt the smaller teams will have looked at that game and though well if we can even get one or two of those big chances against Chelsea, we fancy a chance. Personally the defence is gonna be a bit all over the joint still, based off pre-season not just the game yesterday, Rudiger back in is a big plus as well as Kante but still with Azpi and Emerson being advanced theres huge spaces there for players to exploit and isolate the CBs.

Yeah thats true. I thought Christensen was the best defensive player on the park for us despite playing average. Didnt think Emerson was that good defensively despite looking decent going the other way (dont think Emerson is good enough or ever will be for where our club aspires to be) and Azpi and Zouma sucked big style. Think maybe his comments regarding Mount and Abraham were also maybe regarding starting them in such a game when he had Giroud and Pulisic on the bench who are experienced at a higher level too. It was brave from Frank, regsrdless of Willians injury and Christians lack of PL experience and weve all expected and hoped for the use of younger guys in games but Man United turned Arsenal, who played a younger team, over 8-2 with Wenger under Ferguson and he got slaughtered for it as well. Im sure on here back in 2011 there was plenty of it going about and saying why did Wenger persist with so many youngsters in such a high magnitude game despite having more experienced players on the bench. Its swings and roundabouts, Chelsea getting beat 4-0 by United was always gonna be a issue, regardless of team. Mount and Abraham struggled 2nd half to impose themselves in the game and maybe a more experienced manager would of withdrawn them earlier or not have subbed Ross. Who knows. I dont think Jose was out of order to suggest in a game of that magnitude that maybe the 2 of them could have been changed. I think if we had Willian fit he would of played ahead of Mount anyway with Ross inside. Even if the experienced players havent performed well, theyve been there and know how to do it, I dont think you can underestimate experience going to the likes of Old Trafford, Anfield, Etihad etc. The Liverpool game will be interesting, I do hope we see 2 wingers and only 1 number 10 then.

In all fairness in regards to what Mourinho said about Mount and Abraham being too inexperienced for a game of that magnitude wasnt actually that out of order. The 2nd half Mount and Abraham offered next to nothing (Barkley off for Mount I felt was a mistake looking back on the game) and Abrahams rather poor attempt at holding up the ball, looking for a foul where a more seasoned player would of likely stayed up, started off a move than ended in a goal although its not directly his fault as it was littered with team and individual errors which relates to the next thing Mourinho said. Mourinho was also right about not defending or pressing as a block and too much space between the lines, as he put it. Interestingly enough, not seen many complaints about that, both comments I felt were very true and a nice change from what usually comes out on sky sports. If anyone else said it bar Mourinho it wouldnt of been as much of an issue I feel personally. The thing is with Mourinho's general knowledge of the game will be overlooked by our fans purely based on what happened in his last year here. For sky sports its a very good appointment as a pundit, I think he will give better insights than Carragher and Neville, who are already pretty good.

It was the same with Sarri and Conte, it will also continue to be with other managers. Thats just the reality of football. Personally I think if we lost in the manner we did today with Sarri in charge this thread would be 500 times worse. 😂

Very true but the backline even with Rudiger in it as a 4 arent in sync and thats a huge issue. Especially if teams beat our press or we sit off. Christensen for me has looked not bad today. Maybe few things here and there but solid enough.

Wow so a keeper is at fault for every goal. Cmon mate. Dont be daft. Jesus christ, our defence has been pish since Contes 2nd season. Would be an idiot to say otherwise and purely blame the keeper.

Jesus christ. Maybe watch the games. Kepa has been more than good enough for us. Talk about spouting utter shite. Taking Barkley off now looking like a bad move. Not seen much from Mount 2nd half in an attacking sense to justify him staying on but he had a decent first half, still positives to take.

Gonna be 4 or 5 isnt it? Defending like this. Pathetic.

Id of rather taken Mason off. Fuck it if works out, fair enough, different proposition now hopefully with 2 actual wingers though. Ross looked in the mood for it today, hopefully more of the same next game. Also Straight away seeing Pulisics pace.

But hes also had 2 very good chances and is getting into good positions. Its a tough call him or Mount but its clear 2 10s arent working. @communicate Mounts pressings been good but in final third hes been indecisive. Id rather someone who is going to threaten more because we are 1-0 down. Its hard though. Lamps may not change it but theres no doubt Pulisic has to be introduced sooner rather than later.

For all the sub Pedro off, the thing is we need to play with 2 actual wingers. Its not working with 2 10s. Honestly Jorginho just there was shouting at Mount or Barkley because whoever it was were standing central where everythings congested and not in the channel where the space is to create a 2 on 1 with Emerson. Its difficult to say who to take off out of Ross and Mason, obviously we have had chances but lack real pace and directness in the final third. Weve had chances but a mistake in our box has fucked us. Some sloppy periods of play too so we need to see what will happen 2nd half but we can get a goal still.

Pulisic on at HT please.

Just me or does anyone else think playing 2 number 10s from the start was also a mistake? Fair enough Mounts looked good and Barkley was excellent in pre season but none of them are wide players and this interchanging is frustrating both of them as they want to play centrally and Barkley is struggling with Wan Bissaka. Pulisic for me had to be included in some capacity due to his pace and 1 v 1 abilities be it on the left or right. Also Mount has to shoot there in that first one.

Awful decision from Zouma there. Why go to ground. Idiotic.

Weird one he never really ever got going at United despite them tweaking their formation or again afterwards except for the 2015/16 season with Tuchel in charge at BvB. Thought he was a top player at Dortmund though with Klopp, good between the lines and a genuine goal threat. When United signed him though he didnt really seem like a typical United player, they played with pacey wingers and without a 10 (although Rooney played that position but was a striker), Kagawa didnt really suit that team, so maybe explains why he didnt have the best time in the PL.

The race for the top 4 will be very interesting. I think whatever teams that are in the top 6 (other than City and Liverpool who will undoubtedly make up the top 2) around Christmas and January time, if they can sustain a 8 or 10 match run gaining momentum, it will give them a good chance of pulling away. Hopefully we will be there and theres about, obviously we need a good start as well. I do think if we are in and around the top 6 come the turn of the year, go on one of those runs we will pull away from the others. Only concern is I think we lack the firepower and following pre season defensibe stability.

Digs at his weight are nothing new, when he signed here he was the heaviest playsr in the PL already in 2011. Its nothing new. Bulking up for the WC? The guy was already big enough.... swear he must of been smoking crack.