OneMoSalah

Are people still annoyed hes not playing DM although hes never played as a DM? He maybe started slow but hes got used to that position now and I think hes shown he can cut it there. Hes never gonna score 10 goals a season but I think if he plays in his current role with RLC in the more advanced role and Jorginho, who has been good the last while too (whos unfortunately not getting a lot of praise), it could be a very good MF if Sarri goes with it from the start next season. Depends if he stays or is sacked though.

In all fairness what did you expect at the start of the season? A title challenge? With Morata upfront? With Willian a regular? With David Luiz playing CB? With Kovacic/Barkley playing attacking midfield? With Alonso playing LB? Under a manager whos style is totally different to any approach weve had in the last 5 years? Under a guy who has never actually won anything either. It is fair to say this season has been disappointint in some regards yes and last nights game was a decent team performance but individual talent won it for us more than a team effort, fair, but I think after the first 10 games under Sarri it was easy to see there was still huge amount of work needed to actually compete for the top 4, also when you take into account the mid season struggle we had as well as Arsenal, Spurs and Uniteds revivals so to speak (all 3 of them have got more regular goalscoring CFs like Kane, Aubamayang, Son, Lacazette, Martial, Rashford, Lukaku), it made it more awkward. The Arsenal game showed our defensive frailness and that was the third match of the season. The Newcastle game, the week after, was lucky in terms of an own goal to win it as we werent efficient enough in attack. We were too ponderous against West Ham in the 0-0 draw, week 6 or 7 of the season. Against United, 9th game, again ponderous at times after a decent enough first half and frail defensively. Then few weeks later 0-0 draw with Everton and a loss 3-1 to Spurs. Few weeks later lose to Wolves as well before beating City. The early signs were inevitably there, we were conceding big chances and were lucky not to concede more than we did in some games. Our start under Sarri was alright but hardly quite as good to be considered to automatically get top 4 in my opinion (even though it was put down to like 11 games unbeaten or whatever), especially considering how United were inevitably gonna change manager at some point meaning theyd get results like most big clubs do after a managerial change reinvigorating big players, Arsenal were always gonna improve as opposed to get worse than theyre start and Spurs are Spurs, who were somehow gonna be there or theres about as they usually are. I think a CF capable of 15-20 goals could have swung it a bit more for us but we didnt go for Higuain in the summer and hes clearly unfit and struggling just now, if we got him in the summer maybe hed have veen fitter maybe hed still have struggled though who knows. I suppose hoping hed come in, when severely unfit, having never played in this league, pinning high hopes on him in January was always going to be a huge risk. Also anyone who watched Napoli when Sarri first arrived will have seen how it took time, in a slower league, for him to implement his methods as well before they really clicked. I know the Klopp and Pep comparisons are also inevitablely wrong in some regard but its took Klopp like 3 years to turn Liverpool into actual title competitors and even Pep needed a full season and various signings in key areas (full back, GK, wide areas) before going on and winning PL last season. I still think if we somehow get good results at Liverpool and United (who havent been good since Solskjaer was actually appointed as manager on a full time basis) we will get the top 4, I hope we dont really prioritize the Europa over the top 4 but I would imagine we will, which is risky. Suppose for neutral fans outside of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, United it will be interesting to see what happens in the next 5 or 6 games.

I dont see the club selling a GK we just paid 71m for signing on a 7 year contract in the summer for any price, yet alone 50m or whatever that stupid article says. The board have done some stupid shit but selling a 71m investment at a loss?

Good performance. Bit annoyed the fans bood Sarris decision to take him off when he got subbed off tbf. The guy played 70 minutes looked a bit leggy and Sarri has repeatedly stated he has to be carefully monitored regarding his back basically. Probably sensible actually.

Was quite embarrased when the fans boo'd Sarri when he took off RLC but honestly nothing surprises me anymore. Although he had said that fitness is his only problem in regards to making it as a top top player... Anyways, good team performance. Starting 11 was good, Higuain unlucky at times, looked a bit sharper although still needs to improve. Callum lost a lot of balls but again its to be expected hes not the finished article yet. Same 11 v Liverpool in the PL please.

Tbf if I was on 90k or 100k a week, knowing Im not gonna play at all for the rest of the season... Id be on the piss every night. Why hes here still I have no idea, seriously makes me wonder if we will get rid of him in the sunner too.

No Christensen a bit annoying but the same team more or less bar Rudi and Higuain. Lets get a good result. And a good performance.

Tbf Fernandinhos passing has always been pretty good regardless. He was a box to box midfielder and now he is so much than just a holding midfielder, he can create plays from deep, has improved tactically. He may commit tactical fouls but even then, I think hes probably surprised Pep morw than anybody else at how good hes been playing more disciplined as a fixed pivot as opposed to more free as he was under Pellegrini at times. Honestly hes been one of the best and consistent MF players in the PL since shifting to that role. Pep wanted Jorginho because of Fernandinhos age, honestly with that City team and how vital Fernandinho really is (Gundogan cannot do the same in that role for them and they struggle bigtime without him), I dont think Pep would of dumped him for Jorginho (or Fre) straight away if he signed him.

Aoaur would be a great move. More offensive minded, capable of playing between the lines. Dont think we will get him though. We were linked in the summer i think.

I think Kepa is the perfect GK for us for the next 10 years tbf. Good shot stopper, still has huge potential, his distribution for me is pretty class too which helps building up. Dont see why we would ever entertain selling him. To Madrid as well who we just sold Tibo to last summer.

Fernandinho was a box to box player at Shakhtar, Guardiola just did what Ancelotti did to Xavi Alonso at Real basically.. asked him to play as a 6, run less and read the game more when out of possession. Because of Fernandinho's ball winning attributes and tenacity from playing that box to box role he is maybe better suited or maybe this js better worded, more balanced, for that role too but I dont think either are in the team purely to be used as defensive players. They both build the game for their teams and het the ball into the final third. When out of possession yes they need to be able to shield the defence and that but City normally press high and win it or make the opposition punt it long.

Raul Jimenez and Diego Jota are brilliant together. Both had poor stints at Atletico but turning their careers around and proving their worth.

I think its something like 4 league goals in 2 seasons. Costa only has 8 goals in 25 games this season in all comps, although 3 were for Spain at the world cup so hardly counts. Morata has 4 goals in 9 hames in comparison in La Liga and 15 in 40 apperances although 7 of them were for us in PL and Europa League. Mental whod have thought Costa wouldnt do as well back at Atletico, although he has played some good games in Europe for them.

I think hed suit this current Bayern team very well. Hes not as rounded or physically strong as Lewa but they play very direct and counter attacking in phases of the match so he would be an ideal option for them. They like keeping the ball too but once they get into final third they are direct and have purpose a strong runner like Werner would give them a huge threat in behind in transitions.

Dortmund for all their excellent football and impressive run earlier in the season look very poor. Sancho and Reus have been hugely disappointing so far. Bayern strolling it, Lewandowski, Coman and Gnabry looking very good. Coman has so much untapped potential but hes gone off injured.

True. I think with Moses, Cahill and Drinkwater all having no future here, Reece will be one of the ones everyone at the club is expecting to play here at some point in the next few years. I think Zappacosta has got like 15 or 16 apperances this season and I doubt hes happy with that and was linked away in Jan. If he goes in the summer and lets say we round his season apperances upto 20 at least with Europa games still to play, if Reece came back and got that amount of games next year (as I would imagine Europa will be more likely to CL next season), it would be a good amount for him to break in and get accustomed to a higher level of football as well as possibly feature more if we were cruising games and wanted to rest/rotate Azpi who has been dogged for about 5 seasons straight now. Its a cynical way to look at him only being brought back next year because hes home grown and we lack HG numbers with potential departures but realistically it gives him a foot in the door and if his season at Wigan is anything to go on, he could surprise Sarri, Zola, his team mates and fans like he has undoubtedly done in the championship this season.

Apologies. And to @Bobo.

Played some decent football for us too that season. He was basically unplayable in that game against Everton where we humped them.

Be interesting but I think - not 100% sure but read we had a fee agreed to keep him for another year when we initally agreed the deal although fuck knows what will happen because of the ban - Higuains loan move can be triggered for another season and probably wouldnt be worst thing we could do with Giroud potentislly leaving in the summer. The likes of Tammy, Reece James (if Zappa goes), maybe Mason Mount (when Kovacic goes) could all potentially be integrated next season. Dont think it necessarily means they will all play a lot but Ampadu, CHO, RLC, Christensen, James, Mount, Abraham, thats 7 academy players that could be in the squad. With the likes of Cahill, Drinkwater and Moses all basically leaving or potentially leaving, homegrown players are needed. Again though, I think of that happened and not getting players in for 2 windows, we could have another mixed season which some fans would undoubtedly call for Sarris head and probably criticize some of the players. If we dont get a transfer ban, personally I think Aaron Wan Bissaka, Ben Chilwell and Declan Rice should be targeted. Would of said Luke Shaw like when we were linked at the start of the season but we have no chance now hes playing well and regularly at United. Doubt Rice would come back actually having been released and theres big interest in him from both Manc clubs. Chilwell and Wan Bissaka also interesting both of them too. Tough but if we can somehow get it overturned those 3 would be guys I think we should prioritise, all 3 are young, British, have huge upside and growth in terms of their levels. Plus use the likes of Christensen, Ampadu, CHO, RLC, Mount and Tammy, possibly James (if Wan Bissaka were to sign, loan him).. easily have a nice blend of youth and experience and homegrown players.

Jesus are you a Chelsea fan or a idiot? Wtf.

Tbf if Zidane and Real really want him its not a lot of money for them to spend. I think Mbappe and Neymar will still be their first choice targets ahead of him as well as possibly Paul Pogba. If they get one of them from PSG I doubt theyd be willing to drop 100m they could use towards getting Pogba as well. Suppose we will see. If we bow to pressure and sell him for less than 100m I would be incredibly disappointed. But when has the club ever sold a good player for a smaller fee than they believe hes worth? If he doesnt go does anyone really think Real will wait a season to get him on a free when he would be 29? I dont think so. Honestly I think we could easily get 115m pounds for him still from Real. 1 year or not left they want quality hes easily a 100m+ player if the likes of van Dijk and Lukaku are 75m players.

I think one thing that may let him down compared to Kovacic particularly is his actual technique. Kovacic's technical attributes are kinda insane although his output in terms of key passes, goals or assists are shocking for a player with that technical profile. I am extremely disappointed with how much Kovacic has struggled to impose himself in games and score/assist goals. I think Inter Milan moved him from a 10 to an 6 or 8 and he hasn't really ever fully embraced trying to score goals or get assists. He was a frightening talent in the past, was almost certain to be a huge player for club and country but hes never kicked on. I worked with a Croatian engineer on a ship who said Kovacic is one of the most disappointing players theyve had in terms of his talent and what he has amounted to. Could have been absolutely massive, maybe not quite as good as Modric but certainly a lot closer than what he is now.

Looks okay. Not quite the standard Artur was in Brazil but talented to a point. Need to be wary though, could be another Oscar, decent but not high quality enough although I think if Oscar had a more offensive minded coach he could of been a different player. Rafa and Jose sort of made him more balanced as opposed to prioritising nurturing his offensive attributes.

Fabregas got the same treatment in the second half of the season the year we won the league under Jose. He "wasn't doing enough" although between Costa, Eden, Willian, the amount of chances they squandered was ridiculous. Fabregas is still one of the best players I have ever seen at finding that penetrating or final pass. Jorginho has found some great passes but poor finishing has took assists away from him. That video is proof, just as is the one of Eden providing passes that should have been scored but the difference is Eden does it and it is automatically an issue, Jorginho on the other hand is branded a bang average player and only passes sideways.... although even then his role in the team isn't to provide assists for players, its to control and dictate the tempo.

If we didnt have a transfer ban I would be more happy to see him go. I think if Pulisic can hit the ground running and Callum can play a lot more we will see less of Pedro and Willian. The midfield still needs another player who can provide goals and assists (although RLC has done it this season but he needs to do it consistently) and we need to reinforce our back 4 and uptop. Left back and left sided CB is still an issue for me.