OneMoSalah

He was never going to be a long term option at LWB or even at LB under Hiddink and Mourinho. He doesn't exactly look a great talent but he'll surprise people at Newcastle I think if played in an attacking position. Still think he has a long way to go to be a squad player here, yet alone a starter.

I was reading comments from the first pages of this thread and the difference to now is ridiculous. I actually think the boards become victim to its own success in the past in a way, we used to go out, target players and they’d be signed within a week or two. Other clubs took notice: City, United, Arsenal, Spurs have all started doing the same and now we are going the other way in trying to spend less. Not even looking to sign players now a days unless they are generally under 23 and can grow and it it doesn’t work out can still make the club money (few exceptions recently). Think we need to go back to frying bigger fish, beating top clubs to top players in some instances, Kyle Walker and Alex Sandro would have been huge for us this summer.

Obviously he'd say something like that. What manager is going to say "No I'm not working to the best of my ability", what sort of message does that send to one the owner, two the fans and three the players? Him using the world exploiting is odd, how many times have you heard somebody say they're exploiting a squad to the max level? Is that another funnily worded hint or dig towards the club for leaving him short of players in his mind or what? Anyway when you put 11 players of that level out on the pitch you'd expect more if you were any manager. He made a bad call with a sub (not first time). That really changed the game for me, showed his intentions, to let Bournemouth play more. He has to motivate the players for the rest of the season and get them to finish top 4, he can do it I'm sure but again hes got to watch because a few more results like this against smaller sides and he probably won't be in a job long. Roman is not afraid to do something like that without hesitation. In the next month or two we'll probably have forgotten about this result anyway. Sometimes these freak show days just happen. Just seen the second quote. This is not news to anybody. We experienced this shit when we won the league under Jose, we didn't improve and look what happened. Every summer, most top 4-6 teams buy 3-6 players minimum of a good standard or to fill their squad. We needed improvement on Moses, Alonso, Batshuayi, Cahill, etc. We didn't sign anybody to improve on them (Well Morata but lost Costa after so not really improvement). If we finish top 4 hes done alright, considering all the talk and how people will say he needs to go now etc after this defeat, considering our strange dealings, considering more minutes (lame excuse still but yeah), considering the form of players who were much better last season etc etc. but these things should be expected.

Bad move replacing Barkley with Cesc, it was 0-0, I know hes Italian but take a risk, keep Barkley on and put Cesc on in place of one of the deeper MF players. Giroud's arrival gives us another dimension but again is it going to be enough if we've got 2 defensive minded midfield players on and only one or two attack minded players around him? Some of the subs these last few month, fair enough hes complained about the squad, have been bad. Not saying he needs to go, not a chance, hes a top manager, proved that last season but if he stays next year him and the club need to be more proactive in transfers and perhaps he needs to take the shackles off in games against smaller teams where its 0-0? I don't mind seeing us a bit more cautious in bigger matches, we aren't going to pass Man City or Liverpool off the park but if we're solid enough and can get a few clear chances we'll always be in with a shout. The smaller teams though, different story, we need to be more on the front foot at certain instances.

Copied this from page 1 of this thread, was in the article thing when he signed. "Bakayoko, 22, is a tall, strong and quick central midfielder who was instrumental in Monaco’s Ligue 1 triumph last season, as well as their impressive run to the Champions League semi-finals." Strong? Wtf was that for the first goal, big lad 6 ft plus fell like a sack of spuds, why try buy a foul there as well? Talk about using your head, your 15-20 yards from your own box, what a clown, why go backwards with the ball under a lot of pressure? The rest of the performance, Anonymous again throughout except maybe one or two decent long passes wide. 1 step forward 2 steps backward. If we are lucky enough maybe he'll be better next season but looking at him so far this season, wasn't really sure he could get any worse, then he played alright for a few matches but tonight, atrocious.

To be fair, to come on in this team and look half decent tonight, fair play , could have just came on and coasted like the rest, sure the others didn't do much but for a 17 or 18 year old he looked very confident in his own ability, wasn't timid or scared to try something. Also lets be real, in all likelihood if the team was picked based on the match from tonight, he'd be starting but there would be 9 or 10 changes, lets not beat around the bush, Pedro, Hazard, Barkley, Cesc didnt exactly set the world alight either. Regarding Odoi, lets not get too ahead of ourselves, he'll probably go out the squad when Emerson, Giroud, Willian are in and amongst it but hes not done any harm and if he keeps up his performances with the youth team he'll get more chances. Although Josh was the same and what, hes ended up playing in League 1 and the Championship now just shows.

Do you think we'll be playing a back 3 come the summer? We will probably need to get rid of 2 CBs unless we continue with 3 at the back because you can't keep Azpi, Zouma, Rudiger, Luiz, Cahill, Christensen happy when only 2 will play every week. Cahill and Luiz will be the first edged towards door I think. Cahill because of hes weakest out of what we've got and age, although him being captain gives him a lifeline - unfortunate unless back 3 stays because as a squad filler meh, youd hope he wouldn't play a lot although Luiz would be better for that role and could actually start in a back 3 - and Luiz because any manager should be able to see how much of a liability he is in a back 4... and before anybody says "oh wait he can pass the ball out from the back", regardless whats that got to do with how good he defends when the other team has the balll? Liability. Or will it be the midfielders fault for him being exposed again etc etc. Azpi will probably go back to RB if we switch back to a back 4 (new manager comes in its going to happen), so maybe only get rid of one but I can see their being a few more. Contes as good as done.

Honestly don't think Ake is particularly that great either. Had a good game tonight, along with the rest of their back line, none of our CBs covered themselves in glory which will prompt people to say we should have kept him. If our attack showed up tonight it would have been different.

Honestly he should start next game can’t be any worse than anybody else in terms of being positive on the ball. Really disappointed with the result but like the look of this kid.

The way he was heavy involved in the goals wont help his case but I think in other matches he has played here he’s been decent enough. Poor tonight in second half. I’m glad to see Hudson Odoi on though. Looks bright. On another note I think taking Barkley off for Cesc and not Baka was a hugely negative change before goals were conceded. We needed goal threat and Barkley further up pitch would provide that, Cesc playing deeper giving passes into those guys in between lines and around half spaces. The no focal point doesn’t help either. Or conceding shite goals.

Yeah was poor. Whole team has been shite. From back to front. No point singling out one when the other 10 haven’t done anything better. Probably go as far as saying Marcos Alonso again looking or most threatening player.... our LWB

We’ve conceded 2 soft goals because the whole defence has been poor and we’ve not scored because the attack has been non existent. Make that 3 😂 Anyone else think Roman might hit panic stations?

Okay he’s at fault for that one 😂 jesus christ

The whole back 3 should have been narrower. Could blame Cahill. Could blame Azpilicueta on the right side for not coming in either. Regardless, it was a good run between both CBs, goal is a collection of individual errors started by Pedro, no point saying GC could have been more proactive, that’s not his game stepping out and intercepting, plus if he does that and doesn’t get it? Even easier. In all fairness Gary has looked alright since going into the middle of the back 3. For me the chance doesn’t come if Pedro doesn’t play the ball back infield and if Bakayoko doesn’t tumble to the ground like the useless cunt he is in such a crucial area he’s got to just punt that ball upfield or get a foul.

Honestly against somebody that fast he’s not exactly got much of a chance considering how well Wilson timed his run. Not sure what Pedro was thinking a few mins back before passing to Baka and then fuck knows what Baka was even trying to do. Don’t think Cahill is as bad as anybody seems to say. He had a poor spell start of year but honestly that goal could of been avoided if Pedro and Bakayoko didn’t do stupid things. Barkley off is a mistake he’s still more likely to do something than Bakayoko or Kante. Bakayoko should have come off for Cesc.

Don’t be daft Moura is like a Brazilian Theo Walcott 😂

Obviously they would post a video like that but a few years ago when he was scoring every week for them he was one of/the best striker in the league. Football fans are fickle. Every single one of us 😂

Short corners are fucking shite, for weeks now I’ve been wishing we’d cut them out! Also Eden shoot, Kante shoot, no point putting all the work in beating players then getting the chance to pop a shot off then doing fuck all afterwards!!! Wouldn’t say Ake has been that good either but he’s an ex Chelsea player and people tend to over exaggerate our former youth players quality. Regardless “do a goal” Chelsea 😂

Great talent, would happily have him here, regardless of how hes played this season and in all fairness Real have really struggled themselves all over. If its in return for Eden, that has to come with 100-150M from Real as well.

Crappy signing? He has 105 goals in 253 games for Arsenal. That's pretty decent and in terms of his age he's an ideal age to be a back up. Financially its not really that much of a big fee, sure hes surplus to requirements as you say but, really is it more because of Arsenal or his desire to play in which why hes wanting to move? Arsenal would probably keep him if they could, its so obvious Wenger rates him and has done for years but I think its more Giroud wanting out than Arsenal wanting him out.

Most of his goals have been tap ins where he has only had to get on the end of the ball (after all the hard work has been done for him by his team mates) from about 5 yards out.... in terms of a modern day striker he is terrible, he doesn't offer anything except being alert in the 6 yard box and even then his movement is pretty sub par for a top level footballer. At least Aubamayang has real pace and stretches teams, can beat players in 1v1s, combine well with attacking midfielders... Michy not so much. Dortmund don't put chances on a plate for him then he will struggle. Big time. No idea why Dortmund haven't looked for someone else in all fairness, a more rounded player, because the likes of Reus, Yarmolenko, Phillipp, Sancho, Pulisic, Kagawa, Gotze, all these guys like to play little 2 or 3 pass combinations as well. particularly Kagawa, Gotze, Reus, wont get much from Michy in that regard. Can't see them building their team around Michy when they have all those sort of players.

They've bid 50M which is already too much. They are going to seriously overspend. Not necessarily a bad move maybe he fills their bench gives them more options but hes hardly worth 50M let alone anything above it.

Sturridge and Schurrle to WBA pretty decent business. Not signings you'd expect at top 4 but for a club like that, exceptional work. Rondon looked decent as well recently for WBA, so add Sturridge, Jay Rodriguez, Schurrle if he can play well... decent attacking team along with the likes of Krychowiak (spelling probably wrong), Johnny Evans and Ben Foster, think they'll start winning more games.

Tbf Conte's philosophy is more about winning as opposed to playing like X or Y. Italy, Juventus... all adaptable. Always had plan A B and C. We need something like that, flexible team who can go longer to a Giroud or Dzeko or play a bit more into feet into a Hazard or Morata. But yeah club will not give proper control or time to any coach. Then the next guy we will approach to be manager will be Diego Simeone or some other pragmatic manager.

No I meant both were obviously mistakes of different severity but when it comes to a football discussion, not sure why it’s brought up.