OneMoSalah

I think they had the better of us in the middle of the park until Bakayoko came on which for me is where we let ourselves down. Ramsey and Xhaka are good players but I think if we had a player with a big presence in there we would of unsettled them, they were unfortunate Ramsey/Lacazette didn't score and if they had done I would of worried for us as we looked toothless until Hazard came on, really Pedro should of scored his chance too early on but hey. Morata needs to stay on his feet more when than ball comes into him, he needs a lesson or two from Didier I think but this sort of game would of suited Costa more than Alvaro, pity he's in Brazil or somewhere doing fuck knows what haha.

Luiz has got that big game experience in the PL that Christensen hasn't got, particularly as well I thought Luiz was outstanding against City at the Etihad last year when we were really under pressure in the first half... But Christensen is good enough to play this year and showed against Spurs a maturity beyond his age but honestly the way City have been playing I think Conte would rather have the chance to rely on an experienced David Luiz than him. It's going to be a real test for him which again I am excited to see him play more minutes because of his talent and he needs to play to develop but would rather Luiz was available.

Honestly didn't think he did anything badly today. Sure Rudiger was in good form beforehand but Cahill didn't really make any sort of mistakes of note defensively for me. David Luiz on the other hand makes an absolutely ridiculous tackle that was unnecessary and hinders us for the next 3 games but Cahill is still the bad guy. Sure his passing maybe isn't exactly class but seen a lot of morons on twitter say we drew because he was playing but we drew because first half we were shit and second half didn't create any major chances. Nothing to do with a left sided center back.

There are 6 or 7 games coming up in 21 days. No need to panic, he will get minutes. Anyway I didn't think he'd play tonight because Contes first priority would be to get 3 points in the first match (which with Atletico Roma drawing tonight is even better) while having the opportunity to give such a key player Eden minutes before Arsenal to see where he's at. Whether or not Eden starts against Arsenal it was important he got some more minutes after a long lay off. Charly will play in the cup game I'd imagine. He'll probably play in most of them against weaker opposition this year. I don't think he's going to be pushing Willian, Pedro, Hazard for a place in the PL team every week. If we are short yes but if not expect him to maybe make the bench or play in cup games

I think with De Boer gone Palace will revert back to their more pragmatic long ball style which won't help Ruben develop as much as if he stayed. Remains to be seen but I think De Boer is a better coach for young players than Roy Hodgson.

Don't think he did anything badly tonight except for that stupid yellow he got in the first half. He probably won't start against Arsenal because I think Conte will be looking at how well Rudigers done and be thinking well do I change a winning team from the PL or play someone who is lacking match rhythm. I think Gaz has got a fair amount of stick for a few years now a lot of which is underserved and I think he and Azpi were the natural choices to be considered for being captain. Fair enough Azpi probably better player but I think we seen last year Gary more than capable of being a very good captain. Also, I get why people want to see Christensen take his place in the starting 11 and have done for a few years now but Andreas showed tonight that he is the man to take Luiz's role in the middle of that back 3 eventually I think, he's so calm and collected, steps into midfield and plays the ball about nicely as well as being very solid defensively cleaning up behind his partners if he has to.

Courtois Azpi Luiz Rudiger Moses Kante Bakayoko Alonso Cesc Morata Willian/Hazard(if fit) think Cesc will play in a more advanced role, not as a right winger but like an attacking midfielder but who knows Pedro is hard to leave out after tonight thought he was very good. Too big a game for Zappacosta I'd imagine although he looked good.

I'm hoping that Conte reverts back to Azpilicueta, Luiz & Rudiger in the back 3 against Arsenal. Cahill obviously rusty tonight due to being suspended and not playing, also playing against low standard opposition tonight he wasn't really tested - fair enough he only had one minor mistake, that stupid tackle in first half - he's lacking the match rhythm Rudiger has built up having played in the last 3 weeks. Anyways, like mentioned above I think we can play better, but Morata, Bakayoko and Rudiger are still adapting to the league and team. Also Eden is nearing full fitness. I think after these 6 or 7 games in the next 3 weeks or whatever, if the squad is managed correctly, most of the new signings will get minutes and continue to adapt and Eden and Bakayoko will be 100% fit by then. I think relying on Batshuayi is going to be a disaster this season.

For me, he has to go in January and if not he wont have any sort of future here next year if he is going to play that poorly against that level of opposition. Sloppy on the ball, can't run in behind defences or even make obvious runs off the ball? Also does he not look extremely slow? It is a big season for him this year but if he continues to get chances up to January and plays that poorly he'll be off before he knows it. Let's hope Costa comes back and gets his arse in gear incase Morata gets injured.

Looks so comfortable in the middle of the back 3 and was more than brave enough to step into midfield with the ball as well. Big future here for this guy, although he will have to be patient.

Rest Alonso and one of Pedro or Cesc in preparation for the Arsenal game and give Eden at least 60 minutes. Everyone else from the weekend can go again.

You can see what having a lot of experience playing in a back 3 does along with very good qualities, I don't think Rudiger has put a foot wrong yet, typical modern center half, strong, fast, comfortable with the ball, can play left and right sides of a back 3. I imagine £34 million or whatever it was we paid will be looked back as a very shrewd investment in the current transfer market if he continues at this rate. He is what Zouma could be with a bit more work (hopefully he plays a full season at Stoke in that right center back position in a back 3), obviously playing in a back 3 at Roma and Germany for a few years has helped him come in and not look out of place although he will have bigger tests than Everton and Leicester.

But does that really mean that Drinkwater is any better than him? Let's not forget Drinkwater has been playing for a mid table team in the PL other than the outstanding year hey won the title. I don't see anything in Danny's game than isn't in Chalobah's. Chalobah's age goes against him possibly for a rotation role because young guys wants to play every week but he has already shown in limited game time last season and already for Watford so far this season he is more than good enough to hold his own in the PL.

Don't be daft. Kante was great sure but he didn't do it all by himself, Matic was back to the standards he played when he returned from Benfica I thought and also got 7 or 8 assists which for him is pretty impressive. But yet again now he's a United played so I'm not surprised that nobody thinks he was important. Same with Mata.

Think 35M is a bit excessive, good to get a MF player in but like I said in the Bakayoko thread regarding Matic and Chalobah, don't think Drinkwater is a huge upgrade on Chalobah, who looked more than capable of holding his own last year or even close to Nemanja

Upgrade? I'm sorry but how can you say we've upgraded on someone who was key to both our title wins in the last three years with Bakayoko who has played maybe 120 minutes of football for Chelsea? Just severely insane to even consider that, also on Drinkwater too I don't see him as a huge improvement on Nathaniel Chalobah like some are saying, yet alone even being close to Matic. Matic was one of the midfielders in our squad who would play the ball forward quick, far quicker than Mikel, Romeu, Kante, Meireles, Essien and whoever else has played in that sort of deeper MF role in the last 5 years. It's no surprise Matic is already a key figure at United, he has freed up Pogba and given United a solid base in MF and I fear that we made a huge mistake selling him to a rival. Fair enough Bakayoko is a good player with potential but to say we've upgraded on somebody who was extremely key to both our title successes in the last 3 years, without him having played more than one full game, is ludicrous by all accounts. Kante got all the plaudits last year but the "wayward, inaccurate and slow" partner he had next to him was equally good I thought, playing to the standards he showed when he arrived back from Benfica. The rumour was that Conte didnt even want to sell him at all never mind to Man United.

I can't believe how stupid his move to Liverpool is, or at least looking at it based on their system and first 11. He would of been a great option for us as a wing back I think, by all accounts Conte helped Moses find a more prominent role for his skill set and AOC is another player who has a lot of similar skills and similar faults.

Regardless of what he's done or doing, we really need him to come back get fit and compete for a place, even if it is just until January, Batshuayi looks ill suited to our system and quite frankly, useless and we failed to get Llorente, so we are short upfront. Conte might have to swallow his pride but I can't help but think about Tevez at Man City however many years ago he was AWOL, came back, played and inspired them towards the title. Costa if he was fully fit, motivated and willing to stay until January at least, would be a good player for us and ultimately give us more depth in a position we are one injury away from being left in a very bad position.

Excellent signing for me. He still has lots of room to grow but in our current set up he is very much of the profile we need, young, technically good and for a striker he can play with his back to goal, run in behind, link well, hold the ball up. His goals to games record for Real was actually brilliant last season, its a shame he didn't start more because if he did, who knows what he could of done. Really think he will be a great long term investment.

I think people will be surprised with how this guy does for City. Also I don't think Kyle Walker is nailed on to be a starter regardless of his fee. Suppose we will see how he does but think he would of been a good option for us.

If he is wanted by Juventus, we should demand he is included in any deal for Alex Sandro and that only. If not keep him, he is still a very good player I think and his contribution last season was largely overlooked due to his partner in crime receiving all the plaudits. Do not sell him to Manchester United because it gives them a very complete midfield I feel, a very nice blend of power, energy and creativity. I don't see why people are urging we sell him to United??? 40M is a good fee but who is going to replace him if he goes realistically? I think we will only gain something if he is included in the deal for Alex Sandro.

I think it was a mistake, maybe blown out of proportion too, but we've had guys at the club beforehand be accused of similar/worse and they've been kept, the JT incident with Anton Ferdinand (wrongly/correctly convicted whatever) and fiasco with Wayne Bridges ex or whatever the fuck it was. I'm sure he will learn his lesson, in the contrary one players actions (a 20 year old nowhere near the first team) will not make or break the clubs image in China. He will learn. Social media is a dangerous thing now a days.

Good deal for him if he takes it but I genuinely think he'd be better served elsewhere now especially that we've agreed a fee for the midfielder from Monaco. I think we'd be better served keeping Matic and Cesc anyway to compete with Kante and Bakayoko if we keep playing 3-4-3 although it would be a shame because Nathaniel looked good last season whenever he played and I'm more than sure he can compete here but whats the point if we've signed another player with a similar skill set in his position?

I think he will be a good wing back for us. Few years ago before he made the move to Madrid, he was great at Porto, he has maybe found it a bit tough at Real which a lot of players do in all fairness but I think he will thrive as a wing back for us.

Fee in excess of 50m for a better than average player, he is a decent wing back but still have doubts about him playing in a flat back 4 and in general defensively wouldnt be so sure on him. Glad we didn't move for him at that price. Mental money.