OneMoSalah

John Stones is a fraud.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38240386?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_sport&ns_source=facebook&ns_linkname=sport Totally agree with this and is similarly to what I've said about Luiz in various threads.

Wouldn't be against a move for him. He really has come on a hell of a lot since I seen him play for Neil Lennon's Celtic side. Wouldn't go overboard and say he's best CB in the PL, would still rate Alderweireld and Koscielny ahead of him but he's been the most improved CB in the last 2 years in the PL no doubt. Has a good presence, doesn't dive in, brilliant in the air, calm and composed on the ball... would really suit our team.

I'm sorry but Ozil and Sanchez are amazing players and I would have them here in a heartbeat ahead of any of Pedro, Willian, Oscar and Fabregas. Both would still get games at Barca and Real without a doubt. It's not that they weren't good enough, they were discarded because of the recruitment of new players and reduced playing time on offer. Di Maria is another example. Real apparently want Ozil back which says it all. Ozil was probably just as important to Real Madrid than Ronaldo was, if you look at all the assists and chances he created. Look at how upset Ronaldo was when they sold him, along with how baffled most of us were never mind Real Madrid fans. I find it quite ridiculous that you think he only fits fine at a club like Arsenal and that him or Sanchez didn't make it at those teams, especially considering Sanchez was part of arguably the best footballing team in history along with Ozil haven proven himself in the international stage as well as for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Both were successes. Anyway regarding James, he could probably play that role RW/RF role to be honest but he's not as fast as you've said, but again neither is Pedro. Pace isn't everything, he's not like painfully slow, he has amazing technical qualities and most of all which is important for attacking midfield players, end product. If he was available at a price let's say 50-60M and on affordable wages, would you really say oh no let's sign one of Bernardo Silva, Thomas Lemar or Lucas Moura instead because he's "failed/not good enough/unwanted" ? No way, not a chance in hell, he'd probably be a hit at any other top club, heck probably even at Barcelona if they could wedge him in there somehow. Many clubs have done this before, buy Real/Barca players that are unwanted/don't want to sit on bench because usually what Real/Barca dispose of usually is someone else's gain (some even get resigned), like Ozil, Sanchez, Fabregas, Pedro, Di Maria, Makelele, Yaya Toure, Robinho, Eto'o, Carvajal, Morata, Denis Suarez, Ibrahimovic, Thiago etc. The list is endless. Being discarded for Real/Barca doesn't automatically mean your or good enough or failed, people seem to say this every time we are linked with a Real/Barca player, but if they were at another club it would be oh yes sign him... but sometimes you've just got to realise Real and Barca are two of biggest clubs so that's how they get them in the first place. Keep an eye out on Dybala more than likely going to one of Real or Barcelona eventually in the next 2-3 years too then it will be rinse and repeat, someone else will be available and sold and whatever else.

They lost on all fronts that year but he's still won a CL there as well as a few UEFA super cups and the club World Cup. It's also not like it was directly his fault they won nothing that year, what more can you do in your first year at an elite club than get 10+ goals and assists and voted in to the La Liga and UEFA team of the year? Fitness, work rate and injuries along with 3 different coaches/tactics and the emergence of Asensio/consistency of Isco has been his problem, not his actual ability and you'd be a fool to even suggest you don't buy a player like him to win games and titles or not agree that he'd walk in to our team among several other top teams in Europe. Before he went to Real everyone on here was desperate for us to make a move for him, myself included, just because things don't always work out at Real/Barca doesn't mean you should automatically write off a player, they are the two biggest clubs in football history, things havent worked for players just as good as him.

I think that will be precisely what they will look to do to be honest, look to exploit that spaces behind Alonso and Moses and try get players in between our midfield and back 3 as well as behind it. Not expansive football though! They will probably soak up pressure hoping we play a high line then play on the break. I think they will also try to use Rondon up against Azpi to try and play off second balls from knock downs a lot too as well as the usual set piece threats they have. This will be a tough match, they won't want the ball as much as a Spurs, United or a City, so let's hope we are able to break them down, they will almost definitely have 2 banks of 4 or even everyone behind the ball if they have to and that's not disrespectful to West Brom because they are very good at that and have won points off good teams with it before under Pulis. Still think we shouldn't change a winning team except for Matic in maybe but this will be an busy time for us. Maybe the likes of Zouma, Batshuayi, Willian, Oscar will get more regular minutes from the bench as opposed to 5 minutes or whatever some of them are averaging this season from the bench but I can't see 5 or 6 changes to the team every game.

And the fact that foreign players generally are better. Or so I would say, but I'm Scottish so can't really talk haha

Would of been a brilliant move but I think he only ever wanted to leave Barca for Arsenal same with Ozil leaving Real for Arsenal. Pity because him and Hazard in the same team would be excellent. Just seen Udinese. Jesus. My eyesight is atrocious.

And they have Spanish players like Isco and Asensio (president sees both as future of Real along with Bale when Ronaldo fades out team) plus Bale can play more centrally too. Real are obsessed with stockpiling, the likes of Isco couldn't get a game last year in all honesty and they said he wasn't wanted or believed to be good enough but look at this year. I think James would start in most teams around Europe, no doubts but his work rate and fitness has been a big part of his demise at Real too. He was sensational with Carlo in his first season at Real in terms of scores by goals and getting assists. Was 10-15+ in each but Isco has worked harder and also is more versatile too which helps because he can play on the left right as a 10 And as an 8 in a 433

Decent player but 35M is a piss take and even then he'd struggle to get a game here at all. He'd do well at a club like a Southampton or an Everton maybe, that sort of level but even then I don't think they'd be hugely desperate for him when they can get better and cheaper CBs all over Europe. Avoid please.

He kicked the waterbottle out of frustration due to the refs giving a correct decision booking Pogba for a dive. He talks about some refs pre match and criticizes/talks about them negatively before match day and agter. He was the same here, when we weren't winning or things didn't go his way he blamed players, referees, crowds, linesmen, whoever and whatever he could bar himself or the other team simply being better, some day it's a ta tic to deflect blame but it's very stupid too, he's a bellend in all honesty, showed this sort of behaviour throughout his careeer. Harrasses fuck out of the fourth officials constantly as well, the FA have been trying to prevent this behaviour and tone it down for years now and that they have started doing so they are "unfair" or "wrong" but his antics in previous years along with other managers have made the FA stricter, same with players with dissent to refs, shirt pulling, social media and whatever else. I know Contes no angel but he's not as big a bellend as Mourinho is.

Really don't get Emerys changes in PSG game. Two full backs, like for like changes and Jese subbed on at the 84th minute when 2-1 down (far too late although they got a draw) they really threw that top spot away quite horrifically, no real desire to try and attack or win the game, in a team with guys like Di Maria, Lucas and Ben Arfa who were piss poor too, it makes no sense. Weird going ons there, Di maria and Ben Arfa were terrific last year while Lucas has always been inconsistent. Suppose that lucky bastard Wenger won't care now they finished top. First half of Celtic-City was a brilliant game too. City and Celtic both really have soft centers but could of scored goals galore, hope there's games tomorrow that are just as open, seeing Spurs lose would be great as well.

He was pretty shite in all honesty but Gladbach didn't help themselves. The one guy we should sign from Mochengladbach would be Dahoud, a good young MF player with great potential and at times tonight his use of the ball and also willingness to take it while under pressure was encouraging but the other guys couldn't hold on to the ball if there lives depended on it. Thorgan still has huge steps to make to be an option for us if we were to resign him, although he has promise but what he showed tonight in terms of trying to do everything himself and overcomplicate simple things has been a regular occurrence this season which isn't good when you consider Gladbach really are struggling.

PSG and Unai Emery are two of the biggest frauds in football. Wow.

Luiz is playing the best football he's played for Chelsea yes but he is still rash (high tackle on Fellaini could of been a red, numerous attempts at trying to make interceptions he is never going to make going through the back of players picking up stupid bookings) and make the wrong decision (ridiculous attempt at whatever that was for Spurs goal). My concern was and still is, you can't teach an old dog new tricks, he's 29, he's already learned so much and will continue to be the same player he was 2 years ago although the system helps him and his concentration at times has been fantastic considering the train wreck he was under Villas-Boas... but Christensen is 21 or 22 with 2 seasons playing football that isn't at an academy level, still learning and can still be moulded in to whatever Conte wants to mould him in to. Luiz still has issues 1v1, definitely but playing as the middle defender in a back 3, he is seeing what's happening around him more, positioning himself to prevent or block crosses/cut backs/to win headers, to sweep up behind Azpi or Cahill rather than directly engaging opponents as much as he would in the other two positions. There's no doubt this system helps him, he is a good player, has been one of the best CBs in however many games so far this season too and I'm not saying he isn't but he's still got some problems which he had the first time he was here. Bonucci was one of the better CBs in Serie A before Juventus signed him. He was part of the second best defense statistically in Serie A the year before he moved to Juve (ironically enough he played with Inter Milan's Andrea Rannocchia) and eventually Conte ditched his 442 system to play all of Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini because he was more than good enough. I hope Luiz can still improve with Conte and this system and continue to remain concentrated in games but he's shown slight moments where you can see those faults. That's normal though we knew what we were selling and knew what we were buying but the 343 really has helped him along with Costa, Hazard, Moses and Matic rediscovering their form/contributing. If we went back to a 4 man defence you'd see these faults a bit more because he'd be more exposed. It probably would work with Christensen on the left but he's played in the middle for nearly 2 seasons now and he plays that role very well. He has experience in that middle central defender role, more than Luiz, albeit Luiz has been around for longer, I think he has looked a hell of a lot better there with Gladbach than when they've played him in a 4 man defence but that's just me. I still think we will end up with anther defender regardless of if Christensen comes back year. I also think Luiz wasn't Contes first or second choice option. Playing on on the right of Mochengladbachs back 3 right now.. weird

Honestly if we stick with 3 at the back he is the natural successor to David Luiz in that middle role out of all the players we have. He's not a poor defender either, the point was Luiz adds that fantastic long range passing from the defence where we can go from back to front with one pass as welll as his defensive skills which have been good so far since he's returned but there's still signs in there he's not completely changed. Christensen is a good defender, he will develop more physically before being in the first team here, he doesn't need to be a massive bulging unit of muscle to be a success, look at Carvalho, Cannavaro, Mascherano etc. smaller, slighter built players who played as CBs. Even then Christensen is like 6ft? Hardly small

Mourinho gets fined for doing stupid shit. He always does something and has been fined god knows how many times since he arrived in England. Same here, same at Inter, Real and United. Can't believe we've been charged although I'm not surprised, FA are trying to clamp everything down.

I think he has more experience than Luiz playing in a back 3 in all honesty. Sure Luiz has excelled but lets not deter from the fact Luiz still has his flaws (was evident in CL against top opposition for PSG over last few seasons) and always will albeit they have been masked with this system and his discipline at times, he's at an age where it's harder to change him unlike Christensen who is very much still learning. Also regarding the physicality, that's a thing that will come with Andreas getting older and filling out, its natural that he will need a bit of gym work to play regular in the PL (he might get a PL loan move first before being considered in the squad here) a lot of non British players now a days do need that regardless of which league they come from but I can't see that being an issue, German football is also physical as well as international football at times, so it's not that he will be too lightweight but just needing a bit of a top up. I agree regarding Luiz's passing being better than Christensens but as useful as it is, Christensen is also just as effective at coming into midfield to play although maybe not as expansive with his passing but that's not a major issue for me in all honesty, defenders are there to defend first, regardless of modern day football, you look at the Bonucci and sure he's a good passer but you wouldn't fancy taking him on 1v1, he's an amazing defender but with Luiz perhaps you would because he has got a mistake in him. It's not like Christensen shirkes away from coming out with the ball or playing risky passes too, we all know how comfortable he is on the ball from his time in the academy as well as his time in Germany playing in one of the most exciting teams in the league but it is right to say Luiz has a bit more in his locker on the ball. Also I can't see him playing Cahill's position, I just have a feeling we will go for Romagnoli or some other left footed alternative for that LCB role (Conte is definitely aware of him from his time with Italy and will know that he's played on the left of a back 3 for Italy under the new coach) which is somewhere we need to look at improving in the long term. Both Cahill and Luiz are not long term options in these two positions in a back 3, I really hope Zouma will be used on the right (think he's not quite got that composure like Bonucci, Luiz or Christensen have to be considered for the middle), Christensen in the middle and if we can sign Romagnoli, him (or someone else) on the left as long as Conte is still here and still in favour of 3 at the back. Long term that would be brilliant. I think the struggles we seen with Azpi as LB could eventually come to light with Cahill as a LCB too, Gary's not bad on the ball or with his left foot but he's always wanting to use his right which can close a passing option for him or slow the move down or whatever, as opposed if he opened his body up and used his left. But that's a common fault with a lot of different players in different positions in different teams.

His passing was awful against City in all honesty, especially in the first half but at least he had Cesc next to him though, the onus isn't on him to be creative but this has been a concern of mines for a few weeks now, can we rely on Kante and Matic to break teams down if nobody else is able to? Fair enough Matic has 6 assists this year but hardly a playmaker and it's the same with Kante. West Brom up next, 10 men behind the ball... great stuff.

Wouldn't say he was woeful. In all honestly United are coming along offensively, the likes of Zlatan, Mkhitryian and Pogba are starting to click and when top players with their ability start to click they will cause teams issues. He will never play as good as he did for Juventus because Mourinho won't allow him that freedom unfortunately. Definitely not worth the money they paid but he's not been awful, United are a final ball off looking alright going forward or so the impression I got watching them against Everton was that, although they have defensive problems.

Maybe but I think he'd be better suited in that middle CB position, it's one he's very familiar with playing it with nearly every week with Mochengladbach, suits him down to the ground sweeping up and stepping out with the ball. Maybe he will replace Cahill next year but who knows, I don't think we'd have gone after Romagnoli if that was the case, left footed center back on the left side makes sense, round pegs in round holes and all.

I don't think it will be long before Messi plays Iniestas role. He's coming deeper and deeper in games to try link up when Iniesta doesn't play and honestly he's an excellent playmaker, so it looks like they already have their Iniesta replacement.

Wales used it at the Euros in every game and Mark Hughes is Welsh lol. In the last few seasons Liverpool, Watford, Manchester United among other teams have all used different variations of 3 man defence formations like 3-4-3/3-4-2-1/3-4-1-2/3-5-2. I don't think they've had as much success although I remember Liverpool having a great run of results with it under Brendan Rodgers at times. Even in Germany and sometimes Spain it is becoming more and more common. Unfortunately it's not something that is brand new but we seem to have a better grasp of it than those teams did.

We were lucky. If De Bruyne scored that chance we would of got beaten, no doubts about it, if that same chance is created 10 times he scores it 9 times. Also the shot Courtois saved, he would of probably scored that earlier in the season when he was in terrific form. Fair enough their goal was a lucky one but they really had earned that luck due to how they pinned us in, created opportunities to cross and how much possession they had in our half. If we went in at 0-0 we would of been fortunate and deservedly so they went in with the lead. We were clinical no doubt about it, 15 minutes changed the game for us, it was the same against Spurs just a 15-20 minute spell in the game where we had 2 chances and scored both but again we were lucky they didn't get the second goal because then it's a different proposition altogether. I wouldn't say we looked convincing enough defensively in those games, if Luiz didn't play v City we would of struggled because he bailed us out and against Spurs first half whole back 3 and both wing backs were awful in defensive actions. Its not a bad thing to be lucky in big games but I believe that these things will even out in the season eventually, I'd hate to see us go 2-0 down to a team like Spurs, Arsenal or City because we wouldn't come back from it. Also there will be moments where we won't be as clinical which we have seen plenty of in previous seasons. The whole lucky point was made regarding people saying/articles saying we had been magnificent, brilliant, etc more than anything, our counter attacks were lethal but still there is a huge amount to improve on based on two first halves of football against two top teams, Spurs and City because we won't get that luck every match in a season. De Bruyne was getting a huge amount of room in a position between Alonso and Hazard on the pitch and Navas and Sane had exposed our wing backs at times. This is a blueprint along with Spurs' pressing that could be copied and give us issues in the future, I still think we'd struggle against Liverpool or perhaps Arsenal with this system for instance, just because we are top of the league it means nothing yet as this team is still a work in progress and on another day it would of finished differently in both the Spurs and City games. I think people are getting too carried away, we've clicked sooner than City (who I still reckon are favourites) but I still think we might come undone with a few injuries and not getting that rub of the green like we've gotten in certain instances in games. The one thing that has impressed me though is Conte has seen the way games are going and has managed to change them like the game against Spurs and City. The difference in the first 45 minutes to the second 45 minutes is hugely noticeable but games can be done in the first 45 minutes (Arsenal for instance).

Good to see one of our players get a winner v Liverpool but he is not a center half!!! Constantly let's balls bounce instead of dealing with them, first time it's cost a goal but he's done it countless times this year and also at times with Watford... if he's wanting to be a Center half he has to deal with those things in the air