OneMoSalah

Sincerely hope we don’t lose him to Bayern or Barca. Same with Rudiger, losing him would be a disaster. There aren’t that many good CBs out there, yet alone attainable ones so to say yeah OK you can just go for nothing, it would be criminal. I mean the lack of attainable top top CBs available is probably part of the reason the club signed Thiago Silva the other year as a shorter term option, although he’s proven time and time again he’s still as good as they come these days still. I mean Rudi really is as good as anybody right now in Europe and in his prime so to speak and well, Andreas is still coming to his best/prime years at 25 years old after re-establishing himself under Tuchel after 18 months where people were concerned for his future here. Maybe its just me but I think he is also emerging as someone who is being trusted more and more and looks like he is very capable of becoming a leadership figure in the dressing room. He leads by example playing at a consistently high level in the same way Azpilicueta did for instance over the years. Plus I still think he has another level to hit yet, despite having been one of the most consistent players in the last year or so in that position. If I am honest, I have to disagree. Bayern are normally very very shrewd when it comes to this thing so I am not surprised that they would be very happy on letting Sule go (considering the salary he’s demanding) and getting either Andreas or Rudi (or both) on a free, as both would be upgrades (Rudi significantly). I don’t think Ginter is necessarily a bad player either but again, if you were a top top club (never mind being a top top club who already have both Rudi and Andreas on their books) you would keep either both/one of them over signing MG 100/100 times. Or you’d think you would. On Kounde, I wasn’t overly convinced on him for the money Sevilla wanted last season and honestly, still not entirely convinced this season. If it were less than £68m, say £40-45m or so, I could see it making more sense but £68m, is he really that good? When I watch him, I just don’t see it as value for money although his age does contribute.

I don’t think 7 goals for Southampton is really amazing evidence to say he’s absolutely ready to play here. Its a step after his promising stint with Vitesse, clearly, but look also look at players like Ings, Watkins etc at Southampton and Villa (Ings at Villa has hugely struggled though), generally to be a CF for the top top teams you need to be someone who sticks out a lot every game and I wouldn’t say from what I’ve seen of Southampton this season that Broja is quite there yet. I have no doubts he’s a good prospect but he more than likely would of been a bench warmer/squad player this season and barring the injury crisis we had in attacking positions towards the back end of last year when Lukaku, Werner and Havertz were all in and out after Malmo IIRC, he would rarely have played (hence why TT and the club sanctioned his loan because it was the smart move). I think unless he explodes and is scoring every game/second game to the season finishes (even then I think it would take something obscene to not loan him again as young CFs generally need to play to develop), we may try and find him another loan again next season. At the same time, there is absolutely no need to rush Broja’s trajectory either, he’s only 20 and whilst he has impressed in Holland and is progressing under Hasenhuttl there are still questions as to how he would do in a bigger and better team who don’t necessarily play counter attacking football as Southampton generally tend to let teams pen them in and try expose them playing on the transition. Tuchel rates him which is as good an indicator that if he’s allowed to develop in the right way and TT is here, he will absolutely integrate him in to the squad but its just the whole Lukaku dividing opinion and not cutting it alongside the others not having the expected output which is accelerating the thought of him being “ready”. If Rom was banging them in and the other attackers were performing better it wouldn’t be an issue. I mean many (myself included) thought that Lukaku probably wasn’t ready after his two loan spells with WBA and Everton. Whilst it didn’t work out in the long run as it cost us 70 odd M after selling him and resigning him, I think at the time it wasn’t inaccurate to say that. Obviously different players but I don’t even think Broja is half at the level Rom was during that season at Everton.

Hmmm. Missed the point completely. Its not like they will be first choice - only being mentioned as regulars due to Chilwells injury.

Kerr Smith is an interesting prospect but for the player, bar financially, it seems a daft move. He has only played 12 times for Dundee Utd in 2 seasons even though he is 17. Bit surprised though, as a Scot would of preferred to see him continue at Dundee Utd as Tam Courts the manager has been involved with their youth set up and has been the first team manager since the summer. Suppose money talks though but probably end up stuck in u18s/u23s football then get loaned out and sold off like the majority of them who perhaps leave too soon. Not even a regular at DU so it is a bit weird.

Tbf why do people make stupid comments like this? We already won the PL, CL, FA Cup, Super Cup and EL with Alonso and Emerson being members of the squad (although at different times). And anyway, its not like we are asking Alonso and Emerson to be our first choices for the long term but with Chilwells injury we may need them for a few months this season. Unless you’d rather we spunk unnecessary money on more than likely an overpriced player/someone surplus to requirements who clubs will know we are desperate for only to moan about it 6 months later when you realise the guy is just as shit as the others/a waste of money? I mean you’d think yous were playing FIFA at times regarding this whole Emerson/new LB arguments/conversation.

I don’t think how we played tonight v Spurs will be relevant. I really really doubt we will play as half arsed as we did over the tie also because its not a double legged cup game and it nots going to be 180 minutes. Like we seen v Liverpool (was literally only 10 or 11 days ago) after everyone was having their meltdowns/writing us off/saying they’d obliterate us/questioning how good we actually are because we drew v Brighton, Wolves, Everton… if you show up on the day and play with the personality, the ability and in the manner we did (we probably should have won), we will be fine. Previous performances necessarily mean nothing. Its about the performance on the day. Last season is as good an example of this as possible v City too (this season we got it wrong tactically). I mean does nobody remember the run up to the CL final? All worrying about City this, City that….. de Bruyne, Silva, Sterling bla bla bla up against player X, Y and Z etc. Then same with the league game and the FA cup semi’s… oh City will do this and this and this… we beat them 3 times. Probably playing better than we had done in games prior to playing them. Swear you mention City on here and some of you lot shit your drawers for the sakes of it 😂

I have to disagree. I would say the links to Rice and Tchouameni are well warranted and CG would more likely be coming in to take RLC, Saul and Barkleys minutes/place as opposed to being Kante’s backup/heir/whatever. I honestly don’t think Tuchel will view him as that because CG has a lot of facets to his game and he can maybe be the different option/profile of players in which many (myself included) felt that Saul would be when we signed him this summer (someone who could break into the box, score goals, third man runs whilst also contributing to the team defensively/without possession). In fact he probably has this sort of role at Palace because really McCarthy, Miliviojevic, Kouyate etc aren’t players who you would say contribute more in the opposition half. They really are more defensive minded. He necessarily is a box to box player but he undoubtedly has more freedom than the other 2 at Palace and that suits him. Whether he’s afforded that here is different but he will undoubtedly be an option in the 2 deeper positions than as one of the advanced positions off the CF too.

I’m not quite there yet (don’t think I will get to that concern either unless he nosedives horrifically) but I was concerned tonight. Him, Timo (basically given up expecting anything from him and will not shed a tear if we sold him in the summer) and Rom looked very out of sync with each other and were extremely quiet for the majority of the game. Mase is still streaky in terms of his goals and assists (although the corner tonight was his assist) but this season he has still bettered his output significantly compared to what it was by this time last season. Re Gallagher: I really don’t think Connor will simply just walk into our starting XI next season either or and even if he were to or was a player to come from the bench/rotation option, I don’t think it’ll be in the 10/attacking positions off the striker. He will likely start as 4th choice CM in a 2 if we stick with this shape, likely taking up the minutes Ruben and Saul have accumulated and go on from there if he impresses. It is one thing doing well for Palace…. another for us so I don’t think its quite as simple as him coming may result in us not buying a CM either because Saul wont stay and RLC and Ross need to go back more than likely (which is also heavily speculated by some on here).

We have been pretty poor since HT. The changes better bring a spark to us because we need it. Mount, Werner and Lukaku have been anonymous. As big a fan as I am of Mase, I think he’s made more fouls than attacking contributions.

Rudiger why why why…. The initial tackle was such a stupid challenge that he was never making in a million years and well the actual contact for the pen only occurs because he is stupid enough to make such a rash initial challenge. Ok no pen but still. Could have been.

Honestly, I don’t think its as easy to say its purely a 4-2-2-2. Look at us without the ball, we are set in a back 5 with Sarr as a 3rd CB then CHO at LWB and then with the ball it looks like it could either be a back 4 or a 3 depending on if Sarr or Azpi/both push up higher but I am sure its been similar the last few games, particularly the first leg also V Spurs.

If we get the first goal ties done. If we don’t its very much game on.

Eddie Howe buying Chris Wood for 25M 🤣 He really is going to fuck this Newcastle project up isnt he?

As soon as Juve signed him 2 seasons ago on loan or whenever, the prospect of him coming here went out the window. Was never any chance we would get him after Juve got him even though it was a 2 year loan then obligation to buy. That deal will have been as good as him signing for 5 years upfront when they originally signed him. Juventus have done the same with Locatelli and Moise Kean.

I don’t think its purely on him though. For instance, I severely doubt he would of done as poorly if he came here last year when we approached him. Again though, I doubt he’d of done as well as Tuchel in Europe or in big games but our squad compared to Uniteds - which is clearly an absolute mess for anyone who wants to play such an aggressive high pressing style due to the fact guys like Ronaldo, Fernandes, Martial etc do not press - the contrast in how well our players may have suited his philosophy, its night and day. Even Pochettino will struggle with that squad if they get him in the summer and he goes for that sort of dynamic pressing style in which Spurs and Southampton played. His reputation may take a bash but he still has got huge respect throughout Europe and will continue to have that.

Jesus christ Ragnick’s reputation gonna take a battering by the time this 6 months contract is up as United manager. No identity, nothing. Villa just need a goal. United second best comfortably.

Have to disagree. Dias and particularly Rodri also, have been excellent for City this season. Would go as far as saying the two of them are a big reason as to why City have the lowest goals against this season as well as 11 PL clean sheets, although the way they work to get the ball back as a team is incredible. What I don’t get is why Neville and Carragher have put VVD in their teams, if anything he has been very average for them this year I feel.

Jesus I still remember the uproar when Sarri didn’t buy him here 😂 bullet dodged indeed

Digne isnt any better than Alonso IMO and the last 12 months is proof of that. Also Theo Hernandez? Are people serious? We aren’t buying another starting quality LB when Chilwell was in the form of his career and also cost £50m prior to his injury. I mean I get a strong squad but barring the chance that lightning strikes twice and Chilwell were to get this sort of injury again - the logic behind this transfer is odd (although a better back up who is younger, good enough to play and an improvement on Alonso? Makes more sense) Also the thinking of the so called medical experts who went from saying ‘its maybe not that bad and Chilwell could be back playing in January without surgery’ who are now changing their tune to ‘he will never be the same player’…… odd. Just seems very knee jerk but that is sometimes the reaction on here. Even the Reece James situation with Hakimi in the summer, its different and how people can’t see this and think the scenarios are the same is frustrating. For me, it is clear that TT sees Azpilicueta as a RCB much much more than a wingback so it made perfect sense to pursue another RWB/right fullback. If we had signed Hakimi we wouldn’t have seen Azpilicueta at RWB once this season barring an injury crisis. Probably because we have looked at trying to get Emerson or Maatsen back considering Tuchel values Alonso and in all honesty, we only needs a back up for the best part of half a season. Or rather than panicking in January and simply pursuing options that aren’t good enough/are likely to be bad deals long term because clubs will think we are desperate (ie Digne for 25-30m which is reportedly their asking price).

The 3 words Chelsea fans hate to hear on commentary ‘Timo Werner…. Offside’ Didnt really need to force the issue second half, managed the game well despite Spurs having 10 minutes where they played much better.

Well would you look at that, two big games and currently, 135 minutes of us playing at a very good level….. Lets hope we can get another one or two to really cement our position in this tie and well because so far Spurs look very timid and lightweight (because we are hungrier and first to everything) so why not kill the tie?

Have to admit, Saul and Sarr both look very comfortable so far. Was a bit concerned but so far so good.

Strange team shape in all honesty, surprised we’ve gone with a back 4 - only second time under TT IIRC he tried it v Bristol last season and changed it at HT because we were absolutely piss poor.

I think its also a clear sign of Tuchel’s evolution from his time at Dortmund and PSG too. Maybe I am wrong but I feel he may have been a bit more rash if this happened in the past at his other clubs, he looks as if he’s re-evaluated it all and come on leaps and bounds in that side. We have also seen Conte’s reaction to Costa’s interview with ESPN Brazil (IIRC) or maybe it was AS/Marca where he said the club treated him like criminal and Conte‘s reaction was combustible or more likely to cause an upset compared to how TT has dealt with it. I genuinely believe this scenario and the performance over the last 12 months is proof that this is the best Tuchel in terms of his management skills on and off the field. It also helps that the group and the club are clearly 100% fully behind him.

Digne be a decent signing for Newcastle to be fair. More his level. Plus their LB is Paul Dummet. Who is terrible. Really don’t get the Barkley links, I mean well I get it (big money to spend and an overrated English player who could have his career saved under an overrated English manager) but I don’t see what he offers them when they’ve already got midfield players who show flashes and are so inconsistent. Plus did Eddie Howe not learn anything from when he loaned in Jack Wilshere at Bournemouth? Wasn’t exactly successful. If they offer anything over 10m for him on a perm deal, we should bite their hands off.