Superblue

It is something that definitely needs addressing. It's ironic that under Tuchel, we've pretty much made the top 4 by taking points off everybody around us to make the ground up. It's easy to be critical of the last week or two but ultimately we're in the top 4 because Tuchel's record against the other big teams has been exceptional, and that form has also extended to Europe too. I believe the only team in the top 7 that we didn't beat was United who we drew with, and 4 of the 6 were away games. Our problems seem to be against teams lower down the table which is actually where Lampard was excelling, but couldn't seem to beat anybody in the top half of the table. Home draws with Brighton and Wolves, home loss to West Brom, away draws to Southampton and Leeds. These are the games we need to be picking 3 points up if we're to challenge for the title. I don't know whether that means a different approach to games against teams like this compared to teams towards the top of the table. For example is this group flexible and competent enough to regularly change between a back 4 and back 5? I think when we've been chasing games and changed to a back 4 at times we've not looked great. But maybe this is simply Tuchel needing more time on the training pitch to fine tune this. and our attacking patterns.

Why? I'm not disputing you, I just don't know enough about him.

Is Weigl in the mould of Jorginho? For me that's fine if Jorginho was looking to leave but we need an alternative in midfield that is stronger defensively. My biggest worry with him is why did Dortmund let him go relatively cheap and with the greatest respect to them, why didn't a stronger team than benfica come in for him?

The only way I'd take a chance on him is on loan with a buy option. I wouldn't risk simply buying him outright. The problem for me isn't just whether his decline at Madrid is irreversible, but I'm not sure how well he'd fit in a Tuchel system where he wants his attack to press as a unit. It was never a strength of Hazard when in his prime.

Rumours are that he'll retire after the Euros.

Werner is a must for the City game. His eagerness and subsequent offside regularity is frustrating at times, but he's the one player who will regularly look to play on the last man of defence and run direct. It's on a number of occasions been one of City's weaknesses (they struggle regularly with Vardy who does the same). There's regularly space behind the full backs and it's the one thing that Dias has looked uncomfortable with. For me, I would play Mount, Havertz and Werner next week with Pulisic coming on in the last 20-30 minutes.

It protects the club too. People are saying he doesn't deserve an extension (to which I disagree) but do we want him knocking it out of the park in the early months of next season in the last year of his contract? Because like players, he would then hold all the power. Or what's to stop another of the big teams casting their eye over him like Madrid, Barca, Juve for example. As I said give him 12 months, and that can be reviewed every season. A contract no more than 2 years long doesn't leave us in an awkward position if we want to change but also doesn't leave us in a precarious position to lose him.

Seeing as we couldn't draw Man Utd and City, outside of Bayern, the rest of pot 1 should strike no fear whatsoever. If anything we're better placed in pot 2! As long as we miss out on Dortmund, it could be a fairly straightforward Champions League draw.

So now we know we're in the Champions League next season, what do people realistically think our transfer business will be like this summer. I think the two absolute musts are a midfielder and an attacker. We need someone who doesn't leave us looking so vulnerable when Kante is out. I'd have no problem with us making a move for Declan Rice, although I think my favoured option would be Bellingham. I think he'll stay at Dortmund though for at least a season so perhaps someone like Rice could be targeted this summer and Bellingham in a year or two as Kante starts to potentially decline. I think another physical, mobile presence in midfield allows us to potentially revert back to a back 4 and thereby playing an extra attacking player which may help with some of our struggles. I think Tammy and Giroud are definitely going to leave. Whether we target an out and out striker or another attacking player to play the system I guess will be up to Tuchel. Players like Sancho being bandied around could be very good options, as I do feel with the year experience under his belt that Havertz could play the role of a false 9 longer term. However another option which I think should be considered is Calvert-Lewin. I think his all round game is very strong, and Everton have had a pretty poor season overall, so he may look at a bigger club as a real opportunity to progress. Perhaps Tammy and cash to test the waters? I think the third target depends on Tuchel's plans. If we remain with a back 3 then in my opinion we need a top rampaging right wing back who can add an extra layer to our attack. I think Chilwell is fine on the left and I do think he's been very good in the back end of this season as he's become more accustomed to wing back. Reece James I think could long term take the role of the right sided centre back in the three then. If we instead went to a back 4 then I would look at potentially a centre back alongside Rudiger, Christensen and Silva, with James and Chilwell as first choice full backs.

Some people need to let things settle down. It was a spluttered end to the season but I don't think it should be forgotten where Chelsea were when Tuchel came in. If we had been offered this "back door" entrance into the top 4 back then we'd all have taken it and been delighted with it. Tuchel has taken 9 more points than Lampard did in the first half of the season and has easily had a much harder set of games to do that in where we've got some superb results (Liverpool away, City away, West Ham away, Spurs away). He's taken a group which are goal shy and done what was needed to be done to get us to our targets, making us extremely well organised and drilled, but without just playing a defensive brand of football. I personally am looking forward to Tuchel having a summer now to assess the squad and the holes that need filling, alongside a pre season and the early stages of the season when games aren't as thick and fast giving him more time to work on the training ground with the team. For all we know he may have an idea of playing a back 4 next season and being a bit more open to try and be more dangerous in front of goal, but his experience and tactical nous is definitely the main reason why we're in the top 4 again this season. He's hardly going to get a 5 year extension, I think the club will give him another 12 months extension on his contract and keep things relatively short term but also add a bit more security to Tuchel, and to be honest he's earned it.

No Kante. Big game for Jorginho and Kovacic

Almost certain to be an early Villa onslaught in front of their fans which we need to be prepared to stand up to. Having fans in the ground and Villa being able to play with freedom and no pressure could be extremely tricky, but it may also play into our hands if we remain calm. They may attack us a bit more than they normally would do which will hopefully leave spaces behind to exploit.

I don't know how far things went with regards to bids, etc but there appeared to be a very public pursuit by Bayern for him in the summer of 2019 but I don't think they could come to an agreement with Ajax and Ziyech signed a new contract and agreed to stay an extra year. I'm reserving judgement on all the summer signings and want to see how they fare in season 2 when fans are back and they are able to start living a bit more of a normal life whilst adapting to a new country and culture. I think Werner and Havertz in particular will be a success during their Chelsea careers but I'm also not prepared to give up on him so easily. I think his skillset is unique in comparison to our other attackers.

But on the flipside AWB is easily the worst offensively and TAA the worst defensively. I think it's incredibly important a full back is capable of doing both sides of the game and I think that's why Southgate has other preferences at right back to those two as James and Walker in particular are better all rounders on both sides of the game. Southgate has a lot of options in attack. Assuming Henderson won't be fit (and longer term anyway), if he were to play some form of 4-3-3 I think it should be Rice, Bellingham and Mount if you're looking to be more solid (and Foden within the front three) and against teams you're expecting to be on the front foot and dominate against I'd go with Rice, Mount and Foden. With the 26 man squad I think Southgate can take a chance with Henderson and Grealish being in it but both have been out a long time I'd be surprised if either started the tournament.

AWB hasn't had a look in, so cannot see him getting in the squad. It'll be Walker, James, TAA and Trippier. I'd be inclined to take the first three as Walker and James also present an option to play as the right centre back in a back 3 if Southgate wanted to go with that. James also has experienced this season playing regularly as a wing back too. But Southgate seems to like Trippier.

Won't look as bad as when Southgate tries to fit 4 right backs in the England squad.

Whilst I'd rather Burnley do the job tomorrow and we don't have to suffer through at the weekend, I think having to continue playing full throttle with that edge until the very end of the season may benefit us come the final. City's last two games with Newcastle and Brighton are proof that they've relaxed a little and their standards have dropped a bit. That isn't always easy to just flick the switch and bring that edge and momentum back into your game.

At the very least he's made a complete mockery of people who used to defend Torres because at least he used to try hard. His work rate for the team is exceptional and whilst he's still struggled in front of goal, I definitely believe that he is adjusting more to the league than earlier in the season and I still feel that he'll come good. He's not one that hides, which is huge because when things weren't going right the likes of Torres and Morata left us effectively playing with 10 men in many games. In my opinion we look a better team with him in it, which is probably the biggest compliment he could be given currently.

Great result, very good performance - especially the first hour. I do feel a lot of these players are primed to thrive with a crowd. Make no mistake though, Villa away in front of their fans will not be easy. Hopefully Burnley do us a favour tomorrow and we don't need to worry about it then!

This is perfect for Mike Dean with no away fans, he can play the pantomine villain to full effect.

Hopefully Kante is precautionary, it's hardly like he was down on the deck immobile.

I no longer know what VAR gets involved with or not anymore.

Did no one bother to ask Tuchel for an injury update? Specifically if Kova and Christensen are fit for tomorrow?

Where are those players though? The players listed above have been amongst the best of their generation. They're few and far between. Realistically you have Kane and Haaland at present, debateable to include Lukaku too and then after that it's really a punt on someone far less proven.

I don't think you necessarily need a player at the top of the goal charts. Don't get me wrong, I'd happily put a Harry Kane in this team. However there is sometimes a worry that the team becomes over reliant on that one player for the source of goals. City have shown how easy it can be this season without one recognised goal scorer but instead a threat of 5 or 6 getting around double figures. I would expect all of the attacking players to increase their goal output next season. We don't necessarily need one player carrying the bulk, but we do need the entire attacking unit to step up. I mentioned on a previous post that next season if Ziyech, Mount and Pulisic could get 8 - 10 goals each and Havertz and Werner 10 - 12 goals each, they are not unrealistic numbers but would put us on a much stronger footing then currently. If you added another attacker to replace Giroud/Tammy who could also contribute within the above goal range then we'd be well set.