manpe

If he starts against Wet Spam, will you then believe he was rested? And most important game? We had already qualified, nothing to play for except for 1st or 2nd place formality. Our most important games have been in the league and Alonso has started all of them. And the physical conditions of Drinks and Moses could be different, only Conte and his fitness coaches know. Or it was just a necessary risk to start Moses to accomodate Zap in order to give Alonso a break.

Alonso definitely will, he was rested (not 'dropped' like has been said). Same with Drinkwater, he probably is not in condition still to play 180 minutes in 3 days, so he's back in selection for this one and considering Bakayoko's horror shows, Conte doesn't have much choice. Courtois Azpi - Christensen - Cahill Moses - Kante - Drinkwater - Alonso Fabregas Morata - Hazard

Yeah but that would give Hazard much more defensive responsibility. Not sure if we want that.

There was nothing rational about that point. When you're in it, you have a chance - that's rational. He listed Atletico Madrid, who have never won the competition, as one of 6 who can realistically win it. Rational? Don't think so. They didn't even make it out of the group stage, so in retrospect he could have listed Basel and that would have been more realistic. PSG have also never won it, but I get it, they're rich and they keep pumping money until they do. Lastly, Chelsea have no chance? 2012.

Yeah it used to be. But compared to those days the forum is pretty much dead, or rather on life support, there are nearly not enough active members anymore to claim some sort of "popularity". Talking about Conte and his tactics, I haven't seen him park the bus yet. Well, not in the sense we imagine it like it was under Mourinho. Of course I haven't seen EVERY game, maybe there were some, but if there were, then I believe it was mainly due to the opponent not letting us play. Mourinho conceded possession intentionally, he played 7 defenders intentionally, it is his twisted philosophy. No club managed by Mourinho will ever play like a big club, the same cannot be said about Conte... give him the necessary ingredients and there will be no necessity to park anything. Conte actually knows how to train attacking patterns, he doesn't rely on one "magician" to do it all. Him and Mou have absolutely nothing in common.

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Man had THAT shot gone in we'd be singing songs about him. Soo close to saving our asses, but he can't do it all the time.

Honestly, you don't need to consider his age. A veteran defender in his peak would be pleased with the performances he's putting in every game.

Our plan A is solid, entertaining and efficient, only the finishing sucks. Actually I don't know if you can call it efficient if you lack the most important ingredient, but everything before the finish is better than anything we've seen in the last I don't know how many years.

Hazard's style is so effective. It's not flashy a la Neymar, but it's effective. Makes a sudden move to show he's cutting in, all he needed was for the defender to take a little step back and off he went on the other side with his crazy acceleration. Willian of course robbed him of that assist, useless.

No way in hell. That's why spending 40m on "potential" is crazy, the risk is just too great. For the same money you can buy fulfilled potential. Then we bought Drinkwater for 40... 80 combined for both. This club just doesn't make sense, why not shove like 50m on a really good established player and 30m on some capable potential. 80 million combined for both when that kind of money could have solved our midfield issues for years, but instead we created more without improving.

Priceless indeed.

So fucking awful. Didn't do ONE thing right. First thing Hazard lays on a free goal for him, Willian had other thoughts. Then he decides to fuck up every. single. fucking. counter-attack. Sell!

You are all wrong, Hazard is better than Messi and Ronaldo. I don't need to bring any arguments to prove this, just watch him play.

Playing that supporting striker role has elevated him to a new level. It was always criminal to limit him to one flank, he thrives in that central role where he has the freedom to roam wherever he wants. Can't believe that at one point he was actually being moulded into a left midfielder with all the tracking back he had to do, it was never going to work. Absolutely devastating player when set free.

Do you want to lose?

We were very good, one of our best performances this season. Hazard, take a bow, son.

Play 3-4-3 in this one. Courtois Azpi - Christensen - Rüdiger Zap - Kante - Drinkwater - Alonso Willian - Hazard - Pedro Divide time between Morata and Hazard to give rest to both, since Eden pretty much sat out Swansea he should start this time and be taken off in 2nd half provided we are in control and leading. Azpi was rested, bring him back and rest GC this time with Rüdiger justly retaining his place. Moses to be subbed in for Zap to build up his match sharpness. Then lastly Bakayoko to come on for Alonso with Pedro dropping to LWB and us shifting to 3-5-2. At least this would be my ideal scenario if everything works out well.

I'm getting Man United ads here Not cool.

Injured.

Not here. Think Torres, Mikel, Kalou, Oscar.

This is it, he is the real deal guys. If the club fuck this up and he leaves then we can officially just give up. Also crazy to think that he joined us some time around when Di Matteo took over, it wasn't that long ago was it? And during that time, in just 5 years, he's come from being a scrawny young kid to having had 2 superb debut seasons in the German premier league straight away and now he's bossing it here. Still only 21, for others this is the age where they get loaned to Championship level clubs. I believe he would walk into any other EPL team already.

Must admit I was excited with his arrival, but what I've seen so far has been underwhelming. I don't watch French football, so my knowledge of him was based on youtube videos and on what other people had been saying, plus two or three full Monaco games. Didn't have an educated opinion of him then, have a bit now and I must say he hasn't been what I thought he would be. He does simple short passes and looks lost positionally half the time, not to mention squeaky techinque and passing. Where are those marauding runs we were promised? His physique would allow him to dominate everybody, but he doesn't. Okay, he puts his body across and wins the ball sometimes, but it really is not something Chalobah or RLC couldn't have offered + more. From his recent performances a BIG improvement is needed to be considered of adequate quality for this club.

The one to Alonso was good.

You know, there is actually a high possibility of losing BOTH - Conte and Hazard. I don't even want to imagine what we become without them, top 4 could become our new title for years to come.