manpe

Yeah, he was much better than in previous few games. Made his presence felt this time, finishing is secondary for him but would be great if he could improve on that.

Guy's a superstar! Such a big fan of his, so cool and composed on the ball and solid at the back. To permanently replace Luiz?

YESSS!! EAT SHIT YOU MANCS!!!

Morata just choked there... wtf... JUST SHOOT!

How the hell is Azpi winning aerial battles against Lukaku and Fellaini?

This bit is interesting: In Italy this week Conte had apparently been willing to accommodate his players’ plea for Cahill to operate on the right of the back three, a move they thought might stabilise the collective rearguard. As it turned out, Chelsea conceded after 38 seconds, were never secure and the captain, crestfallen, was hauled from the fray before the hour-mark. Questions on that tactical move prompted rather cryptic answers on Friday. “Those who must understand [do] understand,” said Conte. “He’s very good playing on the left. We won a league with Cahill in this position. I don’t understand why we have to try again to put him on the right but sometimes can happen a misunderstanding.”

Terrible WB or not, he's still a far superior defender. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I think he played Cahill on the right so that Azpi could help him, and Rüdiger on the left to compensate for Alonso's slowness. Perhaps he just didn't want to say publicly that it was a tactical attempt to cover his flaws by playing him closer to a superior defender. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Don't agree. Against Bournemouth Azpi put in a MOTM worthy performance if it wasn't for Hazard.

Tbh we did it to devastating effect last season. This season teams are closing us down much better and we can't enjoy the freedom around the box we did last season. That, plus the fact we seem more static and laborious in our movement.

This might have something to do with the fact that we never build on our successes. Instead we tend to ignore obvious flaws and let the squad grow stale and complacent with little to no upgrades. Then the new manager comes, everybody wants to impress and play to their best for a while, once established they down their tools and the cycle continues with the manager's head on the chopping block. Mourinho and Conte both stressed many times that every successful team needs fresh blood and improvements every year, a message that our board wants to hear none of.

Exactly. When Willian replaced Cahill yesterday I thought we were finally risking it and throwing more bodies forward and reverting to 4 at the back. Soon it became clear that Pedro was shoehorned into the WB position, which doesn't take advantage of his strengths at all, and poor Willian merely replaced Pedro's position. That made us even more toothless! I'm still asking myself what was the point in doing that? Why didn't any of the CBs push forward as target man? Why do we still play 5 defenders when losing hopelessly? I would love for journos to ask those questions, but they are more interested in sensationalist drivel than actual football discussion.

The board cannot sack Conte. We need him more than he needs us. There is one way he's leaving and that is by him sacking us, not the other way around.

It was outside the penalty area, no?

Oap?

Not gonna happen. Our policy is to sell and replace like-for-like. For example I can see us selling Christensen because he's very talented, this board hates talent and loves money, and then will replace him with someone older and more experienced around the same price, but not necessarily better or more talented. There will be zero signings in January unless we sell someone, I can almost drink poison on that. In fact even that is not a given, we flushed our team last January and signed no one... The board actually tried pulling the rug from under Conte's feet, but even that didn't stop him from dominating the league. They finally succeeded in doing so with a shit show of a summer though. If January is not an improvement, if I was Conte I would leave in May and find a club that matches my ambitions.

Azpi should never be moved. He is our best defender Yeah and he's not half as effective on the wing.

You might have a point there Leif. But my god, what is happening in this game? How are we losing 2-0?

Same. It's like Conte wants to fold by playing Alonso and Cahill next to each other, I don't understand it. Azpi left, Zap right and the obvious CB choices in the middle - that is something I think would be solid defensively AND skilled on the ball. Or just simply keep GC away from the team and replace with Rüdiger, defence would be 20% stronger already.

Hope for the best, expect the worst with that midfield and Cahill.

So he came here only for Conte, that much we knew. Now after only 3 months he apparently already decided that London isn't for him. When Conte leaves, what happens? He loses motivation, starts playing shit and we sell him for a big loss? We didn't pay 60-70 mill for him just so he could leave after 1-2 seasons, we kept a much worse striker on our books for much longer and he costed less.

Second season he is supposed to be at his best and win the league. You are refering to the 3rd season syndrome.

The reason for their demise is lack of Rüdiger this season [emoji41] Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

He should stay there! Rüdiger offers so much more, surely Conte must see that.

Needs to improve a lot and quickly. Can't have him being a passenger in bigger games, today I felt he was in hiding. We conceded quite a few chances from his mistakes, he wasn't nearly aggressive enough on either end. I don't feel like he's using his physical power to the fullest, kinda backs away too much for my liking and sometimes goes in too soft, misjudges and mistimes quite a lot. Haven't seen any of his striding runs forward either, mostly strolling around in walking pace. Needs to stop thinking about his hair and more about his game.