Thor

Can you play in the pivot?

His passing abilities are top notch... When there is no one on him... and no pressure... and it can't be a big team... or a big game... or any physical players out there. He is far too slow, gives up the ball too easily, and struggles in physical games. As he is ageing and losing any bit of speed he has left, he is becoming easier to take out of the game. I'm sure there are as many good replacements for Cesc as there are for Matic.

Good game from us IMO. The constant complaining from the same people on here is just becoming annoying... Hard to post in here and discuss the game as it is going when certain posters are calling for our whole back 4 and 3 of our front 4 to be sold... I mean, really? I mean seriously... Calling for Costa to be sold? Are you kidding? Like anyone he is going to have a bad day sometimes, but have we watched the same player over these past 4 years? I'm hoping we sign Koulibaly already so people can quiet down on here and quit their constant moaning.

Stick him in Cesc's spot. That or Oscar's. Either way, both are extremely overrated.

Am I the only one that sees a lot of Sturridge with Traore? Good movement, good striker of the ball, technical on the ball, etc. Traore probably isn't quite as good technically at the moment, though that might be a confidence thing playing in a level above right now, though he certainly works a lot harder than Sturridge did tracking back. As I type, they score. Oh well.

Moses is really impressing... I wish our defence would do the same lol.

Nice throw from Aina there. Is he a decent option? Moses looking good. Never been a fan. Is this a one off or has he actually been providing some decent runs and play on the wing? I guess he could make up the squad. We have enough decent wingers, so it isn't an issue. Defence still looks really average.

I'm a little behind on our line ups and tactics due to a busy schedule at the moment, but what are our options at the RB and LB positions? Obviously Azpi is a surefire starter, but which side are we looking to be playing him? Are we after a bunch of FB's now that we let Baba go? Sorry to derail the game thread somewhat, but it is something I'm picking up watching this game.

Is it too much to ask for both him and Koulibaly? :/ Defense is so shaky, and really doesn't fill you with any confidence as a fan. I'm sure a lot wouldn't like the idea of bringing both in due to Zouma coming back eventually, but having all three of them there and rotating I think is a decent way to go about it. One thing about our time with Mourinho is that he absolutely ran our players into the ground.

Some of you are overly critical of him. He is a fantastic player, with a bunch of room for growth, and plays an exciting brand of football. Not to mention he is still so young. I don't know what some of you watch calling him rubbish, or average, because when I watch him, even when he isn't on the top of his game, he is a tremendous presence on the pitch.

Mustafi should be an option for us if this mess continues to go on any longer. He really is just as good, and quite a bit cheaper. I know a lot of you would be happy with Mustafi too considering it would be stepping on the toes of Arsenal and blocking a potential deal for them. I'd be happy with either of the two, but like most on here, I just want one of the better rated prospects at CB. We can't hope to do well this season without at least one major defensive signing.

I just saw this come up on my news feed on facebook. These injuries look so horrible. I feel for anyone who has to go through something like this. At the end of the day, it is just a game, and no one deserves anything like that to happen to them. Hope he recovers and recovery goes smoothly.

Is it me that is going mental, or is it 80% of this board that is? Where has this urge to sell Matic come from? Out of all the players that were terrible last season, why is it that Matic, the guy that had the workload of two players being nudged out? Fabregas was 10 times worse, but due to him being some sort of "star name" no one particularly cares to discuss him being shifted. When people say the likes of Ivanovic need to go, I get it. When people say Mikel, I get it. Oscar? I get it. But then Matic? What in the actual hell. Hazard and Matic were our most important and best players in our title winning season. Matic having an off year because everyone did, and Cesc refusing to play any defence or work at all doesn't mean he should get the full brunt of the blame. Can't believe there are people above actually saying he isn't a good enough midfielder... Ridiculous. This guy just put up a season as good as Yaya's best a season ago, and suddenly he is worth jack shit and not good enough? Even now he is a better player than Kante who some of you are all frothing over. One bad season and you all want to throw him in the trash.

Yes. You are.

lol... Are you serious? SMH

We were an offensively limited team. I want to see this guy given room to operate. The Italian league is a little bit slower and these fast wingers look a little better than most places, but he is a quality player. This myth of English football being a level above, or something special just isn't so. Cuadrado can be a successful player in this league, and with Conte in charge, I think he will be.

Agree with everything, apart from number 3. Man City are quite comfortably the best team in the league, and quite clearly the most talented. They have been now for the last 4 or 5 years. Their problem was putting it all together. Pep is pretty damn good at making a great team greater, so we'll see... We need a whole lot of grit, team work and consistency to win the league next season. We won't be the most talented, but we could still be top 3 in that regards depending on how everyone else buys.

Would be the right move too. This guy needs a chance. A proper one. People are so quick to jump on a player if he isn't immediately impactful. He has been superb at Juventus. In fact, he has been superb everywhere he has played apart from for Mourinho. Conte clearly sees something he likes in him, and I would trust his knack for it seeing what a magnificent job he has done everywhere he has been.

Me either mate. A slow, ball stopping player, with an average first touch and with a lack of strength or balance on the ball when pressured. He was decent when he was a "big fish" in a small pond type deal here when we were struggling, but he got found out, and now even Man United being the small pond with their recent performances over the years, he can't shine. Don't get me wrong, I loved watching him play when he was here the first year and a bit. He was flashy, and brought a bit of fun to the games to watch particularly when we were losing and drawing so much back then, but he isn't an effective player. I honestly don't think he is worth a roster spot.

Mata is worth half that, and no thanks. He isn't a big club player.

I wasn't too much of a fan when he left us in shambles, and now I definitely am not with him at Man Utd. It makes things interesting in the PL now, but for him to talk how much he loves this club, and all the other jazz... It is apparent he doesn't. I truly believe he'll make more of an effort than he ever did here, mainly due to the "prestige" of it being Man Utd. I say that, but I could be wrong. He was at one point at an even bigger club, Real Madrid, and he pouted and moaned during his time there. So who knows, maybe we kick his ass a few times, and so does Pep, and so does Klopp, and he leaves again. I can't be a fan of his anymore. I know some can, but you don't preach your love and loyalty to one thing then go join the rival. Much like how I lost a lot of that legend feeling for Lamps once he went to Man City... It just isn't something you do, especially if you want to be seen as a club legend or some sort of hero. Throughout all this, the main thing you can deduce is Mou is a great bullshitter. The man always speaks for effect, rather than sincerity.

Much rather Koulibaly over Bonucci. Much younger, and is a signing for continued success for the future IMO. Not to mention his pace, and physical advantage over Bonucci sure us up at the back, even though he clearly isn't as technically proficient. Signing both Koulibaly and Bonucci would be fantastic though.

I'd love him here. Such a class player, and the complete opposite to Costa. Would create a nice dynamic I think if we go with two up front. He can create, and is a clinical finisher too. He'd have a bigger impact than Martial coming into the league IMO.

Why is Matic constantly being linked to being on the way out? He is a top 3 player at his position. In any league. Him having a down season after the whole team falls flat on their face, and he gets the majority of the blame it seems. It makes no sense, particularly if you look at last season and realise himself, Hazard and Costa carried the damn team. His season last year has been replicated by how many players at his position over the years? It was that damn good... Looked on par with prime Yaya Toure. And we want to get rid of this guy? I realize some fans on here can get carried away, since they want the newest wonder kid and hot shot, but I sure as hell hope management have their heads screwed on. Fabregas looks way worse all season, and people are content if he goes or not. Yet Matic has a few bad games, and people are calling for him out... Wow. End of rant I guess...

People on here constantly want world beaters or no one. The fact is, most of these guys weren't world beaters before these teams took a chance on them. Guys on here asking for them after 1 or 2 good seasons need to realise there are plenty of great players on average teams, that with a move to a team like Chelsea with other quality players around them, will become that world beater type. I mean 70% of the players everyone wants to buy on here are exactly that. Kante, Griezmann, Radja, Stones, Pogba, etc. All teams that saw something, gave them a chance, and look what they turned into. People on here wouldn't have had you buy them two or three seasons back. lol...