Thor

Hazard needs to get rid of the ball quicker. Holding it far too long.

Seriously, at one point they had a back 9. They were flat with 9 players defending lol... Someone needs to get in between the lines. Need to feed Morata more too to get some vertical penetration between the lines.

Lets be honest, there are far more than three in any game these days. The fact that they called them is ridiculous.

Can't believe people were against getting him. Absolute game changer coming on against tired legs. People on here actually acted as if he can't make a difference on the game. Giving Mendy the fits.

Would love to see him here next season. Looks good going forward and has the pace to not get beaten. Knowing our club, he will be kept out due to his height despite being a great prospect.

Not shocking to see people like yourself and the others liking the post slagging him off. Too many on here can't admit they were wrong about a player. Interesting to see everyone come in here after his worst performance, yet none of you bothered to comment when he did well for Newcastle last season, and started off well in the first game of the season too. I'll take the word of Newcastle fans saying he is their best player most nights over some on here hell bent on being right and not able to admit he is a good player that was played out of position here.

Cesc has been on the decline for a while, and Barkley and him are similar level for me at the moment. Both provide different things. He could very well work his way into being the first guy off the bench for the midfield. If we are getting bullied off the ball as well given our size in midfield, he is again a good option.

He is such a polarising player. I don't even know what to think anymore. Just play him at ST.

He had 4 saves, and you want him saving a shot from 8 yards after the defence lets them square the ball that easy? He had no chance on the 2nd. First one was unlucky. He got there, but the shot was a cracker and bounced awkwardly. He had one bobble, but it happens to all keepers. He is perfectly fine. Don't feel nervy at all like when Willy is in goal. He has great reflexes and sees the ball well. Made a few good saves that most won't mention because they are over analysing every thing he did wrong due to his price tag.

That first 30 minutes was amazing. Absolutely amazing. We've had some great teams over the years, and probably a better collection of talent than the current lot, but as far as implementing our game plan and imposing ourselves on a game, we have never played better football that I've witnessed. The passing was crisp, sharp, and to the point. We were threatening right from the get go. The passing was vertical, and between the lines. We made them move as a defensive unit. It all just looked exactly the way it should. Really encouraging.

Newcastle fans seem to love him, and for good reason. Prior to this one shocking performance, he was regularly one of their top performers. Everyone has stinkers, but he is definitely proving himself valuable on that Newcastle team. Showed Conte he isn't a wingback, but rather a full out winger. I actually tend to watch a few of the Newcastle games now just for him.

I thought Barkley got a lot of hate today, and some were particularly blaming the meltdown in the 15 minute period on him. Hardly fair. Honestly thought Kante and Jorg were the ones that let us down in that 15 minute stretch. Thought he played well, and that play where he flicked the ball up and had a shot at Cech was one of my favourite plays of the game.

lol Morata scores, he sucks. Morata doesn't score. He really sucks. OK.

They need to do better to at least stop an easy ball along the ground.

I have never seen us play better in the last 5 or 10 years in that first 20 minutes. I could not believe how well the ball was moving and the chances being created. Then again, I have never seen us so easily picked apart by the same play. Shocking.

As a fullback you can't let that many balls along the ground in as well.

Every single shot of theirs was a cut back across goal.

Kante is having a shocker. Full backs are shocking. Every cutback is killing us. It is like FIFA out there.

I don't think Costa would be a perfect fit for this system. I look at a guy like Lacazette though and see someone who would have thrived in this system. Strong, technical and has speed to him.

To be fair I saw another segment of him talking how AC Milan got a great deal with Bakayoko. Said he covers the ground well, is great going forward and defending and has good passing range... So kind of tells you how he views the game. lol...

Giroud is below average. Not to mention not cut out for a system like this. He is far too slow and can't press.

Martial over him for sure. Fits better and is the far more dynamic player. Need pace. Can never have enough of it, particularly in a system like this.

Christensen is a good distributor as well. He has shown Luiz level distribution at times, and is slightly more sound defensively. The issue is with more physical players he still struggles. Luiz is a tank back there as well.

Literally a game in and you guys are complaining about him like it is the end of the world. Won't even give him any chance to play in the system.

Yeah, we need a goal scorer like Giroud out there. He was really banging them in for fun at the WC.