Thor

Pep turned Sterling into a good player. Lucas is extremely talented. He is still only 25 years old...

Milinkovic-Savic, Martins, some new wing backs, and someone up to to partner with Morata would be great over the next summer and winter transfer combined.

His passing is so underrated. I've never understood those complaining about his distribution. The man is such a quick decision maker, and not to mention does everything he can to get the ball moving forward. His short passing game is top notch. World class in fact. His long passing could use work, but then again, he isn't there to be the playmaker from deep. Truly an all time great talent.

Saw more of Luiz on the game broadcast last night than I did Lukaku.

I thought his dribbling was great actually. He obviously botched 1 or 2 chances due to the ball getting caught under his feet, but it happens. There was a moment closer to the end of the game where he controlled the ball down from a lofted ball to him, turned and beat Smalling for pace. What an improved performance. I actually enjoyed watching his hold up today, mainly because he didn't go down on the slightest bit of contact from behind. If he keeps that up, he will be unstoppable. He is extremely strong in holding the ball up once he has it under control. It is just that initial part where he gets the ball that has been the issue. Was much better last night.

He played a lot better last night, but I still feel we need someone more dynamic in that role. Someone quicker, stronger, and who has the ability to take his man on. Willian has been absolutely useless on the wing, and I don't think his passing is quite good enough, but he has always done better in that central role for me. Maybe give him a shot at playing that more advanced role like Cesc plays.

He has been extremely consistent for them. Like someone said, not some world class talent, but always involved, always solid, always contributing.

I thought Cahill has done okay given we know his limitations. But Alonso has been so wasteful... Morata has been brilliant. Even without scoring, one of his best performances so far. Completely dominating the game, and playing some beautiful football. Keep it up and put some in the second half. Christensen and Baka should have scored. Baka has been great for me. Still needs to work on his game management, but he is everywhere, and looks so much more free with Kante next to him. He has been a handful for United, and is making some great runs.

How our board cannot assess a situation that keeps repeating itself tells me that it is being run by idiots. Point blank. No other way to put it. Some self assessment would be more than welcome. Conte in my opinion is the best, and closest thing we've had to overhauling our style of play, and getting us closest to that "beautiful football" that Roman wants. Now the issue is Roman and his board not willing to spend, or spend correctly and give the man who can makes his dream come true, the tools to work with. It is extremely difficult to support this club at times. I can't not support, and I can't not watch, but why should I if the club keeps betraying us as fans over and over?

This is the best team to ever play in the premier league. Our lot clearly don't have the ambition City does. Frustrating to say the least. We did it first, and they took our model and did it better. Sure they haven't achieved what we have (yet?), but we have never played the level of football they are producing at the moment, and this consistently as well. Like someone said above, they have a team to be envious about. First time for me too. I see players like Sane, Jesus, etc... Even their squad players are dynamic, multi faceted players. Delph is an athlete that can play multiple positions. Same with Danilo. Then the fact guys like B. Silva and Gundogan are on the bench not even being a major involvement so far... Ridiculous. It is an athletic game today. Get the quick, strong, pacey players. We need Gelson Martins. We need VVD. We need Sandro. Nainggolan. Sanchez. Alonso, Cesc, Cahill, Willian won't win you the title. Not when you have to compete with a team that spent 300 mil, and 200 mil more than you. Not when you are in the Champions League as well. And these guys are going to get Sanchez in January, and widen the gap some more. Then next season they'll spend more than us again.

Managed to watch a few games of his. Seems a lot less flakey than Cuadrado. Doesn't mind contact. One thing I like is how direct he is, and the fact he uses his moves to actually create space and get around his defender. Getting him would be a step in the right direction. Almost a counter to the pacey wingers the other top teams have. Martial, Rashford, Sane, Sterling, Mane, etc. We need these types of guys to get in behind lines, and amp up our counter attacks.

A definite upgrade to Alonso. But, again, the more I watched of him, I wasn't as impressed. Seems somewhat slow with his decision making. Great athlete though. Tall, strong, and is fairly rapid.

Agree. I personally don't think ball distribution is as important as some people make it out to be. But we all have differing opinions. He is a great presence in the box, and he is a great shot stopper. Enough for me, since he is one of, if not the best at both of those things.

I'll say it again. One of the best keepers in the world. When he does see, you'll realise. His positioning is top notch. People getting overwhelmed by diving saves because the keepers are smaller or out of position unlike Courtois.

I feel his style of play slows us down and sends us in the wrong direction. Those balls over the top are great at times, but it seems as if our whole team plays to that. I'm watching City, Tottenham and Liverpool break teams down to a certain extent with quick, short, sharp passes, and then we are in our own little unique group. I wouldn't call it hoof ball, but it is certainly similar. Instead of passing the ball around the 18 yard box, we pass it around much deeper than most good teams, then Fabs sits on the outside and tries to pin point passes from 30 or 40 yards instead of 10 yard balls over the top. We have all these quick players like Morata, Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Musonda, Kante, Baka, etc, but we don't feel like a quick team. I honestly think a large part of it is this almost necessity to play through Fabs when he is on the field. I said it in the game thread recently, but watching the likes of Eriksen makes you kinda wish we had what Tottenham has in that role. Won't even mention KDB because that is long gone.

Rudiger and Morata were terrible today. First bad game from Rudiger. Morata is having the problems I thought he'd have when we were going to sign him. We were in the honeymoon period when he first got here and got off to a flying start... But he got his chances today, and just didn't finish. Cesc and Alonso are horrible. Seriously hope we upgrade. Watching the United/Spurs game on the weekend, and you see a player like Eriksen, and compare him to Cesc. Depressing really. Cesc's style of play actually hurts us. Just play it back to him and get him to quarterback pass? Why? We have quick, speedy players in Hazard, Willian, Pedro and Morata. Even Kante. Get the ball to them quickly. Our attack is so laboured and slow. Every other team in the top 4, it is quick as a flash. Before you know it, the ball is in the back of the net.

That may be the case, but I've watched both this season, and Lemar has a substantially bigger impact on games. More rapid too despite both being labelled speedsters. Another thing I've noticed is Lemar is actually very good on the defensive side of the ball.

I'd disagree. That run he created for the header isn't something we've seen from him. We've praised Morata for that type of movement, but I haven't actually seen that from Michy before. His link up was good actually. When he did receive the ball, he looked strong on it, unlike Morata. I think like someone said, a loan would do him wonders. He needs to play more and develop. Still quite raw, and inconsistent.

It shouldn't even be a question if his job is on the line at this point, because it isn't even close to being panic stations. For all the talk of how impressive United have been, we're only 4 points behind and they haven't played anywhere near the quality of teams we have. We're sitting in 4th spot FFS. Conte is the best manager in the league. His title winning season has started a football trend, with nearly all the major sides playing with 3 or 5 at the back formations. Not to mention, he did it with a side that had fill in players in certain roles. The unfortunate thing is, we still have those fill ins, and they weren't upgraded. Alonso, Cahill, Moses, and to an extent, Fabregas now. All these guys are starters for the most part, but should not be getting major time on the ground. Cahill and Alonso in particular for me. But Conte is playing with what is given to him. Fabs and Moses are great role/squad players, but should not be nailed on starters each week they are fit. Once we dominated Atleti on their home ground, I honestly thought it was a turn around for our season, and also our style of play. For as much shit we give Liverpool and Tottenham, I actually appreciate the fact they have taken time to try and play a more dominant brand of football, that over time will lead to more consistent results. Another reason I'm not too worried by United, is they are still stuck in that backward way of thinking, which resulted in them sitting back against Liverpool and doing nothing the whole game, hence hoping for a lucky bounce and winner. The Atleti game give me a bit of hope we can come in and do what City did do us on our home ground. Obviously it doesn't have to be to that extent, but if we want to be a big team, we need to go over and impose our style of play. Tottenham do that to us, wherever we play. The results may have gone our way recently, but I do think they get the better of us in general play, but we manage to squeeze out results. City most certainly do that. Liverpool have glaring weaknesses in their team, but Klopp is attempting to do that. I feel Conte is stuck in the same vein. Much better than Klopp, but just doesn't have the personnel needed to really take us that next step further. This side already has the results, and finishing to get us victories. Now we just need Conte to get a few more of the right pieces, and we can finally play a more dominant style of football, akin to what we saw in the Champions League against Atleti, and the results are already there to translate into more wins with a more pleasant viewing experience for us fans. i for one didn't like being outplayed by Watford at times in our home game.

The origin isn't the problem if the ball is given away at half way. The attack needs to formulate, and it occurred completely because of Cahill. That was actually some of the worst defending I've seen. He left his spot to follow a player who was already being tracked. Literally came across the field, and ended up tripping. He had an embarrassingly bad game. Can't believe people were calling for Luiz to be dropped who was our best player aside from Bats last night.

Well done Bats. I think we've all doubted you, especially recently with everything magnified given the team struggles. Great job by Conte. Got it right. Cahill should never play again. I mean that. Not as a sub, a reserve or squad player. I don't want him on this team. He was to blame for the tap in Richarlison chance, and for their second goal. Just ball watching and ball following. Him and Alonso are absolutely terrible defensively. That is something 80% of the board can see, and even comment on during our winning streaks. Clearly we need to upgrade there. As far as the CB role goes, you have a great young talent on the bench. Between Luiz, Chris, Rud, and occasionally Azpi, we have solutions in the middle. Azpi can play LWB, and Alonso can have the occasionally game if the wingers on the other team are slow as molasses. I'm hoping we spend big half way through. It is so insanely hard to support this team, but I'm stuck now, and all I can do is think how blatantly obvious the solution is. Spend money and bolster the squad. We never do it, and we go through the same slump over and over. It is insanity to keep doing the same thing and expect different results. I think it is driving some of us as fans insane too. Great comeback, but terrible performance. For as much of a diver as Richarlison was, he seems to be a very gifted player. Strong, fast and technically gifted. I know there was some talk about him coming here in the offseason. Should keep an eye on him.

Cahill should never play again. Both opportunities he is to blame for this half. Eventually they'll score right in front of goal and they did. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Luiz has been splendid... what is everyone talking about? Typical. Just blame the easy targets. Deeney hasn't seen the ball because of Luiz. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

About half his games this season have been poor. No one mentions it because it's Azpi. I'm sure it's just a bad patch. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Are people serious? He is one of the best shot stoppers in the world. He won the golden glove last season... Has he had a poor start? Sure. That is in part to how poor we have been. Mid table keeper? He is the best keeper in the world when on form, if not second best to Neuer. Which goal was he supposed to save last night? Koralov one that no keeper would save? Or how about the header where his defence let the player stroll in? The only one he had a shot at was the volley, and it was absolutely cracked. If a top class shot stopper like Courtois can't get his hands up quick enough over his head, it goes to show you how unexpected and quick that shot was.