JDY

Luiz had a poor night, much like the majority of the team, but the problems stemmed from the double pivot. I said this last night, some people don't understand that the 4-2-3-1 is heavily reliant on a boxed shape between your two deep centre midfielders and your centre backs. There was no shape last night whatsoever, mainly due to Lampard being positionally suspect and letting his attacking instincts get the better of him. Mikel was often left isolated with Atletico attacking fast in numbers. Watch the 2nd goal more closely and you'll see Atletico basically walk through Mikel and Lampard with short, quick passing. Any player playing between the lines last night would've had a field day against those two. The first job of the players in the double pivot is to protect the defense, then look to supply the attacking players. We have all these attacking players, but if you don't have a solid foundation to build these attacks from then it's inevitable you will struggle.

He left in the perfect way, so I wouldn't like him to return. If the rumours are true I could see him going Juve.

Off the top of my head, Papis Cisse last season. I think we are good in terms of numbers, only maybe one light in the striking department. However, short of quality in the most important positions required for the 4-2-3-1. The 2.

The most telling thing about tonight's game was how badly Atletico exposed our double pivot. We had zero shape in a formation where shape is most vital. The 4-2-3-1 relies on the box formed between the two deep central midfielders and the two centre backs. It was non existent for the most part, Lampard in particular was a liability positionally. You can buy all the attackers in the world, but if you have no foundation to defend and supply these attackers, you are going to struggle. But nevertheless, Atletico were good tonight, let's just hope RDM and co learn from these mistakes. We are still very much work in progress which some people are forgetting.

And this my friends is why our double pivot isn't good enough.

No Sturridge on the bench. Heh.

For £3m and a short term contract it isn't bad business at all. Brilliant for their formation also.

Have any of you stopped for a second and considered the players wishes? If an offer comes in for him and he wants to leave would you still want him to stay? For a player of Daniel's potential he should be starting near enough every week. He knows that, and I fear he will never be given a proper chance at Chelsea. He will be a great player, but I don't think it will be for us. He would start every week for Spurs/Liverpool, allbeit on the wing (He wouldn't start as CF for any top team yet).

It's one of the strongest midfield 3 in the league. Sigh.

Ryan Babel is heading to London. My guess would be QPR.

No surprise that Porto bend over backwards for Spurs but won't budge from their ridiculously inflated prices when Chelsea are involved.

We will get Lille, I can feel it!

João Ruela ‏@joao_ruela DN: #Hulk: FC Porto received THREE offers from THREE diferent clubs. Two of them were already rejected. The last one will be analyzed today.

Pedro Pinto and Gab Marcotti seem to think so, both well respected. We'll see though.

Spurs look like they are getting Moutinho aswell now. AVB is doing what he wanted to do at Chelsea last season.

Unless Michu scores a hattrick on Saturday! What a fantastic start the lad has had, but let's not get too carried away. Edit: Just realised the EPL games are on the 1st of Sept, so Eden should get Player of the Month.

I'm not really bothered about that. It's just depressing seeing your favourite player go to Spurs.

Just sigh. So annoyed right now.

Jol can say all he wants to be honest. If a club comes in for Dembele and he wants to leave then there's not much Fulham can do, unless they want to lose him for free next summer. If he goes for anymore than £15m I'll be very very surprised.

Where did you hear £30m for Dembele?!

Rofl. Found this funny to: Oh how stupid some people can be. xD

Passing should be the least important aspect in the role he plays. That's why generally in the double pivot a player like him is played alongside a 'passer' or DLP. Compare Mikel's stats shown there to Lampard who is meant to be this player (which is 85.6% over the 3 games). He was great the other day against Newcastle, Meireles also did well to help him out a lot.

The official PL site (Not FF): http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/profile.statistics.html/eden-hazard Make what you will.

This is incorrect. He's very disciplined and will stay back if he's required to. He only went forward more vs. United when Sidwell replaced Kacaniklic, giving Dembele more licence to roam (Much like when Yaya Toure is free'd at City). Besides, his defensive game is on a different level to Lampard's.

"CLUB ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH REAL MADRID AND TRANSFER OF LUKA MODRIC The Club can announce that it has signed a partnership agreement with Real Madrid FC and reached agreement for the transfer of Luka Modric, subject to medical, to the Spanish club. The partnership agreement will see the two Clubs working together in respect of players, coaching, best practices and commercial relationships." Hold on, so not only did they get Modric, but Spurs are now Madrid's feeder club? Well played Spurs.