Jase

How exactly is Lukaku not getting the opportunities? He had chances to score against: Juventus - one early on from a corner and the other within the last 10 minutes Southampton - somehow hit the post from close range and then had a goal ruled out for offside Brentford - had two goals ruled out for offside, including blasting one over the net from close range Isn't he supposed to be clinical? Didn't we buy him to convert these sort of chances?

Don't you mean Cole?

@Tomo I have just inadvertently stumbled into another dumb assertion like the "WE SHOULD SELL MENDY!" one. Someone just told me that we don't create many chances under Tuchel in the midst of all this sudden debates about Lukaku not getting the service etc...

Funny how Man United, arguably the biggest club in the world, are allergic to winning. If they have any ambition, they should be going after someone like Conte right now. Would be interesting to see how Conte would use Ronaldo though.

So, you're saying that Tuchel's reason was legit?

Are our attackers really out of form or are they not playing well because there's suddenly a #9 to shoehorn in? 🤔

Why do I feel like there's a 'but...'?

Given Tuchel's tendency to rotate and tinker, I feel like having too many attacking options is/can be problematic.

Tuchel said Lukaku was tired...

Came across this before today's game...

Chelsea vs Malmo PRE/POST-MATCH DISCUSSION, LIVE CHAT AND ANALYSIS 2021/22 Champions League Group Stage Matchday 3 20th October, Wednesday 2021 Stamford Bridge 20:00 Kick Off (UK time)

The thing is with that is Conte and Mourinho are the kind of managers who build teams around individuals whereas Tuchel seems more about building teams around systems and then fit the players into the systems. I mean, Tuchel was hardly able to create a cohesive unit at PSG with the likes of Mbappe and Neymar around. Even Pochettino, another system based manager, is experiencing the same problems and this time with Messi in the mix. Based on recent evidence, I would throw Werner and Mount with Lukaku. Since Lukaku isn't gonna move much, then put players around him that will actually move around, provide the pace, energy and ability to create something etc.

The irony with this is that we've gone from complaining about missing chances to not creating enough chances etc. Well, given all the love Tuchel has been giving Lukaku, I thought he would never take him off, whatever the circumstances. Playing Werner and Lukaku as a front 2 is a work in progress and thought they looked alright together in the first half today when we controlled the game.

Again, where are those fellas who said we should sell Mendy? A tad questionable XI from Tuchel but thought we controlled the first half well and were deservedly ahead but we completely lost the plot in the second half. Had only 1 shot, I think, and our lack of chance creator suddenly became apparent then. Hardly news but Steve McManaman and Andy Townsend are complete jokes as pundits (as most are I supposed)!

Was surprised to see Tuchel took Lukaku off...

Oh dear.

Where are those people who said we should sell Mendy?

Marc Wilmots. Roberto Martinez. Both have somehow not won anything - not even the Nations League - or even reached the final of a major tournament with Belgium's best pool of players ever.

Somebody will be pleased...

I know people will say Lukaku is our talisman now etc but maybe Tuchel shouldn't try to shoehorn him into every game or play him in every minute of a game. I mean, wasn't there also an injury concern with Lukaku last month? Plus, there's another international break next month and still a long way to go in the season.

Always Pini Zahavi...

Aren't we implying the same thing here? And you said "hopefully", does that mean you're not 100% convinced it will happen soon? 👀

Yes, we have won those games but the issue is the nature of our attacking performances. Notice how the narrative has seemingly shifted from "we keep missing chances" to "we don't create enough chances"? Against Villa, we won because of Lukaku's finishing and Kovacic pouncing on an error. Against Spurs, it took a corner and a shot from distance to break Spurs down. Lukaku or not, such dodgy attacking performances are gonna catch up with us - as seen against City and Juventus - if they don't improve.

Azpi, surprisingly, is on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or. Some well deserved global recognition at last...

In the 30-man list for the Ballon d'Or. cc @NikkiCFC