Jase

I disagree with this. Sure, there were games where we struggled to create chances - every team will have such games - but most of the time, we were able to create chances (why do you think people complained so much about missing chances last season?) and there was fluency in our attacking play. Now, it's the opposite. There's not much fluency going forward, our attacking play looks awkward and the complaint now is that we don't create enough.

We created chances last season because we had the fluidity upfront with those players. Now with a #9, a reference point, everything becomes less fluid and the chances don't come as often as before anymore. Everything appears geared towards one player when it was never the case last season. I might be wrong but out of the strikers available last summer, Kane might have suited us more since he's more a half 9, half 10 these days with his ability to drop deep, link up play and score goals but of course, that move was never gonna happen for obvious reasons.

I'll believe it when I see more of such moment. Think Lukaku was more of a board signing and Tuchel just went along with it. It might still work out but so far, seems like the thinking behind buying Lukaku was that he was the missing piece in the puzzle, the #9 needed to convert the chances without considering whether he would be an actual fit into the system to begin with. And people suddenly wonder why we aren't creating chances or talking about how we don't provide him with the service etc. Everything is suddenly geared towards one player when it was never the case last season.

Yup. The narrative has shifted from us missing chances for fun last season to us not creating enough this season and no one has questioned why. Suddenly everyone looking is for something or someone to blame but no one is addressing the elephant in the room.

I don't think I said we must buy a #9 to get the best out of Werner, Havertz, Mount etc..? Werner is definitely not your typical #9 and he did thrive alongside one at Leipzig (guess one could say time is needed for him and Lukaku to make it work here) but I like the direction that we were heading under Tuchel last season when he was playing alongside Havertz upfront with both looking to have a good understanding of one another's game. Yes, the chance conversion wasn't there but at least the chemistry/cohesion/fluidity was there. I agree it's not panic stations yet but why did all the attackers suddenly go out of form? Was it just a coincidence or was it due to something more? Giroud mentioned in a recent interview with The Athletic that Werner, despite his lack of goals, complements Havertz and Mount. So the question is can Havertz, Mount co-exist with an actual #9 - one who is more static and offers less movement than Werner? I suppose Mount can but there was a recent stat that pointed out Havertz has actually not made a single pass to Lukaku in the Premier League this season and it's also fair to wonder whether Havertz is actually a creator or more of a finisher? He has supposedly created only ONE big chance in the Premier League and that's just poor.

That seems to be narrative all of a sudden.

I wonder why...?

Wouldn't say we have been playing to Werner's strengths but it still didn't stop us from creating chances last season.

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?