Jase

What do you mean? There are always funny people on here. Been feeling crap in recent months due to some personal stuff and just so happens that I have some free time after Wednesday. So... Only 5 million difference. Give or take a few, Vesper.

How many donkey years ago was that?

Had some free time and decided to log in for the laughs. 🙃

Not saying Werner is happy to play second fiddle to Lukaku because he clearly isn't but good luck to finding a decent backup to Lukaku that will be happy to just sit on the bench and collect the wages every week. If Tuchel is just gonna play Lukaku through heaven and hell every week, then we'll have the same issue like Spurs did when they couldn't find anyone decent to be the backup ST because they have Kane. As for Werner and his situation, hardly a surprise to see that story (though a bit convenient of Matt Law to run it after back-to-back losses). If the same happens with the others, then Werner wouldn't be the only one looking to leave. There were the same stories, for example, about Pulisic towards the end of last season. That said, Matt Law's premise of the story seems to be revolve around Lewandowski going to PSG and Haaland leaving Dortmund. If Lewandowski stays at Bayern, then what? Werner may have succeeded under Nagelsmann but if Lewandowski is still there, he'll remain as their #1 striker and Bayern also have the likes of Sane, Gnabry, Muller, Coman etc on the wings. Plus, the sporting director - Hasan Salihamidzic - who previously turned down Werner is still there. If he/they didn't want Werner when he was flying high, it's highly debatable that he/they would want him now, even if his former manager is there. As for Dortmund, unless Werner is just desperate to play, then it's kinda unlikely he would go there since he said he joined us to win trophies and Dortmund don't really win trophies, apart from maybe the DFB Pokal. On top of that, I believe it was pointed out here recently, Dortmund have never spent more than €30 million on a player. So will they spend more than that on Werner? Recent German reports didn't report Werner on Dortmund's target list and there's also the fact Werner is earning big wages. If those two clubs aren't possible, then what?

Somewhat off topic but I find it hilarious some people in the media used the FA Cup success to justify that Arteta is good as if winning a domestic cup competition means a manager is good when RDM won the FA Cup and Champions League but has never backed up that success.

If you heard what Werner, Ziyech and I think Havertz said about Lampard last season, then it's clear that he wanted them as well, but only for him to bungle things up, results to go south and him getting the sack.

You kinda answered your own question regarding the criticism of the inclusion of Lukaku there. As legit as the complaints of the poor finishing was last season, the system then was never just about one player. It was also constantly fluid because players were always on the move, they were constantly interchanging and not giving the opposition a reference point etc. Now, as much as a goalscorer Lukaku is, we're having to throw whatever we built last season under Tuchel to focus all on one player and that's Lukaku. The system, the balance suddenly doesn't look right because we now have a #9, a reference point which can make it easier for opponents to stop us. Everything now has to be catered to his needs (who to use beside him, what to do to create chances for him etc), as opposed to what we saw last season. Maybe Havertz will come good or maybe not but have you wondered why he was doing well last season and not this season? Last season, he was either playing as a False 9 or behind a ST who actually moves, which allows him to also move, attack spaces, find openings etc. This season, he's having to play behind a static #9, a reference point and everything has to be catered towards that #9. And not to mention, it's worth wondering whether Havertz is a creator as he's supposedly only created 1 big chance in the Premier League since the start of last season. And by the way, didn't you say that you saw Havertz has improved or is showing improvement earlier this season? Sure, time will tell but the other games weren't half as bad as being made out? We played 6 games (IIRC) in September and we played well in only one half - the second 45 mins at Spurs. Everything that happened in the last two games had been coming.

How about never buy players from the Dutch Eredivisie? Remember what you were saying about Ziyech back then?

Only one so far but they started together just last weekend. Am surprised no one mentioned the whole deep defences against Werner thing! Tuchel explained last week on why Werner hasn't played much. Now, whether you want to believe his comments then, it's up to you or whether he's just talking shit...god knows at this point.

Some times, having too many options can be detrimental, even more so now if the manager refuses to drop a player. He might not be everyone's cup of tea but Gab Marcotti mentioned on ESPN FC the other day that Tuchel has been relying on individual brilliance to win games since his PSG days. Said he hasn't seen a properly coached attacks from a Tuchel team since his time at Mainz and Dortmund.

Has that not been the case since the last international break? Villa in the league - we were unconvincing throughout the game and only won because of 2 clinical finishes from Lukaku and Kovacic pouncing on a mistake. Zenit - struggled to create anything until Azpi suddenly dropping a precise cross for Morata Lukaku. Spurs - awful in the first half and broke them with a goal from a corner and deflection from 25-30 yards out. Villa in the league cup - also unconvincing but it could be put down to the wholesale changes made to the team. All those unconvincing/awful performances led to what we saw against City and Juventus. It wasn't surprising. It had been coming.

Well, congrats on being a mod and cheers for holding up the place. Keep up the good work. 😛

Conte do know that we won the Champions League last season without an actual #9, right? Yes, we have to sacrifice whatever attacking patterns and plays we have formed under Tuchel last season all because one of player, who isn't even Ronaldo or Messi. Time will tell how it goes with Lukaku but some times, introducing a solution to a problem could bring other problems instead.

🤣

What bunker? Only logged in to have a good chuckle.

DONE.

Someone has changed it for you, I guess. The forum still seems to be intact from what I see...

Just noticed there's two Trevor Chalobah threads...

He was promoted from the academy but he didn't come through it from an early age. There's a difference TBF.

You forgot the mighty Bournemouth.

If we apply that to everyone, then sure I guess.

Am no financial expert but just because we got all that CL money from winning the competition, it doesn't mean we have all of that to spend on transfers. That money would have been used to cover for other expenses within the club as well as cover for whatever losses the club may have suffered from the pandemic. I don't think we're exactly operating the "we need to sell before buying policy" but our recent spending has been funded mostly by the sale of players.

Christensen only had 2 loan spells and it was only at one club, TBF. When you said the commentators often forget he's been with the club since early on, do you mean coming through the academy? If so, then not sure if they really forget because we bought Christensen from Brondby and he was already 16 years old then. Different to the likes of Mount and James, who really came through our academy.

Abraham going to Italy was the last thing I would have expected. Good luck to him at Roma.

If we are going with the sentiment that players need to improve this season or they will be sold next year, then a few players' - not just Werner - future are on the line this season.