Sideshow Luiz

I think he's going to be successful at Madrid (if this is what happens).

Don't let LVG's last season with Man Utd colour your perspective of him either.

I understand, it's more of a 343 like LVG's Ajax side or Cruyff's Barcelona team. Pep lines up with that from time to time: http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/08/29/barcelona-5-0-villarreal-tactics/ But only really against specific formations. Pep got it from Cruyff, but there's still a playmaker at the base of the diamond: https://spielverlagerung.com/2016/03/25/retro-analysis-1992-european-cup-final-barcelona-10-sampdoria/ Same with LVG: https://spielverlagerung.com/2015/12/29/1995-cl-final-afc-ajax-ac-milan-10/

Yeah, but I think he' at his worst when tryin to decide whether he should rush out of goal. He needs some minutes though. I think that the League Cup is his with Kepa obviously taking the PL and EL.

CHO Giroud Depends on Pedro's status RLC Kovacic Fabs Emerson AC Cahill Zap Willy

Conte will be successful at Madrid, and I wish him all the best there. But, selfishly, if Conte can go to Madrid, and we keep Hazard. AND, Jardim goes to AC Milan and gets the best out of Bakayoko and they keep him, that would really be ideal.

Suarez vs Courtois penalty. Who do you cheer for? Can the penalty area blow up for some reason, and both players are left with non life threatening injuries but massive damage to their private bits?

Courtois just scored on too (already). C'mon Sunday, stay amazing.

The ball just keeps falling to RLC. It's not like he's busting his ass to get in these great positions. He kind of just drifts and the ball ends up with him and he just shoots, deflection, doesn't matter. Giroud, busts his ass, header from point blank...crossbar.

And RLC can't stop scoring.

OMG, he can't buy a goal right now

Willian on the left is a different player.

Get in Ross!!!!!!!!

Palace up 1-0. Pen, just before half.

How the hell does Morata get a booking for that?

I think he prefers Barkley's defence and if Sarri rates RLC as his worst defender, then LW is probably his best position today. Personally, I'd do the same as you, but I can see what his thinking is. Maybe a re-shuffle at half time.

I just bookmark reddit soccer streams: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccerstreams/ The top streams are at the top, sometimes you have to do a little digging. Buffstreams is always the goods. They aren't streaming it today, but whoever was at the top has a pretty good feed.

I guess it was CHO or RLC for the bench, and RLC deserved it. Sarri always said that he wanted either 2 wingers and 1 CM or the reverse for the bench. First time this year it's been 3 of all.

Shit, Pedro needs to come off and we don't have a winger on the bench. @Vesper, you may well see Barkley at winger.

It was pass pass pass ... goal. It was a nice piece of play from the right. Barkley drifted over and played a nice first touch (IIRC)pass through for Morata who was making a run before Barkley got the ball. Tidy side foot finish around the keeper.

Great goal. C'mon Morata, we don't want to dip in to the striker market.

Sarri has said that he doesn't like 3/5 ATB. I can't find the source, but I believe he was directly asked about it. Though, it should be said that we effectively do attack in a 343 diamond. I'm starting to come around to the idea that Kante is kind of a rotation option right now. Against the bigger teams, no doubter. But against opposition that we need to break down, we may find that Kovacic and Barkley/RLC might be a better option. Kante is the best midfield destroyer out there, but in a team that has the ball 60-70% of the time, that's less of a need. If he can start getting further up the pitch and doing his thing of winning the ball back, but in the final 3rd or opponents half, it should lead to a lot of goals. I'm hoping this happens.

I'm skeptical. i wanted Belotti, and it turns out he was super overpriced after being red-hot.

That's my biggest concern with him, his dad likes to talk a lot. We were tired of Courtois' dad, and now AC's dad seems to want to talk to the papers a lot. Bailey's step father is a whole other level.

Willian Hazard Pedro Kovacic Kante Jorginho Alonso Luiz Rudiger Azpi Kepa Bench: Giroud, CHO, Barkley, RLC, Zapp, Cahill/AC, Willy Yes, I know it's not going to happen, but that's my selection.