Sideshow Luiz

Aguero was disgusting. Little baby. Watch Cahill's OG again, Aguero stoops down to talk shit to him while he's on the ground. Then, of course, the intent to injure Luiz.

Don't need him. We already have the best long passing CB in football.

I agree. But, most clubs agree too. There's going to be a significant price difference.

would love it, but it's a dream. We'd have a better chance at getting Koke.

Candreva was really good for Italy at the Euros. He's an out and out winger but with a really good motor. In his Italian set-ups, Conte seemed to prefer having one WB that was a FB, and the other that was more of an offensive winger playing WB. Don't know much about Anderson's work rate and defensive skills, but I certainly wouldn't rule him out because he's not a converted fullback.

The most vulnerable Dave has looked in recent weeks is the Utd match when Zlatan, then Fellaini climbed all over him for a head. Zlatan, not on target. Fellaini, over hit cross (IIRC). Dave would hardly be the first CB to have Zlatan score a header over them. I think this is actually his best position. The balance in midfield for us comes from the way we play from the back. Luiz is like a deep lying playmaker with his passing (can we stop the Bonnucci rumours?) and the L/RCBs carry the ball in to midfield. It's helped us boss the 3 man midfields we've come up against. We actually get another player in to midfield, to even the numbers it's just one of the CBs stepping up. Conte's team sheet just has Hazard, Kante, Dave printed on it, the rest is blank to be filled in on match day.

Kenedy is left-footed, no? And Alonso?

I actually think that he can provide cover in the RCB position. Won't need to cross the ball anymore, or get up and down the pitch. It's actually always been the perfect position for him. He would have been a beast there many years ago. But, I still think he has enough for cover. If he wants to move on and be a guaranteed starter, I wish him all the best.

I think Zouma is right footed. Pretty sure that's why Conte wanted Romagnoli.

I get that. I was alluding to the fact that he plays a more all action midfield role with Nigeria. A CAM who can play CDM is kind of box-to-box in my eyes. Like what we use now.

I have to agree with this. When the Hazard wooing sweepstakes were on, I didn't think we'd be able to get him. Luckily, the board thought differently.

I'd normally agree, but I can't see us getting that many players in. I just think that we can use what we've got instead of dropping more money (that seems to be our current transfer strategy). I'd rather see a huge player come in if we're going to spend (I'm still in the Griezmann dream land) and use players we've already got for cover. It's hard to find dedicated wing backs because not many teams play with them. You have to find the right FBs or wingers where the scout/manager can see the inherent qualities needed for the position. To be honest, they can do just about anything and I'll give them a lot of rope. I just wanted top 4 this season. Even if we don't get it, the joy I have from watching this thoroughly likeable squad play every week is worth it.

Let's see him in the new formation. He was always a CAM forced to play CDM. Get him out there and take the shackles off! Let's see the Mikel that plays for Nigeria,

I don't think that too many CBs is an issue. At Juve (my go to comparison because they've been playing a back 3 for a long time), they had BBC + Caceres + Rugani (who has a lot of potential). No problems.

I think Willian could do a job at RWB. His decision making in the final 1/3 is suspect. His motor is not.

1. Liverpool - entitled fan base. Media made up of ex-Liverpool who shove the club up everyone's ass and make annoying Liverpool supporters even worse. 2. Spurs - Seem to be made up of largely horrible people. Too crass and stupid to be Arsenal supporters. Couldn't make the grade it seems. Seem to think they can win the league, but never even win the North London table. 3. Arsenal - Have embodied Wenger. Whiny, full of excuses. Like to think of themselves as proponents of the beautiful game (they do play some lovely stuff once in a while) and think that makes up for not winning anything. Always get dicked by Barca because they refuse to adjust. Like idiots. This absolutely bothers the fans, but they seem to think that no one else knows that and stick to their "play the Arsenal way" mantra.

It's about Shaw and Smalling, I believe. Shaw should leave. Jose had a go at Utd for spending so much money on him when he was with us. Now, he's calling him out. He's gone straight to year 3. Year 1 is building siege mentality. Us against them, little horses, needs eggs from Waitrose, etc. etc. Year 2, win the major silverware. Year 3, players can't keep the grudge going and Jose falls out with them. He needs a sabbatical. He'll always e a Chelsea legend, but he needs some time off. Things have not been good for him since his father fell ill. I hope he get's his house in order first. Then comes back to management once he's better.

Love how much Conte uses the words "work" and "team" http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37886756

Look at Spurs trying to play the 343. CBs are standing with the ball at their feet, no one showing from midfield or WB to get the ball. Both fullbacks, who received so much praise for their hard work last season, look shattered and they aren't even coming back to help build up play.

I agree with the risk-reward outlook. I was actually in favour of the Pato loan move last Jan. It didn't work out, but I also didn't know he was nowhere near match fit when we got him. I didn't think he was THAT bad when he did eventually play. I actually think he would still be good cover for Hazard in our current front 3. Getting players who are in favourable contract situations is a good way of building the squad depth, IMO. If a player has 4 years remaining on their contract, you're going to have to pay a lot.

For me, the only answer is Griezmann. (Maybe Di Maria). I'm not sure about James. For James kind of money, Id rather see the club push the boat all the way out and go hard for Griezmann.

Had a brief look at his analysis on whoscored and transfermarkt. Seems to be similar to Herrerra and Sissoko. Both of which I thought would be good fits next to Kante. So, maybe not a bad call.

Okay, Spurs and Arsenal. You two can just kick lumps out of each other for the last 40 min, now. Something dawned on me as Kane just put that penalty in. None of our recent 16 goals have come from the spot. I think that maybe 2-3 have come from corners. But the rest are open play.

Maybe. To be honest, Witsel is one of the names that float around all the time, but I don't know his game so well (because I don't watch Russian league, nor Zenit's CL matches). On paper, he looks a good fit. If this was FIFA, I'd try to get in Verratti, Griezmann, Romagnoli, and a RWB. In the real world, I'd actually think that a RWB is the most important position. As far as Witsel goes, if the manager rates him, then yeah, more midfielders would be better. We can't ask Kante to do what he does twice a week when we have CL next year Will need to rotate Matic, Kante, whoever we bring in (I'm confident that we'll get 1 or 2 CM over the next 2 windows). For all of Cahill's follies this season, he's been a great buy. 7M or so if I remember correctly? Been a big part of every trophy we've won since.

That's kind of the thing though. It seems to be very difficult to pick up for an odd match here and there. It needs to be drilled on the training pitch. You'd be better off keeping it the same and filling in for missing players. When you've only conceded 5 goals in the league, just keep it the same. Now, need Spurs to score, draw is the best result for us.