Sideshow Luiz

Yeah, he could still take a corner and whip in a cross from FKs. We haven't really had a good (direct) free kick taker in a while. Mata was accurate, no pace on the ball though (sums it up, I suppose). Drogba and Ballack were the last good ones. I know Willian had a good season last season (just the beginning), but a couple of those were crosses that the keeper messed up. I need to see more consistency before I say he's a really good free kick taker.

Lampard was pretty balls at the end. Free kicks were guaranteed to be hammered in to the wall.

That's pretty much what I think our best formation is. I haven't loved what (limited) I've seen of the 424. I don't think we have the players for a 2 man CM.

Yeah. FB and CB. Replacement (identified and lined up) for Costa if he goes. I wouldn't really mind another winger since I like the idea of Hazard as a FWD. But, that depends on how Conte views the squad I suppose.

I found a few articles on him, for those (like myself) that haven't seen him play (much). https://13steps.co/2015/10/07/psg-2-1-marseille-contrasting-4-3-3s-take-center-stage-in-le-classique/ http://statsbomb.com/2015/10/after-gradel-martial-and-payet-who-is-ligue-1s-next-starlet/ Excerpt from another Statsbomb article: Michy Batshuayi Pretty much everything I said about Michy from two months ago still stands. The guy has been dynamite this season and with the financial problems that Marseille have because of no Champions League football, there’s almost no chance in hell he stays past this season. Hell, he might leave in January if the right offer comes along. Spurs have been the most keen on signing him and if they get him, they’re getting potentially a top 10 striker in the world by the time he hits age 25. He is that good a prospect and if he ever learns to be a good playmaker, the world is his oyster.

I'd rather have Morata for the kind of money we're talking about. From the 2 friendlies I've seen so far, it seems that this 424 is a 451 in defence with one of the strikers dropping deep in to midfield. I like Morata's play in transition. Edit: I'd take Icardi over Lukaku as well.

No, he wont. But, the paper talk suggests that he could be available for a lot less, maybe a little over half of that. Don't know how accurate that is.

For sure it was. Nainggolan offers more going forwards. If you look at the B2B mids Conte had at Juve, Nainggolan fits the mold a bit better than Kante.

That's my choice

I'd rather have Morata for this kind of money. I'm not upset about this signing, but I hope it's not the end of the Morata chase. The price seems high, but I guess that's the rate these days. Martial was 50M last summer.

Hope you're right. I do see Oscar as more of a CM rather than a CAM. But, I'm concerned that he doesn't have the engine and the strength of a Vidal/Nainggolan type. I have faith that Conte knows what he's got and what he wants. Looking forward to the next season. With, or without Nainggolan.

I think he's used us to get a new contract from Roma. Hope we have a plan B or C. Can see why Conte wants him. He'd be the Vidal-type in our midfield. Not sure who else fits the bill.

I agree. I'm almost at the end with him. 1 more season. I think that Conte can get the most out of him, and if that's not enough, so be it.

Yeah, an 8 in a system that has no 8. He's a poor 10, doesn't have the second striker instincts.

I certainly don't think he's been good the past couple of seasons, but I'm not ready to write him off just yet. I think he's better suited to a no. 8 type role, as opposed to a 10. He's a much better central midfielder rather than a second striker. Unless the bid is outrageous, I'd be okay with keeping him, for at least 1 season under Conte.

I know. He's a gigantic child.

Apparently he is the one being blamed for setting off the fireworks at the end of the Spurs match. From Telegraph: The Spaniard is alleged to have slapped more than one Tottenham player and member of staff in the groin area, sparking a number of verbal and physical reactions.

They are absolutely throwing everything out of the pram. Fucking love it.

Butt-hurt Spurs. They've lost the rag. Go fuck yourselves. They can go to the Leicester club shop and get some gold patches put on their kit next year. Willian can show them where they go.

He said it! He did it!

WHAT A FUCKING GOAL!!!

No excuses. Just how I saw it. Visions of personal glory < team.

He had visions of glory

Should have played Hazard in there. He was screaming for it