robsblubot

yeah good points! I'm just not sure it's something that comes easy for Luiz. I think that he needs to be 100% physically and mentally to be able to play his game, or else any shortcut he takes punishes the team. heh wish someone would go back in time, say 7 years, and tell folks that Luiz will always be a quirky defender. that his improvement in concentration and composure will only be modest. While he had stints in midfield, some with amazing results (fantastic goals and so), he was never really switched to midfield: midfielder schedule working on stamina and mobility. Not to mention playing enough games there to get used to it. All his characteristics point to a very good midfielder imo... oh well I guess that boat has sailed.

Lol best part is when he gets tackled hard by Cahill and looks at him like Wtf dude?! (At around 50s)

Yeah that was showcased against United: kante played dm sitting deeper while Baka had more freedom from our system and united - teams will only start marking him when he becomes more effective in possession. I was thinking to myself during the game: our least technical player is the one with most freedom. Great for united not so for us. Aside from that bit of terific Spanish play, it was looking like a draw.

Guess I watched a diff game matic had a very good game against us. Both defending as well as attack where he even created problems to our defense in the second half (assist to fellaine fo ex). He played alongside Ander Herrera who is neither physical nor technical enough. of course Kante was better because he is better, but in my mind between Baka and matic today there is really no contest. much better performance overall which is the important part. Better from Alonso too esp when he cuts inside as he should. Still disappointed by fabregas though. the defensive trio today are our best defenders at the moment. Yes even Cahill... rudiger needed to sit this one out after Rome game.

Can you imagine Lukaku scoring Moratas goal . I can’t ... yeah some might say that they’d rather lukaku in a counter attack situation but that’s less useful to a big side than what Morata offers.

Interesting... thought he was one of the worst performers in what was a good overall performance against United. Couldn’t not pick up passes consistently enough

He did have a good game: aggression and focus were there. still poor on the ball as usual.

He had a good game against us esp first half Yes was bullied, away from home against a midfield of 3 while playing alongside Ander who’s just not a very good player.

watching him play for liverpool and he's already a lot better than William and (IMO pedro - no a fan) and would walk into our start XI. Always thought he was going to become a top winger due to pace and tight control. At this moment I'd have to call selling him a mistake just as big as selling KDB was. Our staff seems to make these terrible mistakes without consequence. And these cost money too...

United is the better side at this time, but no need to panic... I'm sure the manager had a nice chat with the team and some players who were strolling about in Italy. It's diff game, a big game, after a very poor performance midweek. A couple of things that did not work in Italy will hopefully be corrected, such as Azpi back where he belongs - he's just too much a defender to play wingback. Not to mention too important to be moved. Every player has virtues and weaknesses, and it's up to the manager and ultimately the team to protect its players. If our 3 defenders cannot cover the wingbacks and not help the middle, then why do we "waste" a position in defense? Could've been deploying an additional midfielder instead, for example. Conte cannot change too many things at once. He should def pull a Mourinho though: stick Luiz in midfield bullying Matic, with Andreas behind him tidying things up. Though pundits have been saying Luiz is not 100%.

while I agree Conte is partly to blame for the abysmal performance against Rome, i think your take on Matic is factually incorrect. Matic forced his exit, so he did not travel because his mind was already elsewhere. I too wasn't happy about selling him (he was an important player in 2 PL wins!!! starting every match) much less selling him to a rival, but it was really down to the club to try to match what United was offering or not. And even then, perhaps the player wasn't happy under Conte... it happens. At the very least they should have demanded something in return from United - they have a large squad with many players capable of helping us. (heh we would've ended up with Ashley fucking Young) Our signings have been mediocre... regardless of the money spent or not, the agents, scouts, and coaches have not been pulling their weight. The fact they only start moving *during* the transfer window is very telling.

Yeah I was expecting a midfielder capable of picking up a pass, but I guess that's too much to ask.

Like I wrote elsewhere, some players were really poor today, but it was a terrible starting XI to play Roma in Italy. Really bizarre to see Fabregas in a 2-men mid... got overrun as expected. Why doesn't Christensen play -- he's, along with Azpi, the best defender in the squad. If Drinkwater and Kante aren't fit play Luiz in midfield! No not optimal, but that's the circumstance. Can we have a "no one" option in the poll? Despite his efforts, I just can't vote for Hazard because the finishing just wasn't there (by a long shot). I guess Azpi and Cahill had OK games compared to the rest.

But Btshuayi did play just as bad when he came on, as he usually does. Aside from his goals, which he does take well when coming off the bench, his overall play is consistently very poor. Morata was indeed poor today against roma, but honestly who was good? Azpi and Hazard for 15min or so and barring his finishing?

Agreed. Worse I've seen from him, but I blame Conte tbh. You play in Italy against Roma and you start the game with Fabregas and Baka in midfield... just bizarre.

poor game against Roma. Not only a ridiculous mistake that led to the second goal, but poor on the ball as well. His technique is just OK - cahill level really. He is quicker than cahill and more physical, but that's it. For me the two best defenders in the squad are Azpi and Christensen, with Luiz as the quirky quality player that needs a special setup around him - should've been permanently moved to midfield long ago.

I'm sorry to say it, but at this moment it's not down to form or fitness; he's just not a very good player. He needs to improve to start for us. His position is just too important to start him at this time.

yup more like though that's because even though he's only a decent/good player, our lack of strength in depth is such that we miss decent/good players...

could they (pundits) just quit moaning about the corner that shouldn't have been? WTF!? If you cannot defend a freaking corner than perhaps you deserve to lose the game? BTW, as someone who like Alonso for what he is, which again has not changed by the time we signed him, he was so poor today that I agree he needs to be benched.

they have to spend the money somewhere... every transfer window they target 5 superstars who have no interest in playing for us, but they only find out at the end of the transfer window... then they end up with a lot of cash from selling loanees, as designed. ^^ fabinho would have made a lot more sense considering that we already had Kante.

Funny how opinions go: after scoring that goal, and considering Luiz is a cb playing in the mid, he could very well just stroll around for the rest of the game for all I care.

well this is part of the "package"... he does pick up injuries often. Not his fault, but his sub will relish the (several) opportunities that he will get.

About the Palace game, and being one who does criticize him when he does not play to his potential, I just think he's not match fit yet... that simple. While he may be physically fit, it takes a bit longer to get the rest of your game back after an injury (that included surgery).

Heh sound advice, but too late now... It was really awful and palace did deserve the points tbf. Partially disagree... United play with 10 men all the time with Lukaku strolling about too, but yeah Michy is unplayable (in a bad way ). For me the midfield did not show: both Baka and Fabregas were just way too slow and immobile, which is indeed a stark contrast from what Kante does. Baka is really scaring me... even when he has a decent game, he is just too defensive and unskilled on the ball. It is just very difficult to play when you lose the midfield like we did today/yesterday. Defenders will take the blame as usual, but they were exposed all game, esp first half. Thought Willian had a normal game - pretty much what he normally does, which is not much. This team is mid table material... sorry to say it. BTW, still think Luiz should've played in the middle and should always play in the middle until Drinkwater and/or Kante are back.

haven't watched the game yet (recorded), and not looking forward to it, but it was a bad starting XI IMO. One that gives a chance to the terrible side that Palace certainly is. Yeah, why did he not put Luiz in midfield considering the abundance of defenders and nothing else in the squad?