Leif

Without him we would have conceded more, simply.

The only players i saw not giving their all (which is different from not being good enough) were Alonso & Morata. Hazard did what he could with what he was given, Kante was our own MOTM, Zappa tried hard, as did Cahill (woefully; when he tries hard, he's at his worst.) Christensen isn't supposed to be our game-winner and was fine (as was Azpilicueta). Come, come oan, fellas.

It was already a given that West Ham would keep many players back, then counter-attack. How can you blame the players for that? You expect Hazard to get through 8 players? And for Morata to score goals when most of the crosses are coming in from behind him, up the centre of the pitch? It's a shit formation, straight up. Lining up exactly the same every single game is wrong, and I can't think of any line-up of players on earth who wouldn't struggle against WHU while themselves using a 5-3-2.

It's ignorance to forget we're winners just for taking part.

Well we care about the personality players have, and the attitudes they display towards our club. Is that blasphemous?

damn son, 2.5 seconds

If Pedro warms up for 25 minutes before coming on i'll flip a chair

WHY DO SO MANY WANT TO KEEP THIS FORMATION GOING FORWARD ONCE WE HAVE BETTER PLAYERS? THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS FORMATION WAS BECAUSE WE LACKED BETTER PLAYERS. HOW ARE YOU INSPIRED BY 5 DEFENDERS AND NO WINGERS? (WING BACKS DO NOT DO WHAT FULLY FLEDGED WINGERS DO. WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE WING BACKS CUTTING IN TO SCORE 10 TIMES A SEASON?) I'M GETTING A HEADACHE READING ABOUT NEEDING NEW WING BACKS. WE NEED MORE GOALSCORERS WHO PLAY WITH A HIGH TEMPO.

Guarantee that for this game only, we'd score 3 goals next half lining up like this, 4231 (of course I don't believe we're about to switch to 4 at the back, for a start) - Courtois Zappa, Christensen, Cahill, Alonso Fabregas, Azpilicueta Pedro, Kante, Hazard Morata Obviously it looks embarrassing on paper, but on the pitch it'd be capable for West Ham.

But then we're stuck with wing backs, who're no doubt rubbish defensively if we grow balls and stop with 5 defenders at the back. The answer is to not use wing backs full stop. Last season's makeshift formation was never supposed to set the foundation for our future.

We have maybe 2 players you could say have somewhat of an intensity to their game, both attacking and defending (Hazard + Kante). Imagine trying to achieve any major trophy when that's the sum of the pressure your team applies, and that's the sum of pace in your side.

4-2-3-1. Keep Hazard & Morata as the main threats. Add 2 wingers who can pitch in with 15 goals/assists each per season, but whose primary duty is causing disruption for the opposition defence, and offering support for Hazard/Morata most of the game. Obviously when we're under attack, they come back, and essentially act like the player Hazard was under Mourinho. Add a workhorse who passes tidily alongside Kante in the '2'; no need for a dedicated playmaker when you have hardworking, technically great wingers alongside a player like Hazard. Back to our best.

There's no space for Hazard/Morata; for them to get support, our entire midfield's moving up alongside them, leaving us open to counter-attacks. We simply need to revert to 4-2-3-1, I'm adamant. If we start buying players for this defensive system we're shooting ourselves in the foot long-term. Get to hell with it.

It was obvious he'd score. Nothing to do with bad luck or any curses. We simply struggle against players who overrate themselves. We give players & most teams too much credit, which is usually not deadly for us, but when you give too much credit to a player who sees himself as a god, you give him a platform to perform. It was absolutely a given.

This stadium's an eyesore. More steel than beauty.

There's nothing we can do about it at the moment, but the longer we rely on just Morata & Hazard up top, the sooner our goals will dry up. I'm not expecting Kante/Bakayoko/Alonso etc. to score. Meaning we've got Fabregas on the rare occasion, and then set pieces, which we've never been scoring fewer from.

MAKE HIM OUR FUCKING WING BACK!!!!

Who said Alonso wouldn't be good enough. Who said Bakayoko wouldn't be good enough. Who said Coutinho was superior to Oscar. Who said 4 years ago that Azpilicueta should be a centre-back. Who said 4 years ago that Hazard should play centrally. And who was called idiotic for all of those perspectives? I JUST WANNA KNOW!

Fiorentina must have connections at Tuttosport who're trying to drive up his price before selling him to a Sampdoria or Roma.

You'd have to have low standards, or a high level of trust in marketing hype, to believe Goretzka's anything more than just marketing hype. He's the level of Xhaka/Schneiderlin. None of the trio will ever grow capable of playing for an elite side which we aim to become again. Though out of the 3, Goretzka would be least prone to fuck-ups, meaning if he came here, nobody would be saying he's bad. Never in a million years will he be brilliant, though. Only for Schalke and the standards that their fans have, will he be anything close to brilliant. He's a jack of all trades, master of none. I base this off of seeing something like 1/3 of his first 2 years of consistent game-time, & then simply highlights of this past year.

For the life of me i want an answer regarding this - what is he clearly talented at? I must be blind and dumber than i thought.

With Chelsea he has all his wonderful natural ability, but none of the mentality that he chooses to switch on/off. He just doesn't care enough. And i can blame him for that, because it's totally out of touch and lacking perspective to not see that we brought him to the big stages, we chose to loan him to a team that could win a bloody title over Barcelona/Real with, we have paid him unfathomable amounts compared to his other clubs. I don't expect him to love the club, but at least to respect it more, and give all that he can. Cech may've declined a lot, but he gives his all for Arsenal. He respects them for giving him a chance, and he always throws his body on the line for them just like he did here. I saw a far wider variety of saves & dives from Courtois in Spain than here. Because he used to give a shit.

Nevermind not renewing, he's pathetic if he goes to Real Madrid.