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Let's face it though, Lukaku had an injury and some of those games we had, he would be gobbling up goals for fun. E.g, Newcastle, Burnley, Norwich, Leciester (with how their defence has been this season). I know people say our attack is inconsistent but can't help but think TT, never changing the system does not help too.

Exactly. I will be supporting on City. More chance of Arsenal catching us than us catching City tbh.

Well this season, I thought he done decent against Liverpool before James got sent off. Of course it will be difficult for him. Against City we were so defensive and albeit he was poor, the approach was so defensive. So maybe we need to go with a more offensive approach. That being said, game by game, today he completely changed the game for us. He has been getting slack by most of fan base and today he stepped up.

Fantastic. Come on, give the man credit where it is due. He changed the game for us and kept us in title race today.

Tuchel clearly said he isnt ready to play 90, so if he did start he would have come off anyway.

He would of got time. Either way he would no way of been a guaranteed starter here. Facts, he would of been used rotation as our other wingers. He was also being played as a no.9 for City this season.

Vesper, he would not have got any more game time here than he was at City. The fee will be more than £38m too, roughly around £55m will reach (when clauses are likely met). Also he would not have been interested in coming here. He never fully settled in Manchester/England and wanted to return to Spain.

Saw this comment from an Arsenal fan. Could not of summed it up better: "This just makes the blackout even worse, foreign fans can enjoy the 3pm football whilst we are probably going to get one game on tv at best and it seems most likely to be the awful 8pm game. The PL board are crooks for what they did to Chelsea against Wolves. They shafted us early on in the season against Brentford but fair enough, there wasn’t an emerging wave that would rain down on fixtures - making them play Wolves all whilst they had such serious covid issues and continue to postpone other games undermines any integrity this season had left for me."

Wow. Unbelievable that it seems we are victims of having a big squad. Our request for postponement was rejected. No natural CF in the squad. Bench is ridiculous. Any result is a positive. As said in earlier post, not fussed about this game.

Never been so demotivated for a game. Not because of our form but this whole covid situation is defo going to impact the season and can see the league being suspended soon.

This performance shows how bad we are on current form at the moment. Yes, we are missing a few but no way near a depleted Everton team. If Liverpool or City were playing this right now, scoreline would probably be around 5-0. Our team is still strong out there. We are making it difficult for ourselves. Really poor. Maybe a mini-break from football will benefit us football wise...

He is not as good as Haaland obviously, but bears a similar style to him. Both are very tall, but extremely fast. Broja's pace is extremely good for someone his height. He his developing the physical side well too. Maybe needs to work in aerial game but has all the potential to be a top all around striker.

Yep but Tottenham now have 3 games in hand of them. United have a game in hand. TBH, Arsenal have no excuses to be not fighting for top 4. They have no Europa to focus on. Were the biggest spenders this summer and there are good players there. Should work to their advantage. We got top 4 in Lamps first season in charge here with a transfer ban and with the players we had at our disposal, was a fantastic achievement. FA forcing it now. Inevitable that football will be suspended soon. No actual proof that the new variant causes any significant health damage, however it is more transmissible, which means more players will continue to contract it, especially without a lockdown.

Wasn't comparing. More I am gloating at the fact that we have two academy graduates who are lighting the PL up.

6 goals, 3 assists this season. Like Mount albeit Mount has 1 more assist. What a goal he scored. He literally puts in top class performances for Palace every game. I can't the amount of MOTM performances he has had for them already. Should not sell for any amount and should defo be in the squad next season under all circumstances.

Has returned to full training and expected to be available for the weekend. Brilliant news. He has been missed and his value to the team is evident. We are notably better with him in the team.

Wonder if Tuchel will give Saul a start. I know he has not made best of starts but he only has started around 2 games. Surely has to get to a point where we should trust him with a start, especially when Kovacic and Kante are most certainly out. Expect to see Mount and Havertz definitely restored to the lineup and if Lukaku is deemed fit enough to start from outset, he probably will join them too. This is best probable time to play Watford. Without their best player in Sarr. Dennis possibly out too. Must win, especially as we have West Ham on Saturday.

Tuchel took way too long to make changes. Lukaku should have came on earlier. Same with Mount. The United goal did not surprise me. I saw it coming, due to the nature of football and thanks god Bissaka done that stupid challenge because I worried that after Sancho scored they were going to hit us again on the counter. Alonso looked very shaky, which did not surprise me. His lack of pace will be a target for opposition. Title race truly on again. Need to react against Watford in week. Good news for us is Sarr is most likely out because him up against Alonso would be a worry.

That game against Arsenal, all were exceptionally good. We ran them ragged, but generally speaking in other games, it has not worked as much. With CHO agreed, but while it is very difficult to get that run at us to the depth we have, if we have not given him more than one game to show how he fares in his best position, it will always be difficult. other than that, yes I agree with most points made. Yep, that is where I agree. I was relieved when he took him off against Brentford because he looked really bad.

Well I don't fully agree. Lukaku often goes to the RW and drives at the opposition. He might not be as fluid as our other attackers, however it is not as if he is some slouch who doesn't move. Against Arsenal, his movement caused havoc and he should of scored more than one. When we played Southampton and won 3-1, although he did not score, I thought he linked up well with Werner in that game. We have been very good without him, but judging by the comments, you would think when Lukaku has played we have looked awful. Another thing I would say is that when Lukaku got injured, our fixtures after that were quite generous on paper, and were games you would expect us to win. Who is to say Lukaku would not have smashed in the goals during those games?... I have generally been impressed how we fared without Lukaku tbh and it is good that we have proved we don't need to rely on him, however I would also say in the main no.9 spot or false no.9/ it still has been hit and miss. Havertz has had his moments and linked up well but then sometimes underwhelmed also. Nope. Just an idea to try something. Same way Tuchel tried Werner and Lukaku and that showed glimpses of potential, I will like to see CHO play with Lukaku also. It really isn't. I always am a person for remaining patient with players, but look how many people were quick to get onto Ziyech throughout season and now will probably be like he deserves a chance. CHO has been constantly written off, even though he has not really been given a proper go in his best position. Now he is given a fair shot, people finally realising how good he is. Lukaku did look off for past few games before he got injured, but you would think he has been totally detrimental to our season. He will return and score I am sure but the fan reactions with players are always Jekyll and Hyde with players anyway. Nothing new.

The biggest compliment I can give him is that when he joined, I think there was a huge fanbase who was so against the signing. I was one of a few, I say gladly now who was delighted about the signing. He was ridiculed by a lot of people who thought it was waste of money and were angry money was not spent on Reguilon. Well he has proved a fantastic signing and has proved the majority wrong. He will be missed for sure!

I am more referring to the point that Lukaku has not played with CHO often. Werner was paired with him a few times and that has shown glimpses of working, however Werner has not got CHO directness on the ball. I think Lukaku would benefit from that. Like I say, for me he would benefit in a game like yesterday. You have one very creative player in Ziyech, whilst the other is pacey and direct in CHO. The play is more fluid and I think it would work. However when we see for instance: Mount, Ziyech and Lukaku or Mount, Havertz, Lukaku for instance, I think it is more easier for opposition. It seems most people have wrote Lukaku of anyway. Same way they did with CHO and Ziyech earlier. It is all a revolving cycle. LOL.

Literally praying this isn't true. My only hope is that, the apparent link is from the Sun. Either way, not hopeful but clinging on to hope. Alonso has done well at LWB, but Chilwell is just better and has been world class recently.

I also think our attacking play has been more fluid, because there is actual WIDTH! Mount and Havertz, as good as they are, when they play together in the attacking trio, it narrows our width and I would say it is easier to mark Lukaku. When you have wide players who run at opposition, it creates gaps. I genuinely reckon Lukaku would thrive of this. Lukaku's movement is really good too. It is not as if he is a static player.

I think it may help Lukaku more if he is playing with likes of CHO also. When Havertz and Mount are behind Lukaku, there is not enough pace. CHO runs at defenders and his directness makes us more fluid and even allows likes of James and Chilwell to overlap and pass into the box. I think Lukaku, when he comes into the team would benefit playing with him in the team.