Stats

James is just brilliant. I know I keep repeating but just bosses each game. 21!

Drew with Southampton at home 0-0 too

Maybe it is because who he plays for, which is why he gets more plaudits. Also, we went for Hakimi, but that maybe has made James work hard more and has paid off so far and for me will only get better. Us favouring Azpi sometimes is due to strength in depth we have, not because James has done anything wrong. TAA would probably be utilized same way at us however he literally has no competition there. Like City, rotating Cancelo etc, he is a top full back but they have huge strength in depth there. That doesnt mean he is weak in that position.

Another example. Alexander-Arnold makes two assists yesterday and already BBC are doing articles about him having to be England’s first choice RB. Did we see the same for James when he scored and assisted against Arsenal or scored 2 against Newcastle? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59142104

Yep. I remember I was having a debate with @Azul and he found it laughable that I said Jorginho was more important than Kante to this team. Well I wasn't just referring to Jorginho. I was saying that majority of games, we don't need Kante due to our possession dominance and hence why Jorginho is a much more important player as everything comes through him. Kante is a brilliant player, but with these fixtures we have recently and coming up, there are games where I would say he is not a loss if he is not in the team.

He is their only recognised CF and ironic thing is he plays out wide for City. I am not sure if Jesus has started one game in the CF position for them. They have played with Foden, KDB and Torres in that position. Jesus been used as a winger. They will have games where it works but also games against opposition (eg Palace, Southampton), where they fire blanks. I was relieved when they did not buy a CF tbh. Thought it may give us an advantage.

He is the most complete RB/RWB. Brilliant defender, brilliant technical ability, brilliant physical attributes, brilliant crosser and now a brilliant eye for goal too. His general offensive play as improved too. I think TAA is a top player but it is crazy the hype he gets as soon he delivers a top assist or so and the calls for him to be in England team by media. Do you here anyway near the same hype for James? No. James is 21 and arguably best RB/RWB out there right now for sure, well England's best RB/RWB for sure.

All the boys from the academy who scored. Fantastic 💙

Kovacic getting a lot better with his creativity. That is what 3/4 assists this season already? Not just any assist as well. 2 of those assists have been of real quality.

He would play at LCB a few times as well I would have reckoned, especially in recent games with Rudiger injured. But yeah, both very similar characteristics tbh but Guehi is more adept in using either foot hence why he usually plays on the left hand side. The academy has to be given a lot of praise in bringing out such technical CB and the composure to play from the back. Guehi, Tomori, Christensen, Chalobah, Colwill. Jake Clarke-Slater another one who is brilliant on the ball but just not currently at the aforenetioned player's level currently.

Guehi looks so good. Brilliant on the ball, fast, good in the air and looks a real player. If Palace had not put that bid in, I am pretty sure he would be starting a lot of games this season.

Is anyone else getting Tchouameni and Pogba confused? 😃

I think it will. But nothing is guaranteed. We have had tough games and chopping and changing with line ups. I reckon goals will come flying in.

Either way though, we have a focal point and that for me makes a big difference. You may see it as the attacking performances will catch up with us. I see it as hopefully soon, they will click into gear. City we were just way too defensive. I mean, honestly despite his flaws would I be genuinely confident of a title challenge without Lukaku? No. Do I think now we have him, we have a genuine chance of winning the league? Yes. I do.

I generally think it will. We have already beaten Arsenal, Spurs away from home convincingly. Liverpool got a point away and all the other 'smaller' teams we have beaten by a good margin also. Villa are a good outfit and despite scoreline flattering us we beat them 3-0. Last season we would struggle in those games to finish teams off. In our next few fixtures coming up, we can generate a good advantage if we beat them and I would bank on Lukaku scoring in majority of them. I think the smaller games this season, may well be defining factor in us winning league this season. I still expect Liverpool to drop points against bigger teams. In United's case they have dropped points against smaller teams and have not played any of the so called 'top teams' so far.

City and Liverpool can get away with it because in City's case they have took much quality over the team and on their day, probably the best footballing side in Europe. Liverpool on otherhand have natural goalscorers in Salah and Mane (despite him being a bit off this season). In our case we have a lot of quality, but not enough consistent goalscorers hence the stats for our outfield players being so low last season, however now having Lukaku for me provides City with their biggest threat. We will win more games than we dropped points last season and can actually challenge them. While other teams can get off playing with a no.9, we have always provided the biggest league challenge or won the league when we have a natural no.9.

That is an absurd comment. Come on Laura, real exaggeration. Yes, he is limited in aspects but he is also a big plus as well. He will score goals and when we create more chances, IJ am sure he will be scoring a lot more. Knee-jerk reactions is so funny because few weeks time, when he is scoring again, people will change their tune. There is a long way to go but we are top right now whilst already visiting Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and playing City at home and have had the most difficult fixtures out of our rivals, along with City. All games where our rivals can drop points and we are in a good position. I think we would most likely finish 3rd/4th without Lukaku but with him in now, we will be able to finish off most teams we struggled to break down last season. I think it will be between us and City come end of season and I think the difference maybe that we have a natural no.9 and they don't. Time will tell.

He also held up the ball really well in the second half and laid it off to Werner who unfortunately could not finish. But that was great strength and awareness from Lukaku who should of had assist to his name. Was not his best game but let's not act like he was completely invisible.

No need to press the panic button yet, but sometimes it would be good to see Tuchel switch formation from time to time. Even when we are 1-0 down, we just stick with the same 3 at the back formation. Why not have more attackers and go 4-2-3-1? Because if we often switch up formation, may make it even more difficult to play against us due to our ability to change formation. It also seems to me that the 3-4-2-1 is not getting consistent performances from our attackers. Every single attacking midfielder/winger and striker seem to get lost and I am not saying it is purely down to formation, however I reckon they would look more fluid in a a natural attacking line up. Is it a coincidence that the defenders all seem to look very good in this formation but the attackers on other hand seem to struggle more? ...

Last 2 games have shown how badly he is missed. His work rate, his runs with and without the ball and his ability to draw fouls is underestimated. Last 2 games we have looked lost for ideas offensively. His importance in the team is realised more when he is not playing.

Lack of width is an issue once again.

He had a really good game. Can't believe that he is being criticized by a few. Don't get me wrong I don't want him playing as a CM in most premier league games as he will be more susceptible to losing the ball against better midfield players, however he was very good last night, for a player who has not had much action, he constantly drove us through with his marauding runs. Really pleased with his performance.

Wow. Wow. Total dominance. That second half change worked wonders. Absolutely dominated after that change. Dominated the midfield. If Rudiger wants £200k p/w, I hope the club give it to him. He is a colossus. Thiago Silva was a boss. He is still one of the best CB in Europa at his age. Christensen was fantastic too. Alonso had another fantastic game, he was simply brilliant. He made a couple fantastic leaps and is able to stand his own against physical strikers. Kovacic again I will say had another fantastic game but he does not get the praise he warrants from the media and even Chelsea fans alike. I was worried about the team we put out as thought it was a bit too defensive and first half it was very 50/50, however that change second half helped us dominate the game. Will be interesting now to see if we go 5-3-2 against City. KTBFFH!

Could be wrong but just feel the team looks way too defensive. Not enough pace for me and I feel we should be doing more to pose a threat to them offensively.

He retired from national duty. In any case they are well stocked at CB anyway.