Magic Lamps

with the chances we had we should have scored. but i like how quickly we retreat after losing posession. both teams very alert in these situations. we should look to isolate Tammy vs Blin more, such an obvious mismatch in pace and height

we hardly have any rotation options with al lthe injuries tho. This early in the season we should not be too tired with all the conditioning work they put in in preseason

Alonso's linkup play is so so bad. We need Emerson back. Also it is beyond me how we are yet to score from a set piece this season. the deliveries have improved from last all things considered but our heading accuracy is torrid.

They are indeed targeting alonso, look how they overload that side. We have to be super careful, the sloppiness will cost us at some point. other than that i like the intensity both teams show, feels like a quarterfinal.

I guess we have to disagree on something from time to time, would be boring otherwise^^ My issue with PSG is that Tuchel is a difficult character who handled the egos badly at Dortmund when it mattered most and I can see him and guys like Icardi having a real hard time when the results do not go their way. They have a brilliant squad, no doubt about that and probably made the best possible fixes but I when all the teams listed are of full health, at least pool, city, bayern, maybe atletico have a better defence and juve, city, bayern, arguably barca, maybe even us (RLC/Mount-Kante-Jorginho will be immesne) have a better midfield as well. Verratti and Gueye are very similar. Marquinhos is not really that good a DM for me. Also their team lacks height. Not sure if that will be an issue, but teams might target that and tuchel also uses zonal-marking at set-pieces. Anyway for all the individual quality we have seen last season how Teams like Spuds, Liverpool, Ajax overcame on paper superior oppositions by fighting, team spirit, never-say-die-attitude etc. In the CL, esp in the absence of an über-dominant team like Peps Barcelona you can really cause an upset with the listed qualities. It might not happen again, but the last few seasons we have seen way more upsets than in those before. Last, PSG have their occasional fuck ups even in a weak French league and that is typcial for Tuchel teams. I would never label a team that is prone to this as CL favourites.

Both great players. But i take Mason any day. 2 years younger, more skillful, much quicker on his feet. Just has to deliver on the biggest stage now as Donny has done already.

not exactly breathtaking palyers but admittedly the best dm options that were avaiblable in the market, still they prefer to have Marquinhos playing over both in DM. they only have one decent defender in Meunier. Bernat flopped big time at Bayern and can't defend, Kipembe ist just a poor player, Thiago Silva is 35. City will beat them any day they keep 2cbs on the field.

they can hardly all play. And football is a teamsport. Against top opposition they will still be struggling defensively. They might have a great attack but are rather average in midfield and underwhelming in defense. Today was jsut Brugge one of the worst teams in the tournament.

4-1 Sterling is in demolition mode

2-1 another pen, game turned in 4 mins Rodri tearing his hamstring, john stones comes on again. Was not aware he was fit again.

and 1-1 Agüero. Qualtiy ball by Sterling. They still can play. KDBs passing is weirdly off for his standards.

City one down at home. Fernandinho in CB is just suicide when faced with a striker with superior physique and top class technique like Ilicic.

A draw is probably a good outcome for us here. Ajax are not too dissimiar from us in terms of playing style but are more settled as a group and also have less injuries to cope with. We should not be deluded to think just because or squad is valued more than tiwce as high as Ajax's that we are automatically favourites. Last year's CL and their stellar form this season so far undermine their favourites tag. But we should not bee afraid either. they can be broken and they can be shut down. Their defence is their weak point and sharp counter attacks can undo them. I think we should again start with 5 defenders provided James and one of Rüdiger/Christensen are fit. Othrwise i would not be confident with any of Zouma or Tomori playing in the middle of the back 3. However, as none will probably be risked I expect us to start like this Azpi--Zouma--Tomori--Alonso -------Kovacic--Jorginho------- Willian-----Mount------CHO ---------------Tammy------------ which is easily our best lineup given the many absentees. I guess it will be an exciting game.

the 1-1 is a good result for us. We keep our record for best epl start and Utd are held at a safe distance. Let's hope it stays that way.

Also thought he was absolutely poor. His positioning was weird, his crosses abysmal and his lack of pace just makes it impossible for CHO to link up with him or for balls to be played into space for him. Nonetheless his goal today was vital and expertly struck. I do not buy this "When the goalie gets a hand to it he can save it" Dubravaka had an excellent match but that shot was so vicious very few keepers would have kept that out.

Buzzing after this hard fought win..we were up against it with half the team injured and right after this untimely international break. We grinded out a result in a match we would have let slip just a few weeks ago. But the team is maturing quickly. Game management again was excellent ater the opener, defending with the ball.

These niggling injuries only stated with his return to international football. So disgusting. When will this madness stop.

thank god Mount is off that dodgy turf. And he also played so average I hope he does not start the next game as well.

Bastoni, politano as d'ambrosio i had never seen live before and only heard the name. Of the squad players not featured i have no idea what kind of players Gagliadini, dimarco padelliy, biraghi are. I usually focus on Epl and Bundesliga so not really into Seria A. Today showed me why. Despite a top game with 3 goals it was a rather dull affair.

Inter are tactically better but Juve have just too much quality...Higuain, Dybala, sandro, Bonucci. Some of inters players i have never heard of. Conte should have taken the draw and shut down the shop.

This is why I think he will make it eventually. Not just a pace merchant but highly intelligent player. To see the run from Michy in his back, move the ball just that inch to get the angle for the pass and then time it perfectly shows a mature understanding of the game.

Shame there is a bloody international break in between. We seem on a rolll. Can not wait to see this vibrant young team combine through some comparably stiff defense again. Never seen a Chelsea team play so much as a team in attack, knocking the ball around for fun, making brilliant off the bal lruns. in the 2004-2012 it was a lot of Lampard-Drogba inidividual brilliance and scoring from half-chances, afterwards it was Hazard-Costa. But now we look our free-flowing best, creating tons of chances and making everythign look so effortless. Long may it continue. If we keep it up, newcastle should be doable. albeit they are a dangerous opponents, put their bodies on the line and run plenty so I hope Lamps has some surprises for them. Ah and I fucking hate international breaks.

Can not overestimate how important and clinical this finish was. Maybe his best goal so far all things considered. (only slightly optically blemished by that feckless clearance attempt by Yoshida) To control the ball like he did, anticipate the unconventionally outrushing goalie and weighting that lob to perfection.... I tried this often enough myself to know how difficult a lofted finish on the half-volley under the pressure from goalie and defender is. Any more power on it it hits the bar any less yoshida gets it. People keep comparing him with Lukaku but show me such a finish and controlled first touch from the burly Belgian.

cheers guys!

Unfortunately could not watch the game but I treid to avoid the result and watched the highlights, so i got pleasantly surprised. have to say it looked like an absolute qualtiy performance, the goals were great. awesome CHO started, even though he should have scored. I liked the Mount goal most because of the great build up play. Southampton is not an easy place to go and it looks like we dominated from start to finish creating chances for fun. This team is such a joy to watch despite the defensive howlers and it looks like Willian and Alonso really justified their inclusions today. Abraham and Mount also looked great. Does anyone have quality extended highlights btw?