Barbara

you're actually a great call tbh If Thomas wants it and people think he can do a job (which I think he can), then that's it I think WHS and Madmax are also great calls.

the problem in midfield is not having enough people, is not having good enough replacement for Matic - which we don't. I think we need it more than we need a CB, and of course, we need a LB

People treat surgery as if it was simple. There's a reason professional athletes delay surgeries as much as they can. Surgery is something some players have never recovered completely from. It's not your knee surgery, it's something completely different and it affects the confidence, the body and many times the player is never the same after it.

I actually thought it was Friday already [emoji4]

no conference before Arsenal?

What? [emoji22] [emoji26] [emoji24] [emoji24] [emoji24] [emoji31] [emoji30] I need time to process this piece of information. I hope everything is well with you and your loved ones. I'll miss you dearly, you're one of the people here I can honestly say I love. Hope to hear from you at least once in a while. Can I send hug? I need it. Love you [emoji173] [emoji173] [emoji173]

Except I didn't draw any conclusions based on that, but watching a bunch of matches he actually featured for significant amounts of time. And every time I stated my low expectations about him I also mentioned his age and how things could change. Some may need thousand matches to have am opinion about a player, I don't and still watched many. He's the kind of player that frustrates me and the poster child for this kind is Ramires. A lot of people like him (in Brazil) I don't. Legs can only take you so far. Missing passes, not choosing the best (and many times easiest) option, ruining attacks isn't attractive to me, but many overlook this because of stamina, pace and flashy moves. To each their own just wanted to clarify I don't jump to conclusions based on a pre-season match and that I'm aware he's young and a lot can change. But he showed the right attitude the whole time he stayed in the pitch.

The awkward moment people don't seem to know how to read functionally only putting syllables and words together.

I do believe the plan is for him to be the new Lampard in the system. Positioning, tactical role, FK, support in the middle for others to shine, surprise element in the attack. The question that remains is if he's talented and consistent enough to step up.

I don't know why Oscar, Willian and even Schurrle took corners last season with him on the pitch. He's light years ahead of any of them delivering any sort of set piece. We can't waste it again this season. He impressed me with the FK deliver yesterday. Was sharp

You said everything I wanted to say. I think he had a very solid debut and even surprised me with his willingness to track back (something he doesn't do in Brazil). There was a very dangerous attack by Barça early in the match and he was the player that took the ball away from the Barça player IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR BOX, just in front of Courtois. Literally seconds before he was in the right wing attacking. He tracked back, not only to make a number, but he effectively chased the players leaving the right flank and going to the center of the box. That's the kind of attitude Mourinho is (rightfully) expecting from a youngster that receives a chance to play with the seniors, something RLC failed to do over and over and over. I also agree about his technique, his bad choice making when it comes to dribble (yesterday he tried to pass by three players surrounding him, thinking he was Messi, but while here in Brazil he made it a few times a matches, yesterday he did it only once), many times he doesn't pass when he should and doesn't dribble when he should. It seems like his football brains haven't been there yet. But he's 19, it could change. I don't like much this kind of player because they tend to keep this brainless behavior throughout their whole career. I've seen few grow out of it and I hope that's the case for Kenedy as his attitude (more than his talent) impressed Mourinho a lot. He aced the attitude and maybe under Mourinho's wing he can grow in the right way. Huge maybe though.

His set piece delivery seemed to be even better than last season's. I'm positive if he stays healthy he'll break the assists record this season and add some more.

Just noticed the tag Jason used on the thread. Does he think he's funny?

no

LOL forever and ever

attack wins you titles. Can you imagine if we have a very good Falcao? Maybe that's too much optimism and hope, but I can't help, been like that since I was born My glass is always half full, about to spill all over

none of which remotely his fault. Azpili (and before him Cahill) should be held accountable for the first and Sandro's talent for the second.

interesting enough, his side today was well taken care of. I don't know if it's because Suarez attacked from Azpili's side (and made him his bitch on a few occasions). He was solid and I hope he carries on. Maybe the captaincy will help him to be more 'responsible' let's say.

I agree about Remy, but our title last season wasn't won on defense and midfield. Actually our midfield wasn't that sharp for a couple of months this year. Our attack with Had and Costa and then Cesc providing assists is what won us the title last season. Our defense wasn't nearly as solid as in years before, although it didn't exactly compromised. We need to move from the defensive approach and get onto higher things. We have the personal for that, Mourinho needs to be more unpredictable this season as he said twice in his latest interviews. I hope he remembers it and actually brings that to the pitch.

I don't agree with everything, but I do with the gist of what you're saying. we dominated their midfield with that 4-3-3 in the first half. You replace Kenedy for Willian, demand some defending from Iva and I suppose that's our best system starting the season. He's been working really well deeper and has given the stability we need to dominate the midfield. Even if he doesn't create much, he allows others to. But in his good days he'll create as well, so I'd give it a try if I were Mourinho... even if Willian has to keep Iva at the back of his mind

too bad when he came to play tonight there wasn't anyone remotely able to provide him with some service... I'm actually looking forward to see him play... if he gets even 60% of the form he had before his latest injury we're in for a feast. I can even see us really challenging for UCL. If only we also got that midfielder. Damn, this season could be memorable.

I don't see any reason to be concerned. I think it's more possible he just put his hand there because he knew he had a bad match (finishing wise) and was trying to save some face rather than being really injured. Chill people

I think people should look at this with the right eyes... It's clear we need another midfielder as our bench players aren't slightly good enough to replace any of the titulars come a suspension or injury. That is a fact that few would contest. We seem to be intended on using our academy players, but I don't think we have one for this specific position. Second, winning, drawing, losing those games says absolutely NOTHING about our form, condition, status and chances as a team in the upcoming season, NOTHING AT ALL. This is pre-season, we started training only two weeks ago, and while it may have been a bit more late than I would have liked, it is what it is. When we had most of our first team players - which will remain the same from last season: Courtois, Iva, Cahill, JT, Azpili, Matic, Cesc, Oscar, Willian, Hazard and Costa, at least today, we looked very decent (except the defense, but then again JT wasn't there in the first). José is hoping to make Zouma the new Luiz, which creates a further problem for our limited options in defense. We're good with Zouma as the immediate CB replacement, not as a MD. We really need a new guy there. I think Moses, Cuadrado, but especially Remy is enough to cope with the RW option. And we have plenty of talent in the AMs position in the academy if everything else fails. I'd get two defenders (a LB and a CB), but above all a DM or at least a good box to box. We don't have a good enough in our squad and please, can someone go in a trance and actually make a bid for Mikel? If we're going with the one in one out policy, we desperately need someone to bid for him.

at least we've been practicing penalties in case we need to take them on Sunday

some tough love for Ruben from Mourinho there