The College Dropout

I do think the technical limitations of Tino, Murphy & Longstaff doesn’t help any of them. The build up is painful to watch at times. Some of that is coaching too.

Love Tino but not been at his best this term. The passing can be poor. And he’s not dribbling as much. The final ball is bad too. The defensive side of the game is solid. But he’s not struck up a good relationship down the right at all (Tonali, Longstaff, Murphy). He looks marginally better behind Almiron who gives him more movement and space to run into imo.

Fullback is very much a learnt position. Most are failed CBs, CMs and Wingers. The season before we signed him, he played most of his first team games at LM. And played the most amount of games at CM/DM overall. This idea that he can only be a left back is too early in his development to confirm imo. I Don’t think Hall has the football IQ of Reece James which might be the difference. But I think he has a similar level of overall footballing ability (touch, dribble). And Transfermakt doesn’t seem to have the games. But I remember James playing in midfield for Chelsea under Tuchel a number of times (perhaps after starting at CB/RB/RWB) and looking seamless. But James is a very clever player and he played a lot at CM in the Championship too. Think James would be a great sitter for England actually. Less work on the knees than RB.

DCL is the player that has most under performed his Xg over the last 2 seasons. All players with decent minutes. It's him.

Ding. Ding. I've long held this view. It's not his primary strength. Same goes for SBR, Keegan, Ferguson, Wenger, Ancelotti, Mourinho - the list goes on. Doesn't mean he's not capable tactically but that's not his USP. Rafa's better than Carlo tactically. Ancelotti is a significantly better manager. Rafa's ability to coach/drill a compact shape and install game plans for a one-off game is among the best ever. Being so particular in coaching and not a great communicator/motivator is his primary weakness. That turns top players off who need more expression and egos massaged. As fans, we think Managers need to be smart. Many fans think the smartest thing you can be is smart tactically.

DCL played 33 games last season and has played all games so far this season. He'a just not v. good and hasn't been since the days of Carlo. 16 goals in 76 PL appearances. One of him or Bruno I reckon, at least. Due to age you would prefer Bruno. But contract wise you might be forced to sell Isak within the next 24 months anyway,.

Aye but there is a world of difference between a LB who inverts and an actual CM.

DCL has been awful this season and last. Rather have Osulu.

Hall was a CM more than a LB at Chelsea through the ranks btw. He has the right ball control for it too. it’s the lack of size /athleticism / aggression that he doesn’t have for CM.

Surprised there haven’t been more shouts to play him in midfield.

Also finished 4th. And we’ve brought in someone to help with injury prevention. this place is funny. Last year everyone swore the injuries were bad luck and nothing at all to do with Howe’s methods. Be that coaching, selection or style of play. Not really. They added Thiago and teams sat back so there were less opportunity to press. But he never abandoned the rocknroll high press style. And he pretty much stuck to 433. Liverpool also suffered when they had injury crisis. And if their press was just a little off performances and results would plummet (finishing 5th and the season Allisons header secured the CL spot). He should’ve switched it up mind. Slot has joined and added an element of control and reaping rewards. Klopp was married to a defensive line on halfway and high pressing.

I’m an Ange sceptic but this is extremely hopeful.

I was talking about signing Diallo last season. Think he could be a player. Has half a chance of signing him at that time. Grewt talent at the top academies and in the football league.

We’ll aye they have good revenues and maybe the best academy and youth recruitment in Europe. Even then Roman was paying Vitesse to develop their players on loan illegally. Id love us to have an academy like Chelsea’s but actually keep the players. What a team that would be. Defence would be crazy, Hall, Ake, Christensen, Livra, Lamptey, Guehi etc.

He’s a player though.

It’s Spurs/Man U that will go hell for leather to win it. Spurs played what looks like their strongest team against City. Would’ve preferred City to go through.

Yes.

Didn’t look it to me.

Only 8 teams qualify automatically. At least one of them will need to keep winning. And the load is so heavy for those teams. IMO they only go full strength in the final.

A lot of his positive stats in Serie A came from set pieces iirc.

Not even much of a premium for some of them. Delap looks a great deal at £20m. Livramento went to Southampton for £5m. Palmer for £40m is a bargain. Rogers £8m. Watkins £20m.

Top clubs have dominated this competition for a long time. The last couple non top 6 winners were Birmingham and Boro no? 10+ years ago a pop. The squad depth is so deep they can get to the semis playing heavily rotated teams and take it from there.

Spurs/Man U would be the one to avoid in the semis if we get there. CL clubs have so many high quality games in Jan/Feb they will have to heavily rotate. I would expect Spurs and Man U to play their stronger sides.

Why not? Liverpool did. We did. It doesn’t even have to be 90. 60 is great. That passive low block away from him isn’t going to work consistently.

I’d like to play a double pivot of some type. Maybe 442. But a narrow Villa type in midfield. Willock or Joe on the right but close to Bruno. Get the width from Livra. Tonali and Bruno have complementary skills on paper. As a single pivot, I can see Tonali losing the ball in deep areas trying to move it quickly. IMO he would need a close option in Bruno at all times. Latter day Kroos and Casemiro/Tchou - would dovetail closely a lot. Sometimes Kroos would be deepest to progress play and Case would get forward more. But Case would also often be the deepest defensively and could screen more through the middle. Better defensively on the transition - Kroos went through a 3-4 year period of being awful off the ball. Couldn’t run. Tackle. Got better towards the end at blocking passing lanes but for awhile it was awful (tangent).