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I think that's the best I've seen him play. Still a snake though.

I think we lost a lot of it when PR pulled the plug, and then more went in the move from the first incarnation of TSE to this one. Wayback Machine is limited because you needed to login to see the Chelsea areas

I agree, but Fernandez wasn't that player and Barco is virtually identical to Camara in play style so we had that option if we wanted it. I'm more concerned that Alonso doesn't see it as an option, or rather, has too much belief in his attackers rather than taking a whole of team approach.

I do think this transfer window was significantly better, even though BlueCo ofc fumbled at the final hurdle (though Monaco bear a great deal of responsibility for the Camara debacle too). Beyond that, I reluctantly think that Arsenal are still a better side than us, and that winning sides aren't built in three games. I don't think anyone was particularly outstanding but Rogers scored a pretty good goal despite fading out of the game, so I guess him by default.

It's hard to say, but retaining possession a bit better, especially when the scoreline is positive, can be a form of defending too. Yes, we are missing the guy who can regain possession, but having players who can keep the football can also help.... we are missing that type atm.

I agree, but playing Enzo Fernandez or Lamine Camara instead of James/Lavia wouldn't have meaningfully changed anything against Arsenal defensively, possibly even making it worse. Camara is for some reason being hailed as a defensive behemoth when he is very clearly a deep-lying playmaker and has a similar athletic profile to Valentin Barco who people believe is 'too small'. Great partner to someone like Caicedo, but not the solution to the current problem. I can't help but think the persistence with a midfield two vs midfield 3s is at least part of the issue. Our team's shape means that someone has to drop out of position to track an AM like Odegaard, and Pascal Gross and Josh King showed we already had issues tracking runners from midfield. Ideally the midfield two defend the flanks and Palmer/Rogers drop back centrally to handle attacking midfielders but I'm not sure Alonso trusts them to do that yet. And while Rogers and Palmer have rightly come in for criticism for defensive lapses, Joao Pedro has to be way more involved in the press as long as he is on the pitch, otherwise we're just giving opponents time on the ball to pick their passes. Could switch to a 4-3-3 and bring in Estevao alongside Palmer. It's counter-intuitive, but anyone of Estevao/Rogers/Palmer can play in the that 8/10 role very well, and defensively can act as a bit of a destroyer. The second, and more important effect, is that it allows us to be more proactive with possession and get some control of games.

Strange isn't it. Yes maybe they hung netting between the poles?

How many saves has Courtois made f**king hell

yup that was my reasoning for not selling Enzo to City. Yes, I also think Marcesca is not the quack ppl make it out to be, and the abundant quality in City's squad will provide all the tools he needs. City are favs to win the league, not Arsenal, IMO.

Garnacho an unused sub vs Brugge - he's coming back lads

Yes, which was said in the context of Camara being 22 years old and one of the better midfield prospects in France - it is pretty obvious he meant that if Chelsea doesn't sign him this season plenty of other big clubs will eventually be interested.

CL winner and MOTM tonight

British team to play in the next World Cup. Gary Sprake over Gordon Banks! Nice to see Eddie Mac and Charlie Cooke in the team. .No Denis Law though!

Victor Munoz

City have so many players of the highest quality that both Enzo’s can’t fail there. I expect Fernandez will go up a level with the players around him now and his buddy managing him again. And doing loosely the same thing that Pep did with that quality of squad, it’s hard to see Maresca going far wrong. No more than Pep ever did. But even with that pair there, I assume most on here would still rather see City win the league than Arsenal.

City scored @ Porto — Haaland with a nice assist by Enzo.

Inter outplaying RM and 2 down. La vita così.

Josh

FFS. 2-0. Inter GK tries a Cruyff turn with Valverde right on top of him. Farcical.

I see Mourinho is now playing right backs in midfield tonight. What have we started .... LOL

Mbappe puts RM ahead against the run of play. Trent in midfield.

If we've been properly proactive then the negotiations are already complete and the player SIGNS on January 1st

Who's the Osasuna left winger?