ws6blue

No your only 50% right - the players. The other 50% is the coach and his staff cos in this game he had wrong setup at start - they have very effective 352. So going 433 was daft as all the play first half was in front of their 3 cbs - we improved a little at 343 and more varied long balls but when they sit deep have to go down channels and first pass out from the back - we went 8 passes sideways then forward - tedious and stupid We had no bottle and no brains on the pitch - worse performance since 6nil to mancity

You have to respect the Blades - well organised, great work ethic, teamwork, solid tactics, setup works for their squad 3-5-2 and they go right to the end. We have to be on it and match their commitment and work rate and of course manage their set pieces. Frank might need to change the setup because they pack midfield and go long to mcburnie or down the channels to sharp - so we will find it hard to go through midfield and be under pressure at CB when they go forward. Maybe 3-4-3 but with players with plenty commitment and prepared to battle, so I would start with azpi, zooms and christiansen james, Jorginho, Kante and kova if fit or barclay mount, Giroud and Pulisic we will create plenty but must take our chances, very very important game

For me it's pretty straightforward - 1. Lamps needs a defensive coach as set pieces defensively and overall basics are not top level 2. None of the CBs are top level, need to change at least one - someone with game craft like sonucu at foxes 3. Azpi still excellent and RJ coming so no worries RB for me 4. Emerson not top level as not that quick or clever or good defending, alonso OK in top third but not defensive third so change here needed as a priority 5. KEPA no where near top level - last 15 years we have had one of top 5 best keepers in the world.....need to sort this too as a priority. KEPA save percentage poor, kicking average, decisions average, commanding average - come on what is he really good at We should stop bringing in world class forwards and midfield and get the defence sorted.... 10 league defeats and most previous managers would've been sacked by now - we all love lamps but come on WHU perfect example of how not to defend, goal 1 mismatch on 1to1 marking, goal 2 both CBs ball watching and goal 3 was lamps fault as he didn't change it when hammers did their sub so Rudi exposed as we all pushed up and no nowse to push pure left footer outside, so yarmelenko did what he does and did before against us. Not alonso fault as he was told to push up. bliemy it's a mess

Agree with all of that - set pieces always a worry and all zonal doesnt work, it has to be part zonal and part manmark/block. Thats the coach choice and think frank would benefit from a defensive coach in his team. Suggest review again after city game as no cf focal point and lots movement so kante key and maybe gilmour with him.

Actually our defence is pretty awful and gets exposed often, partly because we haven't been using Kante in the holding role or having a proper holding player who can tackle as well as intercept. So teams counter attacking get straight through to the CBs. Unfortunately none of the centre backs are good enough IMV, if you want a top top team - zouma and Rudiger are like twins, big strong and can tackle - but positioning not great and get exposed on the ball when under pressure - I would sell both Christiansen - more of skilful ball player than the others but hasn't improved and his lack of physical power requires him to read the game better and use his knowse - no leadership on the pitch either - keep as a backup Timori - early doors but has shown good awareness, reading of the game and has the raw speed so has potential to be first pick - keep so we would need two more CBs - I would go for Mings as he has the leadership and presence on the pitch for the left side CB and is being coached by the best. And Kouilbay if we could afford him, or Declan Rice has he can play CB and holding role if you don't agree then suggest you watch the villa goal, whole back line ball watching, oh and look at the games lost total of 9 which is worst for many years KEPA also not not top class either, another day to cover that one

Folks - I have a number of 1990's official club videos which I can't watch anymore, and will probably bin but thought worth checking with members on here first. Happy to give for free, especially if someone can convert and get onto Youtube. They are as follows: 1989-1990 Season Review 1996-1997 Season Review 1997-1998 Season Review 1999-2000 Season Review Chelsea Heroes & Villains - 2000 Cheers

No, Carlo plays a 433 with plenty long balls into the channels for Calvert-Lewin and richarlison plus a right. Sided winger to chase. They go front to back quickly and often bypass midfield where they are a bit physical but actually a bit static. frank will match up and expect to play through their midfield with quick interplay but we need to man-up and not get bullied like we did at Goodison. We'll get plenty corners to defend. i think he will go with kepa azpi, Rudi, zooms, alonso mount, gilmore, lofty pedro, Giroud and willian sure we can get a win 2-1

His size not a problem if he is paired with the right player or in a 3 - similar to tomorrow? for Wales he holds and has done ok but maybe best at the deep lying player as not dynamic enough to push into the forward role IMV. He does show leadership qualities though as often vocal even with top players and not shy to give a view. keen to see his passing game as positionally he is bang on q. For me are is he quick enough or strong enough to be class CB - if he can get a run of games then we can see the potential i think he might be captain material in the future of our blueboys

So Giroud to start and maybe Tammy last quarter as prep for BM RLC also get a run in prep for BM....yes bit odd to play with next game in mind but we have to kepa returns and hopefully some improvement away frank went 343 which screwed jose plans so not expecting that again, maybe a tweak to 4231 tho Spurs will frustrate but are decent on the counter, but IMV are flakey at the back and the keeper if we press well, to do that we need some energy frank hopefully has noticed his first pick are not winning games so he may have to drop a couple players for a rest my team in a 4231 is Kepa Reece, rudiger, tomori, alonso kova and gilmour pedro, mount, willian giroud nerbous as hell till we get to 2nil before half time

Frank will hopefully have learned lots for our defeats to the mans this season and will tweak our tactics and setup. in both games they sat and defended with high energy and physicality and hit us on the break when we lost or gave the ball away in the middle third. The 4 nil was robbery but we were so naive - yes early days. so tweaks I want to see are; kante holding and not Jorginho as his pace not up to it against the mancs the 3 midfielders in the 433 don't all push on at once and one must sit and support the CBs when we have the ball when we switch the play, do it with 1 pass and not 4 passes go part man mark and part zonal on defending corners and not just zonal When we make subs change the system too not just like for like system with different players score first!

Depends on whether frank sticks to his 433 system and high press or not as Mason is really a no.10 and wants to sit behind the striker or strikers as his fluidity on the ball is his best asset. And he will get goals from that position too. RLC perfect for 433 as he has the running power to surge from deep and actually Kova can do that too. Kante much better in holding role as is Jorginho. so for me, to get best out of MM need to change to a diamond with Mason at the top and Kante at the bottom with RLC and KOva either side. Then 2 from Tammy, WIllian, Pedro, Pulisic up front. Not sure yet whether MM top class and worth building the system round him.....

As shed upper ST holder last 10 years I can't think of a single individual racist fan remark form a single fan but obvs there are songs with certain undertones which many fans join in with - technically some these are racist but IMV its meant more as lable for that teams fans. We all know these - 'mudrerers' or 'y.ds' or 'pikeys' or whatever. Away trips can be more partisan however and more likely to hear racist/homophobic remarks or maybe diver/ginger/overweight related shouts from someone within hearing distance - maybe booze fuelled or just tribal or just kno-head, not sure. Sure we have some racist fans and we should call em out if clear and obvs. BUt IMV its a tiny minority and we have many many more witty, cocky and decent fans. COYB

Top top performance and tactics from lamps and the boys - the right selection, tactics and setup. Everyone played top notch - Kante and kova completely outplayed their static midfield. Masons fluidity perfect, azpi and Marcus always in the game and the CBs defending properly. And then Willian- one of his best ever IMV. but credit to Frank as the prep and performance top class. Now, let's win well at home

Big big game this weekend..............especially as Jose has often out-witted our managers with his tactics, especially when we are away (yes apart from the 4nil obvs) - remebering the 2nil when Herrara man marked Eden to oblivion. His tactics at Spurs have mirrored Manu already, 433 with very defensive mid-3 and quick counter attack game using front 3 and quick/long balls. We all remember last year with Son out-pacing our midfield - expect a repeat of that. He has stopped the full backs bombing on as much as expect them to sit deep, invite us on and counter-attack as though they are the away team. Hope Frank has learned from the past and recent weeks as teams effectively block us off and then 'kill-us-off'...................so hope he will tweak our setup and tactics and selection - Kante holding in deep role and Mount not Pulisic on the left and sitting a little deeper maybe. A little less fluency and clever play, and a bit more battling and holding. We all respect Jose but what a treat if Frank and boys can turn them over.................................or even a battling draw.

Refreshing to see lamps learning and changing selcection, formation and tactics as needed. yesterday the Kante/Kovacic pairing was new but worked perfectly. Ditto Willian and James development down the right and players feeding off Tammy. IMV Pulisic and Mason though are making same runs and often get in each other's way - but both flair players so expect that to improve and with Azpi rock solid left back behind them that works too. But the CB pairing and various combinations not quite right yet - feels like Rudi and tomori will work as have blended skills with Rudi power and aggression and Tomori pace and game reading. Zooms has great strength but tbf limitations on the ball and CHristianson not yet pushing on and looks a bit lightweight sometimes. nOne of the 4 seem to have leadership skills tho. the 4-2-3-1 system suits the players currently and the play is fluid and great to watch if not a bit risky and nervy to watch when defending. I would like to a plan B system and tactics and the recruitment of a strong defensive leader - but they are rarer than dinosaur teeth. lamps has good options coming tho with Rubén and Rudi and CAllum getting fitter Be great not to be leading by only a single goal with ten minutes to go at home though......too stressful

At defending lamps has moved from pure zonal to part zonal and some markers man on man, but not working as zouma is in a zone and the opposition team just play to their biggest runners and bypass zouma - we can improve that though with a tweak. Agree with the lack of leaders though - rudi can be vocal when playing but it's a need overall. for attacking it is all over the place, long high balls to the back post, or hit the front defender - apart from the one Emerson corner. Last few years we majored on short corners and mixed it up but all looks so predicate le - but again can be tweaked and improved with some focus. WE COULD WITH A DEFENSIVE ASSISTANT COACH........ one of those visits on weds?

At hammers game on Sat a fan in shed upper west side was taken seriously and carried out by medics - does anyone have any news please ?

The ref was terrible - I was at the game and he let the crowd and their player antics affect his decisioning from the first non foul onwards. We know many players now go down with a Yelp and hold something in agony then once the ref gives the decision they recover really quickly and move on. The penalty looked dodgy from where we stood too. the game was brilliant attacking football and we were on top form going forwards apart from final decision. Their 442 caused problems for us as front two movement and cleverness on the ball was top level. But tbh the fullbacks were poor and our crossing not up to scratch. enjoyable game though, our fans were great and Valencia a great city. COYB

Apart from not seeing much of him and his appearances and performance a bit patchy, yesterday's behaviour at Valencia was odd at best and actually not team aligned. He 'warmed up' on his own the whole time, doing bits and pieces but not even basic stuff as a sub with anyone. He spent a lot of time gazing about the stadium and then trotted off. so maybe a move to Valencia or certainly somewhere in Spain maybe in Jan. if he goes then muchos Gracias senore Pedro, it's been good to have you at our club. If he stays then hope he sorts his attitude

City will look to reset after the scouse result, but the break isn't gonna help as virtually whole squad is away - their strengths are massive, but so are their weaknesses. Defensively they are not settled so provided we can avoid early c/ups and a goal for them, we can hit them on the counter - compare the two teams from last season (on earlier post) and we look much better, they don't May depend on whether their keeper is fit to play.............. Sure we can get another 3 away goals and 3 points!

Some good replies - Joe Cole is a particularly good shout, as is Eider G.............. Interesting how many of the best value are defenders, suppose strikers and midfielders often cost lots more - but how many goals did Gazza or Ivan save, not counting the goals they also scored in big games. If I had to pick one tho, it would have to be big Pete?

The brilliant welcome to Gazza at the weekend, reminded me what a bargain he was and whether he is the best of the cheaper transfers (excluding academy obvs) over the last 20 years. So if to qualify, transfer has to be less than £10m, and player must get to 100 appearances minimum, who are the contenders? I've come up with Gazza, Azpi and Ivan................in that order, although just remebered Cesc too, and Pedro........ Gazza for me

Kova - no doubt...................could chose from 5 or 6 players but Kova has proven he can play 'total football' - he can tackle, cover, intercept, dribble, burst forward, pass short and quick, give and go, or that final ball into a crowded box. He also runs his nuts off, never complains and can do the water-carrying and the fancy stuff Top player

IMV City not as good as last season and we have improved in key positions - cf being one of them (last year Higuain) - so I think we have good chance of getting a result through counter-attacking as we did couple season ago. I would go with RJ and Azpi as full backs - Reece a good matchup to Sterling and Azpi on the left to take bernado silva who is very very good but all left foot - so right footed left back a good option. Midfield has to be Kova, Georgino and Kante - key against city is to intercept their passing game and all 3 do that well - also one of em can pick up De Bruyne who plays off the cf but switches position all game............. Willian, Tammy and Pulisic up front as we can spring counter attacks with those 3 and Tammy maybe draw some fouls from fernadinho Mason and Callum as impact players if we need em. 3-1 to chels is what I think we can achieve Big one this................................

Migraine coming on...................blimey Here's a quiz - how many letters need to change to go from shirt to sh*t*