It's noticeable how our opponents are targeting Alonso. Our left flank has definitely been identified as a weakness.

12 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Just absymal. He hardly looks like a footballer.
Shocking descision to give him a new big five year deal.

When did he get a new deal. I thought it was Caesar who got the new deal. You are right about Alonso though - He is too slow gets often exploited and with time it can only get worse. He may technically be good but that lack of pace and certain rash/risky tackles are worrying.

Poor first half but improved second, despite the 'abuse' from me (sorry) he's still first choice for me, just think we need someone like Tierney for added competition.

Edited December 16, 20187 yr by the special one

11 minutes ago, the special one said:

Poor first half but improved second, despite the 'abuse' from me (sorry) he's still first choice for me, just think we need someone like Tierney for added competition.

What about emerson?

I don't know how bad he needs to play to get dropped. At least Emerson is now getting on the bench at least, small steps. 

I agree he is weaker in a back four, but Sarri must see something that keeps him a head of Emerson

29 minutes ago, Richard P said:

I agree he is weaker in a back four, but Sarri must see something that keeps him a head of Emerson

He has already said it, something to do with missing Alonso height from set pieces. Same thing Mourinho use to say when we wanted Ivanovic dropped.

I agree he is weaker in a back four, but Sarri must see something that keeps him a head of Emerson

Have you seen Emerson in the Europa League? Regularly switches off and costs us goals; good going forward.

I didn't hear it today but I wonder if that recent booing has upset Marco?

4 minutes ago, EmeraldBlue said:

Have you seen Emerson in the Europa League? Regularly switches off and costs us goals; good going forward.

If he was playing regular football and with better players around him, I don't think it would be an issue. He gets back quick and isn't an easy defender to beat because he has pace on his side. He would be an extra thread going forward and would create a ton of space for the left winger. If you can stop Alonso getting into the box, which isn't that hard because he lacks pace, then he's not really got much else to offer in his current form.

4 hours ago, brownindian said:

When did he get a new deal. I thought it was Caesar who got the new deal. You are right about Alonso though - He is too slow gets often exploited and with time it can only get worse. He may technically be good but that lack of pace and certain rash/risky tackles are worrying.

Signed a new contract in October until 2023.

Could have been sent off today. He's being targeted by the opposition due to his lack of pace and his passing is atrocious.

Needs to be dropped.

A lot of talk about Callum Wilson being targeted by us but I honestly would like to see us move emerson on if sarri has no use for him and resign Ake as our new leftback. Homegrown and is developing well.

2 hours ago, JMaher94 said:

Could have been sent off today. He's being targeted by the opposition due to his lack of pace and his passing is atrocious.

Needs to be dropped.

I think he 100% should have been sent off.  Had a couple pullbacks and gave Knoeckert a blow to the face.

44 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

A lot of talk about Callum Wilson being targeted by us but I honestly would like to see us move emerson on if sarri has no use for him and resign Ake as our new leftback. Homegrown and is developing well.

Just my opinion but I feel Ake plays better as a centre half (which is where he is playing at Bournemouth) than at LB. If we are going to sign someone to replace Alonso, there are better options out there... Emerson doesn't look the part unfortunately. 

Alonso's lack of pace and at times lapse in concentration is fine when he's playing at LWB but as others have said, he is now being targeted. 

We also have Ola Aina out on loan, who has apparently been playing well at left back for Torino ...

Think this position needs upgrading just as much as ST. If he isn't scoring he's offering next to nothing. Pretty sure Alex Telles is still available if Sarri doesn't fancy Emerson.

I haven’t been impressed by Emerson either unfortunately.

Personally, I’d give Moses a shot at LB against Bournemouth on Wednesday. He got plenty of speed and can get up and down the pitch as needed and would do better than Alonso defensively at the very least. If he does well he keeps his position.
Or Moses at RB and we move Azpi back over to LB.

59 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Think this position needs upgrading just as much as ST. If he isn't scoring he's offering next to nothing. Pretty sure Alex Telles is still available if Sarri doesn't fancy Emerson.

Alex Telles would definately be my choice. 

28 minutes ago, Sindre said:

I haven’t been impressed by Emerson either unfortunately.

Personally, I’d give Moses a shot at LB against Bournemouth on Wednesday. He got plenty of speed and can get up and down the pitch as needed and would do better than Alonso defensively at the very least. If he does well he keeps his position.
Or Moses at RB and we move Azpi back over to LB.

I'd rather not see a right footed left back again. Really hurts us when trying to get the ball into the box.

4 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I'd rather not see a right footed left back again. Really hurts us when trying to get the ball into the box.

Alonso is a horrible crosser though, so we aren’t losing much. He’s attempted 55 crosses and 4(!) were accurate. I’d fancy myself crossing better than that.

I see a lot of bashing of Emerson, but it's incredibly hard to judge him based on one or two appearances here and there with Christensen and Cahill alongside him, as opposed to our first choice defence. He looks like the real deal to me but just needs an extended run in the team. He cannot be any poorer of a defender than current-form Alonso is, and should offer more going forward with his pace. I'd like to see him get a run in the league, Alonso has been off the boil for some time now

9 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Alonso is a horrible crosser though, so we aren’t losing much. He’s attempted 55 crosses and 4(!) were accurate. I’d fancy myself crossing better than that.

Oh i agree, Alonso has been dogsh*t. I'd much rather give Emerson an extended run and then if that fails sign someone like Telles in Jan.

If he was playing regular football and with better players around him, I don't think it would be an issue. He gets back quick and isn't an easy defender to beat because he has pace on his side. He would be an extra thread going forward and would create a ton of space for the left winger. If you can stop Alonso getting into the box, which isn't that hard because he lacks pace, then he's not really got much else to offer in his current form.

Alonso isn't the quickest but does he lack pace? I don't think so. Look back at that super Kante goal against City. Alonso passes to Luiz which gets the move going and then Alonso is at the edge of the box passing to Hazard how many seconds later?

Emerson is not in the same class at the moment and has cost us easy goals in the EL. I'm not saying he doesn't have potential, which he does, but he is not as good as Alonso at the moment.

1 hour ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Oh i agree, Alonso has been dogsh*t. I'd much rather give Emerson an extended run and then if that fails sign someone like Telles in Jan.

Digne at Everton has also been really good, but Everton will want a lot of money. 

Our biggest problem is clearing out the dross we accumulated because Conte moaned about having a small squad. We also rewarded some of these players with improved contracts based on our title winning season. 

21 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Digne at Everton has also been really good, but Everton will want a lot of money. 

Our biggest problem is clearing out the dross we accumulated because Conte moaned about having a small squad. We also rewarded some of these players with improved contracts based on our title winning season. 

It’s not Conte’s fault the club decided it was a good idea to spend 27 million on Zappacosta, 35 on Drinkwater and so on.
He simply pointed out our squad was too thin and wanted quality players.
Unfortunately the club wasted a crazy amount of money on complete duds.

Liverpool bought the best LB in the league for 8 million the same summer we spent four times that on Zappacosta who sucks.