31 minutes ago, Geert The Flyer said:

No way Conte is going back to a back four. It took time to perfection this set up, why would he throw the whole thing overboard again just so he can buy VVD ?

He might if his job is on the line in a few weeks? We essentially won the league last year with 3-4-3 because we had an element of surprise, if we play the same way this year we risk becoming predictable (if we're not already). I can understand if Conte doesn't trust Cahill and/or Luiz in a back 4 why we continue to play with a back 3 against the likes of Burnley, but for me on Saturday we essentially lost the game on the transition because we had no numerical advantage in midfield (which resulted in GC recklessly getting sent off imho). Personally I'd like to see us go back to or least have the option of 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 but we need the players to fit the system.

Edited August 14, 20178 yr by the special one

I swear we have been preparing a bid for this guy for like 6 months now.

Edited August 14, 20178 yr by jack_super_class

If we secure Ox and VVD this week I will be really happy. Hopefully we will still get another midfielder and then our depth will look so much better.

He's not moving here, Liverpool has been his preferred destination. Other than gossip columns there's not real proof we are even interested in him.

47 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

He's not moving here, Liverpool has been his preferred destination. Other than gossip columns there's not real proof we are even interested in him.

How do you know Liverpool is his preferred destination?

8 hours ago, dkw said:

Were writing rudiger of after a game are we?

Haven't written him off. He shouldn't be playing every match, yet, if we're trying to win trophies. He's a promising player but if we need him to start every week or don't have anyone better available I'm not sure we're good enough to win the league. 

 

7 hours ago, coco said:

Some people have already written off half the team after one game. These are the same people you see getting up out of their seats with 10 minutes to go.

 

1 hour ago, the special one said:

He might if his job is on the line in a few weeks? We essentially won the league last year with 3-4-3 because we had an element of surprise, if we play the same way this year we risk becoming predictable (if we're not already). I can understand if Conte doesn't trust Cahill and/or Luiz in a back 4 why we continue to play with a back 3 against the likes of Burnley, but for me on Saturday we essentially lost the game on the transition because we had no numerical advantage in midfield (which resulted in GC recklessly getting sent off imho). Personally I'd like to see us go back to or least have the option of 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 but we need the players to fit the system.

I thought we had 75% of the posession until the first red? It sure didnt seem like we were being overrun in midfield. Even after we were a man down we had long spells where we bossed the game in the 2nd half.

Edited August 14, 20178 yr by TheChelseaBlues

5 minutes ago, Gem said:

How do you know Liverpool is his preferred destination?

Cos the press said so, silly.

You know - just like how we were going to land Lukaku for sure.

4 minutes ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

I thought we had 75% of the posession until the first red? It sure didnt seem like we were being overrun in midfield. Even after we were a man down we had long spells where we bossed the game in the 2nd half.

We had plenty of possession before the red but for me we just seemed to pass it around at the back without doing anything incisive. I didn't see the point of an extra CB when we needed a #8 or #10 in midfield imho

Edited August 14, 20178 yr by the special one

19 minutes ago, the special one said:

We had plenty of possession before the red but for me we just seemed to pass it around at the back without doing anything incisive. I didn't see the point of an extra CB when we needed a #8 or #10 in midfield imho

My peeve of the game is seeing Luiz pass to Cahill who passes it back to Luiz who then passes it to Courtois. Courtois then punts it long either giving back possession to Burnley or somehow makes it to Michy who then loses control and Burnley gets possession back. 

He's not moving here, Liverpool has been his preferred destination. Other than gossip columns there's not real proof we are even interested in him.

He'll move to any top 6 club that comes for him. Don't kid yourself. Southampton would rather let him rot in their reserves until his contract runs out than sell him to Liverpool. It's about ego for them now.

He might if his job is on the line in a few weeks? We essentially won the league last year with 3-4-3 because we had an element of surprise, if we play the same way this year we risk becoming predictable (if we're not already). I can understand if Conte doesn't trust Cahill and/or Luiz in a back 4 why we continue to play with a back 3 against the likes of Burnley, but for me on Saturday we essentially lost the game on the transition because we had no numerical advantage in midfield (which resulted in GC recklessly getting sent off imho). Personally I'd like to see us go back to or least have the option of 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 but we need the players to fit the system.

Not sure we watched the same game. We were in complete control before the red card and showed have even scored one from a Willian tap in if it wasn't for a last ditch clearance by a Burnley CB, which is why Cahill's lunge is even more stupid. Absolutely no need for that. Make no mistake about it, we lost that game because of Gary Cahill.

1 hour ago, Chelsbear said:

He's not moving here, Liverpool has been his preferred destination. Other than gossip columns there's not real proof we are even interested in him.

 

39 minutes ago, Gem said:

How do you know Liverpool is his preferred destination?

Gossip columns.

Still hoping this guy comes through for us.

 

I know we don't need him as a priority but he would definitely be a powerful addition to our defence, and we need all the help we can get if we wanna retain this title or at least push it close.

Would appear that he's going nowhere in this transfer window...according to the Southampton Chairman that is...as long as he doesn't go elsewhere, let him prove his fitness and manoeuvre for a move in January or next season...

Edited August 16, 20178 yr by doctorblue

Apparently, he was spotted in London from his Instagram?

Surprised City aren't in for him.

7 hours ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Apparently, he was spotted in London from his Instagram?

You mean he traveled to the nearest major city ? He wasn't in the Southampton laboratory in a near cryogenic state bring pumped full of vitamins? Could just be he was going shopping, seeing a doctor, going on a date or any number of reason to travel to a world class city an hour and a half from a sh*thole. 

2 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

You mean he traveled to the nearest major city ? He wasn't in the Southampton laboratory in a near cryogenic state bring pumped full of vitamins? Could just be he was going shopping, seeing a doctor, going on a date or any number of reason to travel to a world class city an hour and a half from a sh*thole. 

Lol. That was my thought too. Unless he was spotted having dinner with Conte and Emenalo I don't think it is even worth printing.

2 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Lol. That was my thought too. Unless he was spotted having dinner with Conte and Emenalo I don't think it is even worth printing.

If he was stationed in the south of France or even Glasgow still, then it may have some significance but who with a lot of money to spend an hour and a half outside London doesn't regularly go to London for a host of reasons. 

19 hours ago, Zeta said:

Surprised City aren't in for him.

Me too, They love to sign a centre back ever summer for about £50M. And everyone so far has been pretty average.

We need wingback/fullbacks and a backup CM more than we need a CB. We're pretty good already there with Luiz, Azpi, Christensen, Cahill and Rudiger.

What is the skill of this player that Christensen doesn't have?

He can make a man bun.

We're not signing him, don't worry.