₦airaland Forum

All 4 managers in tonights' 1/4 were all part of the same Barcelona squad in the 96-97 season. Impressive stuff.

One of Cleverley's best performances today.

That's the main thing we can and should take away from this match and season. Massive improvement and progress. Now we need to push on make the right signings this summer for a title challenge next season.

Dadehmola:
Rooney's starting role Is the issue here.

Let's forget hindsight - Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't have started Rooney in midfield today

problem with starting Rooney in midfield is that you now have a weaker midfield and a weaker attack since your better striker in doing a cover job in an already weak area. So why weaken 2 areas instead of one?

Even with our best team out,The match would have ended 1-0 to Chelsea. Its exactly what Jose planned for and it worked out perfectly. Thats why he's so pragmatic and to me he's a world class coach. I thought we played ok overall but we were never getting a result at Stamford Bridge. Jose was never going to attack us. He just wanted to get a result and he did. All good though. Onwards and upwards for us. Hope the injuries subside soon.

coogar:
i would play herrera, valencia & fellaini in the midfield. rafael, smalling, mcnair & shaw in the defence. rooney, young, mata in the attack. the only problem with this team is the lack of height.

chelsea have terry, cahill, matic, zouma, ivanovic & drogba - they would get the height advantage in any set piece situation. this is so fücked up. LVG said kompany's tackle on blind was more serious than he thought.

I just dont see the 11 we can put out that would give us a chance at the bridge now. Like you said, we'll lack height, form and experience at the back now.

Damn, there goes our chances of getting anything at the bridge.

Suarez was fantastic. Luiz was made rendered useless.

Reus is not a striker though so wouldnt really suit us. Plus I feel he is too injury prone.

I'm really not a fan of Cavani.

AirborneLacer:
Well, unlike most folks on here, I'm all about objectivity.

If you could logically state why Chelsea would be playing for a draw instead of a win, we might find a common ground to stay on.

Well just my 2 cents. Jose knows that a draw is acceptable due to how far ahead chelsea are. So dont be surprised to see Zouma in midfield or just ahead of Cahill and Terry to annulify man utd's attack. I reckon that will be his first thought so it says to me he's not going to bring the attack to man utd. He's never really been that type of manager. He's a smart manager and calculates risk and when his team who are far ahead of the rest but not quite playing well and just doing enough he's likely to revert to type in big matches. He's built up a lead now and the team dont need to do anything except tick of each remaining match. Take a point each off man utd and arsenal and they can start celebrating a title win.

AirborneLacer:
What makes you think Chelsea wont play to win?

Take into cognizance that we are playing before our home fans, we are yet to record a home loss and have been held to a draw just thrice this season at home, we are not yet champions, we have Arsenal hot on our heels and manyoo aren't even the best side in England.

Why would we want to settle for a draw?

Answers on a postcard please.

Well whatever answer I give here you would disagree with. So I'm not sure there is any point giving you a serious response.

Chelsea are a different kettle of fish because they wont try to win. This makes them more dangerous as theyre play for a draw and probably get it or beat us if we get over confident and attack too much.

Not looking forward to the city game at all. I hate playing city lately as it doesn't feel like a derby anymore and they seem to have our number. So frustrating playing them we haven't been able to deal with Yaya even when he's off form.

Leyqute:
Whose body is this?

Valencia

I'm surprised some think bale was destroying from leftback. It was well documented he was poor there because he was a very poor positional left back. His defending was terrible and exposed spurs but his attacking runs made Harry convert him to left wing and even then his output wasn't all that amazing. I even remember Nani tearing spurs a new one when Bale played leftback and nani scored an amazing goal from his side at old Trafford.

See this France Brazil match. Excellent game so far.

Hopefully the Smalling rumours are nonsense.

parrotibaba:
We need at least 2 CB's(1 should be left footed) ,one right back ,one DMF ,one striker n one winger

I don't agree that we need that many. One cb and maybe a right back and a striker. 3 players thats it. Might need a winger if AdM leaves. (hopefully not)

Whilst i mostly agree, jones always seems like an accident waiting to happen. Smalling has looked far more composed and better overall. I definitely feel we need a cb to go straight into the first team.

coogar:
^^^

your vine link did that move no justice at all. blind's intention was to completely destroy emre can's metatarsals.

https://giant.gfycat.com/ParchedTidyItalianbrownbear.gif

Thanks. Is that a 6 match ban for Blind?

https://vine.co/v/OYj2a2UUMX7

Are the FA going to charge Blind for what he did to Can's ankles?

I really wish Carrick had retired from England. We absolutely cannot afford any injuries to him right now.

elampiro:
Carrick is the better DM. We will have to bring a proper DM in the summer to make the team stronger. The work there goes beyond the ability to make clever passes.

I agree that Carrick is the better dm at the moment. I just think in a bigger away game we would look good and secure with both Carrick and blind in the middle.

What a result! Missed the match live but watched a delayed recording. Mata. What a magician! So happy for him. I didn't think he should have started as i always felt he's a home match type of player but he proved me wrong and I'm so happy. Was a badly needed win to credit to the team. Anfield not an easy place to win and the scousers were on pretty good form. Still not happy with Fellaini even though he put in a decent performance. Rooney was terrible.. Again but hope he gets back to it after the break. Really need shaw or rojo to step up for leftback as I don't fancy blind there. I think he's wasted there. I want him in the middle. Di María is really struggling with our style and connecting with the team in my opinion. Hopefully he kicks on next season as he's obviously a fantastic talent.

They would have to, as a repeat of this season in europe and we could lose a champs league spot if Italy pick in Europe.

Oh dear premier league. What a shambles.

Messi out here putting on a clinic.

SailorXY:
what is the probability we sign one of Bale and Ronaldo, or both?

£165m making the rumors this evening!

No thanks.

coogar:
young would protect him!
he was good there for holland & we created our best chances in the game when he went there against southampton!
shaw is unreliable, evans is suspended, who else can we put there?

Guess we don't have a choice. I just don't feel thats his best position.

Cant believe we still have Fellaini starting.

I Don't like blind at LB. Too slow for that position.

Nice of Rooney to get himself knocked out. Such irresponsible behaviour.