14 May 2018 00:43:07
We need to be so ruthless this summer. So many players in this squad are inconsistent or not good enough and we also have players who talk to much I. e Courtois.
For me the definates to stay are Azpi, Rudiger, Christensen, Kante and Hazard. Hazard has gone missing now and again but he's still our best player going forward and how many assists has he been robbed off because the rest of the team are poor? At least 10 surely.
Courtois should be moved on he's too flirty with other clubs. I'd move heaven and earth to get Oblak but unlikely. Caballero is a fantastic back up.
I'd go back to 4-3-3 personally and move Azpi back to RB. Moses and Zappacosta aren't good enough and should be moved on. I'd like to see Cahill kept as 4th choice CB with either Zouma coming back but I'd put him on loan for one more year and try to sign a leader I. e Alderweireld. Him and Rudiger would be class with Christensen as back up.
What we truly lack are two box to box midfielders who can pass and defend. We have one in Loftus-Cheek who will come back id like to see us sign Milinkovic-Savic, it's been a while since we've had a midfielder who can score from range like Ballack and Lampard could. Baka, Cesc and Drinkwater are too one dimensional. I'd give Baka one more year as rotation he might come good but I'd move Cesc and Drinkwater on.
Attacking wise Pedro and Willian just don't convince me there stats aren't good enough. Willian hits good form then goes poor again. I'd move both on and try to bring in two left footed right wingers something we haven't had since Robben. Mahrez and Bailey should be targeted then Hazard will be our main left winger with Hudson-Odoi as back up. Plenty of games for Hudson-Odoi, Ampadu and Bailey to get experience next year with Europa and capital one cup games.
Striker wise is a tough one. Does Morata want to leave? If he does I'd never keep an unhappy player. Giroud is a solid sub but if Morata leaves who would replace him. Only Icardi springs to mind. Tbh I'd love Vardy for a year or two he's electric and runs his socks off.
14 May 2018 11:03:23
Playing too much FIFA?
14 May 2018 11:15:40
Please will somebody explain to me why Azpi features on so many people's list of players to retain? He used to be good in Conte's first season, but this year his crossing (apart from earlier when he planted it straight onto the head of Morata) has become woeful, and the negativity of his passing leaves me totally underwhelmed. He and Moses need to go, with a decent full/ right-sided centre back and a good wing-back to replace them.
14 May 2018 14:07:10
Ok, so far two 'thumbs down'. But why should we keep him? Am I missing something startling?
14 May 2018 14:40:17
I think Azi has suffered to much by having to cover in the middle and at times for Moses whose strength (? ) is going forward. I think the negative passing was not just him but from Courtois and across the back as a whole and I think it was driven but a "what in the hell should I do" mentality when we don't have a good enough midfield to take it forward.