Chelsea should have got a draw at home. Bit of a gap for them now.
Chelsea set out way too negative, they invited so much pressure and they couldn't get out once Morata got injured, not bringing Batshuyai on for him was such an odd call by Conte.
Crystal Palace are very poor but I am pleased with the way we are dispatching these sides, they were our achillies heel last season and now we are racking up good numbers without even getting out of second gear.
Rashford and Young's assists for the first two goals were quality and I thought Mata had a good game while Martial was electric when he came on, and while Lukaku had an off day he bagged another goal..
I thought Matic was looking a bit tired though, he's always had stamina issues, and Valencia is clearly having to play within himself due to his knee.
The season has started much better than I could have possibly imagined, and we've built a platform to make a top 3 season. The squad is 5 players off being among the best in Europe IMO.
I think the travel and midweek game caught up with a few players, Matic and Lukaku particularly. Hopefully Carrick recovers so we can use him in some league cup/FA cup games and in the home leg against Benfica, since they've been terrible.
My big concern is this long international break coming up not crocking some of our players, we're already missing Pogba, it would be a bit of a disaster if another midfielder/key forward picked up a knock.
Has Carrick played yet this season?
Pogba needs to get back asap. When he's fully fit and in form again, this team can really go places with him available for selection too. It's impressive that you're still winning games easily without him.
Yeah I thought he was bound to come on after his hat-trick recently. I think Morata going off dampened Chelsea's spirits while boosting City's.
I think the travel and midweek game caught up with a few players, Matic and Lukaku particularly. Hopefully Carrick recovers so we can use him in some league cup/FA cup games and in the home leg against Benfica, since they've been terrible.
My big concern is this long international break coming up not crocking some of our players, we're already missing Pogba, it would be a bit of a disaster if another midfielder/key forward picked up a knock.
I think he only played against Burton Albion in the league cup if I'm not mistaken, so he hasn't had much game time at all.
Oh damn, that really sucks. It might count in the big games, the top of the table clashes and CL games.Yeah he does, I'm disappointed to hear Mourinho say Pogba's injury is a long-term lay off, it means we might not see him until the Christmas period and there's a lot of football still to play between now and then. Luckily Mkhitaryan seems to be picking up the attacking slack when he's used as a #10 so we're not noticing Pogba's absence too much, but when the midfield contains Fellaini and Matic it becomes glaringly obvious how much Pogba adds.
Haha, the fatal flaw in the plan.Yeah, him going off seemed to kill the only gameplan Conte had in place, that was what made the choice not to bring Batshuyai on so odd, the Chelsea gameplan was clearly built on having an out ball over the top of the City press, but he brought on a short winger instead of his back-up #9.
Is he still at the same level? And especially with almost no playing time. If he's going to play a part in the season even as support I think they should start introducing him now more regularly, maybe starting some small games. I can see that helping out Matic when he shows fatigue throughout the season. Herrera should be playing a lot. You have enough bite upfront and often enough of a margin that you can afford to rest Lukaku at some points.We definitely need to start using Carrick more, he's only had one game so far and Matic will need to rest leaving our midfield needing Carrick as the holder, I also think we could rest Lukaku in some games like the one today and play Rashford as the #9.
Is he still at the same level? And especially with almost no playing time. If he's going to play a part in the season even as support I think they should start introducing him now more regularly, maybe starting some small games. I can see that helping out Matic when he shows fatigue throughout the season. Herrera should be playing a lot. You have enough bite upfront and often enough of a margin that you can afford to rest Lukaku at some points.
It kind of sounds like what I'd expect Jose to want from Carrick and how I'd expect him to use him. How long has Herrera got left?It feels like Carrick was kept on as a precaution more so than as a player Mourinho intends to use much, I mean he made him Captain but he wasn't even in the first few match day squads, I reckon the plan is to buy a younger understudy for Matic next summer when he retires, Jose just wanted him to see us through one more season as we weren't buying 2 CM's in the window. I want to see Herrera play more, especially with his contract running down, we need to get him on a new deal ASAP. Lukaku should definitely get some rests but it seems Jose won't do that until Ibra comes back in January.
We definitely need to start using Carrick more, he's only had one game so far and Matic will need to rest leaving our midfield needing Carrick as the holder, I also think we could rest Lukaku in some games like the one today and play Rashford as the #9.
Thankfully Herrera, Mata and Martial are not on International duty but the rest are a concern, hopefully Martinez doesn't use Lukaku since Belgium have already qualified, but Bailly, Matic and Mkhi could have a lot of travel.
Is he about to retire you think?
Oh damn, that really sucks. It might count in the big games, the top of the table clashes and CL games.