Tom12345

Yeah, that may be why JJ was waiving his arms. He was trying to set the offside trap for Iwobi, but failed as Rowe Smith was coming from the far left. But Iwobi was still in an offside position and therefore possibly interfered with play while being offside. Depends on how long you stretch the offside rule. But in any event there was interference.

Many thanks @StriderHiryu. Great work. It would be great if you also consider Ndidi’s positioning and what he does off the ball when in the DM role during our “in possession” game as part of your further ongoing analysis, as you do this much more professionally: Agree with your overall thoughts above. The only one I would add (though it is unlikely going to happen) is to replace Kristiansen with Ricardo and try to use Ricardo as another player who can help move the ball up (akin to what he was doing last season as you say).

Great stuff @StriderHiryu. Thanks for all the work. I am only into about the 11th min but given you posted here too on the topic on Ndidi’s role and the “structural” issue of our build up with him in this role, I like to add an observation for your further consideration. As you quite rightly pointed out, Fulham has set up to target Ndidi (but to be honest also Winks). I would suggest though that is giving too much credit to Fulham in the way they “targeted” Ndidi. If we observe more closely, Fulham may perhaps not have targeted Ndidi more than Winks. This is not something that only Fulham does too. If we look throughout the game, you will see that actually Ndidi did not get the ball that often in that double pivot position. So the problem is not so much Fulham has set up a trap for Ndidi. I have counted many occasions when Faes or Kristiansen (who are usually closest to Ndidi) chose not to pass to Ndidi (either because they don’t have confidence in Ndidi or to put it nicely they knew of the “trap”) but more importantly had no option to pass to Ndidi in the first place (because Ndidi was himself running behind Fulham players or not get into right positions to receive the pass). I believe Ndidi knows himself he is not great on the ball so it is his way of not trying to get the ball. This is a problem if you are supposed to play that role “structurally” for the team. When he is further up as an AM, his positioning becomes so much better so I think he is capable of getting into good positions but he may not wish to when playing as a DM. I have long analysed this but I have not the computer skills (in terms of doing graphics or videos) or the professionalism as you so I would leave to you to consider as part of your ongoing analysis which I thank again.

I agree with you that Skipp needs to come in for Ndidi to help us beat the press and connect our defence with midfield. Winks alone struggled because he had no one to help him. As Enzo said, we need to rely on a game plan and his was to always have more in numbers in the area around the ball to help us get the ball upfield. This is why Ndidi is not suitable to play there and Ricardo, as you say, was so important as an inverted RB who can come up to help Winks. Even if Kristiansen is great at attacking, which he is not or not doing much of it, he cannot do that if we can’t even get up the pitch. Further, just like Winks, he has little option in passing so he often bombs his pass. It is clear Ricardo needs to start and Ndidi has to be dropped (unless he plays as AM but then you question whether we may as well start Ayew, McAteer or Alves there). What I am more worried about is whether Cooper sees this. He clearly has an issue with Ricardo and he is so far making a similar mistake as Rodgers was in starting Ndid as DM during the last 3 years of his tenure. Ndidi clearly doesn’t want to play there too - just watch the number of times he gesture to his teammates to pass backwards or to another player when he could have gotten into a better position to receive the ball.

There are quality players excess to need at Chelsea. The following cannot even make the squad. Maybe we can get a few on loan? Must be better than the likes of Reid? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13773939/amp/Gary-Neville-blasts-Chelseas-ugly-plain-wrong-approach-throwing-players-scrapheap-treating-devastated-academy-graduates-like-commodities-insists-owners-look-TERRIBLE-not-tough.html Raheem Sterling Ben Chillwell Romelu Lukaku Kepa Arrizabalaga Armando Broja Trevoh Chalobah David Datro Fofana Deivid Washington Angelo Lucas Bergstrom Tino Anjorin Alex Matos Harvey Vale

Too early to tell. But so far a few concerns: - it seems like we don’t have much of a possession game plan - playing Ndidi as DM, dropping Ricardo, and putting Ward on the bench is really concerning as a reflection of Coopers - Mavididi, Ricardo and Skipp must start ahead of Reid, Kristiansen and Ndidi - Coopers play like as if we don’t belong like a Championship side preparing for a cup tie against EPL opposition. Be more positive. Have guts. We still have a decent team if we play it.

He still has Ndidi out there. It shows he is the same as Rodgers. Just can’t see it. At least Enzo saw that he doesn’t belong as a DM.

This is all on Coopers so far. Wrong team.

I mean we need to play with a winning mentality like we belong. Cooper has never won anything. I wonder if he has that in him to get the team to play like we are winners. When we won the league, we didn’t fear. Last season, we played like we were supposed to win the league. We can’t approach games like we are second class. This is what I mean.

Brain fart from Faes. We needs to have one every second game. He was trying to blame the keeper though.

Brain fart from Faes. We needs to have one every second game.

This guy is good. Wish he is our player. We are helping Brighton with increasing his value this year.

Normal for any team playing against Man City. It could have been us.

Won’t happen but I would bring Mavididi, Ricardo and Skipp for Reid, Kristiansen and Ndidi.

As boring as Enzo’s game was, I was quietly hoping to see what we can do using his style in the PL. I was just hoping we can add some flair. Right now, we really can’t even control play or the ball for more than a minute even against a mid table team like Fulham.

It really feels like we are a Championship side trying to beat a EPL club in a club tie.

Not saying I am saying Kristiansen is a great passer. I don’t understand why he starts ahead of Ricardo. I hope Ricardo gets on at halftime for him and Justin moves across as LB.

Why were they even checking for offside??? It was not a pass?

Look deeper and it’s because of Ndidi. Ndidi is next to Kristiansen and Ndidi never presents himself in a good position for the pass - he just points to his teammates to pass back to someone else. So Kristiansen is left without much option but to just hit it forward randomly.

It is only 26 mins, but I am already looking forward to half time. We have no control whatsoever. We look lost. Can’t wait for Skipp to come on for Ndidi. Get Ricardo on too for Kristiansen (with Justin moving across).

His unsuitability to the modern day DM role has been well documented and analysed. You cannot have someone with very little ball skills playing that crucial position. It is not just that he goes missing and we miss a player there. He breaks down our play or attempt to get out of our half. This is why we struggle to hold on to the ball and beat the press. See tactics related threads. Also, ask @StriderHiryu If he keeps getting selected to play there, that is the Manager’s fault. The fact that Cooper also has Ward and Ricardo on the bench does not currently inspire confidence (for different reasons) in what Cooper sees.

Can’t even keep the ball for a sec.

I like Albrighton. Underrated. It is a pity we just let him go. Given the long ball is back, he would be good to have as an option too. There is no doubt we had a lot more quality in our squad before relegation. Once again: We lost Maddison, Barnes, Tielemans, Soyuncu, Nacho etc over 2 summer. None of our new signings is near the same level as them - although I reserve my judgement on Skipp. But I think we still have a decent squad. Ayew is a good mid table squad player. Tells you how good we were on paper before!

Not as exciting as some of our the big signings before relegation, but this one is solid and economical. Not bad to have Ayew as an option.

I can’t do clips like others. Just watch his positioning. One example last game was when he was dragged out to the left of the box by a forward, got turned (by which time rather than being in the center he was wide to the left of goal) and allowed their forward a clear shot on goal. This happens a few times most games - too many times for a CB. Also remember him losing the ball near half way last season and didn’t really bother to run back. He has flair and big hair to support that view. He can dribble a bit and can play, but as a defender he needs to have a cooler head. But he has the basics to be a good defender which is why it is somewhat frustrating. There is still time for him to develop and I hope he does. It is probably just concentration but it is also ego. It may just need a kick on his backside by sitting out for a while when Coady is back. There is no need to slag off Evans. Ultimately, he is still a top CB two years later at a club at a much higher level than us as much as we hate to say it (Man U). Evans is just another class and his strength is his vision and reading of the play. He covers well for his partner. Someone said he makes his partner looks better. But he is indeed getting old and too expensive for us to keep so it is true I need to move on from him too.