I'm happy Conte continues to pull Eden when he's not interested - something no previous manager would do but that has been sorely needed for several years now. Great player, no excuse for him routinely checking out of big games. I'm very happy to get a point at Anfield, despite the fact that it could easily have been 3.
It's mirrored to prevent copyright removal. That said, I doubt Courtois leaves (Keep in mind De Gea will be linked) and the same can be said for Hazard. Last season and the season before it was PSG. Now if we can upgrade fullback in the summer...
What's wrong with Alonso? I thought he was solid defensively and crosses well. Moses I agree on the update
Alonso is so slow. He's really good zinging those balls in there though. I'm not sure he's the greatest defender either. I feel like he is often out of position.
Visually, he doesn't give fans the most confidence. But what he lacks in speed and agility, he does make up for in positioning, technical skill (countless cross field passes - pinpoint accuracy), and heart. I think we need an upgrade because next season will have more pressure. We'll have hopefully been crowned chapions and have European football. We need better depth. But he has given Conte all you could ask for and more. Quality signing.
Alonso and Moses have been exposed for being pretty average. The system is bailing this team out, full credit to Conte.
not to mention we need depth there anyway, so might as well try to get as good a player as we can get there and let the players battle it out. though i do think Ake will be good enough in this team, i'm just not sure where. that left sided CB could be a good spot for him, but he'd be good at wingback as well i think.
I think they're better than average, but they're limited. Moses is super athletic, but has occasional defensive lapses and has trouble with his end product and decision making in the attacking half. He often wins the ball and makes good runs, but his crosses tend are awful. Alonso has the opposite problem - he's a very disciplined player, but he lacks anything close to elite level athleticism. That prevents him from running in behind nearly as much and also leaves our left side more vulnerable to very fast players (partially due to Cahill as well, who's been our weakest defender this season). Given that Conte's system is fairly rigid, I'd rather upgrade Moses than Alonso, but we'll see what happens. Willian and Azipilicueta can both play RWB.
For me, Willian as RWB and an upgrade up front (Sanchez...yeah not happening) will take us there. I want us to keep Willian because he brings many positives but not as the 3rd attacker.
Definitely. Not that Alonso is bad, Luis is just a good step above imo. Felipe Luis' lack of game time under Jose was beyond perplexing. Ivanovic was in horror form with Azpi playing on the left. Had Ivan been dropped much earlier on, I don't have much doubt Luis would have become our starting LB. Bertrand I rate more highly than Alonso as well, but not to the same degree.
agreed on Luis. that whole situation was just weird. wasted money and opportunity all around. Bertrand is harder to say. but he's a player i didn't really want to see go for sure. at the end of they day, Alonso has done nothing but impress me since his arrival. his major downside is a lack of pace. but his left foot is quality and he's tactically very aware.
I really doubt it. At this point Felipe Luis is too old - he's 31 - and fullbacks tend to have very bad aging curves; when they get older, they fall off a cliff. Look at Nacho at your club, or all of the City fullbacks who're all around 31 and looked as cooked as Ivanovic has the last two years. Buying Luis was a bizarre move in the first place. Bertrand remains a limited player in a very English way. He runs fast and crosses, but will never have that much more to his game. Very solid, but he's exactly where he should be. I'll always be thankful that he started the CL final for us (amazing, that), but I have no regrets that he was sold.