Mendy Dave, Silva/Zouma, Ruudi, James Kova Jorginho Chillers Mount, Havertz Werner This is what I think TT will pick not my starting 11.
A win puts us up into 4th and we’re also starting to hunt down third place too. If we keep this up we may be in the running for a decent season.
Very good effort from Werner, also a great assist for Giroud. Funny old game, we bashed them around 1st half, still missed too many chances, but were quids in. Second half we looked like Franks team again, all puff and bluster, gun shy forwards, back passes, poor passes, walking not running. Newcastle were pretty hopeless but still we didn't get right over the top of them. Most players were OK Kovacic and Werner by far the most enthusiastic and Kepa did well. Can't fault the points, but we still didn't have the rhythm or speed to frighten better Teams than Newcastle. Hopefully that's coming soon. Good result in a tough season for the Club.
I have been very impressed by Hudson Odoi in recent games. He's been up and down and he's been direct and looking dangerous. I hope Tuchel keeps him in the side which although is a shame for Reece but Odoi has played himself into the team. The difference between reece (who looks like he can do it) is night and day at the moment. When Reece first came in, he would drive on and run at players. At the moment, Callum does this wheres Reece is very conservative and plays the ball back a lot. Good to see Werner get on teh score sheet. He looks like he's finally trying again like when he first joined compared to the latter end of the Lampard reign. One last guy who i hope is not a hot streak is Kovacic. He seems like a man possessed and has been excellent with his passing and driving past players. I just like the shape of how we play a lot more right now and it's not loads of passing and getting in each others way
CHO has been really excellent since Audis arrival. Along with Kovacic, Werner and Mount, those players are full of effort, attack and directness. If only Kovacic could add some goals, he'd be 1st player picked. Interesting that Pulisic, Ziiyech, Reece James and Chilwell have become the opposite. Not enough running from James and Chilwell, with too much back passing, and just bad play from Ziyech and Pulisic, poor passing, lack of control, getting dispossessed. Then there's Havertz who right now looks about as useful as a spare navel. Maybe it's just lack of game time, needed to get them all up to speed, or a hangover from Franks emphasis on conservative defence.Whatever it is, I see that Audi is onto it ,already criticising the back passing, sideways and sluggish build up from the back, and lack of directness, specifically in the 2nd half against Barcodes. Still early days, and all the players out of form are excellent quality, so expect improvement from all. Still not convinced that Jorginho is the man to run the mids , despite better form recently. Like to see Billy get more time as well.