This pair are now showing why they were brought to the club in the summer. They have formed a very tidy partnership and complement each other well, breaking up play and recycling possession. Now if they can add a few goals, I think they will become one of the top defensive midfield partnerships in the BPL. I honestly would make these two starters from now on as I don't feel that Vic offers as much possessionwise.
Really impressed with Clasie - improved so much since his early poor performances. I liked Romeu from the start (norwich at home he was impressive), but now he's not getting carded as much, he looks even better. Who needs Wanyama? Not sure we do - especially as we still have Reed abandoned in the wings.
I know you're being positive now, but that last line is so harsh. He's never been poor and if you looked you could see how good a player he is/was back then. Two things: 1. He was out injured for a long time, while 2. He was getting used to the pace of the game here, while ... (See point 1) I'm not being smug at all, but so many fans were too harsh too early. Sometimes you need to look beyond what we see to assess a player. He's always looked like he was going to be a very good player, even if it looked like he was struggling.
I've said it before but I suspect we'll look back on Clasie as the signing of the summer. There's a reason why we waited a long time for him. Vin
They were both pretty good today. Less effective in the second half, though Chelsea had a lot to do with that. I just wish they were a little faster. 5-3-2 masks that flaw by requiring a little less ground to cover and also providing natural markers for speedy wingers. But yeah, I am pretty happy with both of them. Which is why I said several weeks ago that there was no need to extend ourselves to keep Wanyama. I wasn't the only one who felt that way, but being me, I probably argued about it the most.
They are both great. Really, really happy with both of them. Amazing moment in them first half when Clasie was running shoulder to shoulder with Willian. Using his shoulder, he won the ball did a silky turn and beat another incoming player. It was the best moment of the game for me. They just did so much running that they were knackered by the end of the game!
I remember that bit. Both of them were winning tackles, making interceptions, having good link up passes and knocking 30 yard passes across the pitch. Both looking great. I think the expression is "blossoming"
If we sign Tonny Vilhena this summer then things will get really interesting. Not least for Vic's agent.
We could never replace Morgan but it looks like we have finally learnt how to live without him. Midfield looking very slid right now. Given all the rumours about some players believing they are too good for saints, it was interesting to see a starting 11 that did or include any player in that category.
Think you're right there. If speculation is correct, then this would be our first choice eleven in August I think that represents a very solid premier league team. It just needs a little stardust. Whether that can come from existing players like Mane or we can get someone in the summer then we shall see. Still, plenty to play for this season
I don't know how anyone could ever have doubted him. I mean, the clue is in the name for gods sake! Clasie was always going to be a class player for us.
Given that these two are playing so well, and people generally seem content with the prospect of Victor being sold in the summer, the rumours about Arsenal being willing to offload Chamberlain are interesting. I personally would be happy to enter into a straight swap deal with Arsenal, without any money changing hands (I'd argue that they are roughly of the same value, and would become important players to their respective new clubs). I also like the fact that Romeu has tried it at a big club, and experienced what it is like to sit on the sidelines or be loaned out. Should hopefully help him to think twice about possibly leaving in a year or two, should he play regularly for us in the meantime and attract the interest of others. (I've said before on here about how I really like to buy decent players who are cast-offs of the big clubs).
I think they should give us some money too. Vic has to have a higher value to us than Chambo does to them. We'd have been wanting £15-20m for Vic and they probably circa £10m for Alex. Let's do the swap then with £7.5m for us. I'd actually like to keep Vic too!
Given that he'll have one year left on his contract, and his recent habit of red cards surely has to deflate his value somewhat, I would suggest that £15m is now the top end of what we could get for Victor. I was thinking more £12m, which is also where I'd put Chamberlain.
Claise still tires after 70 minutes or so against the top top teams where he has to put in 100% for the whole game, Ron should be looking to make changes at around that time for fresh legs, Romeu make a gut busting run around 86 minutes chasing down the ball so he has bags of energy. For 60 minutes they were very impressive, hard first challenge and winning the second ball, but either change of tactics or falling back to try and protect the lead allowed Chelsea to take the upper hand. They should be playing further forward with a high press and not inviting the other team to dictate the tempo
Not such an easy thing to dictate Possesion/tempo/field position when Willian is on fire. And trying to press is a factor as to why Clasie got tired in the first place. Our subs were Pelle and Mane so I don't think Koeman was just trying to preserve a lead or preserve a draw. Having said all that, I do agree that fatigue played a factor. If we had Wanyama, he could have come off the bench (or started with Romeu available as fresh legs). That did hurt us.
