DuncanRG

Of course, but it was too easy at times. There were a couple of occasions in the second half where the winger would waltz around a couple of players who were throwing legs out too late, then put in a really dangerous looking ball to no one. At our best we would have closed the space and pushed them back inside, as we generally do very well against the best teams.

Gabriele Marcotti in the Times today has suggested United use a diamond formation to make the most of Pogba, with he and Herrera in the "shuttle" roles and Mata at the tip. The only problem is finding a "tactically intelligent defensive midfielder", he says. I wonder who that could be!

Cheers. Looking back confirms our defence was so lax at times! A team with confidence would have punished us.

I'd personally put Bertrand in front if we were playing them both.

Not to rock the boat here, but might it also be a chance for Van Dijk to wear the armband in, erm, preparation?

I've heard it from a few different teams in the lower leagues, to be fair. Anyway, I'd rather we chanted anti-Pompey stuff than nothing at all but I do always wonder how the players feel, when they couldn't give a hoot about Pompey.

Absolutely. Can't underestimate the value of a centre half who can slot in without a regular partner

Jesus, really? Who do you think a) knows about this, b) wants to leak it to unsettle the club and c) would be taken as a credible source by one of the most respected financial media organisations in the world?

Hahahaha, bloody hell. Would you not take that trade?

The Premier League is full of foreign owners. There is no rule!

Our current (foreign) owners do. Why would Chinese owners be especially unlikely to?

The profitability of the academy is one of the main reasons Markus took over. Just because it's about money doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

No one can profess to have a clue what this would mean for us, but it would certainly be sad to lose Katharina, whose time at the club has been absolutely brilliant. If there are talks, we can only hope she's gaining assurances about the way they'll run the club.

Not everyone is signing players to beat Chelsea - though I'll admit too many are. We're moving the ball as quickly as ever in most games but finishing has been a problem, as has movement in the box. Austin's had some great games but isn't fit enough to rely on, Long isn't clinical enough to rely on and Rodriguez has not had a good game since 2014. That's why I and many would sign a striker.

I don't think he struggles to complete 90 minutes, it's just an area where fresh legs will always help after 70 minutes and we have good options off the bench.

Joe Allen is running the show for Stoke. He's the exact sort of player I'd want in our midfield two.

This would be a great call if he didn't have the same injury doubts as Austin. High wages too, I expect.

Agree with this. Austin, Rodriguez and Long are in their own ways unreliable, Long less so. Pelle could be counted on to improve the team in most circumstances, even if he wasn't scoring. Otherwise, our squad depth is very good indeed.

Clasie's a pefectly fine squad player but hasn't adapted physically yet. With a little time on the ball he can make us tick but too often he's outmuscled or beaten to second balls. Hojbjerg has potential to be stronger, a driving force to get us forward more, like Davis.

I have never seen a more Sunderland suggestion in my life.

No one's gonna go through the upheaval of switching to three at the back just for us, unless it's something they already deploy.

You're mad. Bring on the cuttings!

I appreciate the sentiment behind posting this but Redknapp's wisdom has been dubious today. He referred to Moses, a 25 y/o Nigerian, as "young English talent" and said the following when asked pre-match how we might trouble Chelsea: Southampton play so narrow, and the Chelsea back three won't want to be dragged out wide. Figure that one out!

Do you really think we should boycott the Daily Telegraph? Why?

Though you can't give Bilic credit for spotting the problem 10 games in - it's his job to ward off complacency. Competition for places helps, and we've done well there.