Chelsea Buzz

Big game this. We need to get all three points here. Emotions will be high for Frank. I am expecting a lively bunch at the Bridge. Will be really disappointing if not. We have lost two matches already and yet, I love this squad's desire thus far. I think we can get the result here and I will go 4-2 to the Chels. Abraham, Pulisic, Mount and Kante for us. Here is what I would like to see in a 4-3-3, and we just may: - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kepa - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dave - Christensen - Zouma - Emerson - - - - - - Kante - - - Jorginho - - - Kovacic - - - - - - - - Pulisic - - - Abraham - - - Mount - - - - Come on you Chelsea!!

Well, I will give this a go. Obviously we started on the front foot and played well the first 18 minutes or so. Lots of energy and positive play. We moved the ball quickly and effectively. Even after the pen, thought we played well the first half. Disappointed we were down 1-0. I felt Barkley had some solid play in the first half, with a few poor plays/passes mixed in. Zouma obviously struggled the entire game and cannot be an answer to our defensive openings. Just my thoughts, but we really dropped in effort when Pulisic and Giroud entered the game. Really thought Pulisic struggled through out his 35+ minutes. Giroud looked incredibly slow, more so than last year. Almost Higuain-esque. The first 60 minutes showed some promise, especially considering no Willian, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Rudiger, etc. The other Big Six clubs will counter us to no end. Have to have Kante healthy and paired with Kovacic in my opinion. Rudiger’s return will strengthen the middle as well. Hard to be upbeat after a 4-0 loss, but there are positives. This team is a 4th to 8th place type team. Continued improvement and healthy players will go a long way. Come on you Chelsea!!

Draw 1-1, Rashford 4 min

Yeah, probably will not see Rudiger starting, likely Zouma but hey, we can hope. We will know within the hour. Come on you Chelsea!!

It's officially Match Day! Given the pre-match news Friday and Luiz's departure Thursday, here is my updated guess at the XI. - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kepa - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dave - Christensen - Rudiger - Emerson - - - - - - - - Kante - - - - - - - - Jorginho - - - - - - - - Pulisic - - - - Barkley - - - - Pedro - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Abraham - - - - - - - - - - - Subs to come on Alonso, Kovacic, and Giroud Come on you Chelsea!!

Good to see Frank’s press conference. Well spoken and understands the task. We have 2 losses and 4 draws in our last 6 visits to Old Trafford (all in PL matches). We had some clearly superior teams over the past 6 seasons and could not get a win so I just cannot see one here. Would be thrilled with a draw, but would be surprised with a loss. I think the year has promise, and I love Frank and think he will do well, but still too many key players missing due to injury to get all three points Sunday. Just my thoughts today. Would feel better with Kante and Rudiger match fit and in the XI, which sounds like there’s a chance. Come on you Chelsea!!

Just a few days now from the opener Chelsea mates! In anticipation of the season, can I get an update on our injured players and expected return? I have read some articles here and there but nothing real definitive. Kante - back this past Saturday and able to play some this week Willian - this week or next? Rudiger - a few more weeks? Loftus-Cheek - a November return perhaps? Hudson Odi - a December return? Appreciate any insight on these players. Realize it can change based on set backs etc but just trying to get a feel of their expected return. Come on you Chelsea!!

Wow, how great is it to see this thread? Welcome PL 2019-20! Cannot tell you how long it has been since I am this excited about the upcoming season. Maybe just before 2014-15 season. This time not because we were looking like the Champions elect, but because there is a new found energy, a freshness to the season. It has been the most entertaining pre-season I can remember for the same reason. Who knows where we will finish, but we have a good mix of options for the XI and some fresh new faces (even with the ban). Plus, no Italian coach this time around. Conte did a fantastic job year one, wore thin by year two and Sarri was old news by week two. The starting XI for this one is as difficult to pick as any I can remember, I will give it an early shot: - - - - - - - Kepa - - - - - - - Dave - Christiansen - Luiz - Emerson - - Kovacic - - Jorginho - - - - Pedro - Barkley - Pulisic - - - - - - - - Batshuayi - - - - - - Would prefer Rudiger for Luiz if healthy and Kante for either DM if match fit and ready. Come on you Chelsea!!

You are spot on here. The injuries really hurt us with this group. Give me all five in the XI, and everyone well healed and 100% healthy, and I think we will be better than most on here think. No doubt, we are lacking up top. We are easily in the bottom half of the PL clubs with striker talent. Maybe even bottom 25th percentile, but that is probably a stretch. Worst PL goal production from the number 9 in aggregate in the Roman era at Chelsea (Morata-Giroud-Higuain) last season. Perhaps the worst in the PL era for Chelsea. This year's group cannot be much worse as there is nowhere to go but up As much as we all loved Eden and his seven seasons, would you rather have (i) Diego Costa in his Chelsea prime or (ii) Hazard in his Chelsea prime with THIS year's squad? I would suggest Diego is more needed and would make this team incredibly productive going forward. I believe Frank will have this attacking quicker and more free than most recent years and nowhere near as deliberate around the opposing penalty area. For all of Eden's abilities, assists, scoring, etc., there were times in tight games he could just slow our attack incredibly with passes around the top and back and walking the ball too much. (On a side note, I do not believe that style will play at Real, but we will see if he changes up - hope he does and wish him well!). With the ban, we just need to fight through this season at the striker position and survive. I would not mind two at the top from time to time, Giroud-Abraham or Giroud-Batshuayi. I believe Giroud's experience and hold up play combined with the other's speed could prove beneficial. I will add that I feel pretty good about our depth at CB this year with a rotation of Luiz-Rudiger-Zouma-Christiansen when everyone is healthy. We need to the depth for the European, domestic and PL campaigns obviously. Lastly, I believe Frank will have the squad playing more loose and free than any of the recent seasons. Combine with the youth movement and we should have some really fund results. Sure, there will be a few downers in there too, but overall, I think it will prove a quality year. Plus, Frank will rotate the squad better than Conte or Sarri I think. Only 14 more days. Come on you Chelsea!!

Really happy for the opportunity for Frank. Legend at the club and would love to see him have incredible success. Great person and representative of Chelsea. I sense his approach will be more similar to Klopp at LFC, not as worried about big name signings every year but coaching up who we have to the best of their ability and play as a team. Plus playing for the badge on the kit. He also appears he will look to develop more youth than just demand to buy players. Shame on Sarri for never attending a youth match. Time will tell if he is successful. It’s a big job and loads of stress. I could not wish anyone more success than Super Frank. Welcome Home! Come on you Chelsea!!

This is the most uncertain, crazy off season for us in a long time and that is really saying something as we always have a certain level of uncertainty. Sold our one world class player. Have no manager. Have no idea if we can buy players this summer. Everyone knows we will have our challenges this upcoming year, but this is unbelievable.

I have had fun joking about this the past few weeks, but if we cannot get out of the transfer ban for this summer, I would not want Frank in here under those circumstances. Not fair to him. If we get the summer ban, why not.

Well, is it an option? Might take them today over Higuain. They are all about the same age, right? ? We scored an all time low under Roman from the number 9 position in EPL games this year, 12 goals (combined Morata, Higuain and Giroud). It is interesting, but I think you could sell Hazard, but then if you added just two of the three equivalents of Diego Costa, John Terry in his prime or Cesc Fabregas in his prime to this current squad, we would probably be battling for the top in the EPL. We miss the goals and pure strength up top, a forward attacking midfielder and/or a rock at CB. So, back on topic, regardless who the manager is, we must fill these positions as soon as possible or 12 months from now it’s time for name the new manager game again. Obviously a transfer ban squashes this. Come on you Chelsea!!

Well, is it an option? My take them today over Higuain. They are all about the same age, right? ? We scored an all time low under Roman from the number 9 position in EPL games this year, 12 goals (combined Morata, Higuain and Giroud). It is interesting, but I think you could sell Hazard, but then if you added just two of the three equivalents of Diego Costa, John Terry in his prime or Cesc Fabregas in his prime to this current squad, we would probably be battling for the top in the EPL. We miss the goals and pure strength up top, a forward attacking midfielder and/or a rock at CB. So, back on topic, regardless who the manager is, we must fill these positions as soon as possible or 12 months from now it’s time for name the new manager game again. Obviously a transfer ban squashes this. Come on you Chelsea!!

I’ll jump in and have a go. Do I think there is much of a real chance Jose would (a) be considered by the board and (b) he would actually be offered the job and accept, no. I stated less than a 10% chance earlier. It’s probably less than 1%. But I am having a little fun with it because I have yet to see a qualified name thrown out as a possible Sarri replacement that would actually have interest in the job. I do believe Allegri is eliminated as has been reported as the board prefers to stay away from three straight Italian managers. Plus, who knows if Allegri would be offered or accept the job. Love Super Frank, but one year at Derby does not make him the right man for the job NOW. Perhaps in a few more years certainly. With the impending transfer ban and sale of Hazard, what top manager says, “I want the Chelsea job”? Add in our revolving door of managers over the past 15 years and the issues with the Board/Marina, and it would run off most candidates. So, what top managers are out there and interested? Guus Hiddink anyone? So out of frustration and maybe depression, bring back Jose ? Now, let’s get some real names out there to consider. Come on you Chelsea!!