We must defend better on set plays in this game!

 

Arsenal host Everton, then they play at City when we host Palace. After that we play them, huge 3 next games in the Premier League.

 

We have to keep on winning. I said before West Ham we have to win the next 5 league games to go on and face Arsenal with the distance at a close enough point to put pressure on them. 3 down and 2 to go.

 

Stoke are a hard side to break down, they have been for many matches for us. But we have to win if we want to keep the pressure on. City and Arsenal are looking good, lets keep them under pressure!

 

Think Jose will look more to the 4-3-3 for the game:

 

I would not be surprised for him to put a side like:

 

Cech

 

Brana

Cahill

JT

Cole

 

Mikel

Ramires

Lampard

 

Mata

Hazard

 

Ba

Cech

 

Brana

Cahill

JT

Dave

 

Mikel

Lampard

 

Schurrle

Mata

Hazard

 

Ba

 

 

I don't like the whole sticking to 4-2-3-1 but at the same time the only way I'd see a 4-3-3 being able to work properly is if Ramires is added into the XI. I've been disappointed with his form in the last couple months, not so much off the ball but on it. He really is just a Brazilian Aaron Lennon when he's on the ball in the opposition's final third. That final ball lacks so much in his game and it's one thing that's holding him back from being a top player in the side. He does the gritty work getting back and making tackles, but his technique and shooting is piss poor. This is the kind of game a 4-2-3-1 would be fine to use, because before a ball is even kicked we know we have the midfield battle won.

 

Obviously Stoke isn't going to score from a beautiful 20+ pass tiki taka style goal so I agree from set pieces we have to be top drawer. Thankfully were not ones to use a zonal marking system which I've got a lot of hate towards, it's just a case of being able to stay awake during set pieces. Stoke are a rugby team with big lumps that can attack the ball well, it's just a matter of being tighter when marking, something which wasn't being done at Sunderland.

 

Ba should get the start over Torres. I've been a bit intrigued by his little cameo appearances in the last few games, particularly on Sunday against the Saints. I feel he'd give a bit more of an aerial presence during set pieces, something which Torres lacks although he's got quite a big frame too, not much smaller then Ba.

 

The midfield these days is always just a roll of a dice and whoever it lands on you'd be fine with. I'm still amazed by the amount of depth the midfield has alone, but I've chosen to drop only Wilian. He didn't have a great game against Sunderland, seemed lost when he tried to pick a pass and wasn't given any time to do so when a chance presented itself. Oscar should be fit to start the game but I'd like to see Schurrle at least get an hour in him. I've been a huge admirer of him for the last 3 years it's a shame Jose isn't giving him a chance. The other two boys don't need much explaining. Hazard was in a different galaxy then the other 21 players on the pitch against Sunderland, absolutely unplayable. Mata and Lampard also had fantastic games, but it's hard to praise their performances after seeing Hazard put on a masterpiece.

 

This game has a lot more ramifications then most people would figure it does. Yes, it's December and it's a hectic period. Yes, every game is important; however, winning 2 consecutive away games would do our morale and confidence a world of good. Going to the North-East and scoring 4, albeit Sunderland, is still a decent feat in December especially. I believe we host Palace the week after also, which is in all honesty a gimme'. A strong performance against Stoke, 2 straight away wins, hosting a struggling Palace side is a proper mental boost heading into that game at the Emirates on the 23rd.

 

Don't feel it'll quite be raining goals again on Saturday, but I fully expect Jose will have us well prepared for those Stoke long balls and set pieces.

 

I think I'll lean towards a 3-1 Chelsea win. Ba to open scoring within 10 minutes. Stoke to level it around the 30 minute mark. Then Mata and Hazard to jump on the score sheet in the second half. No idea if this will even be close to being a right prediction, but as long as anything gives us 3 points I'm happy. Even if we need another brace from our Stoke double agent, Walters.

 

 

This is a massive game for us. If we win and Arsenal drop points then we are hot on their tails!!

This should be an easier game than Sunderland, but you never know what way Stoke will play.

The set pieces need urgent attention. I think we will see Cole starting at the weekend, with Willian also dropped.

Arsenal will not take 6 points from Everton and Man City, I am sure of it. This is our chance to catch them before we even meet.

Hazard to have another blinder! Scored a stunner this fixture last season.

Cech

Ivanovic

Terry

Cahill

Cole

Ramires

Mikel

Schurrle

Mata

Hazard

Ba

Hopefully Walters starts

Cech

 

Ivanovic

Terry

Cahill

Azpi

 

Ramires

Oscar

 

Schurrle

Mata

Hazard

 

Ba

Does KDB get his chance in this game?

 

I wouldn't change things about too much, I would probably go with something like:

 

                Cech

 

Ivan - Cahill - Terry - Dave

 

                Mikel

      Ramires      KDB

 

Mata          Ba        Hazard

STOKE CITY ONE

CHELSEA THREE

Agreed, this is another must-win if we're to keep Arsenal looking over their shoulders.

 

I cannot see them claiming all three points from either Everton or Manchester City, and then they play us right after.

 

If we pick up six points from here and from Crystal Palace (which we really should be doing) and THEN hammer Arsenal in their own back yard we've stuck ourselves firmly in the driving seat of the premier league.

 

Jose to field his best XI and go for it.

Arsenal will not take 6 points from Everton and Man City, I am sure of it. This is our chance to catch them before we even meet.

I see this as 2 draws

Hughes will have had his scouting report and is probably got his boys practicing the f out of corners and set pieces.

Jose will undoubtley be trying to correct the problem at Cobham.

Whomever gets the message across the best may have the upper hand, as it will be Stokes best chance of

scoring bar a stupid mistake.

Attacking wise no contest, Chelsea have the upper hand. Havent lost to Stoke away for a long long time,

cant see that changing. But it wont be easy, none of these up north away games in winter ever are.

Interesting to see if Oscar returns, the natural candidate to drop would be Willian, but the last time the 3 amigos started was Newcastle away, which didnt go well, Mata could be back on the bench.

Hard fought Chelsea win, and hope the gooners drop points.

2-0 win my only concern is that any team mark hughes manages tries to kick us off the pitch,,,, watch out Eden Hazard

We  will struggle a bit. Have to rotate some players. Usual problem with Torres when he has a bad game, do you play him back into form or give him a rest.

 

Ba, Schurle, KDB, Cole all due for some more game time. Someone in defence will probably be punished for letting in three goals.

 

Ivan  Cahill Terry Dave (although I wont be surprised if cole gets a start)

 

ramires willian

 

hazard  mata schurle

 

ba

 

Darn it Jose, don't you read this board? This  is clearly a top team

Just concerned about set piece defending.  Stoke will exploit that.

Stoke have only managed 12 goals in 14 games this season.

 

There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to contain them, we're averaging two goals a game at the moment so I think we should be able to win this one without too many problems.

 

If Hazard plays like he did the other night Cameron is going to sh*t his pants. 

I'd like to see Cole back in at left back, with Dave on the right, or else Ivan. One of them should be dropped, and I think they will in all honesty.

I would like to see

Cech

Dave/Ivan - Cahill - Terry - Cole

Ramires - Lamps/Mikel

Mata Oscar Hazard

Eto'o

If Hazard plays like he did the other night Cameron is going to sh*t his pants.

Sadly he is not known for his consistency. Lampard needs to teach him the Jedi ways.

Lampard probably won't start though. 2 days rest ain't enough. Bison please.

Edited December 6, 201312 yr by RickCFC

Lampard probably won't start though. 2 days rest ain't enough. Bison please.

Hopeful he won't but probably will.

the last time the 3 amigos started was Newcastle away, which didnt go well, Mata could be back on the bench.

 

 

Take it you never watched the Southampton game then?

 

Edited December 6, 201312 yr by mbh

Mata should be a shoo-in for this one, we don't have to worry a great deal about tracking runs from midfield, plus if he can bring the best out of Hazard again there is no way Stoke will be able to deal with them. I also doubt we will need a holding midfielder, so would imagine we will see Lampard and Ramires start. Considering Stoke's physical defence and Torres' somewhat impotent performance against Southampton I would also put Ba up front. I am also itching to bring Ashley Cole back into the side (I seem to recall him having a pretty good record against Stoke, although that might purely be based on him scoring against them once), but Azpilicueta has shown us no reason to drop him and this game is almost tailor-made for Ivanovic.

I also threw in Schurrle on the right to stretch the play, although if Oscar is back for the weekend I would imagine he will [deservedly] return to the team. If Willian's performance off the bench against Norwich is anything to go by, he could provide a dangerous option as a substitute. I've gone for Luiz (if fit, if not then Kalas) on the bench, although I would imagine the final spot will be given to Essien.

 

 

-----------------------Cech

Ivanovic------Cahill------Terry ©----Azpilicueta

---------------Ramires-----Lampard

------Schurrle-------Mata----------Hazard

------------------------Ba

 

Subs:

Schwarzer, Cole, Luiz/Kalas, Mikel, Willian, Oscar/de Bruyne, Torres

Should be as easy as Sunderland away was.

Surely its time to give Rameries a rest? Hes played every game.

Surely its time to give Rameries a rest? Hes played every game.

 

And Cech too, if you ask me. Not that he's played every game, but I think Schwarzer should be given a go.

 

From the Guardian:

 

Stoke are going to lose and there is nothing Mark Hughes can do about it

"Two Premier League teams and nary a striker between them. But at least Chelsea have a plethora of incisive midfield connivers, unlike Stoke, for whom Marko Arnautovic and Oussama Assaidi have yet to show that they are really better than the existing, barely-adequate attacking options. Asmir Begovic will need to have a blinder or Stoke are going to be battered. Petr Cech should be given the day off."

Edited December 6, 201312 yr by Blueblur