We have the evening kick-off slot this time around and we're at home to Stoke City.

 

Given the poor run as of late many fans, myself included, will be expecting nothing other than an emphatic win. If there is a remote chance we can stay in the title race we need to take it. Draw or (god forbid) lose this and we're absolutely out of the title race.

 

Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic. This has a draw written all over it, Stoke will just park the bus the whole game and maybe pinch a fluke-goal before we equalize.

 

1-1

 

2-0 us

If we do not pull out of this tail spin quickly we will get first hand experience of how Arsenal fans feel almost every season, going so close to winning the top honors only to start tripping over the final hurdles in March and April.

 

Cech

 

Brana

Cahill

JT

Azpi

 

Matic

Lamps

 

Salah

Oscar

Willian

 

Schurrle

 

Rest Hazard for Tuesday, bring him on if needed.

Edited April 3, 201412 yr by axman2526

Stoke again? Damn I swear I saw we played them last Saturday. I think we should give Hazard rest, give Willian a go, and start Ba if Etto is only half fir or worse. I believe it's a real issue we have over-worked players, and those lacking match fitness, right now neither are playing well.  For the match itself, let's get a fast start, put 3-4 past them, and get ready for the real test next week.

Lets go thru this then...Yep...Should win.....Yep..Should be around 2 or 3 0.........No..Cant guarantee what might happen.....Cya at 7 30ish to talk about what DID happen

Suddenly I'm no longer confident about fixtures such as these.

1-1

Someone to score first and Schurrle to get the equalizer. 

My daughters coming to the game with me and she has never seen Chelsea lose! I'm taking that as a good omen!

My daughters coming to the game with me and she has never seen Chelsea lose! I'm taking that as a good omen!

Good stuff I'm taking my girlfriend she never saw us lose either

The Arsenal game aside , we haven't been the same team in recent weeks, the loss the Villa was the first set back and I think the Palace result took more out of the players in terms of any belief they did have, and Jose's comments while probably realistic in regards to our title chances did nothing to try and retain any winning mentality they may have had left which was demonstrated by the result again yesterday, lack lustre, bereft of ideas and stupid mistakes at the back.  Several weeks ago I would have said a relatively easy victory against Stoke, but where we are now mentally as a team and as individuals,  a loss is a very good possibility…..I hope that I am totally wrong.   

My daughters coming to the game with me and she has never seen Chelsea lose! I'm taking that as a good omen!

 

I'm going to this one and I have never seen us lose either! We'll smash them.

I'm going to this one and I have never seen us lose either! We'll smash them.

Never saw us lose how many have you been at. I've seen us loads many a time

Never saw us lose how many have you been at. I've seen us lose many a time

I genuinely dread to think that this might be the game where Jose loses the unbeaten home record in the league. We just don't look much cop going forward at the moment.

Edited April 3, 201412 yr by Real_No.9

Are there any shed-end-piss-up-related-shenanigans happening this weekend?

Win, win, win !!!, who the f***ing hell are stoke. They will come to the Bridge  thinking we can have Chelsea because of our recent form and they will come unstuck. The player's owe Jose big time,. and the supporters. So please all those attending Saturday get behind the lads and keep the faith, because when you pick up the papers Monday morning we will above the bin dippers again.  

Win, win, win !!!, who the f***ing hell are stoke. They will come to the Bridge  thinking we can have Chelsea because of our recent form and they will come unstuck. The player's owe Jose big time,. and the supporters. So please all those attending Saturday get behind the lads and keep the faith, because when you pick up the papers Monday morning we will above the bin dippers again.  

Meaning West Ham will beat Liverpool? lol yeah is amusing, if not realistic, thought.

I feel Andy Carroll may just do a job on them. Keep the faith Axeman, and no I ain't been drinking. 

 

 

Nah don't think so tbh. Might be a draw but I don't think we'll lose 

Edited April 3, 201412 yr by MANoWAR

Never saw us lose how many have you been at. I've seen us loads many a time

 

Not many, 15 or so. It aint cheap, otherwise I'd go every week....

If we do not pull out of this tail spin quickly we will get first hand experience of how Arsenal fans feel almost every season, going so close to winning the top honors only to start tripping over the final hurdles in March and April.

 

Cech

 

Brana

Cahill

JT

Azpi

 

Matic

Lamps

 

Salah

Oscar

Willian

 

Schurrle

 

Rest Hazard for Tuesday, bring him on if needed.

I've had a change of heart from last night. Would like to see a slight alternation made with the mindset of trying out a few options before the return leg against PSG

 

Cech

 

Brana

Cahill

JT

Azpi

 

Matic

Willian

 

Salah

Lampard

Schurrle

 

Ba

 

If Etoó is not fit we need to scrape that bottom of the barrel and I feel Ba would offer the most chances of scoring of our options up top. As such he needs a start here. 

 

In a more advanced role Lamps will have less defensive duties and can look to get on the end of things, I doubt his eye for goal has receded.

 

Against PSG Mikel would come in for Matic and Hazard in for Salah. This still allows us to give Hazard a break and he can come on if needed.

 

Think this system could work, gives us pace out wide and a number 10 that can offer a goal threat. I doubt we will see it but maybe Willian would be an upgrade to Ramires in that position. 

Ahh f**k it! We will win, but not sure by how much. I have a feeling that salah could well start this one. If the players lack confidence after last night, then they need to take a look at themselves and man up. You don't stick your head in the ground after a loss, you come back strong and insist on nothing less than the three points.

Nothing to lose, just go for it.

we've got to win this, never mind the points - we just need a win. i can't imagine how the players would feel going into the return against PSG if they lose Jose's home record at the weekend. just can't be allowed to happen. we've got to show some character and play Ba if Etoo isn't ready 

Expecting a similar game as palace. Stoke to sit deep and us struggeling to break open their defense.

Think we'll nick it at the end though.

Edited April 3, 201412 yr by CFCholland

I'm going to this one and I have never seen us lose either! We'll smash them.

Hopefully!