Who would you have him start in place of?

 

Willian. I'm assuming we're going to have a lot of the ball so I'd consider Hazard and Oscar more important.

 

Willian would be most effective coming on later when ideally we'd have a lead and they are a bit more open.

 

Again this is all on the assumption that we're going to be able to dominate possession against them but god knows what will happen given our season so far.

I sat there once and only once. 

 

Definition of being up in the Gods.

 

I've sat there twice - both free tickets, both in either late 70s or early 80s.  Lost both I think.

 

Hahaha oh excellent. Good thing I have my glasses with me then!

 

I'm looking forward to seeing which "new faces" will be playing. Hopefully Baba starts on the left and perhaps RLC and Kenedy might get a go

Best of luck, this win could kick start your season.

Best of luck, this win could kick start your season.

That would be nice - thanks!

Any news on Shaw? Gutted for him, was showing some real form and was a shoe-in for the LB position at the Euros if it had continued.

If reports are true and Costa, jt, brana and matic are "rested" (or dropped for being subpar) as well as falcao and Pedro being injured I hope, if the players that play do so very well, Jose gives those same players a chance against arsenal.

WAGNH claim hazard is undroppable so with that in mind I hope for a team of:

Begovic

Azpi

Zouma

Cahill

Baba

Ramires

Rlc

Oscar

Willian

Hazard

Remy

I would prefer traore to start over hazard if fit, if not kenedy.

Edited September 16, 201510 yr by axman2526

That would be nice - thanks!

Any news on Shaw? Gutted for him, was showing some real form and was a shoe-in for the LB position at the Euros if it had continued.

Awful seeing that. He must be devastated. Good thing he is young.

I have a good feeling about this and I'm generally a pessimist when it comes to predicting outcomes of a match.

 

I have a feeling that the Chelsea boys will be angry and on a mission to silence the critics with a strong win tonight that also symbolically commences their season! If there's no response tonight then I'll be very concerned but until then I'm still optimistic we'll turn this season around.

 

Prediction: Chelsea 4-1 Maccabi Tel-Aviv

I have a good feeling about this and I'm generally a pessimist when it comes to predicting outcomes of a match.

 

I have a feeling that the Chelsea boys will be angry and on a mission to silence the critics with a strong win tonight that also symbolically commences their season! If there's no response tonight then I'll be very concerned but until then I'm still optimistic we'll turn this season around.

 

Prediction: Chelsea 4-1 Maccabi Tel-Aviv

You forgot the smiley, so here you go :)

Come on you Blues!

The young Blues win 3-0 against Maccabi in the Youth League. The same scoreline from the first team tonight would be nice.

Edited September 16, 201510 yr by Maksimov

I don't think there will be too many first team regulars being rested for the Arsenal match as Mourinho is very anxious to break his winless streak. 

 

There will definitely be some changes - I reckon 2 or 3 of the squad fillers will start against Maccabi hence I will stick to my original prediction of a 1-0 win being ground out.

 

If the likes of Ivanoivic, Fabregas and Costa are not playing today, that's because they are really being rested for the weekend match against Arsenal and has nothing to do with their current appaling form.

Edited September 16, 201510 yr by lchk

Whoever is playing will need a snorkel and some flippers, its been p*ssing it down all day here !

If Ivan starts, I'm going to freak out.  Please Jose, drop him for a match (and don't bring him back Saturday if Azpi and Baba play well).  

Perhaps this weather gives us an advantage.

Good luck to you all!

If Ivan starts, I'm going to freak out.  Please Jose, drop him for a match (and don't bring him back Saturday if Azpi and Baba play well).  

 

If only our problems were solved simply by dropping Ivan, but they're not.

Bummer it's not being aired here state side. Will have to stick to gamecast. A bunch of others are on ESPN2 and ESPN3. Not sure why Chelsea was shafted.

Any team who made the group stages is a tough opponent. We need to be really sharp and ready to battle. We really need a performance that instills some confidence in the side. Hazard goal, solid d-line, good assists from Cesc...

If only our problems were solved simply by dropping Ivan, but they're not.

However every one of our 11 goals conceded from Ivans side, he is a major, major problem 

Good luck to you all!

Thanks bud.

I remember a time when people would quote. Nietzsche Sad times

 

Is that how you fool people into thinking you're an intellectual? By quoting Nietzsche?

Edited September 16, 201510 yr by ArtVandalay

However every one of our 11 goals conceded from Ivans side, he is a major, major problem 

 

I'm not saying he hasn't played well below par, but that claim that I've bolded just is not true. From the top of my head, I can say Everton's third definitely wasn't played in from the left (our right). Or is that why you said we've only conceded 11 instead of the 12 that we've actually conceded? Then again, Swansea's second was straight down the middle and ended in a penalty, so eleven is not right either. Matic caused the penalty against WBA that luckily Courtois saved, but that was played in from their right (our left side) and if I remember it wasn't the only time they did it. All I'm saying is that the whole defence has been a shambles.

Can't watch this, haven't even sorted out BT Sport yet and I've never used a stream. I'm going to sort tickets out soon, took my dad who doesn't support Chelsea to watch the Maribor game last season, fun times.

Friends in the US.. What channel will this be on?

I think 1-1 :) who am I kidding we should win this by a country mile. We need the co fidence booster. Expect to see a very different team today but revert back to type for Arsenal.

Friends in the US.. What channel will this be on?

 

Root Sports