Tough game, but we're coming after two wins so I expect us to continue in that way. 

 

I'd like to see us starting like this:

 

Begovic

 

Azpi

Zouma

Cahill

Baba

 

Ramires

Matic

 

Willian

Oscar

Hazard

 

Remy

 

COME ON CHELS!!!!!

That's a new one on me - googled and will try to introduce it to my vocabulary!  Thanks.

 

I only know about the word from playing games online, they use it to describe when a particular weapon has become less effective, usually after the game has been patched through an update.

I'd prefer for us to attack them with a similar lineup to last night, but I suspect we'll go to stifle and hit them on the counter. Ivan, Ramires & Pedro in for Baba, Oscar & Hazard. 

 

Either way I reckon going in as underdogs will suit us, I really fancy us winning this. 

Must not lose this one. A point is bare minimum. It will be tough. Spurs will probably rest key players for Europa so you would them to be decent.

Must not lose this one. A point is bare minimum. It will be tough. Spurs will probably rest key players for Europa so you would them to be decent.

I know it is an easy game on paper for them but can they afford to take the risk and rest players in Europa league on the off chance they could struggle to qualify? However forget what they might or might not do, lets us concentrate on spanking them!

 

Remember the Cup final last year? If Terry is out I think JM might spring a little surprise....Zouma to play DM?

 

Begovic

 

Dave-Ivanovic-Cahill-Baba

 

Zouma-Matic

Willian-Hazard-Cesc

 

Costa

We are expecting Spurs to be tired, but that pitch last night was a nightmare and will have taken a lot out of our players.

I think we can surprise a few people in this game. 

That's a new one on me - googled and will try to introduce it to my vocabulary!  Thanks.

 

 

I only know about the word from playing games online, they use it to describe when a particular weapon has become less effective, usually after the game has been patched through an update.

 

Well that's just great...I'm inadvertently speaking nerd again.

 

Guess I had Hearthstone on the mind.

Head is all over the place on this one.

Was starting to think we would play the same formation as the Cup Final in March.. with Zouma in front of the back four to suffocate this mob.

Now it looks like JT is out, which requires a Cahill/Zouma pairing and I don't think we have anyone who could play that role.

However I think Spurs would have been watching/planning for a way around that formation, which we now won't use, thus giving us an advantage.

But then Spurs will be bouyed by the fact JT is out.

However they will then become overconfident and lose.

But it comes with a free frogurt!

However the frogurt is also cursed.

But it comes with your choice of topping!

The topping contains potassium benzoate.
 

Edited November 25, 201510 yr by Van Butsen

Delle Ali will miss for them. Suspended.

I think Kenedy was played there primarily because a) Baba and Azpi played international games and Baba especially was back to Britain pretty late; b) the key game was Haccabi so they were rested; c) Mourinho rightfully noticed that Norwich does not have strong wings, so he could take a risk with Ivanovic and Kenedy.

 

I prefer to believe José's explanation.

Baba does offer some nice width on the overlap but jeez he's not the finished article as a defender - play him on Saturday and we'll be trashed on our LH side.

Horrible Spuds,please let us stuff em.....UP THE CHELS!

All 3 results a possibility here.

 

For the first time in a long time we are going into this fixture as under dogs. It's going to be tough.

If liverpool could do a 4:1 against City, anything it's possible. Jose got a big selection dilemma in the striker, my feeling is after the little bust up he will drop Costa. He doesn't trust Remy either, there's that chance he will play a false 9 with Oscar or Pedro. I know, sounds like madness, but you never know. I think the potential absence of JT for this one won't be a huge loss, we need to keep up with their pace and movement up front, that's not something JT is good at these days. We aren't back until we beat a proper team, let's hope this is the one.

Forgive me guys, but I'm feeling very negative about this one.

 

We've had many false dawns this season, unable to get any kind of run going, and we'll have to play our best game of the season to come away with the points.

 

No Terry? Disaster, if you ask me. Sure, he's not been at his best, but two clean sheets on the bounce and a little bit of order is being restored. Zouma and Cahill as a partnership does not fill me with confidence. I was hoping we'd seen the last of Cahill for a while. Not good enough, in my humble opinion. Terry's a calming influence on Zouma, Cahill isn't, Cahill noticeably makes Zouma nervous for my money. In fact he makes me nervous.

 

Midfield? Another big problem. Fabregas and Matic in a pivot would be a disaster. Fabregas cannot play these games as one of the pivot, that's been done, it's been found out, Matic just gets overrun. Normally I suppose Ramires would come in and bolster the midfield but it looks like he's out, and besides, he doesn't fill me with confidence either, so what are we going to do? Mikel alongside Matic? That never works. Mikel is simply not good enough for me, not assertive enough. I would like to see RLC given a game but that's never going to happen in a million years, so it looks like it will be Oscar, another player I find seriously underwhelming. Midfield is a massive issue. Personally, as I've said elsewhere, I would play Zouma in midfield for these games but if Terry's out that's not going to happen. Oscar, Fabregas and Matic I expect it to be and I don't think the Spurs players will mind one bit. Nowhere near solid enough.

 

This is before we even talk about Diego.

 

A win here will be a great result and will do our confidence a load of good. Hopefully we can pull something out of the bag, but I'm not holding out much hope.

Forgive me guys, but I'm feeling very negative about this one.

 

We've had many false dawns this season, unable to get any kind of run going, and we'll have to play our best game of the season to come away with the points.

 

No Terry? Disaster, if you ask me. Sure, he's not been at his best, but two clean sheets on the bounce and a little bit of order is being restored. Zouma and Cahill as a partnership does not fill me with confidence. I was hoping we'd seen the last of Cahill for a while. Not good enough, in my humble opinion. Terry's a calming influence on Zouma, Cahill isn't, Cahill noticeably makes Zouma nervous for my money. In fact he makes me nervous.

 

Midfield? Another big problem. Fabregas and Matic in a pivot would be a disaster. Fabregas cannot play these games as one of the pivot, that's been done, it's been found out, Matic just gets overrun. Normally I suppose Ramires would come in and bolster the midfield but it looks like he's out, and besides, he doesn't fill me with confidence either, so what are we going to do? Mikel alongside Matic? That never works. Mikel is simply not good enough for me, not assertive enough. I would like to see RLC given a game but that's never going to happen in a million years, so it looks like it will be Oscar, another player I find seriously underwhelming. Midfield is a massive issue. Personally, as I've said elsewhere, I would play Zouma in midfield for these games but if Terry's out that's not going to happen. Oscar, Fabregas and Matic I expect it to be and I don't think the Spurs players will mind one bit. Nowhere near solid enough.

 

This is before we even talk about Diego.

 

A win here will be a great result and will do our confidence a load of good. Hopefully we can pull something out of the bag, but I'm not holding out much hope.

 

I agree with much of that - if we had ever partnered Ivan with Cahill or Zouma we could have that option but seems too risky in this game. I think that's a pity because we've got options at fullback to cover Ivan moving into the centre.  I suppose in fantasy land we could play Cahill and Ivan together and put Zouma beside Matic but that'll never happen. 

 

Midfield - ? I haven't a clue and would put the house on us not seeing RLC anyway. And as for Diego....I'd start Remy and have Traore on the bench.

Iam optimistic about this game, I would play Remy over Costa, with their high line I can see Remy getting behind their defense, doubt Costa would be able to stretch them.

I still see Costa starting though

I'd put Ivanovic with Cahill at CB and play Zouma in midfield to nullify the threat of Dembele and Matic could focus on Alli. Would like to see Pedro and Willian on the wings in order to track the runs of Walker and whoever else plays in the left back berth probably Rose. Thus allowing Azpi and Baba to play in their favoured positions and deal with the threat of Lamela and Eriksen drifting wide. Ideally Hazard will play at no.10 think he performs better in that role.

I'd put Ivanovic with Cahill at CB and play Zouma in midfield to nullify the threat of Dembele and Matic could focus on Alli. Would like to see Pedro and Willian on the wings in order to track the runs of Walker and whoever else plays in the left back berth probably Rose. Thus allowing Azpi and Baba to play in their favoured positions and deal with the threat of Lamela and Eriksen drifting wide. Ideally Hazard will play at no.10 think he performs better in that role.

Alli is suspended, reached the booking limit in their last match.

Hopefully we spent the whole week telling Costa to run in the box rather than sit there waiting for the ball at his feet and then kick up a fuss when somebody steals the ball from him.

Honestly, im not confident at all. Yes we are coming in to this with back to back wins. But, it was only (Norwich, and M.Tel Aviv). And, we have been there before this season thinking we have picked it up.

 

Best we can hope for is a draw. If we are to win It would be by parking the bus and nicking it on the counter.

 

 

My team

 

 

Beovic

 

Ivan Zouma Cahill Azibi

 

Ramires Matic Fabregas

 

Willian Costa Hazard

 

 

 

I'll take a 1-0 to us

 

Come on Chelsea.

I know it is an easy game on paper for them but can they afford to take the risk and rest players in Europa league on the off chance they could struggle to qualify? However forget what they might or might not do, lets us concentrate on spanking them!

 

Remember the Cup final last year? If Terry is out I think JM might spring a little surprise....Zouma to play DM?

 

Begovic

 

Dave-Ivanovic-Cahill-Baba

 

Zouma-Matic

Willian-Hazard-Cesc

 

Costa

 

I like the lineup and since we all know Ivan WILL be starting, better have in as a CB IMO.

 

Costa to start and bring on Remy to 'support' him later on in place of Cesc.

If liverpool could do a 4:1 against City, anything it's possible. Jose got a big selection dilemma in the striker, my feeling is after the little bust up he will drop Costa. He doesn't trust Remy either, there's that chance he will play a false 9 with Oscar or Pedro. I know, sounds like madness, but you never know. I think the potential absence of JT for this one won't be a huge loss, we need to keep up with their pace and movement up front, that's not something JT is good at these days. We aren't back until we beat a proper team, let's hope this is the one.

I hope he picks Costa and he responds with a hat-trick!