Showed against the foxes that they will be hard to break down. After finally being able to win two league games on the bounce can we make it 3? Will jt be back? If not does Baba get dropped for kenedy?

I would go with:

Tibo

Azpi

Cahill

Ivan

Kenedy

Mikel

Cesc

Willian

Hazard

Traore

Costa

I think even though they did well against the foxes, we still beat them comfortably given our form and getting our mojo back.

Would like to see Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Kenedy and Abraham get some minutes in this. 

 

But being more realistic, I'd expect the same team to start again. Rahman deserves another shot because young players will make mistakes. What you need to do is stick with them, support them and give them a chance to redeem themselves. 

 

I didn't think we'd beat Southampton and I thought Norwich would be an equally tough game, but now I'm thinking we'll somehow win this one too. They're a poor team on a shocking run of form and we seem to be winning games all of a sudden so no reason not to expect a win here. I'll say 3-0 to us.

2-0 Chelsea. Only change I could see is maybe Baba dropped for Kennedy.

I wouldn't necessarily drop Baba. I've been more critical of him defensively than most but I want our future to include Dave at RB and a left-footed player at LB. If that player is Baba then he has to gain experience and improve defensively at some point and with us not really playing for anything in the league, why not now?

Will jt be back?

 

Unless Guus is bluffing, he's not gonna be back before the PSG match and even that's doubtful.

I would bring Kenedy in for Pedro (If he is still unfit) and Keep Baba at LB but I doubt Guus will play both the youngsters on the Left Wing.

 

This match will be decided by our attacking efficiency rather than our defensive capabilities so I would give both the youngsters the opportunity to get a partnership going.

Comfortable win, this. By that I mean 3-0 upwards.

Depending on results go, we could be up to 8th if we win this. We're 3 behind 8th with only 5 behind United then. I don't think we'll catch United but we're back up with a shout of Europa league.

I wouldn't necessarily drop Baba. I've been more critical of him defensively than most but I want our future to include Dave at RB and a left-footed player at LB. If that player is Baba then he has to gain experience and improve defensively at some point and with us not really playing for anything in the league, why not now?

Kenedy is left footed.

But I agree. Rahman should play.

We're on a good run and Norwich are on an appalling run but still not a game to be taken lightly. They held Leicester for 89 minutes and on another day could have nicked all 3 points so we can't be complacent. It's one of those seasons where you daren't predict games, even though we all do!

 

Can't see there being many (if any) changes to the line-up and as I'll be at the game with my son for this one, 3 points are a MUST! Hope it will be an enjoyable, rather than a nervy night.

With our league matches largely meaningless and Guus complaint of fixture congestion. Maybe the chance to rest key players should be taken against Norwich and Stoke. Traore, Kenedy and RLC each to get a start over the two games maybe beneficial.

We shouldn't rest now. All in on every front. Maybe little tweaks in the Prem side. Kenedy and Ruben can play on the level needed.

Naismith ....

still think we'll win though.

I really hope Guus gives Baba another chance. I'll be very disappointed in Guus if he doesn't. I thought it was mean for him to publicly say those things about Baba. I hope it's part of a motivational strategy rather than an uncharacteristic mistake that he won't acknowledge. Sometimes managers, like players, get egotistical from success, and it would be disconcerting to see Guus fall into that trap.

Naismith ....

still think we'll win though.

 

sh*t, I had forgotten that he's now at Norwich!! Some players seem to do well against us, Shane Long, Stephen Ireland and Naismith is another.

 

Let's hope we keep him quiet tomorrow.

2-0 Chelsea. Only change I could see is maybe Baba dropped for Kennedy.

 

Steven Naismith will make sure we don't keep a clean sheet

sh*t, I had forgotten that he's now at Norwich!! Some players seem to do well against us, Shane Long, Stephen Ireland and Naismith is another.

 

Let's hope we keep him quiet tomorrow.

 

I think Chelsea's nightmare scenario would be playing against Newcastle with Long and Naismith in attack for them

I think Chelsea's nightmare scenario would be playing against Newcastle with Long and Naismith in attack for them

 

Don't forget Papiss Cisse, another player who saves all his goals up for us. Will never forget the ones he scored at The Bridge and then he seemed to disappear into the wilderness only to score 2 more against us and end our unbeaten run in 2014!!

I really hope Guus gives Baba another chance. I'll be very disappointed in Guus if he doesn't. I thought it was mean for him to publicly say those things about Baba. I hope it's part of a motivational strategy rather than an uncharacteristic mistake that he won't acknowledge. Sometimes managers, like players, get egotistical from success, and it would be disconcerting to see Guus fall into that trap.

 

I don't think Guus was too critical about Baba. It seemed like a scolding after a very big mistake and people can't criticize Guus for subbing him at the half. Baba looked shell-shocked after the error. I think he will still have his opportunities to redeem himself and I wouldn't mind seeing him start the next few games. Since his been introduced, our line-up is more dynamic and we have other avenues on both end.

With our league matches largely meaningless and Guus complaint of fixture congestion. Maybe the chance to rest key players should be taken against Norwich and Stoke. Traore, Kenedy and RLC each to get a start over the two games maybe beneficial.

 

I think we might see Kenedy against Norwich, but expect a really strong side against Stoke. Stoke have had their issues in the recent games, but they always seem to turn-up against us. Also, a win against them will allow us to overtake them if we beat Norwich.

I don't think Guus was too critical about Baba. It seemed like a scolding after a very big mistake and people can't criticize Guus for subbing him at the half. Baba looked shell-shocked after the error. I think he will still have his opportunities to redeem himself and I wouldn't mind seeing him start the next few games. Since his been introduced, our line-up is more dynamic and we have other avenues on both end.

I don't think he was wrong for taking Baba off. I think he should have phrased his public comments more diplomatically. The way he phrased it was harsh, and I don't see how it would help Baba to say it like that publicly. He could have said something like, "Baba is a good player, but all players have off days, and this happened to be Baba's off day. He is young, and this was a learning experience that will help him in the future."

I'm willing to give Guus the benefit of the doubt for the time being. Goodness knows the things that have slipped out of my mouth! But if Guus doesn't give Baba opportunities to redeem himself, I'll be very disappointed, especially in light of the fact that Courtois also deserves some blame for the goal.

I hope the older members of the team, as well as Guus and the staff, are helping Baba get his confidence back. Defenders need confidence.

The snake Naismith will score for sure.

Hope we go for them, no point sitting back now, play to your strengths.

Would like to see Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Kenedy and Abraham get some minutes in this.

But being more realistic, I'd expect the same team to start again. Rahman deserves another shot because young players will make mistakes. What you need to do is stick with them, support them and give them a chance to redeem themselves.

I didn't think we'd beat Southampton and I thought Norwich would be an equally tough game, but now I'm thinking we'll somehow win this one too. They're a poor team on a shocking run of form and we seem to be winning games all of a sudden so no reason not to expect a win here. I'll say 3-0 to us.

Why Abraham? Because United's young striker us grabbing the headlines? Has Abraham even made a match day squad yet?

I'd play a full strength team, let's try and build some momentum going into the psg game.

By all means give rlc, kenedy, or traore minutes, to keep some players fresh for the weekend.

Why Abraham? Because United's young striker us grabbing the headlines? Has Abraham even made a match day squad yet?

I'd play a full strength team, let's try and build some momentum going into the psg game.

By all means give rlc, kenedy, or traore minutes, to keep some players fresh for the weekend.

 

Can you imagine if that was my only reasoning? 

 

I just rate the lad and I think if we're not going to be building for the future now, rather than being prisoners of the moment as we have been for most of the last 12 years , then we're never going to do it. Abraham is a fantastic talent and is probably physically the most Premier League ready player you could imagine.

 

It would be nice to see us use this young talent rather than developing them just so we can sell them.