I can't remember the last time they came here as favourite, depressing time indeed. No Costa, probably No Hazard either, nothing much to play for, would be interesting to see how motivated the players are. Having JT back will be huge, this will likely be his last derby. Are they playing the FA cup replay this week, if not I think we will do well to get a draw.

Courtois

 

Azpilicueta

Cahill

JT

Baba

 

Matic

RLC

 

Willian

Hazard

Traore

 

Pato

Think it's only fair that Begovic gets a run of games. He was probably better at the start of the season than Courtois has been since.

 

Maybe Thibaut just needs a rocket up his arse.

he needs to close his legs

I couldn't see us beating PSG or Everton and I can't see us beating West Ham ... 1-1 draw for me.

Guus has no excuse now not to play the youngsters ...

But I'm not sure he wholeheartedly will ???

cfcblue: Agreed.Surely the youngsters can now be given a chance to show what they can do.

Guys i had a dream, Pato played and scored its happening :D

If we don't give him any minutes, the loan will be totally pointless. At least him give him a chance to show what he can do.

 

I do understand that, but I just think so what? In the two biggest games of our season where we needed goals the guy wasn't available. That isn't a knock on him but the transfer already seems utterly pointless. 

 

I'd much rather use our young guys because I think it's just more important. Not only is it important for them individually, but for us as a club to make that choice for once - to go with our young guys who have worked hard for years to get to this point rather than just another expensive 'name'.

At this moment in time, Pato isn't deserving of minutes. Would much rather start with Traore and have Abraham first off the bench in the striker's role. Maybe he can fill in for Hazard on the wing.

 

Pato isn't deserving of minutes but Abraham is? 

Pato isn't deserving of minutes but Abraham is? 

 

In my opinion yes. Abraham has slogged his guts off for years in the Academy, scored goals at every level and done everything asked of him. Pato hasn't done anything yet.

 

I'm biased though. I want to see this club develop young players and I think they need to see guys like them being given a chance rather than losing out to people living off past glories.

I wouldn't be surprised if the youngsters/non-starters could beat the established players in a match at Cobham. The youngsters/non-starters have an incentive to give 100%. That's not really a criticism of the established players; it's an acknowledgement that it's difficult to be motivated without those incentives.

Some of the established players may also be under pressure from national coaches to save up for the summer.

I wouldn't be surprised if the youngsters/non-starters could beat the established players in a match at Cobham. The youngsters/non-starters have an incentive to give 100%. That's not really a criticism of the established players; it's an acknowledgement that it's difficult to be motivated without those incentives.

Some of the established players may also be under pressure from national coaches to save up for the summer.

 

Utd have started doing much better this season since they've been playing the youngsters rather than the proven stars

Don't really see us winning this at all, they're just better than us sadly. One positive would be to see a youthful team but we probably won't

Of all the youngsters RLC has impressed me the least.  He has a habit of not tracking back which got him in trouble with JM in the first place.  I feel Guus is equally disappointed in his work rates.  I think he has a lot of talent but he needs to show me more.  I hope he starts, and improves my impression of him.  I think Traore starting is a given, and I'd also like to see Kenedy in an advanced role. 

Kind of nice knowing that the rest of the season we can experiment a little and yet still have the chance to mess up West Ham and Spurs.  I don't think we'll see wholesale changes, but I'd like for us to get a real good look at RLC and a couple other lads.  See if they can prove that they are worth hanging on to.

sadly the Pikeys are where Chelsea should be

 

without Costa this current team is toothless, Hazard has conveniently withdrawn from the fray to make his Euro 16 a better prospect (bottler)

JT should be back in with Dave returning to LB

 

a sad season indeed if the Pikeys do the double on Chelsea FC, let's not get too miserable yet as in football there's always a chance 

 

           Tibo

Ivan   Cahill  JT   Dave

         Mikel Fab

Willian Oscar Pedro

           Traore

May as well throw in RLC for this game, just to see where he is at. 

2-1 loss methinks. West ham have looked decent as of late. Definitely going to have the same old lineup. What a joke. 

Time for our youth to play, our key players failed this season. 

We're gonna whoop them

3-0

We're gonna whoop them

3-0

 

I do hope so.  I'm going to this one and am not at all optimistic.  Even worse, we're probably next to the Spammers fans.

There is absolutely no reason we shouldn't field some of the youngsters for this; it is extremely important that we take this opportunity (when we have nothing in particular to play for) to give them league experience and help them to build an understanding with their teammates. It might also mean that we end what has been an extremely unpleasant season on some sort of positive. This means starts for Rahman, Kenedy, Loftus-Cheek and Traoré. It is possible the latter will have to start anyway considering Costa's suspension (admittedly I'm not sure about this).

There is also absolutely no reason we should risk any players with knocks. This means leaving out Hazard.

There are a few players it is worth trying to build confidence in and play back into form - I mean Courtois, Matic, Oscar (and Hazard when he returns from injury); I would include Rahman on this list but I would start him regardless.

I also think we should be playing JT as much as possible in the event that he leaves, especially against the f**king Pikies! I'm sure Rahman will find it useful to have JT guiding him on the left side of our defence as well.

 

That leaves two spots available - I would give Bran the man a well-deserved rest and start Cahill, and, depending on when he has to serve his suspension, I would start Costa (with Traoré on the right). Otherwise I'd stick with Pedro and put Traoré up front.

 

This means:

 

-----------------------------Courtois

 

Azpilicueta--------Cahill----------Terry--------Rahman

 

-----------------Loftus-Cheek------Matic

 

----------Traoré-----------Oscar----------Kenedy

 

------------------------------Costa

 

Subs:

Begovic, Ivanovic, Mikel, Fabregas, Willian, Pedro, Rémy/Pato

So because we are out of the FA-cup, thats the reason we should play now the youngsters in the league? I would really like to see them but whats the logic? Because FA-cup and league are a seperate thing. We could have played them a league match before this one but didn't because Guus has the task to take the club to an europa league spot.

So because we are out of the FA-cup, thats the reason we should play now the youngsters in the league? I would really like to see them but whats the logic? Because FA-cup and league are a seperate thing. We could have played them a league match before this one but didn't because Guus has the task to take the club to an europa league spot.

 

The logic is that you start planning for next year now and giving Conte the best possible resources to succeed. That means young players with as many first-team minutes under their belt as possible.

The logic is that you start planning for next year now and giving Conte the best possible resources to succeed. That means young players with as many first-team minutes under their belt as possible.

I know what you mean. I just say we could have played the youngsters also the previous match but no one were really shouting for the youngyters back then like this time.