I think it's more so that he wasn't sure who he should partner Cesc with as to why he hasn't been playing the last couple of games. He needed to see all other partnerships and I think he'd be mad not to start Cesc.  In what way does Oscar do more work?  How is Matic more experienced than Cesc?

Could be so...but Cesc hasn't looked to0 great in his appearances, whereas Oscar the last two games has looked very good.  Oscar puts in a shift defensively that Cesc cannot, so that's what I meant there.  And Matic has more experience in that holding midfielder position than Cesc.  Matic also has more experience as a box-to-box, which it looks like we are trying to employ with only one true DM covering the back: Kante.  So Cesc doesn't really fit anywhere.  He is a deep playmaker with limited defending skills.  He needs cover badly.  So in that respect, really the only place I could see Cesc playing would be for Oscar, but like I said Oscar has looked better.

 

Just one man's opinion, I could be wrong.  Towards the latter part of the season it wouldn't shock me to see Chalobah in for Matic, Aina info Ivan, and Cuadrado in for Willian.  That's all based on preseason though which is all I really have to go off.  Things can certainly change...

Edited August 9, 20169 yr by TheChelsRVA

Andrew Ayew has signed for West Ham, they got a good attacking line.

Can't believe we are going to line of with the same defence as we ended last season with. Including Ivanovic and Cahill.

 

That is incompetance on another level.

when Chelsea are out of title chasing i would support Jose to win it and slap in the face to our board

 

i also still puzzled how can people still dont call the head of Maria and Emenlao after last year's transfer failure....

Bore off seriously,this is not about proving points, whats done is done, Jose lost his way last year, we are all pissed off about going back to this buying sh*t players for no money,signings like djolaboji and Hector remind me of the days we signed Tal Ben Haim and Steve Sidwell, but honestly just get behind the team, Jose is with United now and the only teams I worse than them winning it are Spurs and Liverpool.

 

United winning the league does not prove a point to anyone, he's spent 150 million on players which if he would not have got if he was still our manager so winning the league after being allowed break the world transfer fee would not be proving that our board was wrong to sack him 

Dear match thread, I missed you very much. Cant wait for Monday !!!

Dear match thread, I missed you very much. Cant wait for Monday !!!

You're silly :-)

I was hoping we'd revert back to the old 4-3-3, but based on the final friendly it looks like we'll be playing the same old 4-2-3-1 again.

 

What I'd like:

 

Courtois

 

Aina

Terry

Cahill

Azpilicueta

 

Kante

Fabregas

Willian

 

Hazard

Costa

Pedro

 

 

What I expect:

 

Courtois

 

Azpilcueta

Terry

Cahill

Ivanovic

 

Matic

Kante

 

Hazard

Oscar

Willian

 

Costa

I was hoping we'd revert back to the old 4-3-3, but based on the final friendly it looks like we'll be playing the same old 4-2-3-1 again.

What I'd like:

Courtois

Aina

Terry

Cahill

Azpilicueta

Kante

Fabregas

Willian

Hazard

Costa

Pedro

What I expect:

Courtois

Azpilcueta

Terry

Cahill

Ivanovic

Matic

Kante

Hazard

Oscar

Willian

Costa

I thought it was a 4-3-3 with Oscar in midfield playing more box to box. It doesn't matter much though because both of those formations are very similar positionally and often times morph into each other depending on the managers instructions.

Can't wait for the game. Meet up with some people I haven't seen since the last game of last season. A few pints in the pub before hand and then off to the Bridge. For those looking for tickets there have been some returns:

 

https://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2016/08/west-ham-returns-on-sale.html

 

We have had some tickets returned for our opening Premier League fixture against West Ham United which are now back on sale to members. 

 

Friday 5 August: Members can purchase one ticket per person.

Tuesday 9 August ONLINE ONLY: Season ticket holders and members can purchase an extra two tickets (maximum of three in total).

Thursday 11 August ONLINE ONLY: Tickets will go on general sale (maximum of four tickets per person).

 

Awesome - thanks for this. Just booked a quick weekend trip up from Switzerland with the Mrs. We were planning to catch the game at a pub down FB on Monday - actually watching us kick-off the new campaign at the Bridge, on-form, against the pikeys, would be the perfect weekend. 

 

I've been lucky enough to score tickets through family/Kiwi expats with memberships in the past, so haven't dealt with general sales before...

 

Could anyone please offer a little insight around: what the online purchase process is like/how these tickets are allocated, rough number of tickets available, or overall likelihood of securing a couple come Thursday morning? 

 

I expect vigorous F5'ing, sluggish server response, time-outs and tears...

 

Cheers

Edited August 9, 20169 yr by joshd24

I can't see us keeping a clean sheet or even under 2 goals for this game. The defence won't be sorted before this game, although Kante will help a lot, we can't expect him to cover everything. Being optimistic, I will say a 3:2.

2-1

Ivan - cahill - JT together is a lost cause

Agree ... throw Matic in there too.

West Ham won't fear us, at all.

I suspect this game will be a wake up call for Conte.

Looking forward to the first game of the season.I will choose to remain optimistic as there are already enough pessimists on here.Hopefully 3 points but expect a tough game.....UP THE CHELS !

If we lose this match it might result in Conte spending real money to strengthen the defence. But if we win Conte might still ignore our defensive flaws and continue the Lukaku pursuit.

As for me, i desperately want a win in our first match and a strong start because i dont want us to ever be behind United on the table this season.

If we lose this match it might result in Conte spending real money to strengthen the defence. But if we win Conte might still ignore our defensive flaws and continue the Lukaku pursuit.

As for me, i desperately want a win in our first match and a strong start because i dont want us to ever be behind United on the table this season.

I think Conte had no say in transfer market....everyone with a little bit football knowledge would know we need LB+CB but we still havent go allin into some of our target trying to get as cheap as possible...well this is just the nature of our board :D

I think Conte sets us up we wont take any risks. We wont get any reinforcements before this game. He said we need to be in the mix till the end so this opening game is massively important facing whu with only Kante as a new starter.

I think Conte had no say in transfer market....everyone with a little bit football knowledge would know we need LB+CB but we still havent go allin into some of our target trying to get as cheap as possible...well this is just the nature of our board :D

He would not have taken the job if he had no say, the board have been more than willing to offer the money (signed two players for 30+) it's just proving difficult to sign defenders at the minute.  

They're not going to say "oh wait a minute, don't sign Kante, we haven't signed a defender yet" and let others come and swoop him up.

He would not have taken the job if he had no say, the board have been more than willing to offer the money (signed two players for 30+) it's just proving difficult to sign defenders at the minute.  

They're not going to say "oh wait a minute, don't sign Kante, we haven't signed a defender yet" and let others come and swoop him up.

30+ is nothing these days, just like 10m ten years ago

 

look at Stones, 47.5m bro

I think Conte had no say in transfer market....everyone with a little bit football knowledge would know we need LB+CB but we still havent go allin into some of our target trying to get as cheap as possible...well this is just the nature of our board :D

Of course he has a say. He obviously wants some defenders and that is why we are targeting defenders. Why it's taking so long is anybodies guess.

Transfers do take a while to complete sometimes. Just look at the Pogba and Stones deals. They took ages.

Only 5 days to wait!

you can watch open training session for free right now

 

https://www.chelseafc.com/videos/chelseatvlive.html

A long time to wait over the weekend...

Can't see our defence only conceding 1, until we sort it out in the market, we're in trouble, I think it could be 3-2, or 4-2.

Gonna be a tricky encounter this. Still think conte needs time to get what he wants.

If we are going with the same back four I can see us conceding.

I'm going for a 3-2 win Chelsea

The thought of Ivanovic (on right back) Cahill and Terry just pisses me off! These guys are clearly gone! We need aCB and right back badly. Ferghouli Payet Caroll Noble and Dede will run riot on us. On holding mid - I really liked Chalobah - guy looked good and didn't do any wrong. I'd love it if the manager plays kante and chalobah there! Then on attack willian hazard and osca. I don't know if Diego should start ahead of Batman? Diego for me does not have the pace and ball control that Batman has. And he has one finishing style, that is open the body and search for far post. No dink, or imagination beyond this which is a problem cause EPL goalkeepers study and make these crucial saves. I just hope hazard helps us score more than them

Edited August 10, 20169 yr by dhidza