Another game to look forward to, new season optimism, footy is really enjoyable again! (So far!)

Wondering if he will shoot for the same team, or mix in Fabregas and try something else?

We started the season very well, there are some things that we have to improve, I'd like to see Hazard, Costa, Willian shooting more. Costa has scored the winner against West Ham because of that. We have players that have the ability to score from distance, Oscar knows to shoot as well, even Matic can surprise with that.

 

Performance against West Ham was pretty good, I expect us to stay on this line and only raise towards the top. I think Conte will play with the same lineup, there's no need in changes.

 

Courtois

 

Ivanovic

Cahill

Terry

Azpilicueta

 

Matic

Kante

Oscar

 

Willian

Costa

Hazard

 

 

 

COME ON CHELS!!!!!!!!!

I have asked the crystal ball and, just like last game, it came up with some crazy predictions. Glad it was wrong in that we didn't lose 2-0 to West Ham United

Here is what the crystal ball has predicted against Watford:

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovi?, Aina ©; Kanté; Wilian, Mati?, Fàbregas, Hazard; Batshuayi

Subs: Begovi?, Terry, Miazga, Loftus-Cheek, Moses, Oscar, Costa

Prediction: Watford 1-3 Chelsea (Batshuayi 3)

So, a Batshuayi hat trick. Aina at left back. Costa on the bench after his matchwinning goal. The crystal ball is also predicting Aina to be a future captain. Hey, if this all means a 3-1 win, I'll take it.

Edited August 16, 20169 yr by BellettiBullet

Would like Batshuayi for Costa. Costa was breaking down a lot of attacks with poor decisions and touches. He didn't hold the ball up well either and meant we never had somebody to link up with our other offensive players when we got near West Hams box. Batshuayi ia much better holding the ball up and I feel would offer more than Costa right now.

I think Fabregas to play is in order.  Most likely for Oscar.  I'd love to see other changes but I just don't think it will happen this early in the season.  Not going to draw out the team as the only change is fabregas for Oscar.  I'd also be willing to bet that Fabregas sits deeper and lets matic run up and down the pitch.  

I would like to see

 

Courtois

Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Azpilicueta

Kante

Pedro - Fabregas - Matic - Hazard

Costa

 

Watford 1 Chelsea 3

Costa

Hazard

Pedro

Same team bar swap Costa for Batshuayi.

 

Alternating Costa and Batshuayi will give us a good chance to compare them both and creates competition for the forward role.

 

The rest of the team played well against WH and I liked some of our work in midfield, so I wouldn't want to mess about in midfield changing things.

 

Ivanovic so far so good, but Aina should be ready to come in and replace him if he starts getting done by pace.

 

Tibo

 

Ivanovic

Cahill

Terry

Azpil

 

Matic

Kante

Oscar

 

Willian

Hazard

Batshuayi

 

 

 

Switching to 4-2-4 if we need goals late on is a given now.

waaa waaa waa ivanovic.

 

hopefully that saves us a few pages.

 

 

now that's out of the way, a dilemma for us to think about:

 

after signing fabregas and costa, jose wanted to change the style of play and felt to accelerate how quickly the players would adapt he would not rotate much.

 

conte is now in a similar position. does he keep the same players in or not? do we look further along in our development than we did two seasons ago or not? 

 

I think he will be a little more inclined to rotate than jose was. but only a little. he needs the results personally more than jose did and he has it all to prove to the players, the club and the supporters.

 

I think we'll start with the same eleven. I can't see more than one change, and that would be willian out for one of the three options (probably pedro). I don't expect big changes until the league cup / signings are made.

 

 

would like to see aina get some minutes if possible- as the only backup fullback in the squad the sooner he is assimilated into the squad, the better. we don't want to be throwing him into a big game later down the line without games under his belt.

433:
Courtois

 

Aina/Ivan

Terry

Cahill

Azpi

 

Kante

Matic

Cesc

Hazard

Batshuayi

Moses

 

i was torn between Ivan and Aina. Ivan had a solid game against Pikeys and he gave us no reason to switch him, but i think this is a great to chance to play Aina. either one is fine for me. Cesc for Oscar because i thought we were having a hard time breaking down Pikeys' defence, and i expect Watford to defend just as much. Cesc could help breaking them down. Willian was largely ineffective against Pikeys, thus the switch with Moses. Costa had an average game apart from the goal in the last match, and i think Batshuayi will be more suited to a packed defence

Edited August 16, 20169 yr by magichat

It should be an interesting game, they play with 2 strikers aren't they? We only had to deal with the big target man last night, a fast striker ( or strikers combo) will be a different challenge to JT/Cahill. Their GK Gomes had best game of the season against us in the corresponding game. I prefer Cesc to play, we could sacrifice a bit of energy in the midfield in return for creativity and accuracy.

Another 2-1 victory I think.  Watford are no pushovers and our defence isn't quite awe inspiring just yet..   to keep a clean sheet.

a battle between two new italian manager

 

but got to say very disappointed in conte, clearly mazzari paid more attention in his english lessons

 

Mazzarri sounds like those robotic voices you get on spam phone calls.

 

 

i was torn between Ivan and Aina. Ivan had a solid game against Pikeys and he gave us no reason to switch him, but i think this is a great to chance to play Aina. 

 

I would imagine Aina is much more likley to start game against Bristol 3 days later. 

Not expecting a change to the starting 11, tbh.  

If  Watford are the team that like to sit back and defend, then this may be a good opportunity to play Fabergas and try 2 strikers up front.

 

Courtois

Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Azpilicueta

Willian - Kante - Fabergas - Hazard

Costa - Batshuyayi

This won't be an easy game as it's Watfords first home game. They also did all right against Southampton. So they will be pumped up.

 

 

I would be tempted to bring Fabregas on instead of oscar, as we may have more of the possession and fabregas is better at providing that killer pass.

 

 

My team would be

 

courtois

 

ivanovic - cahil- terry- Azbi

 

Kante

 

Willian Fabregas Matic Hazard

 

Costa

 

watford 1-3 Chelsea

Edited August 18, 20169 yr by Jezq8

If  Watford are the team that like to sit back and defend, then this may be a good opportunity to play Fabergas and try 2 strikers up front.

 

Courtois

Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Azpilicueta

Willian - Kante - Fabergas - Hazard

Costa - Batshuyayi

I simply do not think Fabregas can operate in a 2 man midfield.  If we go 4-4-2 it's much more likely to be a Matic-Kante pairing.  At least in my mind...I have been wrong before!

Another great chance for us to get 3 points and hopefully get a clean sheet im saying 3-0 chelsea

 

Team:

 

Courtis - Ivan, Terry, Cahill Dave - Kante Fabs- Hazrad Oscar Willian - Costa

 

 

Scorers - Hazard, Fabs and Batshayi (from the bench)

Anyone who thinks that cesc is going to start this game clearly doesnt know Conte. Watford are going to play 352 i.e pack the midfield and play 2 up front. We will need a lot of Ball pressure in midfield to make up for terry cahill ivanovic lack of pace. He might come on at halftime if we are losing but I really dont see cesc starting for chelsea until we get a fast defender or injuries force our hand..

 

Same team as monday

I simply do not think Fabregas can operate in a 2 man midfield.  If we go 4-4-2 it's much more likely to be a Matic-Kante pairing.  At least in my mind...I have been wrong before!

 

I fully agree with you - In our current defensive conditions starting Fabergas against teams that plays fast and physical is risky. The reason i am leaning towards Fabergas for this game is based on the match summary I read for Watford. Apparently, in their game Vs SouthHampton, they played very defensively and mostly in their own half. Based on that, I thought this might be a good game to start Cesc. 

a battle between two new italian manager

 

but got to say very disappointed in conte, clearly mazzari paid more attention in his english lessons

 

 

you are having a laugh right? Don Antonio's english is not bad. Think about when Don Claudio was at CFC....I read from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's autobiography that he needed translators in the locker room to get his message across. I like the idea of having Cesc playing too. We can play midfield w/ Kante position in the hole. It can work.

Edited August 19, 20169 yr by robdog

Courtois

Azpi GC JT Aina

Cesc Kante Matic

Willian Costa Hazard

This is my pipe dream. Despite the win and the great performance, I simply dont want either of Iva or oscar anywhere near the starting Line up. 

Wont be surprised if we put out an unchanged team.

I dont think it is a pipe dream and i hope it happens eventually.Our best team on paper imo.Three points is all that matters for now.....UP THE CHELS!

you are having a laugh right? Don Antonio's english is not bad. Think about when Don Claudio was at CFC....I read from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's autobiography that he needed translators in the locker room to get his message across. I like the idea of having Cesc playing too. We can play midfield w/ Kante position in the hole. It can work.

I think a little irony was in place.