4 hours ago, carrickblue said:

Who knows what Conte is thinking but if JT is fit this is his chance to drop Cahill and Ivan. If he does, let's all pray that we keep a clean sheet - that way we might be on the road to a new back 4. From his post-match comments yesterday Conte knows he has to stop the bleeding  - I hope he's got the cojones to take a few people out so that he can achieve that.    

I have no doubt Ivan will be dropped to the bench for the majority of the remaining season by conte, I love Ivan as a player but last year his performances were terrible and it seems his confidence hasn't returned... 

 

Looks like he will mainly be used as stand in at cup games once JT is fit

I don't subscribe to the idea that bad games mean the players need to be changed (as a matter of course).

this team isn't playing in a way you could identify as a conte side at the moment either in approach or attitude. I don't think making five changes of player, and / or a change of system, 'fixes' what is wrong.

we could win this game and problems could still be there so it is going to be hard to draw conclusions if that is the case. if ivanovic is out of the side and we win and keep a clean sheet, that isn't mission accomplished. if we don't win we may be none the wiser.

 

it is conte's job to get these guys to buy into what he wants.

ivanovic's take on the arsenal game has some stuff that concerns me more than the performance, although it goes some way to explaining it.

Quote

"We didn’t start the game in the way we wanted. We didn’t believe in what we were doing at the beginning and we were punished," Ivanovic told Chelsea's official website.

"As a team we didn’t answer anything the manager asked of us, we have to be honest with ourselves and put more attention on the small details. We have to be more focused and concentrated on the game

this alarms me greatly. and angers me. after last season who are these guys to improvise when they're given a script? but then I remember. these guys are not machievellian plotters looking to oust manager after manager to the detriment of their own careers. if you are told to do something and you don't agree with it, then you'll play with doubt and hesitation no matter how pure your intentions are.

I think conte is as good a coach / manager as really any of these lot are players, but I repeat- his job is to convince them of this.

as a fan I'm happy to wait. I'm happy to let him get on with it. picking the same side game after game isn't necessarily that definition of madness- he's trying to ingrain something new, and until that is assimilated we are going to falter. but changing players doesn't necessarily speed up that process. we need to back him as supporters, and hope abramovich doesn't do what he usually does (now is the time to invoke einstein). guardiola's got a similar job, but he's gone to a club who have been preparing the nest for some years, he arrived as undoubtedly the most powerful person at the club and the most coveted coach in the world and all of those things are big advantages. we shouldn't bother to look at city this season for comparison. all we need is to improve at our own pace, slowly if that is the case.

 

but in saying all of that, branislav can't run anymore antonio. do the decent thing.

Edited September 25, 20169 yr by g3.7

Just play the 352 and see where it takes us. Something has to change, and right now I think we need more than a couple of personnel change. Drop Cahill/Matic/Ivanovic/Willian, give others a crack. No disrespect to Hull, I reckon they are pretty battered and bruised after the past few tough games, perfect opponent for us.

After the Liverpool hammering (please don't get fooled by the end result because we were sh*te the first half) and the embarrassment at the Emirates, this team from the goalkeeper out has not one ounce of confidence save and except Costa.  They are nervous and skittish as soon as the game begins.  Need a big win and a solid performance at Hull but I doubt it will come..it will be difficult and we just might come away with a point if the defence holds out.   Regardless of the next few results a clear out which should have been done in the off season, is a must in January.  

begovic

luiz terry zouuuuumaaa

alonso kante oscar azpilicueta

hazard

diego

a must win, if we drop points again, well top 4 one foot out the door

I expect a strong reaction to the awful Arsenal performance.We are making some bad errors and lack concentration all over the pitch.Conte has a tough job on his hands and will need some time (might not get it).He must be brave now and use the squad,some players need dropping.As fans this is when we need  to get behind the team.....UP THE CHELS!

Dave at right back, and Michy up front with Costa.

 

 

Why are people wanting to see Begovic and Eduardo start lol.

                             Courtois

              Ivanovic       Luiz        Terry

Azpilicueta                 Kante                   Alonso

                             Fabregas

 Willian                                                  Hazard

                                 Costa

3 hours ago, havelschayes said:

begovic

luiz terry zouuuuumaaa

alonso kante oscar azpilicueta

hazard

diego

a must win, if we drop points again, well top 4 one foot out the door

If it was such a must win game. You'd probably want to start all 11 players instead of 10 

Just now, Orpington_Blue said:

If it was such a must win game. You'd probably want to start all 11 players instead of 10 

willian always missing anyways

Well i think Willian's poor form is due to his head being elsewhere. If the reports are true his mother is diagnosed with cancer.

                           Courtois

  Aina             Terry           David Luiz         Azpilicueta

                                 Kante
                      Fabregas

 Moses                                                Hazard

                    Batshuayi      Costa


Would love to see two up top, Dave on the left and Aina at RB.  

 

Courtois

 Aina     Terry   Luiz/Tomori  Dasilva

                                                                                                                                 Kante             

Fabregas Chalobah

 Moses                         Hazard

Costa 

Cesc playing as a deeplying playmaker (like Pirlo did in Juventus) with Chalobah & Kante covering him in defensive duties

Edited September 26, 20169 yr by dc19

I dont find it weird that people want massive changes. I want it too. What I dont understand is how those same people are putting Hazard in their teams. 

One of the first ones to be kicked out in my opinion. Has no balls, no character. Showed his "class" against arsenal and pool. A plain old flat track bully. 

I mean if a player cant motivate himself to play against arsenal while playing for chelsea, then what can you expect. Probably one of our biggest problems right now is Hazard. 

No one can deny his talent. But almost everyone can question his fight, his character, his desire. I think giving him the free role would mean curbing cesc or pushing him out. I would rather take cesc than Hazard, because honestly, I am sick and tired of the consistent inconsistency. He can play when he grows a pair or he can f**k off to whatever club wants him to be their headache.

 

21 hours ago, paddy94 said:

I have no doubt Ivan will be dropped to the bench for the majority of the remaining season by conte, I love Ivan as a player but last year his performances were terrible and it seems his confidence hasn't returned... 

 

Looks like he will mainly be used as stand in at cup games once JT is fit

50 bucks on Iva to start this game and have more starts than alonso and aina combined by the end of the season.

Edited September 26, 20169 yr by didierforever

-----------------------Tibo

Aina----------Cahill-------Terry--------Azpilcueta

-----------------------Luiz

-------------Kante----------Oscar

Willian------------------------------------Hazard

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

4 hours ago, didierforever said:

I dont find it weird that people want massive changes. I want it too. What I dont understand is how those same people are putting Hazard in their teams. 

One of the first ones to be kicked out in my opinion. Has no balls, no character. Showed his "class" against arsenal and pool. A plain old flat track bully. 

I mean if a player cant motivate himself to play against arsenal while playing for chelsea, then what can you expect. Probably one of our biggest problems right now is Hazard. 

No one can deny his talent. But almost everyone can question his fight, his character, his desire. I think giving him the free role would mean curbing cesc or pushing him out. I would rather take cesc than Hazard, because honestly, I am sick and tired of the consistent inconsistency. He can play when he grows a pair or he can f**k off to whatever club wants him to be their headache.

 

I cannot argue with anything you say about Hazard, but unfortunately if you look at the team you will realize that Hazard, Fabergas and Costa are the only 3 offensive players we have who can be crap for 85 + mins and their 5 mins of creativity can change fortune for us. A club like Hull will like to sit out deep and absorb the pressure and hit us on the counter. I don't see our defense being carved the way it was against Arsenal. And if we can hold defensively, I fully expect us to put a better show offensively.

T. Courtouis

B.Ivanovich * D.Luiz * J.Terry 

C. Azpi *************** M. Alonso

N'G.Kante * C.Fabergas

Willian * D.Costa * E.Hazard

 

We will see a repeat of the 3 man defense with our wingbacks in more attacking roles and using the full pitch. Ideally it would be Zouma instead of Ivanovich, but with Cahill being a bigger culprit than Ivanovich, I expect Cahill to be dropped. I also do not expect any youth to see game time unless we build a good goal cushion of they build a good goal cushion and we are playing a hopeless game. I know it sounds risky playing a  3 CB formation but with our wing backs in charge of attack and defense, we have 5 defenders on the field with Kante also helping out. This should eliminate the need for Matic and another defensive player and leave the rest of the team to worry about scoring goals.

 

If Alonso can't get a start for a home game against the mighty Hull, there's definitely something wrong with his purchase. I hope Conte plays 352, with 3 central defenders there's no need to play Matic either. Something like this :

GK

Luiz JT Cahill

Azip Alonso

Kante Oscar Cesc

Hazard Costa

 

8 hours ago, brownindian said:

I cannot argue with anything you say about Hazard, but unfortunately if you look at the team you will realize that Hazard, Fabergas and Costa are the only 3 offensive players we have who can be crap for 85 + mins and their 5 mins of creativity can change fortune for us. A club like Hull will like to sit out deep and absorb the pressure and hit us on the counter. I don't see our defense being carved the way it was against Arsenal. And if we can hold defensively, I fully expect us to put a better show offensively.

T. Courtouis

B.Ivanovich * D.Luiz * J.Terry 

C. Azpi *************** M. Alonso

N'G.Kante * C.Fabergas

Willian * D.Costa * E.Hazard

 

We will see a repeat of the 3 man defense with our wingbacks in more attacking roles and using the full pitch. Ideally it would be Zouma instead of Ivanovich, but with Cahill being a bigger culprit than Ivanovich, I expect Cahill to be dropped. I also do not expect any youth to see game time unless we build a good goal cushion of they build a good goal cushion and we are playing a hopeless game. I know it sounds risky playing a  3 CB formation but with our wing backs in charge of attack and defense, we have 5 defenders on the field with Kante also helping out. This should eliminate the need for Matic and another defensive player and leave the rest of the team to worry about scoring goals.

 

Mate, what do we have to lose here? For me our elite status is gone. At a certain stage, we had players who won the CL only on their character and will, that is gone too. Losing a game against Hull would be nothing.

For me, we need to build for the future even if it means another year without CL. If certain players dont want to put their hearts and souls into the club, then they can f**k OFF. simple as that. Its not just about being crap for 85 minutes and then having a world class moments. Its AT THE LEAST trying their level best. I dont think any player in the world has a 9/10 games week in and week out. But their level of hardword, discipline, passion should not fluctuate. And that is my greivance with hazard. Currently I would even take Pedro to start over him.

I am just sick and tired of his attitude. Hopefully we sell him to RM and the crowd their shows exactly what they think of his cold and hot attitude. We as a fan base are too sentimental and too nice to our players. Specially to players who clearly dont give a f**k about the team. If it was the likes of DD, Lamps, JT, Cech, Cole - I would understand that. But 4 good months and 1 PL title does not make a player a legend or world class. 

So now Hazard is a flat track bully  when he has turned up in countless big games! our problem is clearly not Hazard, our problem is we cant put 3 or 4 passes together against teams who press us! Hull will sit back and let us have the ball, Hazard will destroy them like he always does.

Edited September 27, 20169 yr by pacquiao

Exactly, Hull will sit back, let us have the ball and Hazard will dominate.

Play him against a Half decent team and he will struggle to do ANYTHING.

If he has turned up in countless games, he has also NOT turned up in as many countless games. 

I cant remember a single significant contribution that he has done for us in CL, has he? 

On 26/09/2016 at 09:36, RIP Mourinho said:

Why are people wanting to see Begovic and Eduardo start lol.

Because Tibo likes to talk and he can't back it up with his performances.

2 hours ago, didierforever said:

Exactly, Hull will sit back, let us have the ball and Hazard will dominate.

Play him against a Half decent team and he will struggle to do ANYTHING.

Just going purely from memory hasn't he scored against Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham? 

Not sure about Manchester City, can't remember off the top of my head? 

But just wondering what exactly it is that you are accusing him of. Yes he played poorly in the last two league game, yes but then the whole team has. 

Making a sweeping statement that he doesn't do "anything" against "half decent" sides isn't true. 

Yeah, it's complete nonsense.

He scored against Man City [under-16s] in the FA Cup last season, other than that I can't remember.