1 hour ago, nutmegsw6 said:

http://talksport.com/football/martin-atkinsons-performance-chelsea-one-worst-all-time-former-refs-chief-tells-talksport

To be fair to him, he has some stiff competition from Clattenburg.

1 hour ago, Englishman said:

To be fair to him, he has some stiff competition from Clattenburg.

And Foy. And Dowd. And Dean.

Maybe we'll find out if the refs hate Chelsea more than they hate Mourinho.

3 hours ago, Backbiter said:

And Foy. And Dowd. And Dean.

Maybe we'll find out if the refs hate Chelsea more than they hate Mourinho.

you forgot about the Swansea match or the lack of PK ruled in our favor - just face it CFC are hated by media

I thought Chris Foy is not allowed to ref Chelsea game anymore. I thought there was a clear handball incident early second half against Leiecster, doesn't matter in the end but better not happen again this weekend.

Massive game for Conte, the boys need to show that they have actually improved in this formation by performing against one of the big boys. Aside from the obvious tactical ineptitude; the worrying thing for me mostly in the losses against Liverpool and Arsenal was the amount of fear we were playing with, we completely let them dominate us with little fight. 

Hopefully Sunday will be different

Jose will do everything to avoid a defeat, from pressuring the ref's to completely parking the bus. He was sacked by Chelsea and he won't allow them to put more misery on him.

I hope we smash them but i can see it being very close. 

Really want this. Put the scum to the sword.

one of my favourite memories was after the game surrounding a coach of united supporters hundreds of us singing at them "5-0, we beat the scum 5-0..." Great day.

Given it's Jose I'll take 1-0, own goal, off Dea Gea's butt, 94th min.

I want a 98th minute offside handball winner just to see Jose's reaction

Was lucky enough to find tickets for this one so this will be my first ever game at the Bridge. So excited!

I want Azpi - JT - Luiz in defence. Normally i would want Luiz as the most central defender but thats where Zlatan will be and his pace shouldn't be that much of a worry against JT. And Terry can hopefully handle him in the air.
Big, big test for Conte and the whole team this. Another loss to a top team would be devestating but a win would be massive.

 

 

Going up with the grandson early for this one.I expect  them to keep it tight like the scouse game, but hopefully we nick it.A generous reception for Jose ,but then gloves on ,as remember he is a Manc now.....UP THE CHELS!

A point probably does them more harm than us.

I'd take a draw, just don't lose!

Looking forward to see if the new tactics work against the big guns, all of the players are in good shape. Some of them are in great form and i feel we are connecting more as a team. Also some rumors say Zouma should be back on 23 October and that is this sunday? Any news of that? I doubt he would start but a few minutes of the bench would be really nice.

On ?18?/?10?/?2016 at 21:18, nutmegsw6 said:

http://talksport.com/football/martin-atkinsons-performance-chelsea-one-worst-all-time-former-refs-chief-tells-talksport

I still think the post-Metro media campaign might have influenced him.

On 18/10/2016 at 22:28, Englishman said:

To be fair to him, he has some stiff competition from Clattenburg.

 

On 18/10/2016 at 23:20, Backbiter said:

And Foy. And Dowd. And Dean.

 

Erm.....Ovrebo anyone?

I reckon Fabregas may have a say in the outcome of this match, I can seem him unlocking the compact defense in the last 10 mins

Can't wait for this game, i think Hazard will flourish against some of the lanky united players, especially since the formation switch, he has options either side of him, he can roam forward in front of Costa, and less urgency in 'tracking back'.

It won't be long before Luiz starts scoring either, every free kick Hazard and the attack can win us near the box will be a genuine opportunity to score now.

Moses must start, we can fit him in with Willian since we went 3-4-3.

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

-----Azpilcueta----Luiz----Terry

Willian-------Kante---Matic-------Alonso

-------Moses----------------Hazard

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

 

29 minutes ago, coco said:

It won't be long before Luiz starts scoring either, every free kick Hazard and the attack can win us near the box will be a genuine opportunity to score now.

A genuine opportunity to cause physical harm to anyone standing in the wall or in the stand behind the goal?

Besides:

18 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

A genuine opportunity to cause physical harm to anyone standing in the wall or in the stand behind the goal?

Besides:

Nice to have the two options again.

 

I reckon Fabregas may have a say in the outcome of this match, I can seem him unlocking the compact defense in the last 10 mins

He has that ability but I doubt Conte will play him except if we fell behind even then he will be coming in too late to do anything.

13 minutes ago, wallosh said:

He has that ability but I doubt Conte will play him except if we fell behind even then he will be coming in too late to do anything.

I think it depends on how the match pans out, if we are creating chances but just not getting the goal than he may not opt for Fabregas but if we are hardly creating anything and there defense is resolute then I think he will look to Fabregas to open up a stubborn defense.

With United playing on Thursday I can see them getting fatigued in the latter stages of the game which may enable someone with the creative ability of Fabregas to hurt them. 

Like you mentioned if we are winning I doubt he'll bring him on

Best XI, ok my version.. When fitness is not an issue, I would love to see below set up:

 

----------- Thibaut -------------

----- Azpi --- JT --- Zouma ----

-- Willian --- Kante --- Alonso --

-------- Cesc ----- Hazard -------

-------- Costa - Batshuayi -------

 

With the right gameplan, above set up can prevail..  Azpi-Kante-Zouma are very good on 1-on-1, with JT organizing ability in the center of them, our defence should be ok..  A hardworking willian & Alonso should provide enough cover for both defensively and offensively.. With that front 4, I can already feel our offence would be a lot more promising.. 

 

I think it's better to make opposition worry about our offence rather than the opposite, they wouldn't dare to give those front 4 too much spaces..  Also, it's better to use both cesc & hazard to defend from the front instead having them defending straight up the opposition where they get easily bypassed... The main thing they need to do when the team is defending is be a presence in a zonal defending tactic..

7 hours ago, TrueBlueBIH said:

Looking forward to see if the new tactics work against the big guns, all of the players are in good shape. Some of them are in great form and i feel we are connecting more as a team. Also some rumors say Zouma should be back on 23 October and that is this sunday? Any news of that? I doubt he would start but a few minutes of the bench would be really nice.

nice looking avatar there mate - btw I am sure Conte is liking what he has in front of him - a full weeks rest & preparation vs manure's two matches in the same time & all of the media surrounding them & their dismal display despite spending a 1/4 billion on new signings - I hope this will lead to a 3-0 win for the blues - Up The Chels!!!!

They are winning well tonight, but Fenerbache are a woeful team so it isnt really a true test.

Their whole team  smacks of averageness, DDG is their only really top class player. My concern is that Jose  has a habit of pulling out wins against better sides, which we saw particuarly in 13/14 when we did the double over City and Liverpool. Part of me thinks we should  comfortably beat them, but another is worried we could get suckered. Strange, but  I would probably take a draw.

55 minutes ago, ItsEssexRob said:

They are winning well tonight, but Fenerbache are a woeful team so it isnt really a true test.

Their whole team  smacks of averageness, DDG is their only really top class player. My concern is that Jose  has a habit of pulling out wins against better sides, which we saw particuarly in 13/14 when we did the double over City and Liverpool. Part of me thinks we should  comfortably beat them, but another is worried we could get suckered. Strange, but  I would probably take a draw.

 

also manure rested Ibra & Fellani - did I miss anyone else that was rested? I looks like Sunday will be a serious fight - hope The Chels can stand-up to the challenge