11 hours ago, STATS said:

That first half against Spurs, besides the Pedro goal was one of the worse performances I have seen from us.

I don't know why you are justifying the need to play Matic and Kante. I agree. That is our best partnership. I am stating that if Matic is once again out, bringing in Chalobah instead of Fabregas is ridiculous and it is just something that will not happen. Chalobah has not even started a PL game for us before. He is still a rookie who has promise but he is not on the elevel of Fabregas. And although I agree as the game went on against Spurs that we dominated, we were also helped by 1, they burned themselves out in first half but 2, being that they also had a game in the week while we had a full week's preparation. FWIW, I thought Kante was awful against Spurs.

So just to reiterate, yes we won against Spurs without Cesc being involved but in the case of Matic being injured, (which I hope he is not), Fabregas will keep his place in the team and rightly so. No way is Conte going to start Chalobah instead of Fabregas. And despite agreeing with some of what you said, majority of games like this, if Fabregas is in the lineup, he will be dictating play and be the key man to provide those passes. Yes, he was vulnerable at times last week but no more than Kante and the others, however did he justify his conclusion in the team? Yes, he did.

I agree. Kante would be better foil for Cesc in this situation. With Cesc in the team he really won't have to do much going forward and it will benefit the team if he can sit back and stop counters.

Against a team who are going to attack us Matic would be better but there is no substitute for having a player like Cesc who can create from anywhere, especially with his ability to hit first time. 

If nothing else he plays and maybe he drills someone with the ball again

Apparently in the unbroadcast part of the press conference, Conte goes on to say that David Luiz is a doubt for Sunday and that he is still trying to recover from the Aguero tackle.

Thats a worry. could we play Zouma in that role or maybe we would have to bring Ivan in.

If Luiz is unfit Ivan is an excellent replacement in the centre. Stronger defensively than Luiz, less good on the ball and less good at the long pas that puts hazard or Pedro away.

I love Ivan, a warrior spirit and a true blue. BUT c'mon. if Zouma is fit he's fast, he jumps like a flea on meth, he reads the game like JT is sitting on his shoulder ,  he scores goals, and his middle name is Happy........a nailed on shew in if sideshow is really unfit. 

Edited December 10, 20169 yr by Blue Ballet

On 9 December 2016 at 18:22, FLYMJ said:

Some pre-match reading. Great read, I must say.

http://www.umaxit.com/index.php/columns/chelsea-past-mistakes-future-lessons

Good article. Agree with much of the author said.

50 minutes ago, Blue Ballet said:

I love Ivan, a warrior spirit and a true blue. BUT c'mon. if Zouma is fit he's fast, he jumps like a flea on meth, he reads the game like JT is sitting on his shoulder ,  he scores goals, and his middle name is Happy........a nailed on shew in if sideshow is really unfit. 

Theres more chance of Drogba resigning today and playing CB tomorrow than Zouma starting this one, by all accounts he looked very rusty in the u23 appearances and asking him to jump straight back in to a back 3 will be a lot to ask. 

is Terry unfit for this match or...? if he is and Luiz is out, he should start. can't trust Ivan

35 minutes ago, Argo said:

Theres more chance of Drogba resigning today and playing CB tomorrow than Zouma starting this one, by all accounts he looked very rusty in the u23 appearances and asking him to jump straight back in to a back 3 will be a lot to ask. 

lol. Football is all opinions. I read that he did  well in both matches (Derby/Southport - couldn't find a report on Oxford). And he played in a back three, which was nice! ktbffh :)

Edited December 10, 20169 yr by Blue Ballet

19 minutes ago, magichat said:

is Terry unfit for this match or...? if he is and Luiz is out, he should start. can't trust Ivan

Conte confirmed that Terry is not available for this match. He's still recovering from his injury.

If neither JT nor David Luiz are available, I reckon Chalobah probably has enough skill on the ball and defensive acumen to do a job there for one game. 

IMO it's either put him there or shift Azpi to the centre and place Zouma on the right, which given Zouma's apparent lack of match fitness is an even bigger risk. 

The idea of Ivanovic playing in a back 3 makes me shudder. He lacks the technical ability to play in the centre and is too slow nowadays anyway. 

Edited December 10, 20169 yr by DaRick
Cos' I'm pedantic

Ivan would probably be alright on the right of the back 3, as long as he's not the wing back.

I trust Ivanovic in a back three, he's lost pace, not his entire ability, I can't see Zouma starting after a couple of appearances in the under 23's.

If Luiz is out could be Alonso slots in at lcb and Cahill goes in the middle. Conte talked about Alonso playing at lcb when we signed him I believe. 

Could then be willian, chalobah or Ania slots in at lwb. 

Edited December 10, 20169 yr by axman2526
Mistype

If Luiz is out, just play JT.

He can play in the middle of a back three because it allows you to drop deep, he just isn't suited to playing either side. 

Jt is injured for this game. 

look like city having a bit of bother with leicester...now all we need is liverpool to do their traditional bottle job and arsenal to get into 4th where they belong and I think we will do the job

to see PHD trio golas tomorrow ..Pedro/Hazrad/Diego

If Luiz is not available then we will be in a trouble, he's not just a defender, he's leading us from the back, he moves the ball and can cross the ball for a goal. 

Is it sure that he won't play?

2 hours ago, ChelsaePirate said:

to see PHD trio golas tomorrow ..Pedro/Hazrad/Diego

dont do that, thats why I support chelsea because that stuff doesn't exist

PhD

If Luiz doesn't play we will not be in trouble, unless the team totally underestimates WBA!!!. I am sure we have some multi deca-million purchase tucked away somewhere who can actually play football without a play station controller in his hand. Everyone else is available and great though Luiz is he isn't superman amongst a long list of expensive tiddley winks players. Have some faith and give a little credit to those who play for and man age ourr team even if you do have decades of genuine hands on PL management experience and a PHD in Championship Manager.

Edited December 10, 20169 yr by Blue Ballet

funny how "a panic buy" and "does mistakes in regular basis" is currently our most important defender

2 hours ago, BelgradeCFC said:

PhD

Got to be up their with MSN and BBC.

16 hours ago, carrickblue said:

Apparently in the unbroadcast part of the press conference, Conte goes on to say that David Luiz is a doubt for Sunday and that he is still trying to recover from the Aguero tackle.

Thats a worry. could we play Zouma in that role or maybe we would have to bring Ivan in.

just read that too...not good, dirty little midget, so unnecessary 

2 hours ago, BelgradeCFC said:

PhD

hehehe naughty boy I wet my knickers