Next up, Hull City. We should batter them hopefully!

They got a win today and they've got the new manager effect, so it's won't be easy, but I'd hope we can still get the 3 points. 2-0 Costa with 2.

diego ????

Diego plays? 5 nil...If he doesnt 2 nil Hazard and Fabregas with the goals

7 point gap. Need to make sure that is the least we take to anfield. It would be a help. Another must win ahead of the Liverpool and arsenal double header. 

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

7 point gap. Need to make sure that is the least we take to anfield. It would be a help. Another must win ahead of the Liverpool and arsenal double header. 

I'm not worried about the Arsenal game, I think we'll absolutely twat them.

Liverpool not so much, best I think we're getting at Anfield is a draw.

Hope you are right about arsenal. Worth considering that, after these next 3 games that is both our fixtures played against Spurs, Liverpool and arsenal. Leaving only both Manchester sides of the expected top six to play. If we can maintain a 7 point lead over the rest come the final whistle against arsenal that would set us up quite nicely for a good end to the campaign. 

Question is though, what will happen with Diego. Our title chances may well hinge on whether he stays or how we replace him. 

Not to worry Costa will be back next weekend

We look fine with a False Number 9 , will Pedro and William supporting very effective on the counter 

Same team as the weekend I'd imagine.

4-0. With or without Costa.

Crystal ball predictions here. It's a six-goal thriller, split evenly. Here they are:

 

Chelsea (3-4-3): Courtois; Zouma, Terry (c), Aké; Ivanovi?, Mati?, Kanté, Aina; Willian, Hazard, Pedro

Subs: Begovi?, Luiz, Cahill, Fábregas, Alonso, Batshuayi, Solanke

 

Prediction: Chelsea 3-3 Hull City (Pedro, Hazard, Batshuayi)

 

Oh so many changes again. Aké comes into the team for the first time since his loan spell at Bournemouth ended, as part of a completely different back three. Despite his man-of-the-match performance at Leicester City, Alonso, along with wing back partner Moses, is dropped. The ball also predicts Costa will not return...although it probably would have left him out anyway. Goals to Pedro, Hazard and substitute Batshuayi (our top scorer in crystal ball land) can't prevent a stalemate at home to Hull City.

 

Nah, let's go to Anfield buzzing after hopefully a big win...COYB!

Edited January 16, 20179 yr by BellettiBullet

Its vital with the trip to Anfield and Arsenal at home as our next 2 league games after Hull, that we go and beat Hull. at all costs.

As long as we beat Hull, we cant be caught by anyone, even if we do the unthnkable and lose to Pool and arsenal, we'd still have a 1 point gap which would be squeaky bum time really.

I still maintain that before the Leicester game, if we win 12 games we'd be champions, the ultimate aim is at least 85 points, and now we've a further 3 points on board, we only need 33 points from our remaining games to not be caught.

We're alos the last side to play next weekend so there will be added pressure.

Liverpool will beat Swansea easily at home by about 4 or 5 goals.

Stoke might pull one of the bag against Utd but I'd say Jose will have them up for it so a Utd win is my prediction there.

City will hopefully get a result against Spurs.

Arsenal will beat Burnley at home by a few, Burnely are only good at home.

In saying that we have Burnely away after Arsenal at home and Burnely have the 3rd best home record in the league, thats going to be huge too but lets beat Hull first and worry about the rest then.

 

14 hours ago, Izanagi said:

I'm not worried about the Arsenal game, I think we'll absolutely twat them.

Liverpool not so much, best I think we're getting at Anfield is a draw.

It's funny normally I'd agree but for the first time ever I think we'll beat you. Unless Wenger does his normal masterclass of bottling it and we don't have any major Injuries I think we'll beat you. 

Not being complacent or anything here, but whichever team we put out should get the three points with not too much trouble.

Maybe it could be wise to rest Kante and save his energy for the job he will have in marking Courtinho and Sanchez. RLC is capable of filling in imo.

Zouma must be ready to start now, would love to rest Dave and give Zouma a run out.

pedhazwil in attack has lots of different permutations and will be a nightmare for Hull to defend against. But not sure it's enough against top sides, we need a ball holder (Costa) for those games.

 

5 minutes ago, NovaScotia21 said:

It's funny normally I'd agree but for the first time ever I think we'll beat you. Unless Wenger does his normal masterclass of bottling it and we don't have any major Injuries I think we'll beat you. 

Arsenal bottle ? Two words banded together regularly at this time of the year, but usually by opposition fans.

35 minutes ago, coco said:

Arsenal bottle ? Two words banded together regularly at this time of the year, but usually by opposition fans.

Wenger is the common factor here and the sooner he goes the sooner the club can improve or decline. I just really am sick of the same old predictable crap every season.

I'm looking forward to the Chelsea game though. We beat you when you weren't really playing well so I wanna see how we fair now.

However, I'm not sure how I want us to play as I've not watched Chelsea a whole lot. Do I want us to sit back and then counter attack? Or do I want us to try and dominate possession and press high ?

What does Chelsea usually struggle against ? Im guessing you lot hate the high press judging from your spurs and pool games?

 

Edited January 16, 20179 yr by NovaScotia21

1 hour ago, coco said:

Not being complacent or anything here, but whichever team we put out should get the three points with not too much trouble.

Maybe it could be wise to rest Kante and save his energy for the job he will have in marking Courtinho and Sanchez. RLC is capable of filling in imo.

Zouma must be ready to start now, would love to rest Dave and give Zouma a run out.

pedhazwil in attack has lots of different permutations and will be a nightmare for Hull to defend against. But not sure it's enough against top sides, we need a ball holder (Costa) for those games.

 

Do we really need too? we have a week and a bit between this and Anfield and we will probably rest the key boys in the cup. We only need to look at the example of Rafa vs winless QPR to see what can happen if we get a bit complacent with squad rotation. Furthermore no way will Antonio do it, the league's his bread and butter, he prioritized the points record over a final in his own stadium.

Edited January 16, 20179 yr by Argo

2 hours ago, NovaScotia21 said:

It's funny normally I'd agree but for the first time ever I think we'll beat you. Unless Wenger does his normal masterclass of bottling it and we don't have any major Injuries I think we'll beat you. 

Cazorla is one of your best players. He is out. And every game you seem to pick up an injury. Bellerin is a key player for you and was out on the weekend. Coquelin has a hamstring injury. Maybe he comes back against us. Giroud picked up a knock and not sure regarding extent of it. This is at the Bridge too mate.

1 hour ago, coco said:

Not being complacent or anything here, but whichever team we put out should get the three points with not too much trouble.

Maybe it could be wise to rest Kante and save his energy for the job he will have in marking Courtinho and Sanchez. RLC is capable of filling in imo.

Zouma must be ready to start now, would love to rest Dave and give Zouma a run out.

pedhazwil in attack has lots of different permutations and will be a nightmare for Hull to defend against. But not sure it's enough against top sides, we need a ball holder (Costa) for those games.

 

After this Hull game we have a 9 day wait to our next PL game. Just rest likes of Kante and Azpi against Brentford if he feels he is tired and play likes of Zouma against Brentford.

1 hour ago, NovaScotia21 said:

Wenger is the common factor here and the sooner he goes the sooner the club can improve or decline. I just really am sick of the same old predictable crap every season.

I'm looking forward to the Chelsea game though. We beat you when you weren't really playing well so I wanna see how we fair now.

However, I'm not sure how I want us to play as I've not watched Chelsea a whole lot. Do I want us to sit back and then counter attack? Or do I want us to try and dominate possession and press high ?

What does Chelsea usually struggle against ? Im guessing you lot hate the high press judging from your spurs and pool games?

 

Liverpool game we hadn't change our formation or tactics.

Spuds game we made two mistakes and were punished. We missed two easy chances well Hazard did and 9 times out of 10 he bury's those.

All in all we don't know what we really struggle against because we don't very often struggle these days.

Maybe you can beat us or maybe we will turn you lot over...one thing is for sure though and that's we will be above Arsenal come the end of the season IMO.

1 hour ago, STATS said:

Cazorla is one of your best players. He is out. And every game you seem to pick up an injury. Bellerin is a key player for you and was out on the weekend. Coquelin has a hamstring injury. Maybe he comes back against us. Giroud picked up a knock and not sure regarding extent of it. This is at the Bridge too mate.

After this Hull game we have a 9 day wait to our next PL game. Just rest likes of Kante and Azpi against Brentford if he feels he is tired and play likes of Zouma against Brentford.

Yeah thats true but if we don't get any injuries now then the squad can gel and start playing better. I'm hoping for the best with Xhaka and Ramsey and I'm actually glad Giroud might be out as he's too predictable and easy for your lot to play against. Bellerin is good attacking wise but he really needs to work on his defensive game and so really Gabriel at RB would be the better option for us plus we've conceded less with gabriel at rb. 

I know it's at the Bridge and I said I feel confident this time around as you're playing a different way compared to the years we would struggle. I don't know if how we play would be effective against you but I'm quietly optimistic we can beat you especially if Chelsea are really cocky. I hope the Liverpool game takes it out of you however. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Chelsbear said:

Liverpool game we hadn't change our formation or tactics.

Spuds game we made two mistakes and were punished. We missed two easy chances well Hazard did and 9 times out of 10 he bury's those.

All in all we don't know what we really struggle against because we don't very often struggle these days.

Maybe you can beat us or maybe we will turn you lot over...one thing is for sure though and that's we will be above Arsenal come the end of the season IMO.

I'm really not sure how we'll do as we've usually had a complex when playing Chelsea but we beat you earlier on and so I'm hoping the players arent scared or too cautious. I'm quietly confident we can beat you though and we will but at the same time we could get whopped. 

It will be full strength against Hull barring an injury

Tbo

Azp Luiz Cahill

Moses Kante Matic Alonso

Pedro Costa Hazard

 

Against Brentford we can rotate about 9 or 10 if we have to and go

Bego

Zouma JT Ivan

Aina Cesc Chalobah Ake

Willian Batshuayi RLC

 

 

 

Yeah absolutely no reason to rest anyone.

5 hours ago, NovaScotia21 said:

Wenger is the common factor here and the sooner he goes the sooner the club can improve or decline. I just really am sick of the same old predictable crap every season.

I'm looking forward to the Chelsea game though. We beat you when you weren't really playing well so I wanna see how we fair now.

However, I'm not sure how I want us to play as I've not watched Chelsea a whole lot. Do I want us to sit back and then counter attack? Or do I want us to try and dominate possession and press high ?

What does Chelsea usually struggle against ? Im guessing you lot hate the high press judging from your spurs and pool games?

High pressing with someone in midfield giving an absolute beast of a performance, like Dembélé did. You'll have to score first though and relatively early because there's no way you can keep that up and shut us out for 90 mins.

We can't let our guards down in this game. Hull are surely confident after that win.