Conte's substitutions do it again, according to the crystal ball. All three score. Here are the predictions:

 

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Courtois; Pedro, Luiz, Zouma, Aina (c); Kanté; Kenedy, Mati?, Fábregas, Willian; Costa

Subs: Begovi?, Terry, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Moses, Alonso, Batshuayi

 

Prediction: Chelsea 3-3 Arsenal (Batshuayi, Alonso, Moses)

 

Another lineup we probably (no, definitely) wouldn't want to see against Arsenal but I think we all would probably take a draw. Batshuayi scores his seventh of the crystal ball season, while Alonso and Moses all net. Confident we will win this.

 

Big shout out from me to one of my favourite players to have ever played for the club in Branislav Ivanovi?. I know this isn't his thread but it was a bit sad going through all the defenders (right and centre back) while doing the predictions and not having Branna there as one of the options to choose from. He's no doubt a legend and will be missed.

 

In Conte we trust. Let's go and win this, lads!

looking at our fixtures, we could potentially drop 4 points at least vs city and utd. the arsenal game this weekend isn't a given either. this title race is not over yet like so many people in the media and opposition fans are believing. gotta say i am a little worried how laboured we've looked lately in the league. we are playing okay and look fairly solid defensively, but we still look like we struggle with high pressing and offensive strength vs the top teams

Some people seem to miss the "wing" in the wingback role. Dave is not much on the Wing but a great defender.

I like having fab play but I do think it's easier at the end of the game and matic is much stronger. As much as Spurs were on top in midfield v Kante/matic they'd have been more on top if Fab had played.

That said other than the fun game against ManU we've rarely looked right on top against the other big teams. Fab does offer attacking options that matic doesn't. Neither score that many goals.

I remember so well the 6-0 schooling we handed out to them at the bridge a few seasons back.

If we can replicate that, I will be over the moon. Hope Diego bags a brace at least, I'm sure he will be itching to find the back of the net after this weeks penalty miss.

Disclaimer; will also take 1-0,2-0,3-0 or any other score line that results in a win.

 

 

Problem with starting Cesc is that it's too easy to play right through him because he lacks defensive acumen. Against a side like Arsenal you don't really want that to happen. 

Conte started him vs Man City and they cut through us so many times. Luckily for us they couldn't really press home their advantage but things could easily have been different on another day. 

3 hours ago, Brutos said:

Also anyone who keeps thinking dropping Moses and putting Azpi at wingback is the way forward am glad you can only manage Chelsea on Football Manager

Dave is a world class right back, his attacking prowess was lost at LB because he is right footed, there is no reason he can't play that position, Moses kills the offside trap on so many occasions, he can't defend the back post having Dave there and zooma there stops balls coming in to be nodded in backpost ala dele alli, the combo of face and Moses on the right gives us zero height, Moses has done well but his defending has been found out and led to at least half the goals we have conceded. Hardly indicates a football manager type thinker  to play a world class right back as rwb and a CB as a CB as opposed to playing an attack minded winger as a defender and a right back as a centre back. 

2 hours ago, enigma said:

looking at our fixtures, we could potentially drop 4 points at least vs city and utd. the arsenal game this weekend isn't a given either. this title race is not over yet like so many people in the media and opposition fans are believing. gotta say i am a little worried how laboured we've looked lately in the league. we are playing okay and look fairly solid defensively, but we still look like we struggle with high pressing and offensive strength vs the top teams

We could drop points but don't forget our rivals all have to play each other so by default they will drop points collectively, if we beat arsenal this weekend the only way we can lose the title is if we manage to drop 10 points or 9 and a goal difference while Tottenham win every single game for the rest of the season, we win on Saturday and it would take some series of diabolical results for us to lose the title however anything can happen and the team will know getting complacent isn't an option 

With Burnley away the next league fixture after this will be interesting to see what the difference is between us and the rest of the pack after these two games. This is a run of 3 really tough games. 

Arsenal's one touch football around the box will cause us some problems...I still don't rate Cahill TBH although he will have a lot to make up for following the game at the Emirates.  A refresh of personnel wouldn't go amiss IMO just to make the opposition manager worry.  I wouldn't mind trying out Pedro in place of Moses; Moses is getting a bit predictable lately and seems to have been somewhat inconsistent over the last few weeks.  I'd also drop Ake in over Alonso as I think he is the better of the two defensively.   Just want to rub Wegner's face in it...here's hoping to a decent 3 points regardless of the scoreline.  

5 hours ago, Brutos said:

Also anyone who keeps thinking dropping Moses and putting Azpi at wingback is the way forward am glad you can only manage Chelsea on Football Manager 

Its bewildering, putting Azpi at wingback and Zouma in RCB undermines all great work Antonio has done.

Screw it you lot are gonna win. Sick of these bottling c**ts but what can you expect when their manager is the biggest loser and coward in the game. Rather Chelsea win the league than Pool or Spurs tbh. I only wish the title was more competitive rather than being sealed at this point. 

Our midfield will be non existent on Saturday and Hazard/Willian will be having fun down our flanks. I can only see us getting something if Wenger doesn't start the Donkey up top. 

 

2-0 Chelsea (Hazard dive for pen;Costa and Hazard) 

3 hours ago, enigma said:

looking at our fixtures, we could potentially drop 4 points at least vs city and utd. the arsenal game this weekend isn't a given either. this title race is not over yet like so many people in the media and opposition fans are believing. gotta say i am a little worried how laboured we've looked lately in the league. we are playing okay and look fairly solid defensively, but we still look like we struggle with high pressing and offensive strength vs the top teams

Mate it's over. The only 3 teams in with a shot of a challenger are the three biggest bottlers in the league (Arsenal, Pool and Spurs). If it were City within 8 points then I'd say it aint over.

I'd rather Chelsea win it out of Pool or Spurs but I only wish the title had been a closer affair as it gets boring when it's tied up this quick though prob not for you lot. Though thats not Chelseas fault its the other teams fault.  

Arsenal can play as much pretty football as they like but we will win they will fold and the crowd a needs to get on them

Let's not forget we're at home, and we're much stronger than Arsenal. The table clearly shows that.

We should win comfortably, I'd say rest Hazard and get him sorted out. Apparently he's carrying a knock? I think we'd need him more for Burnley away game than this one. Can always keep him on the bench just in case, really want to see Hazard playing without the shackles of a knock.

Edited February 2, 20179 yr by dansubrosa

I would love a boring 1-0 win over the gooners - it will sting them a lil', then they will realize that 4th place was  always the goal & that position is still obtainable

5 hours ago, DonAntonio said:

Dave is a world class right back, his attacking prowess was lost at LB because he is right footed, there is no reason he can't play that position, Moses kills the offside trap on so many occasions, he can't defend the back post having Dave there and zooma there stops balls coming in to be nodded in backpost ala dele alli, the combo of face and Moses on the right gives us zero height, Moses has done well but his defending has been found out and led to at least half the goals we have conceded. Hardly indicates a football manager type thinker  to play a world class right back as rwb and a CB as a CB as opposed to playing an attack minded winger as a defender and a right back as a centre back. 

Dave is not an attacking right back. having dave at right back will make our formation 5 2 3. He cant isolate a defender and attack him. i wud rather zouma come on for moses after we have scored at least 2 . then we can park the bus with dave at rwb. Lets not forget daves main attributes. one on defender, and dilligent worker he will offer nothing going foward. I am sure conte already tried it in training and knows it wont work. Even ivanovic is a better attacking fullback than dave he just lacks defensively coz he lost his pace

couple of things, first Hazard has picked up a knock. Secondly le voyeur will sit with CFC fans. That will be an interesting proposition

9 minutes ago, robdog said:

Secondly le voyeur will sit with CFC fans. That will be an interesting proposition

Not a fan of this idea at all, that's at least a dozen home fans who won't be able to get tickets for the game. Wenger broke the rules and is rightly getting punished - the execution of the punishment shouldn't be at his convenience.

agreed, he should be in the dressing room with a tv screen

So Arsene Wenger won't be in Stamford, right?

49 minutes ago, Don Conte said:

Dave is not an attacking right back. having dave at right back will make our formation 5 2 3. He cant isolate a defender and attack him. i wud rather zouma come on for moses after we have scored at least 2 . then we can park the bus with dave at rwb. Lets not forget daves main attributes. one on defender, and dilligent worker he will offer nothing going foward. I am sure conte already tried it in training and knows it wont work. Even ivanovic is a better attacking fullback than dave he just lacks defensively coz he lost his pace

Never said he was,  but neither is alonso and dave is quicker than him, I'd rather miss moses's 1 vs 1 skills which are not that great to be honest than have his defending abilities exposed, he doesnt offer nothing going forward, he was never played on his favoured foot, he can put in better balls than moses and thats more important than running at players, he can still overlap and he can still assist.

23 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

Never said he was,  but neither is alonso and dave is quicker than him, I'd rather miss moses's 1 vs 1 skills which are not that great to be honest than have his defending abilities exposed, he doesnt offer nothing going forward, he was never played on his favoured foot, he can put in better balls than moses and thats more important than running at players, he can still overlap and he can still assist.

Fair enough.. i wont mind azpi at rwb against mancity, or real madrid or barca... but against sorry ass Arsenal we gotta go for the kill and not change out team bcoz we are scared of their attack. With moses we will have them on the backfoot

56 minutes ago, Tibbers said:

So Arsene Wenger won't be in Stamford, right?

He is but he's gonna be in the stands with the Chelsea fans 

Absolutely nutty putting Dave at right wingback. He is so important in providing the reliability to the back 3 and is nowhere near as good as Moses attacking.

Fortunately it ain't gunna happen.

I've been worried about hazards fitness for some time. Pretty sure he is carrying some kind of injury for a while.