Just now, Chelsbear said:

Exactly.

We always seem to look much better whenever Cesc comes on. Spuds, Liverpool and so on.

 

It's because he takes the pressure off the players with the way he dictates play. Even when he isn't on the ball he is pointing to where the ball needs to be played. We all know he isn't great defensively, but we have 6 other defensive players who can do that job. We shouldn't need to worry about his defensive game.

Fabregas hasn't had a run of games in this formation yet, but when he has started or when he comes off the bench, we tend to look like a better team. I would love to see Conte give him a run of games ahead of Matic.

4 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

It's because he takes the pressure off the players with the way he dictates play. Even when he isn't on the ball he is pointing to where the ball needs to be played. We all know he isn't great defensively, but we have 6 other defensive players who can do that job. We shouldn't need to worry about his defensive game.

Fabregas hasn't had a run of games in this formation yet, but when he has started or when he comes off the bench, we tend to look like a better team. I would love to see Conte give him a run of games ahead of Matic.

Me too. We look very frail on the ball in the big games like we don't want time on it especially Matic. You can see Cesc calms things right down because he's a master with the ball at his feet. That breeds confidence into the midfielders surrounding him as the know he isn't going to just punt it up the park or play a suicide ball to them.

He's such a dangerous and effective player it seems a big waste not using him when we can see he'd offer loads to our team just now. Matic and Kante are usually fine against the Sunderlands and Watfords of the league but I think we need to change it for the weekend like yourself.

1 hour ago, JPH said:

I know most of you hate T'ham the most but for me Arsenal is the team I hate most.

but on the serious tip, don't hate either side - laugh at them - that is what I do & guess what? both of those sides provide plenty of material for me to LOL

Courtois

Azpilicueta - Luiz - Cahill

Pedro - Kante - Fabregas - Matic - Alonso

Costa - Hazard

 

We would boss the central midfield with this setup.

 

I hate Arsenal much more than Spurs as well....the arseholes have been a good team much longer

Although arsenal were always my number 1 hate, i must admit that united and liverpool have edged them out a bit of late, i think its because we usurped them as the top london club so long ago now. As for the game its too easy to get over confident, nobody expected watford to turn them over and arsenal have the players to score goals. I just hope conte starts with fabregas and he scores the winner.

I'd rather Moses sits this one out...last few games he's been found out defending the ball to the back stick and going forward he hasn't looked threatening...bring Zouma into the back three and move Dave to RWB...

Courtois 

Zouma Luiz Cahill

Dave Kante Fabregas Alonso 

Pedro Costa Hazard

3 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

It's because he takes the pressure off the players with the way he dictates play. Even when he isn't on the ball he is pointing to where the ball needs to be played. We all know he isn't great defensively, but we have 6 other defensive players who can do that job. We shouldn't need to worry about his defensive game.

Fabregas hasn't had a run of games in this formation yet, but when he has started or when he comes off the bench, we tend to look like a better team. I would love to see Conte give him a run of games ahead of Matic.

On point. A veteran's insight in the pitch cannot be measured.

33 minutes ago, doctorblue said:

Courtois 

Zouma Luiz Cahill

Dave Kante Fabregas Alonso 

Pedro Costa Hazard

Nice line up!

2 hours ago, doctorblue said:

I'd rather Moses sits this one out...last few games he's been found out defending the ball to the back stick and going forward he hasn't looked threatening...bring Zouma into the back three and move Dave to RWB...

Moses was a boss against liverpool. he hit the post and we wud have been 2-0 up if he scored. he can actually beat his man unlike alonso on the left.Also i dont get why peeps are scared of cesc starting over matic. He did in the crucial away game at man city at did a good job. Assist for costas goal, and pointing to alonso where to pass for the hazard goal

Would be nice to figure out a regular starting place for cesc in the side. He does bring a quality nobody else does. Maybe a 3-5-2?

United just been held at home but hull. Beat arsenal on Sunday and you can basically rule United out of it. 

Edited February 1, 20179 yr by axman2526

5 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

It's because he takes the pressure off the players with the way he dictates play. Even when he isn't on the ball he is pointing to where the ball needs to be played. We all know he isn't great defensively, but we have 6 other defensive players who can do that job. We shouldn't need to worry about his defensive game.

Fabregas hasn't had a run of games in this formation yet, but when he has started or when he comes off the bench, we tend to look like a better team. I would love to see Conte give him a run of games ahead of Matic.

City have started playing Toure as the only holding midfielder and he has nothing on Kante. Kante is the best in the business as a defensive midfielder and I just feel if Conte just lets him sits, fills the gaps any defenders leave and protect the back 3 just the same as makelele did. Let Cesc do his stuff keeping possession, bossing the midfield and that will be keeping the pressure of the defence. We have the best defensive midfielder and passer in the prem, there is a way they can play together. TBH they have never been given a fair chance.

Wenger being in the stands will make no difference to Arsenal. Wenger never sets a team up for specific games, not like the best managers do for example Mourinho use to go to places like Barcelona, Utd, Liverpool etc and get 0-0 draws. Fergie use to give Park his only starts against Arsenal and Chelsea and put 5 in midfield. Wenger never does that, he just plays the same way every game the whole game with no plan b.

Things have changed since then though. We played a 4-2-3-1 or 4-5-1 with an almost completely different defence. Defensively, we are in a better position than we was back then. Fabregas should be able to slot into that midfield nicely.

I have said it many times that we need Cesc in starting line up to make us unpredictable. But majority claimed he doesn't have the legs to play in a 3:4:3 formation, he can't defend, etc.
I was just laughing hard last night when I was reading comments of the same people now claiming we always look better when Cesc plays. To all those who wrote Cesc off initially, "Keep on eating your words"!

It's because he takes the pressure off the players with the way he dictates play. Even when he isn't on the ball he is pointing to where the ball needs to be played. We all know he isn't great defensively, but we have 6 other defensive players who can do that job. We shouldn't need to worry about his defensive game.
Fabregas hasn't had a run of games in this formation yet, but when he has started or when he comes off the bench, we tend to look like a better team. I would love to see Conte give him a run of games ahead of Matic.

I agree with you bro. I have said it many times that with this 3:4:3 formation, we won't need Cesc to defend if he plays because when the opposition gets the ball from us Moses becomes a RB, Alonso becomes a LB, Cahill, Luiz and Cesar become CBs. And usually Kante moves back to support them, that's about 6 defenders. That explains the reason why unlike the former formation the opposition now finds it difficult to create numerous chances or even get a one on one chance against us.
So why in the world must we add a 7th defender in Cesc to the formation when we are not going to play Barcelona and Bayern Munich every week?

Courtois 
Zouma Luiz Cahill
Dave Kante Fabregas Alonso 
Pedro Costa Hazard

The good thing is we won't see this line up except Moses gets injured.

11 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

It's because he takes the pressure off the players with the way he dictates play. Even when he isn't on the ball he is pointing to where the ball needs to be played. We all know he isn't great defensively, but we have 6 other defensive players who can do that job. We shouldn't need to worry about his defensive game.

Fabregas hasn't had a run of games in this formation yet, but when he has started or when he comes off the bench, we tend to look like a better team. I would love to see Conte give him a run of games ahead of Matic.

I agree with 3 CB's, 2 WB's and 2 DM's we have 7 defensive players, wing backs push on but not hugely creative, kante cant pass and matic is hopeless going forward, it's impossible to rely on the 3 front men alone for creativity, as they at times get isolated and we lose the midfield, the team is solid enough to have cesc on, he has plenty of defensive cover and he brings a lot to the table, he did well against city who are the best attackers in the league, matic is a lost position most games, last season cesc was a passenger too much for anyones liking but I actually thick he works much better in this system he gives us composure and temp in midfield which we badly lack.

8 hours ago, doctorblue said:

Courtois 

Zouma Luiz Cahill

Dave Kante Fabregas Alonso 

Pedro Costa Hazard

Foe me that's our best team, I'd love to see it, conte isnt quick to drop players though so not too optimistic it will happen soon...this set up solves problems offensively and defensively, it's just a better team. 

My Best line up:

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

-----Azpi---Luiz---Cahill-----

Moses --- Kante --- Willian

--------- Fabregas --------- 

--Pedro--Costa--Hazard--

 

If zouma can back to full fitness like 2 seasons ago, I think I'll consider moving him into azpi position and then azpi on moses position.. Moses still has that habit of being the last man behind in that offside trap..

I'll take,as usual ,a 1-0 Chelsea win.

However,I would love a 3-0 Chelsea win.

Come on Chelsea,lets beat this mob!

f**k 1-0. I want a drubbing. I want a 6-0 or maybe to better that. They are there for the taking.

all i want is 3 points. we play burnley away next and that will be a tough fixture.Never thought i wud be saying that

I don't care about the score line just a good win

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 [emoji106]🏿[emoji106]🏿