2 hours ago, Mike Carefree said:

Its also called football...I hope you are right tho

 

7 points in 6 games is barely a better run of form than the first half of last season, sorry i can get caution but that is just ridiculous.

9 minutes ago, Argo said:

7 points in 6 games is barely a better run of form than the first half of last season, sorry i can get caution but that is just ridiculous.

I'm confused. Who has 7 points in 6 games?

2 minutes ago, Zeta said:

I'm confused. Who has 7 points in 6 games?

That's what Mike was predicting for us over the next 6 games.  Keep up, keep up.

1 minute ago, Zeta said:

I'm confused. Who has 7 points in 6 games?

Who i quoted predicted we would only get 7 points in the next 6 games.

1 minute ago, Zeta said:

I'm confused. Who has 7 points in 6 games?

someone said from this list we take 7 points: 

West Ham away

Stoke Away

Crystal Palace Home

Man City Home

Bournemouth Away

Man Utd Away

 

Someone else said it's pessimism bordering the ridiculous, I tend to agree I think we aim to take 14 points from that list couple of points more to the good would be phenomenal couple of points less would be the bang average for a team of our capabilities. 

On February 27, 2017 at 17:35, Tibbers said:

We are his favourite. 

No were not.

1 minute ago, DonAntonio said:

someone said from this list we take 7 points: 

West Ham away

Stoke Away

Crystal Palace Home

Man City Home

Bournemouth Away

Man Utd Away

 

Someone else said it's pessimism bordering the ridiculous, I tend to agree I think we aim to take 14 points from that list couple of points more to the good would be phenomenal couple of points less would be the bang average for a team of our capabilities. 

Dropping points in any of them outside the Manc clubs would be criminal in my opinion.

Big Sam might make it difficult but we should have too much for Palace at home and i don't think we could have hand picked a better 3 away fixtures than WHU, Stoke and Bournemouth. City twice and Arsenal took the piss out of West Ham at The London stadium, Stoke have conceded atleast 3 vs the top 5 every time and Bournemouth basically will on teams to counter vs them.

12 points is minimum requirement with those 6 games for me.

3 hours ago, Argo said:

Dropping points in any of them outside the Manc clubs would be criminal in my opinion.

Big Sam might make it difficult but we should have too much for Palace at home and i don't think we could have hand picked a better 3 away fixtures than WHU, Stoke and Bournemouth. City twice and Arsenal took the piss out of West Ham at The London stadium, Stoke have conceded atleast 3 vs the top 5 every time and Bournemouth basically will on teams to counter vs them.

12 points is minimum requirement with those 6 games for me.

Yea 12 would be very average, thats allowing for draws with both mancs and one more of the teams listed I assume, 14 would be good, and if we nick a win against one of the mancs then that's 16 points and it's title over. If you actually think about teh suggestion we drop 11 points in the next 6 games ffs where did that come from?  We have only dropped 7 points in 20 games playing all the big teams yet we drop 11 in the next 6 games? No idea where that bollox came from, pragmatism acceptable extreme pessimism..why even share that with others, cheer up. 

everybody must stop counting chickens !!

On ?28?/?02?/?2017 at 14:58, mojo said:

Referee Andre Marriner

Never rated him as one of the best Refs in the Premier League. Hope he gets his act together on Monday.

Not too worried about this one, I'll think we will win. I just hope that for once we can shut the shop quite early.

Think we will do ok but I just worry about  the long balls into the box. Seems we struggle with headers against us 

Edited March 2, 20179 yr by Jezq8

I'd be tempted to play zouma and push azpi to wing back. 

I can't see us not out scoring them though, they will no doubt try to play on the front foot, and hopefully fabregas can exploit the spaces they will no doubt leave behind. 

Title isn't over yet, but if we keep our heads, it will be by the time city come here. 

1 hour ago, big blue said:

I'd be tempted to play zouma and push azpi to wing back. 

 

That would be disastrous, not just Monday, making that move under Conte at any time.

Firstly Azpi is a fundamentally better defender than Zouma in everything but ariel ability. Also we are trying to build a philosophy from playing out the back, Luiz is brilliant at it, Cesar is decent, Cahill isn't all that but is Bonucci (with the ball at his feet). Furthermore while Azpi's ability on the ball is decent for a defender, it certainly isn't for a midfielder.

I like Zouma and he could still be a good squad player as for certain circumstances (ie team's that don't press and play long ball) he would be a very handy option to have, but i feel under Conte he is going to have a similar choice to Mata in the sense he accept's a squad role or goes somewhere he can play week in week out.

If he chooses to stay then were all happy, but i won't begrudge him doing the later either.

Edited March 2, 20179 yr by Argo

With Carroll being declared fit for the hoofs, time for Zouma to come into the back 3 and move Dave to RWB... 

2 hours ago, Argo said:

That would be disastrous, not just Monday, making that move under Conte at any time.

Firstly Azpi is a fundamentally better defender than Zouma in everything but ariel ability. Also we are trying to build a philosophy from playing out the back, Luiz is brilliant at it, Cesar is decent, Cahill isn't all that but is Bonucci (with the ball at his feet). Furthermore while Azpi's ability on the ball is decent for a defender, it certainly isn't for a midfielder.

I like Zouma and he could still be a good squad player as for certain circumstances (ie team's that don't press and play long ball) he would be a very handy option to have, but i feel under Conte he is going to have a similar choice to Mata in the sense he accept's a squad role or goes somewhere he can play week in week out.

If he chooses to stay then were all happy, but i won't begrudge him doing the later either.

I totally understand your point. However it is going to be painful if we concede from carroll pulling onto azpi side fir a header. It is west hams main weapon, and arguably our main weakness. 

Also if Carroll does play, he won't be pressing the centre backs, so zouma would have time on the ball. 

 

4 hours ago, doctorblue said:

With Carroll being declared fit for the hoofs, time for Zouma to come into the back 3 and move Dave to RWB... 

Still 4 days for him to injure himself again, would bet even odds on that.

 

tough game over there no doubt, they always raise their game vs Chels, the good news is one of their best players- Antonio is suspended

BUT cant see any normal outcome being anything other than an away win, unless abnormal prevails - bad refereeing, red cards, Carrol hat trick (lol), our forwards all come down with the flu Sunday etc.

As for the pessimistic points haul predictions, its my understanding only 1 team has bottled from a similar position, Keegan's toon (were 12 points ahead in January 96, but sadly by early March were only a point in front, with the risk of repeating myself that's currently 10 for CFC)

So wtf are we getting edgy, I'm not one to count fowl in advance either but as soon as another 6 points are on the board I'm booking my flight over for the last game of the season, got tickets lined up, think it just might be a great Sunday out that day.

i know its off topic but would like to wish fernando Torres a healthy recovery. Just seen his head injury and it made me sick to my stomach. It was like watching a man die on tv. Gods speed Fernando. You might not have lit up the bridge but you always gave 100percent and of course that game in the camp nou..  

I don't think it's wise to draft Zouma in just for the sake of marking Caroll ( who might not even start). Azpi is a better defender all round ( as stated by others), his all round game is much more valuable than Zouma's physicality. I expect this match to be similar to Swansea, we will have most of the ball, of course they will be dangerous with their long ball. Cahill/Luiz are pretty good at dealing with big tall target man, and we got Kante to get the flick on or second ball.

Azpi has been excellent as right side of back 3. Very reliable, and that's vital for a defender. Zouma is both faster and better on the ball than you would think for a big guy, but he is nowhere near azpi in terms of reliability.

Every game is a must win. We say it every week. But for me that Swansea game was absolutely massive and I hope the Chelsea players understand how big those 3 points were too. That should be the perfect motivation to kick start a nice winning run in the league.

11 hours ago, General said:

tough game over there no doubt, they always raise their game vs Chels, the good news is one of their best players- Antonio is suspended

BUT cant see any normal outcome being anything other than an away win, unless abnormal prevails - bad refereeing, red cards, Carrol hat trick (lol), our forwards all come down with the flu Sunday etc.

As for the pessimistic points haul predictions, its my understanding only 1 team has bottled from a similar position, Keegan's toon (were 12 points ahead in January 96, but sadly by early March were only a point in front, with the risk of repeating myself that's currently 10 for CFC)

So wtf are we getting edgy, I'm not one to count fowl in advance either but as soon as another 6 points are on the board I'm booking my flight over for the last game of the season, got tickets lined up, think it just might be a great Sunday out that day.

 

I honestly think only 2 teams can steal the title from us. Spurs and Man City.

United are just that extra point too far behind and their unbeaten run is on borrowed time.
Arsenal and Liverpool need no explanation.
Spurs are out of Europa, but I think they need Kane and Ali performing every game to stay near us. They don't have the experience and they will fall short.
City have a great squad but their defence is so bad and looking at their fixture list you would say they have alot to do. 

As long as we remain consistent the we should be able to wrap this up sooner rather than later.

I'll only accept a win by a 3 goal margin. Their best player and biggest goal threat is suspended. Costa - Hazard - Pedro should have an absolute field day against these small teams. Start Fab and let him work his magic. 

1 hour ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I'll only accept a win by a 3 goal margin. Their best player and biggest goal threat is suspended. Costa - Hazard - Pedro should have an absolute field day against these small teams. Start Fab and let him work his magic. 

A London Derby and a Monday night hostile crowd will have an effect, but I agree, no excuses - 3 points are a must, although I would take any margin.