46 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Argo who is the chap in your avatar, he looks familiar and yet I can't recall the name.

Give you a clue, surname sounds Dutch.

5 hours ago, Zola said:

Going to this with my dad, looking forward to seeing @Richard P and Jim in the bar for a cold pint!!!

Will be waiting with Jim! See you outside.

1 hour ago, Strider6003 said:

Argo who is the chap in your avatar, he looks familiar and yet I can't recall the name.

It's Steve Holland.

Referee: Craig Pawson

Must win game, Boro are coming to play for survival and we're playing for the title. We can expect to watch a good match.

I'd like to see this starting lineup:

------------------------ Courtois ----------------------

-- Azpilicueta --------- Cahill ---------- Ake ---------

Moses ------ Kante ------ Fabregas ------ Marcos Alonso

--------------- Pedro ------------------- Hazard----------------

------------------------ Batshuayi ------------------------

 

David Luiz should get a break, this match can allow him to do so. 

We also need Fabregas for this game, Boro will try to close as much as they can and won't try to play with attacking style, we can play with Kante only. Fabregas is the key for the door.

COME ON CHELS!!!!!!!!!!!

Nervous, standard. 

Ridiculous we play three days after Tottenham play their fixture, cutting the gap down to 1 point for that period at least. Well played FA/Sky. 

Boro still fighting for their lives, they have to attack I guess, a point probably not good enough for them at this stage. Hopefully with that in mind they leave gaps and we can capitalise. 

7 minutes ago, Gem said:

Nervous, standard. 

Ridiculous we play three days after Tottenham play their fixture, cutting the gap down to 1 point for that period at least. Well played FA/Sky. 

Boro still fighting for their lives, they have to attack I guess, a point probably not good enough for them at this stage. Hopefully with that in mind they leave gaps and we can capitalise. 

Welcome back Gem,.

Hazard hattrick would be nice.

6 hours ago, Gem said:

Nervous, standard. 

Ridiculous we play three days after Tottenham play their fixture, cutting the gap down to 1 point for that period at least. Well played FA/Sky. 

Boro still fighting for their lives, they have to attack I guess, a point probably not good enough for them at this stage. Hopefully with that in mind they leave gaps and we can capitalise. 

Get ready for 3 days of 'Spurs close to within 1 point' 'Chelsea's lead evaporates to 1 point'. Pretty obvious they will beat West Ham, not so important we'll have a game in hand

10 hours ago, mojo said:

Referee: Craig Pawson

The twat that missed the handball v Palace and set the title race open. 

Need 9 points from the remaining 4 games.

Ideally we pick up these 9 points in the 3 upcoming games.

Middlesborough will be fighting for their lives so I don't see this as a given 3 points at all! as its a must win for them. 

Luiz has a slight knock, but apparently he should be fine for the game, If not I would put AKE in.

 

Team 

Courtois

Azibi Luiz Cahill

Moses Kante Matic Alonso

Pedro Costa Hazard

 

   

43 minutes ago, Jezq8 said:

Need 9 points from the remaining 4 games.

Ideally we pick up these 9 points in the 3 upcoming games.

Middlesborough will be fighting for their lives so I don't see this as a given 3 points at all! as its a must win for them. 

Luiz has a slight knock, but apparently he should be fine for the game, If not I would put AKE in.

 

Team 

Courtois

Azibi Luiz Cahill

Moses Kante Matic Alonso

Pedro Costa Hazard

 

   

Borough might be relegated on saturday is Hull beat Sunderland in their game (very plausible)

Bournemouth and Hull have put four past this mob, in their last two away games. Their away form has been wretched which is why they are in the relegation dog fight. Victor Valdes has been the prime reason why they haven't been humiliated but he's probably out against us, with Guzman in goal. On all known form, we should put at least three past them.

15 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Argo who is the chap in your avatar, he looks familiar and yet I can't recall the name.

That's the England manager 

Chelsea have been handed an injury scare in their quest to win the Double, with Thibaut Courtois hurting his right ankle again.

The goalkeeper injured the same ankle that caused him to miss the defeat at Manchester United last month during Sunday’s 3-0 win over Everton .

The Belgium international was limping in the second half at Goodison Park, although he stayed on to complete the 90 minutes.

Standard Sport understands the  24-year-old was still in pain after the final whistle and is now resigned to being in a lot of discomfort for the rest of the season.

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/thibaut-courtois-injury-scare-as-chelsea-goalkeeper-suffers-repeat-ankle-injury-but-vows-to-play-a3528956.html

rest thibo for this one?

One would hope we would win and win comfortably enough against Boro that having Begovic in goal shouldn't make any difference. One would hope.

Boro need to win this one so there should be spaces for our chaps to do the business.

Lets hope training goes well with Begovic this week.

We need to win to restore our 4 point lead, they need to win regardless of what hull do (and sunderland freed by their now confirmed relegation could spring a surprise there). So logically that means we both get the result that neither wants, a draw lol. 

Some of you may well be proven right and we win and win by a decent margin however I really think they will make it hard for us. They seem to do well and keeping things tight. 

4 games to go, no resting of players unless they're in wheelchairs, that's why there's painkilling injections (JT 04-05 seaon a prime example)

Thre's no room for any other prediction than home win, Boro are hapless and for all intent & purpose relegated, Chelsea are 3 wins away from the title, bye bye Boro !

 

Tibo needs to man up and get on with it............we definately need him to play .....even if it's only for the 1st half ......bring on begovitch as a sub when we're 3 goals up.

This really should be an easy 3 points for us. However after the Palace result I'm not going to take anything for granted. Hopefully West ham get a result on Friday to take some of the pressure off.

 

COME ON CHELSEA

Crystal ball predictions:

 

Chelsea (4-3-3): Courtois (c); Moses, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Alonso; Kanté, Zouma, Kenedy; Musonda, Costa, Pedro

Subs: Begovi?, Terry, Aké, Mati?, N. Chalobah, Hazard, Solanke

 

Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Middlesbrough (Pedro, Kenedy, Alonso)

 

Courtois gets the captaincy as Pedro, Kenedy and Alonso score to keep our winning run going in the crucial stages of the season. An unorthodox central midfield trio of Kanté, Zouma and Kenedy, with Charly Musonda starting for the first time are Conte's biggest changes.

 

I've got a good feeling about this one. COYB!

20 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We need to win to restore our 4 point lead, they need to win regardless of what hull do (and sunderland freed by their now confirmed relegation could spring a surprise there). So logically that means we both get the result that neither wants, a draw lol. 

Some of you may well be proven right and we win and win by a decent margin however I really think they will make it hard for us. They seem to do well and keeping things tight. 

Why would Sunderland want to give us a tough game in the last game of the season, about 6 games after they've been relegated? I fully expect a 5-0 pasting that day.

And if Boro are relegated before they come to the bridge, it'll kill their morale and give us a chance for a huge win.

boro will be relegated on saturday

no chance hull will drop points at home versus sunderland

On 5/3/2017 at 11:35, Strider6003 said:

Boro need to win this one so there should be spaces for our chaps to do the business.

Lets hope training goes well with Begovic this week.

I doubt Boro will come to the Bridge and play an expansive game even if they need a win, they will look to keep it tight and hope to nick a goal along the way.

I just hope we can get an early goal and that way Boro will be forced to be more extravagant offensively