1 minute ago, Deino said:

Likely but very limited creatively. Playing for a draw then?

Sadly we're devoid of many of our creative players...so a more attritional approach may be more appropriate...

10 hours ago, EmeraldBlue said:

Off topic: lost to Galway in the semi final. Waterford are the other finalists.

as they say, there's always next year!

here's hoping we've something to cheer on the Shedend this season...

My guess...

Courtious
Azpi Christiansen Rudiger
Moses Luiz Kante Alonso
Willian Morata Musonda

Bit thin on the ground, but I guess it will have to do

2 hours ago, qaz01 said:

My guess...

Courtious
Azpi Christiansen Rudiger
Moses Luiz Kante Alonso
Willian Morata Musonda

Bit thin on the ground, but I guess it will have to do

That's the line up I see too

We will win. COME ON CHELSEA.

Paul Merson's predictions. I think he hasn't really checked the possible lineups. Full of sh*t.

Tottenham v Chelsea - Nissan Super Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports Premier League

Chelsea won't lose here. I think both teams will be more than happy with a draw. You have to remember that the last thing Tottenham want to do is lose this game - their first at Wembley this season - and Chelsea can't afford to lose a second game on the bounce.

Both teams will be nervous and I think it will be quite cagey.

If not a draw I would probably go Chelsea. I was not impressed with Tottenham at Newcastle, I thought they were poor.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)

Lads-

I'm shocked nobody has mentioned how important this game is for Thibaut Courtois. When Tottensh*t exposed azpi/moses last season courtois was just as culpable. Seriously go watch those goals and Thibaut's efforts to keep the ball out. He channeled his inner David "flappy hands" de Gea.

I'm not too worried about them breaking us down and playing through our back line. Harry Kane is sensational and a handful for any defender but we will always have a strength/speed combo marking him (Rudiger is our slowest defender without Cahill involved but he's strong as hell, and he's flanked by the pacey azpi, and christiansen who has a decent bit of leg to him). If we concede, it'll be from a shot outside the box or a header from close. I dont see spuds breaking us down. This is why Thibaut Courtois has to have his best ever game in a Blue shirt if we want give ourselves a decent chance at winning. 

Thibaut needs to dominate his box. He's 6' 6". He's a giant. I wanna see him gathering crosses and then starting our counter attack quickly (on that note I'll mention I pray boga starts; the man is a beast and always wants to prove himself). Conte will be setting up situations in training with crosses coming into the back post. We all know where we're weak, I can't imagine conte, a master tactician, not drilling his players on the issue. I just hope he's telling the BFG to gather anything remotely near the six yard box.

 

Real quick before I finish, I like our chances against Tottenham. We know the negatives, but here are some positive factors: We're essentially playing at a neutral ground and it's a London Derby. I'm sure our traveling support will be up for it. We're gonna see youth used from the start which is something a lot of us have been yelling for. Boga, Christiansen, Musonda, Tomori could all get decent time and let's hope after seasons of loans that these kids step up and get a fire in their belly for a derby match. They all have something to prove. Also, Spurs are going to come out and play their game. A style of play we're familiar with and have faced many times recently (worth noting first time without Kyle Walker bombing down the flank). Our XI is a mystery unto everyone but Conte really. Tottenham have to guess and conjecture just as much as we do. Conte know's our strengths. He's a master at getting the best out of the eighteen players he has available to choose from at KO. We can come out and surprise spurs. 

Stay positive and KTBFFH.

We will win, don't worry about that. 

Next weeks headlines will be "Tottenham in termoil" "no transfers", "manager asked for more players", "Manager didn't get his targets". "Dressing room unrest".

 

    

 

Edited August 17, 20178 yr by abramovich

I will probably bust a nut if i see both players start at wembley. Will be skeptical bcoz those scums cud easily re injure them and mess up our season

Kenedy is a brunette again.

2 minutes ago, abramovich said:

Kenedy is a brunette again.

wow is that the qpr game

 

Looks like Boga is the more likely to start ahead of Musonda thought that would be the case after Burnley but I know there were a few people that wanted him to start.

20 minutes ago, PedroMendez said:

Looks like Boga is the more likely to start ahead of Musonda thought that would be the case after Burnley but I know there were a few people that wanted him to start.

Boga is already a very strong build, possibly not quite as talented as Musonda though.

I wish that this behind doors friendly that Hazard and Bakayoko played today could have happened a week sooner. I'm glad they are that close but how I wish they were both available to play 90 on Sunday.

4 minutes ago, MissouriBlue said:

I wish that this behind doors friendly that Hazard and Bakayoko played today could have happened a week sooner. I'm glad they are that close but how I wish they were both available to play 90 on Sunday.

I imagine the main reason for the friendly was to give Hazard and Bakayoko match fitness, it will have been a very second string QPR as the Championship is already in full flow and therefore really would npt have been worth any other first team players playing in.

Just now, PedroMendez said:

I imagine the main reason for the friendly was to give Hazard and Bakayoko match fitness, it will have been a very second string QPR as the Championship is already in full flow and therefore really would npt have been worth any other first team players playing in.

 Apparently it was QPR's Under 21 side.

                       Courtois
        Rudiger -- Christensen -- Luiz
Azpilicueta                                Alonso
                 Kante -- Bakayoko
       Pedro                             Willian
                      Morata

1 hour ago, MissouriBlue said:

I wish that this behind doors friendly that Hazard and Bakayoko played today could have happened a week sooner. I'm glad they are that close but how I wish they were both available to play 90 on Sunday.

Me too but we can't rush injury recovery. I hope Hazard and Bakayoko has fully recovered. Match fitness will have to wait  til Sep

On 12/08/2017 at 17:16, Zeta said:

Hopefully Pedro will be available by next week. I don't know how far off Bakayoko is and if there's a chance he might be rushed back, but I'd expect something like:

 

Courtois

Rudiger
Christensen
Azpilicueta

Alonso
Kante
Luiz
Moses

Pedro
Morata
Willian

I think that team is better than Tottenham, it's not as grave a situation as many thought 

They have a functioning and almost unchanged lineup for 3 seasons. I think they have the upperhand here without a shadow of a doubt. Plus they are home and eager to win the first Wembley-game.

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2017/8/17/16164746/bakayoko-available-for-chelsea-against-spurs-hazard-could-be-too-reports

Telegraph are reporting that Bakayoko is fit to play and Hazard is a possibility too. 

 

good analysis on Sky this morning of why Morata's style of play suits us better than Michy's. Basically saying that Morata likes to drop off the centre backs and this creates space for Willian/Hazard/Pedro and ultimately Alonso and Moses. In contrast Bats wants to play on the shoulder of the centre back and this can make it more difficult for those other players to get behind the opposition's back 4.

having heard this, I want to see Morata start on Sunday. I think Spurs have to be favourites for this game in light of the changes we have to make. How they cope with being talked up as favourites will be interesting.

other comment this morning on the contrast between the size of the pitch at White Hart Lane and at Wembley. WHL had one of the smallest pitches in the PL so some questions about how the Wembley pitch will affect their game.

Looking forward to Sunday - some trepidation but I think we can expect something unexpected....