That's what I like in football, we have our key players injured, suspended. Spurs are coming after a win, probably favourites in this game, but I do believe that with some heart, motivation and together we can beat every team. 

It's going be hard to choose a good and strong lineup, but it also depends on trainings. 

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

-- Azpi --- Luiz --- Rudiger --

Moses -- Kante - Willian - Alonso

---- Pedro -------- Batshuayi ---

------------- Morata ------------

 

Willian could be our surpise option, we don't have any CM available. Willian is a good attacking player, but he can also play some defensive role. We're going to lose air duels, aggressive game and probably be worse defensively, but we can plan our game on strong pression on Spurs, and play attacking football, when we will press we're going to have 4 players with attacking ability to score, we're going to have speed in counter attacks. When Spurs will have the ball, we can put our 11 on our half and wait for them to come, once they pass the half press them until we will reach the ball. We've a strong line behind our midfield!

Just believe in our team, if we will say that we're sh*t and sh*t, then what are we supporting here? Yeah, I agree our last performance was poor and our opponent for this game is very strong, but let's not turn us into a mid table team that should be afraid to play... Sometimes class, money and form don't win you the game, it only depends on how you prepare yourself before the game. I'm optimistic about this game because I believe that Conte will do the tactical work to get us better and put a better performance. I don't care who we play against, all I want is to fight and play like a team that wants to win and bring our respect back!

COME ON CHELS!!!!!!!!

We can't have Musonda, a 5ft 5 winger, in central midfield. Especially against Spurs. Luiz is much more of a presence, and will be able to physically match the Spurs midfield. Plus I don't think we'll be losing too much at the back with Christensen in there.

Don't forget both Kane and Alli will be available for Spurs. Let's hope that won't be too much for Christensen to handle.

On 12-8-2017 at 23:06, Night-T said:

If you want to play with these player. I suggest to switch Musonda and Boga from position as Charly used to play on that position before he joined Chelsea als for the youth national Teams.

Boga I believe plays also more natural on the outside. 

Not always.

3 hours ago, Carefree_OBrien said:

Ah the English tradition of you must be Tall and built......yet we have Kante who is neither...interesting.

Kante is an exception, he's fast, strong and has good awareness to cut off passing lanes and interceptions. He only lacks height but he offers so much more than that.

Charly on the other hand hasn't proven himself in midfield in England. Spurs have one of the most robust midfield in terms of size and athleticism. They'll probably bully him if he's in the middle.

1 hour ago, Deino said:

Kante is an exception, he's fast, strong and has good awareness to cut off passing lanes and interceptions. He only lacks height but he offers so much more than that.

Charly on the other hand hasn't proven himself in midfield in England. Spurs have one of the most robust midfield in terms of size and athleticism. They'll probably bully him if he's in the middle.

The taller you are, the higher your center of gravity is. Making it harder to turn quickly and accelerate. Did you watch the World Championships ? All the shorter runners are quicker off the blocks and have better acceleration. Hazard is a brilliant example, if you get too close to him too quickly he can make you look a fool, same with Zola. 

So no you don't necessarily need big lumps everywhere bullying the pitch, it's not as straight forward as that. 

7 hours ago, Carefree_OBrien said:

                   Courtois

         Azpi         Luiz       Rudiger

Moses    Musonda    Kante      Alonso

      Willian                    Boga

                     Morata    

I feel Luiz needs to be in that backline....let's be brave....Charly has played this position before!

I can see musonda getting the nod aswell, although whether he will be able to cope physically against wanyama and dembele I have doubts. 

Christiensen has played there aswell so it's not a foregone conclusion that Luiz will be the one pushed into midfield. 

I'm excited for this tbh. It would be a massive lift if we could get 3 points, and anything is possible in a derby, especially at a neutral ground. 

I mean....if you're insisting on putting a winger in CM...you may as well use Willian. At least Willian is pretty strong for his size. Musonda would get bullied off the ball.

I like Musonda a lot, but I don't see him having the ability to stand up against Spurs' strong midfield.

I would have to put Luiz or Christensen in there....probably Luiz. It certainly doesn't help the defence though. Azpi, Christensen and Rudiger are all good players, but it's hard to expect new defences to perform like our regular one.

It's a real mess really.

I'd leave Luiz at the back

If you want to play a defender in midfield then either Rudigier or Christensen. Not convinced either has the ball skills but don't really know.

We just don't have a good option for the secon midfielder and I'd argue even if Fab was available we still wouldn't have a good option.

With the players we have we won't out muscle wanayama and dembele. Just not going to happen.

So I think I'd go for Willian and Kante.

If Pedro unfit the front three are going to struggle any way.

Me I'd send Batshuayi out on loan and buy another striker, namely aubamayang, but that won't help this week, even if it happened.

Either Boga, Pedro, Morata or Boga Musonda Morata.

Hope springs eternal but I can't see the bookies making us favorites.

None of last years front three. Midfield a mess and Rudigier having to play on the left when he'd be better on the right. What a mess.

5 hours ago, coco said:

The taller you are, the higher your center of gravity is. Making it harder to turn quickly and accelerate. Did you watch the World Championships ? All the shorter runners are quicker off the blocks and have better acceleration. Hazard is a brilliant example, if you get too close to him too quickly he can make you look a fool, same with Zola. 

So no you don't necessarily need big lumps everywhere bullying the pitch, it's not as straight forward as that. 

World Championships in what? 

Hazard and Zola are strong for their size, Charly hasn't shown me yet that he can hold off a challenge or shield the ball with his body from a PL level player. 

Edited August 15, 20178 yr by Deino

Park the bus!

One game into the season gentlemen,lets not lose our nerve eh ?

14 hours ago, enigma said:

this will probably be our next temporary home while the bridge is being redeveloped. we may as well get used to winning there, starting with sunday 

Exactly. Come on Chelsea.

How sweet will this win be.?

Come on Chelsea

Just do it! To quote a Nike slogan

 

We need Mosonda to start, in the front three not midfield, as he's the closest we have that can provide that spark Hazard normally does. 

Our team selection will test will test Conte to his limits. Players will have to play out of position so it will come down to what is the least disruptive. Be interesting to see how he handles it, maybe pack midfield with bodies as opposed to experience might be the way. Christensen and Willian alongside Kante with Musonda playing off Morata. 

I watched Spuds play and I honestly think we have a shot.  I just fecking hate the headlines the daily mail is posting. Fecks sake!!!  Chelsea crisis, Players revolt, Conte under Pressure.  Just f**king annoys me!!!

I think we need to think outside the box and I am sure Conte is doing the same right now.  We have enough I think to do well in this.  Spuds did us last season with the cross and header and took advantage of our back 3 shape.  We do not need to stick to this but rather we need to adapt and play to our strengths.  I hope to see something like this. 

                    Courtois

Azpi        Luiz     Chritensen/Rudiger      Alonso    [back four and not back 3] 

           Kante           Moses                                [Physical moses and tones of energy and defensively is good] 

                     Willian                                         [Give Willian free role just behind attack should solidify defense as well]

Pedro/Boga    Morata       Basthuayi                    [Basthuayi looked okay n preseason when he played wide.]

If the Basthuayi role doesnt work swap him with Musonda.  Musonda can interchange with Willian and try to attack in that way.  The back four would be good as Luiz, Christensen or Rudiger can give us height and physique.  Alonso will overlap of course but need to maintain discipline defensively.  I can really see us beating the SPUDS and will love it....

Come on Chelsea!!!              

Could be good news...Bakayoko has been seen joining in first team training today...so maybe he'll be ready for the weekend...

Gonna be a pessimist and predict 3-1 to Spurs, so if we get anything from the game it'll be a pleasant surprise. 

Those lucky enough to go, stay with the team and make as much noise for 90mins. Let's not give everyone in the media more things to write and say.

HAZARD RETURNS TO CHELSEA TRAINING BUT PEDRO REMAINS SIDELINED

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/hazard-returns-to-chelsea-training-but-pedro-remains/w8t7zqqyint81ek3ke0s7dzz7

We are going to win and win convincingly, 3-1 and be 3 up. Boga will get a proper chance and announce him self on the big stage with a dominating performance 2 for morata. 

hopefully boga or musonda get a chance. it was such a shame boga didn't really get a chance to do much on saturday. 

I think spuds will tear us up.... Everyone including me has mocked spuds for lack of buying.. They don't need anyone... Their team is as good as it gets... 3 2 spuds.... Will hate this Sunday.....

Not good Mike, lets hope you are wrong!

48 minutes ago, enigma said:

hopefully boga or musonda get a chance. it was such a shame boga didn't really get a chance to do much on saturday. 

I hope so too, I just hope we have the best performance ever, win the game and buy us a week off from the negative journalists!