35 minutes ago, Valerie said:

That doesn't mean somebody else can't be a better choice this season.

True, but writing him off when he has barely played yet this season is a little harsh.  

42 minutes ago, Blueblur said:

True, but writing him off when he has barely played yet this season is a little harsh.  

I remember Cahill getting quite some flack on occasion during last season, so it's nothing new.

I would like to see Cahill in the RCB position before making a call on him. Though without doubt he is a battler and often gets us a goal after he makes a defensive mistake.

8 hours ago, Chigzzer said:

Cahill still is banned 

It's a shame he can't get shown a straight red every 3 games.

wud take adraw there,

A draw would not be a disaster though I expect us to win.

Well now we know our options lets go with a 3-5-2

 

Tibo

 

Azpi

Luiz

Rudiger

 

Zappacosta

Kante

Cesc

Drinkwater

Alonso

 

Hazard

Morata

 

Also how could our bench look like if that was our team?

 

Willy

Chrisensen

Moses

Baka

Willian

Pedro

Batman

 

Not bad

Edited September 1, 20178 yr by axman2526

No chance I'd bring hazard back as a starter into this, I wouldn't start him at least until the end of the month, with the exception maybe of qarabag and Nottingham forest, he would come on second half for this and Arsenal if it was up to me and rested against stoke, you don't play stoke when nursing an injury. 

It's not worth risking him. We have athletico on the 27th then city on the 30th, can't see us doing anything in those games without a fully fit and on it hazard. 

I think we might start bakyoko but otherwise unchanged. Hazard played for Belgium so maybe h2 against Leicester. 

The first international pause is longer than the entire summer for me. What a s*it this is. Jesus. I want to watch Chelsea, not international, for God's  sake. 

Edited September 1, 20178 yr by Pendergast

Well after the late signings of drinkwater and zappcosta it atleast gives us some depth.

anyway I think this will be a tough encounter, but we should be good enough to get the 3 points.

courtois

azibi luiz rudiger 

Moses Kante bakayoko Alonso 

willian morata Pedro 

subs: Willy, Michy, Christensen, Hazard, Fabregas, Zappacosta, Drinkwater 

Well, Hazard played yesterday almost 80 minutes, and yesterday was 10 days away from this one. So I don't see any reason keeping him out of this. We need him desperately and he is one of the strongest physically players I've ever seen in Chelsea. I mean how many injuries do you remember after tackle or something like that. None. He should start.

 

Courtois

Dave Luiz Rudiger

Moses  Fabregas Kante  Alonso

 Willian  Morata    Hazard

On 29/8/2017 at 14:17, doctorblue said:

Can see Conte adopting 352 for the tougher games with Kante Bakayoko Fabregas in the cage...

Morata and Hazard forward.

Please don't play Drinkwater, I'm not ready to see him and Kante playing in the middle against us. It'll break by little heart.

He'll be on the bench, but I'd imagine he will probably come on at some point. Unless we're chasing the game.

So, we have our squad ready, only Cahill is missing. 

I'd like to see this starting lineup:

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

-- Azpilicueta - Luiz - Rudiger --

Moses - Kante - Fabregas - Alonso

------- Willian ---- Pedro -------

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

 

Fabregas and Morata worked well together, we have to continue that. Hazard is back, but I'd rather put him on in the last 30 minutes. Same as Bakayoko and sweet welcome to Drinkwater or Zappacosta.

I believe we have to win this game, a draw is not really good for us. By this game we would see how far we can go this season, I expect to watch a good and strong performance by us. COME ON CHELS!!!

Interesting to see the team selection.

I would go with

Tibo

Azpi Andreas DL

Moses Baka Kante Alonso

Willian Morata Hazard

 

 

3 hours ago, foxedup said:

Please don't play Drinkwater, I'm not ready to see him and Kante playing in the middle against us. It'll break by little heart.

I don't think he will start but he'll probably have a cameo or something. Conte doesn't really like playing newly bought players on the next available game. He usually waits until they've integrated with the squad a bit in training.

2 hours ago, didierforever said:

 

Tibo

Azpi Andreas DL

Moses Baka Kante Alonso

Willian Morata Hazard

 

 

Imo Luiz wouldnt be suited to the left side, he needs to be in the center so he can have the space to pass the ball out, Andreas i see more on the left in the JT position covering Alonso. Switch them around and that would be my team too.

Tibo 

Dave SSB Rudiger

Moses Kante Bakayoko Alonso

Cesc 

Hazard Morata 

Edited September 1, 20178 yr by doctorblue

On 30/08/2017 at 12:51, icecoolguy22 said:

I thought our defence was great in the last 2 games without Cahill, he will/should sit out should be keep winning. Rudiger has the pace, ball skill and passing game Cahill doesn't possess. I hope Hazard plays a cameo, don't think Conte will risk him, we have been there and it was awful.

Watching Rudiger I have high hopes he will be a solid defender but his distribution looks like it needs a lot work. I make no apology for saying Cahill is my type of "defend first" defender and I still think he is woefully underrated and has a big role to play for us.

9 hours ago, just said:

Watching Rudiger I have high hopes he will be a solid defender but his distribution looks like it needs a lot work. I make no apology for saying Cahill is my type of "defend first" defender and I still think he is woefully underrated and has a big role to play for us.

Completely agree about Rudiger's distribution but that's something that can be improved...I think the left side of the back three is the berth that's up for grabs...it should be a some fight between Christensen, Rudiger and Cahill...

On 30/08/2017 at 16:43, OverAndOut said:

It's a shame he can't get shown a straight red every 3 games.

This sort of bile that we see from so called "fans" on social media towards Gary Cahill honestly repulses me. Cahill is without doubt not the best defender we've ever had and he makes errors, but his positive aspects by far outweigh his negatives. After his error against Arsenal last year, how many notable mistakes did he make on the way to his second premier league title in a side with a fantastic defensive record? Not very many by my count. Show some respect to a truly lovely man who bleeds blue and is a great English captain. 

On 8/31/2017 at 02:05, joey69 said:

wud take adraw there,

SHAME

Drinkwater hatrick confirmed