matchday COYB!!!

I'm nervous and need another poo.

I have to say, I will be disappointed if we don't win this. Sure, Liverpool are great in attack, but as we all know, absolutely sh*te in defence. Going for a 3-2 win here, I can see Salah scoring today for them, but Hazard will steal the show

Key thing for me is that we don't let the heads drop if we go a goal or two down. Liverpool are very dangerous going forward, but they don't close games well. Can see there being a few goals in this, and as long as we have the legs (and shooting boots on) in the latter stages I fancy us taking three points.

I won't go quoting all of the people who have disagreed with my opinion on Kdb, ignoring the contect and where I said

"I wasn't that convinced at the time, and am still of the opinion that he showed nothing special whilst with us.  Like a lot of players, he improved but, also like a lot of players, didn't do enough while with us to justify a place.  Look at Matic - wasn't CFC standard and got sold.  Vastly improved whilst away, and got bought back and was excellent.  Went down a bit lately, but that's another matter.

AND, I still think KdB is a flawed player who happens to be playing in an excellent team which matches his skill set."

and

"I'll accept that he is better now than then, but still maintain that he wasn't good enough for a first team place at the time, showed nothing exceptional to say he would be and wasn't patient enough or hard-working enough to force his way into the team by his skill and ability."

My main point is that he did nothing at all to warrant displacing Lampard or any of the other first teamers while he was with us, and it is very easy to say wth 20/20 hindsight that it was a mistake to sell him, but there was nothing definitive at the time that convinced me that KdB, Salah, Cuadrado or, for that matter, Lukaku had what Drogba, Lampard, Hazard had to such an extent that they were top-class players, fit for a top European club first team.  I think a lot of people who are now saying they could see that these were going to be world-class greats are judging based on current performances and not on what they did while they were with us.

It's all very well saying that they didn't get a chance.  I dispute that, and believe that anyone good enough will force their way into the team, based on their ability and their attitude in training and elsewhere.  These four, and many more, just weren't good enough at the time.

I wonder how many of the KdB supporters are the same ones who regularly abuse players in the match threads and elsewhere for being pish, when those abused players, such as Cahill, Willian, Cesc and Alono are streets ahead in performance of what the players under discussion were displaying while they were with us?

cold windy rainy night ahead

Team to play Liverpool: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta, Drinkwater, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Hazard, Morata

fabregas mustnt be 100%. Strong team defensively. Hopefully morata and hazard can do the damage without cesc pulling the strings. 

What a team. Hope we don't concede early goal cuz the things are going to get ugly. We will try to keep the middle, give them a fight and totally rely on Hazard and Morata individual skills and magic. 

Drinkwater starts and cesc on the bench ?

 

has cesc picked up a knock ?

looking at that Liverpool team I feel we should be taking all three here. COYB!

Conte wants midfield command.

14 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

I won't go quoting all of the people who have disagreed with my opinion on Kdb, ignoring the contect and where I said

"I wasn't that convinced at the time, and am still of the opinion that he showed nothing special whilst with us.  Like a lot of players, he improved but, also like a lot of players, didn't do enough while with us to justify a place.  Look at Matic - wasn't CFC standard and got sold.  Vastly improved whilst away, and got bought back and was excellent.  Went down a bit lately, but that's another matter.

AND, I still think KdB is a flawed player who happens to be playing in an excellent team which matches his skill set."

and

"I'll accept that he is better now than then, but still maintain that he wasn't good enough for a first team place at the time, showed nothing exceptional to say he would be and wasn't patient enough or hard-working enough to force his way into the team by his skill and ability."

My main point is that he did nothing at all to warrant displacing Lampard or any of the other first teamers while he was with us, and it is very easy to say wth 20/20 hindsight that it was a mistake to sell him, but there was nothing definitive at the time that convinced me that KdB, Salah, Cuadrado or, for that matter, Lukaku had what Drogba, Lampard, Hazard had to such an extent that they were top-class players, fit for a top European club first team.  I think a lot of people who are now saying they could see that these were going to be world-class greats are judging based on current performances and not on what they did while they were with us.

It's all very well saying that they didn't get a chance.  I dispute that, and believe that anyone good enough will force their way into the team, based on their ability and their attitude in training and elsewhere.  These four, and many more, just weren't good enough at the time.

I wonder how many of the KdB supporters are the same ones who regularly abuse players in the match threads and elsewhere for being pish, when those abused players, such as Cahill, Willian, Cesc and Alono are streets ahead in performance of what the players under discussion were displaying while they were with us?

I agree with you when you say they werent at the level they are now but my issue is they were boys at that time Lukaku kdb and salah. At that point in their careers they needed support more than anything , the problem was that Jose was looking at short term/win titles rather than build a team/long term. It would have been better to loan them or even have a buyback clause when selling them. instead of ending all ties with them.

We're due a win, Come on Chelsea!!

both lineups are baffling. I honestly dont know what to expect. Drinkwater,chamberlain,sturridge starting?

Of that Liverpool side, Salah and Coutinho are the only ones that worry me

No Willian, No Pedro?  No Cesc (I understand that one) mmmmmmm not sure what to make of this line up.  I guess hold them for the first hour ?

15 minutes ago, big blue said:

fabregas mustnt be 100%. Strong team defensively. Hopefully morata and hazard can do the damage without cesc pulling the strings. 

 

No, Conte is playing a 3 man midfield to counter Liverpools attack. Fabregas is fine ir's just tactics. I think Conte is being wise.

17 minutes ago, Jezq8 said:

Drinkwater starts and cesc on the bench ?

 

has cesc picked up a knock ?

Didn't Cesc played the full the 90 at Baku?

Rest more than anything.

Intelligent tactic ; very strong in the midfield to kill their attacks ! Hopefully we(ll get a win ! Come on Chelsea!!!

Heh. Earlier this season I was angry at Fabregas starting games now I’m angry that he’s been dropped. 

Think it's a mistake playing drinkwater.

Playing for a draw maybe 

1 hour ago, Seven Times said:

I'm nervous and need another poo.

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue 

6 minutes ago, TheBluesBrother said:

 

No, Conte is playing a 3 man midfield to counter Liverpools attack. Fabregas is fine ir's just tactics. I think Conte is being wise.

fabregas has been part of that midfield 3 every time conte has opted for 352. I don't think we need another defensive player in that midfield tbh. Are we saying is kante and bakayoko need more help defensively? id be very surprised if this was tactical, I think it would be more down to fitness  

Licking my lips at Liverpool's back 4. Looking very wobbly.