i know . i dont think hes brilliant but hes not bad AND he does try

Sick of this lot getting the better of us. Conte has struggled with them for some reason. Let's get a win. No Sanchez is our best chance. 

Caballero, Dave, Luiz, Rudiger, Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Willian, Hazard, Batshuayi

Need to take a leaf out of Bristol City's (titter !) book and attack the Arse tomnorrow, paying them respect with 3-5-2 will be the wrong approach imo

Plus the Robins have proved over 2 legs that City can be got at, so I'm more confident of winning the Crapago tin pot after watching those 2 ties. 

up to Conte with the tactics/ formation and then ultimately the players, lets show the Gooners that CFC is the only team in London please

 

COYB

 

Moses and Alonso needs to bring their A game. And I really want to see Moses pocket the oppo LB and Alonso likewise with the oppo RB.

If we come to win we will win. Simple as that really, its down to attitude. We are the better club.

4 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Hell, who is the back up now?

Conte recently replaced Alonso with Zappacosta as a LWB in one of our previous games while keeping Moses as a RWB.

I guess we can both expect Moses to play the full 90 minutes while Zappa joins in later on at some point in the 2nd half replacing Alonso.

Surprised no one wants to see DD next to Kante, he can defend plus ping a few about at the same time. Unless he's injured?

Edited January 24, 20188 yr by rtwelch
Spelling

Match day.London derby,semi final and all square,should be a cracker.Good away following,so a good start to get us going would help.....anyway COME ON YOU BLUES !

Not Sanchez, I think it's the best thing that could happen. We need to start this game strong and score quickly for play the counter attack.. COME ON BLUEEE 

Most journalists from the conference seem to think we're going with a 3-5-2 tonight. If that's the case i expect to see Willian and Hazard up top with Kante/Drinkwater/Baka in a three man midfield. 

I don't understand why we wouldn't keep the formation that we just spanked someone 4-0 with and won the league with. Plus gives Bats one last opportunity to shine. 

We actually don’t need to win a score draw would see us through after ET.

I have sort of mixed feelings on this game. I want to win but I honestly think whoever wins will lose to City in the final anyway.

Again high tempo from the start so we are into our game from the beginning.

Don't care who scores for us,just so long as we win tonight.

Come on Chelsea!

Apparently Batshayui isn't starting regardless of Morata being out, so it'll be the false 9 again presumably. 

1 hour ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Most journalists from the conference seem to think we're going with a 3-5-2 tonight. If that's the case i expect to see Willian and Hazard up top with Kante/Drinkwater/Baka in a three man midfield. 

I don't understand why we wouldn't keep the formation that we just spanked someone 4-0 with and won the league with. Plus gives Bats one last opportunity to shine. 

I agree. You can't play those beautiful triangles with just two attackers.

If we get through to the final (25th feb) we will have to play Barca once and Citeh twice in 12 days, and rearrange the manyoo game.

 

will be no courtois tonight, still feeling pain. oh god, cabellero makes me nervy. 

Alonso will score tonight. You read it here first. 

3 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

We actually don’t need to win a score draw would see us through after ET.

I have sort of mixed feelings on this game. I want to win but I honestly think whoever wins will lose to City in the final anyway.

Don't be so negative!

City have been fantastic this season but there are signs recently they have been slowing up. In a one off game and that big Wembley pitch we CAN beat them.

Anyway, lets deal with the semi-final first. No Sanchez, so keep Ozil quiet (an early heavy challenge on him should do the job) and it should be job done. Let Hazard give their defence nightmares and hope he, Willian and Bats can link up like they did v Brighton. Really hope we don't play that cagey defensive strategy - lets go for it and Blow Them Away.

COME ON THE CHELS!

 

So what lineup are we expecting? An incredibly defensive 3-5-2 with no striker?

 

Cabellero

Rudiger
Christensen
Azpilicueta

Alonso
Bakayoko
Kante
Drinkwater
Moses

Willian
Hazard

Not looking forward to watching hazard struggle up top with no support. I would put bats up top for his link up play with hazard and willian.

I wont be surprised if Conte plays 3-5-2 with Hazard and Basthuayi up front and we have a terrible game.  He tends to cower against strong sides and flood the midfield to try and just congest the game.  Hopefully I am wrong and we do see a 3-4-3 offensive side with both Willian and Hazard on.  

COME ON CHELSEA - Lets beat this lot today!

Michy is being prepped to leave on loan, so he probably won't be playing tonight.

I think the dreaded false 9 will be used tonight, and I know everyone points out stats on how we win or don't lose many games with false 9 but the attacking performance is usually poor with it.

1 hour ago, enigma said:

will be no courtois tonight, still feeling pain. oh god, cabellero makes me nervy. 

I think we win tonight though don't ask me how.

9 minutes ago, sonic90 said:

how we win or don't lose many games with false 9 but the attacking performance is usually poor with it.

Londonfootball site says 

 

"In all games where Hazard has played as a false 9 under Conte, the Blues have emerged victorious in all and have scored at least three goals in each game."

Doesn't sound like a poor attacking performance to me.

I'd like to see my boy Charly play.