Due to Watfords injuriy list and current run of form, I fancy us to nick this in an ugly way. but still I fear that it's just a matter of time (maybe knockout in the Champions League) until the board will sack Conte....It's just the way our board was, is and will always be.

11 hours ago, Famous CFC said:

At the moment he's got the same face Mourinho had during the closing moments of the massacre at Stamford Bridge back in October of 2016. 

To be fair we have to look at the board, the club culture isn't a friendly one, it has brought us success but no stability, we have all turned on Mou who was a legend here, ever think the club were bastards to him? I mean he has an attitude but he loved Chelsea, we have seen contes transformation from bags of energy and joy to gloom, we sacked Ancelotti after winning the double.

It's insane we are even talking about sacking conte, he won the league with a team that finished 10th the season before, he is in the top 4, in the CL, the FA cup and without being backed in the window nearly as well as I'm sure he was promised, what more can he do? 

I just think we have created the wrong atmosphere it might have been necessary for success but it's not working now, we need stability we are at a different stage of our evolution the club needs to start backing managers not villanising them...just my thoughts. 

Edited February 5, 20188 yr by ScrubsLaneCFC

I haven't turned on Mourinho. Football is a business and all that. Chelsea do what they think is it best. Jose had a chance to stay in the EPL so he took the United job(Job he's always been interested in) the incident at Chelsea was unfortunate, Conte over excited, Jose reminding him who too a certain extent built this house. If Conte came back to Chelsea and acted the way Jose did that October early evening, id respect him. We have beautiful memories with Jose that will last a lifetime. Probably gone off topic there, but oh well.

Edited February 5, 20188 yr by Famous CFC

No Cahill in the centre of the back three, no Bakayoko full stop, No Barkley until he's fully fit. Just give him sub appearances. Luiz is a liability too in central defense so this is a quandry. Maybe put Rudiger in the centre and Cahill  to his left. Dave is reliable so his place is assured. Kante and DRinkwater in midfield. ALonso and Zappacosta as wing backs and Hazard Willian and Giroud upfront. We need to win this match. Let's hope we manage it. COME ON YOU BLUES !!!

Edited February 5, 20188 yr by TheBluesBrother

With Spuds and LOLerpool dropping points, this game has become one of the most imoprtant of the season.

We've a chance to gain points on two teams, we've not won enough points when teams around us have dropped them, hence why we're clinging on 4th at the moment, I've no doubt in my mind that we've the 2nd best squad in the league but we've seriously under performed in key games.

Hoepfully tonight is a return to winning ways, the sooner we forget about Bournemouth the better.

I'd go with :

Tbo

Azp Luiz Rudiger

Zappa Kante Cesc Alonso

Willian Giroud Hazard

Cahill is beyond useless and was at fault for 3 of the goals last week, Bakayoko also falls into that category and hes had fair more poor games for us than good ones.

On a somewhat encouraging note, Watford have the worst home record in the league, whereas we have the second-best away record.

I'm pretty confident we'll smash them, but at the same time I really think we need Giroud to start. 

11 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

On a somewhat encouraging note, Watford have the worst home record in the league, whereas we have the second-best away record.

And Crystal Palace had no points when we played them... unjinx!

I think we are winning today.  I see a 3-0 coming and a great performance from the team.  if Giroud is not yet fit to start then no point risking it!  Would go with the following 

            Courtois

Azpi    Rudiger  Cahill   Alonso

        Ngolo     Ampadu

            Fabregas

Willian    Hazard      Pedro

If Willian is not yet ready - i would sub him out for Odoi.   This would be my preferred team, but then again - Conte will not switch to back 4 - we are likely to have Cahill as CB and Moses/Zappacosta!

          Courtois
Azpi - Rudiger - Luiz - Alonso
       Kante - Bakayoko
  Pedro - Willian - Hazard
           Giroud

4 minutes ago, the special one said:

And Crystal Palace had no points when we played them... unjinx!

This admittedly went through my head while posting - now there is salt everywhere, and due to my unusual interpretation of 'touch wood' some other messes I'd rather not go into detail about.

Ampadu isn't starting in midfield anytime soon. And Like this would be the best game to start him in anyway. Watford will trying and rough Chelsea up tonight. Plenty of yellow cards tonight. 

Edited February 5, 20188 yr by Famous CFC

I think at the moment we are expecting to win these games easily, when realistically, there a lot closer than what we want to admit. I wouldn't say it's 50/50 game, but it's 40/60 Chelsea at best. 

26 minutes ago, the special one said:

          Courtois
Azpi - Rudiger - Luiz - Alonso
       Kante - Bakayoko
  Pedro - Willian - Hazard
           Giroud

Oh I like that lineup, that would be a very strong attack that. 3-0 on the way.

Giroud is on the bench tonight, should have started

Don’t worry about the false number 9 as it will work tonight, it’s the perfect game with playing on the counter against a Watford team who will attack at home. The front 3 will get plenty of space. 

We should ahve beem losing 4-1 the last time we played them before we equalised and went on to win.

They missed some serious sitters at the Bridge a few months ago.

I wouldnt write them off anyway at all but its one of the most win games for me, a bit of confidence going into the most difficult period of playing Barca and Utd away would be ideal.

if he plays the false 9 tonight whilst giroud is fit and on the bench, i wonder what giroud will be thinking

46 minutes ago, luckywerthers said:

if he plays the false 9 tonight whilst giroud is fit and on the bench, i wonder what giroud will be thinking

If Giroud is on the bench he must get at least half hour. He is fit enough, played 20mins v Swansea for Arsenal the day before we signed him.

Sometimes Conte likes to bring a sub on with 8mins or so left, not enough IMO at times.

 

On a side note, I see a lot of media sh*te that if we lose they think  Conte will be sacked... I hope not, think he is brilliant.   Does anyone else think he might?

3 points a must, no excuse. I am actually more confident when we play away than when we play at home to be honest! 

2 hours ago, Famous CFC said:

Ampadu isn't starting in midfield anytime soon. And Like this would be the best game to start him in anyway. Watford will trying and rough Chelsea up tonight. Plenty of yellow cards tonight. 

They also have the new manager 'bounce'.   It is going to be very very difficult.  bournemouth tore us a new one ffs, at home!

1 minute ago, Itsintheblood89 said:

3 points a must, no excuse. I am actually more confident when we play away than when we play at home to be honest! 

start Cesc and i think we will win (and give Giroud enough minutes to have an impact) play 2 defensive mids and i will freak.  Bakayoko = bench

Just now, RickUK said:

start Cesc and i think we will win (and give Giroud enough minutes to have an impact) play 2 defensive mids and i will freak.  Bakayoko = bench

No need for 2 DM's.

I would go - Tibo, Azpi, Rudiger, Luiz (if fit), Alonso, Moses, Kante, Cesc, Hazard, Willian, Pedro/Giroud

5 minutes ago, Itsintheblood89 said:

No need for 2 DM's.

I would go - Tibo, Azpi, Rudiger, Luiz (if fit), Alonso, Moses, Kante, Cesc, Hazard, Willian, Pedro/Giroud

agree.  Cahill has been iffy lately, but suspect he will still start.  Masive rudiger fan, so pacey.  Little nervous at times on the ball but his passing is good too

Edited February 5, 20188 yr by RickUK

3 minutes ago, RickUK said:

agree.  Cahill has been iffy lately, but suspect he will still start.  Masive rudiger fan, so pacey.  Little nervous at times on the ball but his passing is good too

i just want us to take the initiative. We always seem to need the oppo to score to get us going. the only recent exception to this was Brighton away. I hope we start like that again!