Yeah you'd think you'd keep that one up your sleeve if you were changing systems.  I don't believe we will be changing systems.  I think we just hope to see some new ideas for progressing the ball. Seems teams are pressuring us high up the pitch currently and waiting for a mistake. Doesn't help that our midfield aren't the greatest at holding the ball. 

18 hours ago, Zeta said:

He said in the press conference he won't be changing the system.

If this is the case, then why?  Other managers adopted his system last year - Wenger being one of them who even criticised the system and it worked for them during the run in.

39 minutes ago, Fendieta said:

If this is the case, then why?  Other managers adopted his system last year - Wenger being one of them who even criticised the system and it worked for them during the run in.

Well he said he changed it at Watford and we conceded 3 goals in 8 minutes, so that was his answer to the question.

I'm starting to think the Hazard False 9 system is called that way because it feels like we're playing 9 outfield players.

1 hour ago, Zeta said:

Well he said he changed it at Watford and we conceded 3 goals in 8 minutes, so that was his answer to the question.

Fair enough, changing to an unfamiliar system when your chasing a game is quite different to practicing it before hand.

Utd lost at magpies. Time to catch them. Lets bring our A game and bury WBA

Liverpool cruising. Feel like wee battling spurs for 4th. Perhaps going out the champs league before then will help us 

He answered a journalist regarding system change stating he went four at the back for the last part of the game and conceded 3 goals!!

7 minutes ago, Richard P said:

He answered a journalist regarding system change stating he went four at the back for the last part of the game and conceded 3 goals!!

Hello, new here (first comment)...

Just wanted to chime in and say he indeed switched to a back 4 against Watford.
He moved Azpi to RB and Zappa to LB; played with Kante and Fabregas in the mid; and Hazard, Moses and Giroud front 3.

I have been reading this forum for some time and thus observed the complaints regarding Conte's fixation on 5 defenders. Although I agree to some extent, we need to remember that we conceded a lot and looked unbalanced before the switch last season - and even this season - that eventually brought the title back. So it is natural he will be reluctant to alter, again, the system.

Whatever system we play can only work if the team actually turn up.

4 minutes ago, Hemel Blue said:

Whatever system we play can only work if the team actually turn up.

Might be better if they literally don't turn up.

19 minutes ago, coco said:

Might be better if they literally don't turn up.

*insert Bakayoko joke*

6 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

*insert Bakayoko joke*

Bakayoko never turns up. 

Some results have went against West Brom this week, they're 7 points from safety so they can't afford to park the bus and simply have to go for this, which I think will work in our favour.

 

Despite the fact we've been completely sh*t a win here puts us only 3 points off united in 2nd, lets use this as extra motivation to get our season back on track.

 

I'm confident about getting 3 points here. 3-1 (Hazard, Giroud x2)

 

COME ON CHELSEA!!!!!!

 

Edited February 11, 20188 yr by dynamite

I have zero hope of getting anything from this game, the players are playing like sh*t.

I haven't seen a good performance from the side in ages. 

Well if they can't beat the leagues bottom team, then Conte may have managed his last game. This would be for sure the straw that broke the camels back. It's becoming boring now. Chelsea are slowly sucking the excitement out of matches. 

48 minutes ago, dynamite said:

Some results have went against West Brom this week, they're 7 points from safety so they can't afford to park the bus and simply have to go for this, which I think will work in our favour.

 

Despite the fact we've been completely sh*t a win here puts us only 3 points off united in 2nd, lets use this as extra motivation to get our season back on track.

 

I'm confident about getting 3 points here. 3-1 (Hazard, Giroud x2)

 

COME ON CHELSEA!!!!!!

 

This is what worries me. When teams have a go at us our defence melts like butter. Only hope is we are on it from the kick off and race into an unassailable lead. 

10 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

This is what worries me. When teams have a go at us our defence melts like butter. Only hope is we are on it from the kick off and race into an unassailable lead. 

Help us Obi Wan Kenobi...

1 hour ago, Alejandro said:

Hello, new here (first comment)...

Just wanted to chime in and say he indeed switched to a back 4 against Watford.
He moved Azpi to RB and Zappa to LB; played with Kante and Fabregas in the mid; and Hazard, Moses and Giroud front 3.

I have been reading this forum for some time and thus observed the complaints regarding Conte's fixation on 5 defenders. Although I agree to some extent, we need to remember that we conceded a lot and looked unbalanced before the switch last season - and even this season - that eventually brought the title back. So it is natural he will be reluctant to alter, again, the system.

Welcome Alejandro. I agree. A formation is about the best way to execute a style of play, it's not the be all and end all by itself. For us a back 3 seems to be the best way to provide stable possession because we are incredibly vulnerable in transition when we lose the ball which showed in the two seasons you mentioned.

Problem for us recently has been teams have pressed high and this has disrupted this stable possession as we seem to lose it whenever we try and move further up the field  (Bakayoko and Drinkwater have been exposed particularly in this area). Hazard being further away from the ball and unable to carry it forward also hasnt helped. 

This is why I think Giroud is a crucial cog as he has fantastic hold up play and can win the ball in the air. Which offer ways around the press. It also means Hazard can dribble the ball forward more which has been key under Conte.  For me the back three stays because we have no other options with this squad. We need someone who can hold the ball in midfield (whose name isn't Cesc Fabregas, as he creates another set of issues) before we can move away from this way of playing.

A Giroud hat trick in a 4/0 win,you heard it here first guys............................

Huge game. We've the worst form of the chasing pack in recent weeks. United losing is good but Spurs and Liverpool have hit form and I don't like to say it but they look stronger than us at the moment. Hoping for an upturn in form and luck.

It appears prime time for Don Antonio & the dreaded WBA test - lose & get the sack in the morning - just look at our recent history - losing the WBA match always seems to bring doom to our gaffers

If we win we manage to drag united back in to things and give ourselves 3 places to fight for instead of 2. 

a win tomorrow night would be massive !! isn't football great !! 

5 hours ago, Adamrb said:

Liverpool cruising. Feel like wee battling spurs for 4th. Perhaps going out the champs league before then will help us 

Whats the point of coming into top 4 when you want to get out of CL early ?