Just what if the level in Spain has dropped off a little? and the level in England has stepped up, then our fourth position doesn't look to bad does it ?

If you laugh i will put forward our away game in Madrid as some kind of evidence.

e2a : and spuds beating the other Madrid lot.

 

1 more sleep and its here. Come on Chels! 

I just want us to be competitive. 

I just want us to turn up...

Maybe I am wrong, but I didn't see David Luiz or Baka walk out to the practice w/ the first team today

 

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by robdog
I see Barkley later on in the video

3 hours ago, coco said:

Dropping William for this is almost like giving up before we start, he's in ripe form and our fastest player on the counter, and also one of the hardest working in the team. 

We must use a striker, no false #9, Hazard has to play obviously, so imo we have to play with three forwards, but Willian can act as midfield/forward.

Pedro could be swapped for a knackered Willian later on.

So if we do play 3-5-2 i think we are giving in and sending a message to Barca that we are running scared.

 

 

Exactly. We need to play 3-4-3

15 minutes ago, robdog said:

Maybe I am wrong, but I didn't see David Luiz or Baka walk out to the practice w/ the first team today

 

 

Cesc wearing a bra doesn't fill me with hope either.

18 minutes ago, coco said:

 

Cesc wearing a bra doesn't fill me with hope either.

IMHO Barkley or Drinkwater would be a better option, since Side Show Bob isn't available - then again Cesc might pull out the performance of his life against his old side - I just don't want to see CFC players giving hugs & kisses during the match - after the match is ok or even better after the tie is over - this is the business end of the season for Chelsea

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by robdog

8 minutes ago, robdog said:

IMHO Barkley or Drinkwater would be a better option, since Side Show Bob isn't available - then again Cesc might pull out the performance of his life against his old side - I just don't want to see CFC players giving hugs & kisses during the match - after the match is ok or even better after the tie is down - this is the business end of the season for Chelsea

I agree, and Cesc will have his chance, but i think he should get time at the end when Barca will be really trying to get goals, they always throw everything at the end, even when in the lead, thats when we need Cesc to be on the pitch, just one or two clinical passes when Barca have pushed up, yeah i can see it happening like that. 

Just now, robdog said:

IMHO Barkley or Drinkwater would be a better option, since Side Show Bob isn't available - then again Cesc might pull out the performance of his life against his old side - I just don't want to see CFC players giving hugs & kisses during the match - after the match is ok or even better after the tie is down - this is the business end of the season for Chelsea

 Barca will ensure Fabregas is closed down all the match if he does play. They are not going to give him time and space. 

2 minutes ago, TheBluesBrother said:

 Barca will ensure Fabregas is closed down all the match if he does play. They are not going to give him time and space. 

that could be a good thing cause he will help negate their attacking options - they will be more occupied in stopping The Man with the Magic Hat

 

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by robdog

1 minute ago, robdog said:

that could be a good thing cause he will help negate their attacking options - they will be more occupied in stopping The Man with the Magic Hat

 

 

Yes but they will cut through us like a hot knife through butte with Cesc in midfield. If he does play he should play further forward and not in midfield. Trouble is we have Hazard and Willian. I don't want to see either former Barca players on Tuesday night so that includes Pedro too. Fabregas can't defend or tackle and for that reason I wouldn't play him. He will be a passenger.

Hello Blue family. This is my first post on here ..  I've been waiting eagerly for pre-match press conference .. Is there one scheduled at all? 

2 minutes ago, 46andtwo said:

Hello Blue family. This is my first post on here ..  I've been waiting eagerly for pre-match press conference .. Is there one scheduled at all? 

7:30

4 minutes ago, 46andtwo said:

Hello Blue family. This is my first post on here ..  I've been waiting eagerly for pre-match press conference .. Is there one scheduled at all? 

Welcome to The Blue Kingdom!!!

I read that the press conference was scheduled @ 1930 GMT - I am sure there is a live stream of it somewhere

Edited February 19, 20188 yr by robdog

1 minute ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

7:30

Thanks Luiz4Chelsea and robdog! Any idea which Chelsea player will be attending the press? 

1 minute ago, 46andtwo said:

Thanks Luiz4Chelsea and robdog! Any idea which Chelsea player will be attending the press? 

I have no clue, but when a video is available someone will post it here on this thread - Cheers!!!

2 minutes ago, 46andtwo said:

Thanks Luiz4Chelsea and robdog! Any idea which Chelsea player will be attending the press? 

 

Don't know about which player...

20 hours ago, coco said:

 

Oh, cheers Coco, I didn't realise.

Don't think Emerson can play for us either, as didn't he play for Roma earlier in the campaign?

I think that we will try our hardest to not concede, rather than playing to actually win.  If Bakayoko is out, then i think we'll see Kante and Drinkwater in the middle, Alonso and Moses as WB's and Willian floating in a fluid 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 as needed.

Well one thing for sure, if Hazard really wants to go to Madrid these are two massive games for him to show off his abilities. 

35 minutes ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

 

Don't know about which player...

 it's Eden

 

 

11 hours ago, Blaugrana said:

Hi there,

Barca fan and owner of Barca forum and I come in peace (again)  

12 times we've met already in this century and I watched all those clashes. Some sweet memories like Iniesta winner at Stamford Bridge and some not so great like 2012 exit and, ultimately, pep's last CL match as Barca coach.

I am confident about our chances eventhough there are plenty Barca fans who consider this as first "real test". As if being unbeaten in the league accounts for nothing.

 Will we see our boys Pedro and Cesc tomorrow and how will Conte line up? 3-4-3?

Anyways, came here for some friendly banter and to give you heads up if some of you would like to do the same with our bunch over at our forum http://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/14764-CL-1-8-Finals-Chelsea-FC-Barcelona

Had to chuckle some blogger called Givenchy on their forum had a nightmare, Giroud scores with a hatrick of headers. KTBFFH

16 minutes ago, mad_mac said:

Don't think Emerson can play for us either, as didn't he play for Roma earlier in the campaign?

I think that we will try our hardest to not concede, rather than playing to actually win.  If Bakayoko is out, then i think we'll see Kante and Drinkwater in the middle, Alonso and Moses as WB's and Willian floating in a fluid 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 as needed.

Hasn't he been injured for quite some time at Roma? Not sure if he's in our CL squad.

27 minutes ago, TheBluesBrother said:

Hasn't he been injured for quite some time at Roma? Not sure if he's in our CL squad.

i can't remember the specifics, but I remember reading that he couldn't be named on Chelsea's CL squad because he'd already been named (maybe even played) in early CL games for Roma.