What I would like to see:

Kepa

Dave - Christensen - Rudiger - Alonso

Kante - Jorginho - Barkley

Hudson-Odoi - Giroud - Hazard

 

What I expect to see:

Caballero

Dave - Rudiger - Luiz - Alonso

Kante - Jorginho - Barkley

Pedro - Morata - Willian

 

Not sure how effective CHO would be playing on the right but he was our best winger, comfortably, during pre-season and think it would be good to give him a chance. 

Not a huge fan of Luiz in a back four, don't think he's got much pace about him anymore and likes to go walk abouts a lot and Jorginho isn't going to drop back into the defence to cover for him. I think we've how the midfield lines up you need a more disciplined defender in there and Christensen is just that and he's comfortable with the ball at his feet too. 

Not sure Kepa will start, has he had enough time to to acclimatize to everything to chuck him in at the deep end? I think we might see Willy deputise for this one. 

I think Barkley will start ahead of Kovacic, just because he's played all of pre-season and knows what's expected of him more than the new boy but I reckon Kovacic will be first choice after a few games unless Barkley hits the ground running... I expect him to be hungry for a goal tomorrow. 

I'd start Giroud through the middle, when he came on against Lyon it was night and day with him and Tammy. You instantly saw how good he is at coming deep, holding up play and keeping a move going something Morata has struggled with too... But I think Morata will get the nod, I think the club are going to try and play him into form which is a dangerous gamble for a player looking for out of sorts. 

I'd start Hazard but he's not even been back a week yet, not sure how fit he is so we might see WIllian and Pedro start this one with Hazard coming on for the final 20 minutes or so. 

Chelsea created a lot of chances during preseason, and just like last season, they couldn't finish them. Hopefully that boils down to more of, missing a few players and trying to adapt to a new system. But it is a little concerning when they should've put away every team easily, minus City.

Wonder why a lot of people putting Azpi at RB when he never played a minute in that position during pre-season. 

I think it will be Zappa or surprisingly Moses. Truth is as bad as Moses is, in the last couple of seasons he's been the best player in that position. I'd even say he was better defensively than going forward and although he started to put in better crosses in the last few games of last season he is more suited for defensive duties in my opinion.

Though RWB, it is easy to transition into a RB. Just become an overlapping RB and if Sarri's antecedents are anything to go by he does like an overlapping RB for a switch of play from the left side of the pitch which most of his game is built on.

Azpi might be useful for the Azpirata goals if he watched our games last season when the headmaster was causing pain but that's not really his style of play.

 

Just now, abister1 said:

Wonder why a lot of people putting Azpi at RB when he never played a minute in that position during pre-season. 

Er... yes he did.

Actually he did. My bad. 

Hey Blues, 

Can't wait for tomorrow, even with the World Cup the summer break has seemed to drag on! 

Here's hoping that we can survive again this season and we're not hit with the second season curse! Hope your new manager does the business for you this year! Are you happy with your activity in the transfer window? I'm certainly looking forward to seeing our new recruits. 

I know some of you will have come up last season, if anyone wants any advice re parking, pubs, food etc. just let me know! 

Good luck this season (except when you play Hudds of course )

Zappa and Moses where those brought on as replacements weren't they?

Happier with Azpi there.

 

Honestly Emerson at LB is so much better than Alonso but Sarri seems to be going off on Conte's selection who used Alonso mostly. The 15 mins he came on for Lyon Alonso was shocking again. He is not a left back. 

Aside from that Id rather see pedro willian and hazard up front if Morata does not work. CHO has more of an impact as well than Morata, him playing in a front 3 with Hazard and Pedro would be more exciting. These are my only two concers = LB and ST position. 

Edited August 10, 20187 yr by zes

Looking for Sarri presser - did Sarri do one?  If so any idea if Hazard / Kepa will start on Saturday??

 

 

Starts at 3:28

Can't see Kepa starting immediately. He's trained twice and doesn't speak the language which is important in keepers.

(433) Willy, Dave, Andreas, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Pedro, Morata, Hazard.

Subs: Kepa, Luiz, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Kovacic, Willian, Giroud

Left out: Green, Cahill, Emerson, Moses, Ampadu, Drinkwater, RLC, CHO, Abraham.

 

Sarri wants max 23 player squad with 4 younger players, with the squad listed 2 have to drop out. Wonder if it will be Bakayoko and Drinkwater.

                       Arrizabalaga

Azpiliceuta   Ampadu      Luiz         Alonso

              Kante                Jorginho    

                         Barkley

   Pedro             Morata        Hudson-Odoi

 

Bench: Caballero, Rudiger, Drinkwater, Fabregas, Willian, Hazard, Giroud

More than ready for the season to kick off. Have to admit, I have no idea what to expect, probably more than any season opener in a looonnnng time.

I still would prefer a 4-2-3-1 tomorrow with Kante-Jorginho midfield with Willian-Hazard-Hudson Odi just behind Morata. I see us struggling to find goals and a three man midfield hampers us even more in my opinion.

Come on you Chelsea!!

gaffa's pre-match press conference

 

 

Edited August 11, 20187 yr by robdog
the video that I attached was freakin' presser for the Charity Shield match - fail on my part

On ?08?/?08?/?2018 at 22:02, just said:

1-1 draw.

But....

Luiz in a flat back four.... 6-1 Huddersfield.

 

 

Ah, good to see the usual Shed End pre season / pre match confidence is back

The real football is back again.

By that I mean Chelsea playing competitive football, of course 

And to 'an old git like myself' it's good to see it's 3pm on a Saturday we kick off. Proper football kick off time.

Hoping for 4-0, take 1-0 or any Chelsea win.

Come on you Blues...

My thoughts on the match.

1. Can't wait to see Kante and Jorginho in that midfield. We all know what Kante is capable of and if they get this right they will be the most feared midfield in the PL.

2. I don't think Hazard will start this game. If we need a goal in the 2nd half then he could make an appearance.

3. I don't think Kepa starts either considering he only just signed a few days ago, he needs to get to know his team, again thanks to that prick tibo for drawing this whole situation out until now.

4. I'm a bit split on who I want to start up top. Morata from what I've seen in Pre season hasn't impressed me too much, I think letting Bats go out on load is a gamble as well btw. Giroud has had very little training because of just coming back from his break, Morata starts by default, we need a massive improvement from him on last season, time for him to step up now.

5. Hudson-odoi has really impressed, I would give him a chance to shine in this match and start him, the lad deserves his chance, although I think he'll go with Willian and Pedro.

 

Can't wait for the season to finally get underway, it's been a long few months but PL football is finally back. I'm quietly confident that we'll at least get back into the top 4, the team is good enough to mount a challenge and with a new manager now they'll have more motivation. I think a great season awaits us.

 

COME ON CHELSEA!!!!!!

 

 

Arise, arise riders of Chelsea. It's match day!

I’d like to see a back 8 with 2 upfront who we lump the ball towards when we manage to get it. 

Sorry, wrong season. 

                       Kepa

Azpi Christensen Rudiger Emerson

                 Jorginho Kante

                        Barkley

        Willian    Pedro    Hazard 

 

It's Huddersfield we are playing.  Throw in our best players and let them get match fitness.  If we can't do it at Huddersfield then we will we do it?  Look what Mourinho did with Pogba.  Use Odoi Morata Moses etc from the bench after we are winning.

 

Could prob do with a win to get us off to a good start considering we have Arsenal next. 

GAMEDAY!!! COME ON CHELS!!

Vital to start with a win.
As for the XI i'd go:

Kepa
Azpi Rudiger Ampadu Emerson
Kante Jorginho Barkley
Hazard Morata CHO

If i see Luiz - Alonso in defence i'll lose all confidence of a win.