I'd love if we made XI changes but its our hardest away game so a win would put us in the right frame of mind to go on and win 4 or 5 group games to easily top the group.

I reckon we'll see

Willy

Zappa Ruidger Christensen Alonso

Drinkwater Ampadu Barkley

Moses Morata Willian

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

Okay, I've had a good night's sleep and am fully awake. What was your point?

Point is, there is no real reason why Kepa shouldn't start.

Drinkwater and CHO aren't in our EL squad, so they can't take part.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/clubs/club=52914/squad/

Three or four changes, max. Keep the momentum going. 
I don't see why Giroud can't start this one. It's not like he's played many minutes this season. Ampadu in the Jorgihno role, Willian for Eden, Christensen for Luiz. That's all the changes I want to see.

Edited September 17, 20187 yr by High Street Ken

                   Kepa

Zappa   Ampadu Christensen Emerson

          Cesc         Drinkwater

                Loftus Cheek

Moses       Morata       Barkley

Bench:  Hazard, Giroud, CHO, Willian, Caballero, Cahill, Azpiluceuta

We still need some experience in the squad and some balance too.  But we still need to have our lethal players on the bench for when things go wrong.  

 

1 hour ago, abramovich said:

Drinkwater and CHO aren't in our EL squad, so they can't take part.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/clubs/club=52914/squad/

And yet some  people still   have both in their matchday squad and/or team.

I didn't think CHO needed to be registered given his age and home grown status?

 

Edit: I had a look and I think only Green and Drinkwater are ineligible. Piazon can play though lol

Edited September 17, 20187 yr by Cam

2 hours ago, abramovich said:

Drinkwater and CHO aren't in our EL squad, so they can't take part.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/clubs/club=52914/squad/

 

33 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

And yet some  people still   have both in their matchday squad and/or team.

Hudson Odoi doesn't need to be registered.

7 hours ago, Giordano_Bruno said:

I can't care less about the result.

I know it’s not a big competition etc. but surely the default position for any Chelsea fan should be wanting to win no matter what?

If Sarri rotates it’s a chance to keep squad players happy, give some young players a chance to impress and to pick up a trophy that guarantees CL football should we happen to finish outside the top 4. 

What a hectic schedule of games from this one to the end of the month. Can't see this game as our priority.

8 hours ago, bloodyfool0 said:

What a hectic schedule of games from this one to the end of the month. Can't see this game as our priority.

The league is the priority but as a big club there shouldn't be any problems going far in Europe specially since it's a lower competition than the Champions league.

I expect a rotation in the squad but also a first place finish in the group, we won this thing before and last seasons arsenal went far and manu won as well so hopefully Sarri manages the squad well in Europe, it's the one thing he didn't do well as a coach.

Expect a pretty strong team, don't think Sarri wants to take too many chances with the first group game, and don't want break up the winning rhythm either.

Although I would love to see Ampadu and CHO start, I'm not sure if this is the best game for them. It's going to be a very hostile atmosphere, and we dont want to slip up and put ourselves under unnecessary pressure in the group. 

Kepa 

Zappa Rudiger Christiensen Emerson

Barkley Jorginho RLC

Willian Morata Pedro 

Hopefully enough to get the game won, and then bring on Ampadu, CHO, and Fabregas. 

 

On 17/09/2018 at 09:06, Giordano_Bruno said:

I can't care less about the result. My interest is somewhere else - If I remember correctly, there were some Naples fans earlier this summer warning us about Sarri's lack of desire to rotate. I do hope we don't see any of our starters in this one. Even on the bench. the visit of WH is going to be a nightmare, wa re going to need fresh legs for the much more important competition. 

With that being said, all fingers crossed for Morata''s return for this one. 

You couldn't care less about the result, yet cared enough to seek out the match day thread and tell us who you do/don't want to see in the line up? Seems a bit odd ;-)

Really can't get on board with the not caring about the result. 

This could well end up being the easiest trophy to win out of all the competitions we are in, and it's one that guarantee's our entry into the CL next season. Oh and how Sarri could do with getting a trophy on his CV sooner rather than later. 

We should be going all out to win this.

It's no CL, but when you fall into this competition I could never not 100% care about winning it. 

It must be an easy game for our subs

On 17/09/2018 at 14:01, abramovich said:

Drinkwater and CHO aren't in our EL squad, so they can't take part.

https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2019/clubs/club=52914/squad/

Bo**ocks :o

Would have been a handy game to play Drinkwater.

As others have said, Odoi doesnt have to be registered and can be included if Sarri wants to.

We could make 7+ changes but I expect Sarri to make 4, max.

Kante

 

 

That should be enough.

Kepa

Zappacosta  Ampadu  Christensen  Emerson

Jorginho

Kante       Barkley

Willian      Morata      CHO

 

Bench: Green / Azpi / Rudiger / RLC  (?) / Cesc (?) / Piazon / Giroud

 

Rested: D.Luiz / Kovacic / Hazard / Alonso

 

Control the game in the middle of the park and we can afford to make changes elsewhere. Complete new back line as they need game time and the starters need rest for the long season. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of, or both, D.Luiz/Rudiger play. I'd 100% swap out both full backs for this one though. 

Midfield was tough. I think Jorginho has to play every game and he doesn't run much anyway so fatigue wouldn't be a massive issue for him. I want to rest Kante but i just can't see who can play that high energy role, maybe play Ampadu there and leave Rudiger in the backline? The third CM spot i'd give to RLC (obvs) but rumours of him carrying a knock so went with Ross.

Also heard that Hazard isn't even travelling with the squad. Pedro being 31 now i'd rest him and we can always bring him on if needed. That leaves us with CHO and Willian on the wings, unless Sarri has taken a fancy to Piazon in training. Give Morata another chance to prove he isn't totally useless either. 

Its sounds Like Loftus Cheek is going but whether he starts will be interesting.. Can't see Hazard, Kovacic, David Luiz or Alonso going but 100% doubt they will play 

You guys are forgetting games are coming in thick and fast, we have a game again on Sun. It will be irresponsible by Sarri to field a majority of the players starting on Sun. He has a large squad at his disposal, use it. If our squad players can’t hack it away against PAOK, then they have no business here.

I’d rather take a draw away & all 3pts on Sun.

 

It shows how much good will and anticipation that Sarri has built up around Chelsea that the fans are looking forward to a Thursday night trip to the back arse of Greece with potentially half a dozen changes.

Hopefully its not too taxing and the players and the fans get out of this with a win and an easy trip home.

Would love to see Ampadu and Odoi start, I reckon Ampadu will but Moses and Willian will start over Odoi but I'd be in favour of playing Moses and Odoi, keep Pedro and Willian for the bench in case it goes t*ts up.

 

According to my Greek sous chef POAK are in good form at the minute and shouldn’t be underestimated.

According to my Greek sous chef POAK are in good form at the minute and shouldn’t be underestimated.

I saw the match with PAOK vs Benfica. Benfica was able exploit PAOK easily. I hoping Chelsea can do the same.

I'm watching Ajax - AEK at the moment and AEK are absolutely terrible. So assuming paok are worse I can't see anything other than a win for us.