Want to win this trophy. Think we need it as does sarri.

 

Kepa

 

Azpi

Rudiger 

Christensen 

Emerson 

 

Cesc

Kante

barkely 

 

RLC 

Giroud

CHO 

city, spuds and leicester all have one extra day off for the next epl round after this carabao round.

Edited December 17, 20187 yr by mojo

The EFL is not a massive priority.

I'm happy with the same approach we've always taken - ergo, mostly fielding our second-string team. 

54 minutes ago, DaRick said:

The EFL ?is not a massive priority.

I'm happy with the same approach we've always taken - ergo, mostly fielding our second-string team. 

This is the League cup, sponsored name Carabao Cup.

Kepa

Zappa  Rudiger  Christensen  Emerson

Cesc

Kovacic      Barkley

CHO      Giroud      Willian

Rotate some players but still need to field a decent team. It’s a trophy and we should be in it to win it.

 

kepa 

zappacosta christensen luiz Emerson 

kante Fabregas loftus cheek 

pedro giroud Hudson odi 

subs  caballero, Cahill, willian, kovacic, azbi, Barkley, hazard 

With a busy 2 weeks ahead in the league this is definitely a match where we should rest a few starters. Ampadu and CHO should get a start. I would go with:

 

Willy

Moses

Christensen

Ampadu

Emerson

Fabregas

Barkley

RLC

Pedro

Grioud

CHO

1 hour ago, coco said:

This is the League cup, sponsored name Carabao Cup.

I know; I should have written EFL Cup,

We better have Eden on the bench for this one. It is a quarter-final, the team and the coach, especially, the coach, are in desperate need of trophies + the cherries are real danger and they will give it all for this game, no doubt about it. Wouldn't start with CHO, Ampadu, Christensen and Moses tho. With some of them, yes, but well balanced team between our best and our youth is what i want to see. 

The EFL is not a massive priority.
I'm happy with the same approach we've always taken - ergo, mostly fielding our second-string team. 

It's a massive priority for me because I don't fancy our chances of winning the League or the Europa, so let's go all out to win this and secure top 4, any other trophy will then be a bonus.

2 minutes ago, wallosh said:

3 hours ago, DaRick said:

The EFL is not a massive priority.
I'm happy with the same approach we've always taken - ergo, mostly fielding our second-string team. 

It's a massive priority for me because I don't fancy our chances of winning the League or the Europa, so let's go all out to win this and secure top 4, any other trophy will then be a bonus.

I agree that it might look like our best chance of winning a trophy this season, but its not worth risking key starters when we have some vital league fixtures in the next couple of weeks. 

The Luckiest team this midweek is Liverpool.. Able to rest players before the hectic Christmas schedule. I really hope we rest willian hazard and pedro..

Tough call on the team selection. Morata cho ampadu cesc palmeri to come in 

 

7 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Kepa

Zappa  Rudiger  Christensen  Emerson

Cesc

Kovacic      Barkley

CHO      Giroud      Willian

No RLC. You must be kidding... Pretty sure he will play instead of Kovacic.

3 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

The Luckiest team this midweek is Liverpool.

the only reason why l'pool are lucky is because of The Mighty Eden's magic - happy to see Chelsea do them in their own place

9 hours ago, STATS said:

No RLC. You must be kidding... Pretty sure he will play instead of Kovacic.

Save RLC for the Leicester game this weekend. Top 4 is priority at the end of the day. Want to see as few first teamers as possible. RLC, Hazard, Pedro, Jorginho, Luiz, Azpi, Kante all rested.

It’s interesting how Sarri ball shows up player technical weaknesses. Ross Barkley for instance will lose the ball once or twice every game. 

I think the one thing Sarri really likes about RLC is his physical strength in what is otherwise a lightweight  team particularly in midfield. Still he regularly goes missing in defense. Pedro tracks back better than RLC. 

Play the Europa league team, expect Bournemouth to rest players too, if we don't win, we just aren't good enough. As usual, hope the strikers score goals, just not convinced the false 9 system will carry us through the busy December/January.

                          Kepa
Zappa - Rudiger - Christensen - Alonso
         Kovacic - Fabregas - RLC
         Pedro - Giroud - Willian

Subs: Willy, Cahill, Hazard, Barkley, Azpi, Kante, CHO

Edited December 18, 20187 yr by the special one

Barkley & RLC pairing with Cesc the DLP & this match could be a walk in the park

Franco hinted that Hazard might not be fit and Morata definitely out.

12 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Save RLC for the Leicester game this weekend. Top 4 is priority at the end of the day. Want to see as few first teamers as possible. RLC, Hazard, Pedro, Jorginho, Luiz, Azpi, Kante all rested.

He can play both. He has not played much this season. He definitely will start tomorrow and if he plays very good then maybe he starts Saturday.

think Big Willy will be in goal (was for earlier rounds)

EL team defence   DZ, CG, AC, Emerson

Fab in metronome role, Giroud up top, 

that's 4 spots up for grabs, should beat them but knowing Chelsea it will be the hard way 

yesterday I rewatched the documentary 'I believe in Miracles', which the story about Nottingham Forest. The one main thing I came away with was how Brian Clough took the EFL seriously & I believe Don Maurizio will do the same. Winning the EFL will install some confidence in the side & show that Sarriball is the real deal. BTW, here is Zola's pre match press conference

 

Edited December 18, 20187 yr by robdog