3 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Better than kovacic, RLC not fully fit. 

i beg to differ. Kovacic is a better recycler of the ball and a better defensive midfielder. Barkley is meant to be an attacking midfielder but acts like he is scared to attack and always makes safe passes

Be interesting to see if, like on Thurs, Kante may sit a little deeper and then become effective on the break. 

1 minute ago, enigma said:

You mean rather than the game plan in which was lost by 6? Hmm. 

Yes. I don't expect much from Sarri so I'm actually quietly pleased with that lineup

2 minutes ago, enigma said:

obviously playing Hazard central so he doesn't have to track back. Willian and Pedro will do the defensive duties. Good to see no Alonso. Only gripe for me is Barkley again.

I would have preferred Loftus-Cheek there instead, but understandable not to rush him back from his previous injury.

Hudson-Odoi starting in this game was always a bit of a pipe dream considering the opponents and the defensive duties he would have to keep up during the game. 

CHO & defensive duties; Willian & Pedro offer very little going forward.

So he loaned Higuain to bench him in of the biggest games. 

Time to play the subs game again; Higuain, Kovacic, 3rd is a toss up.

2 minutes ago, RickUK said:

I hate the sideways tippy tappy sh*t, and i think we will see bags of it today.  Crossing is almost redundant  Hazard v Laporte/Otamendi.

don't worry, we'll hardly ever have the ball anyway

City nearly always have most of the ball so this is a counter attacking team. Willian and Pedro for defensive duties and Hazard on the break.

3 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

don't worry, we'll hardly ever have the ball anyway

We had the ball for 42 mins when we lost 6-0

1 minute ago, coco said:

We had the ball for 42 mins when we lost 6-0

you had to remind me....flip sake

To be fair to sarri, at least he has made some sort of effort to give us a chance of winning the game. 

Really didnt want to see pedro or Barkley starting though, but at least emerson ismt playing aswell.

Haven't been stressed for a match for quite some time, but right now i'm pretty stresssed. 

1 minute ago, quik said:

Haven't been stressed for a match for quite some time, but right now i'm pretty stresssed. 

why?

7 minutes ago, enigma said:

Be interesting to see if, like on Thurs, Kante may sit a little deeper and then become effective on the break. 

Did he sit deeper on Thursday though? He was still over lapping on the right wing at times, I just think he looked deeper because we struggled to get forward in the first half. 

Just now, quik said:

Haven't been stressed for a match for quite some time, but right now i'm pretty stresssed. 

why mate, just be carefree!!! If we win, there are fans pundits & a lot of punks that will be eating their words - I just hope the game is tight in the last quarter of an hour & Sarri brings in CHO vs tired legs

Glad Alonso is finally sitting out but I'm very surprised he isn't in the group, considering it's not reported he's injured.

Edited February 24, 20197 yr by Ledgerson

3 minutes ago, big blue said:

To be fair to sarri, at least he has made some sort of effort to give us a chance of winning the game. 

Really didnt want to see pedro or Barkley starting though, but at least emerson ismt playing aswell.

10 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

i beg to differ. Kovacic is a better recycler of the ball and a better defensive midfielder. Barkley is meant to be an attacking midfielder but acts like he is scared to attack and always makes safe passes

I've never really loved having three defensive midfielders on the pitch at the same time 

1 minute ago, carrickblue said:

sorry meant to say at Alonso isnt playing!

12 minutes ago, enigma said:

Be interesting to see if, like on Thurs, Kante may sit a little deeper and then become effective on the break. 

Glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that 

7 minutes ago, coco said:

We had the ball for 42 mins when we lost 6-0

must have been the time for passes between the back 4 and the Golden Boy, sure wasn't in the City half after the first 2 mins. 

Not the worst line up, Hazard playing No.9 v City works for me and glad to see Emmerson over Alonso.

6 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

Why Pedro if he has been terrible in the last 5 games ... ... ... 

36 minutes ago, CFCCAN said:

He's lost the plot.....and probably his job

Lost the plot? We played like this against them at the bridge and won, we then played "sarriball" at the etihad and lost 6-0.

Sarri can't win, there's no Alonso and he's trying something different but now it's not good enough? F**k it back to sarriball and let's go try be beaten 7-0 this time.

Edited February 24, 20197 yr by DukesOfHazard

We need to be resolute, sit back and when with the ball with massive amount of confidence. We also need luck. 

False 9.......this is going to be hard to watch. Wasn't this one of the reasons why we bought in another striker?

This lineup better performs well and show some passion in this game. Even if we will lose, we must show sacrifice and hunger. 

I won't lie, I'm disappointed with the lineup but it won't affect my support. COME ON CHELS!!!!