In midfield Frank  won't start RLC in an important game first game back from a very long injury so that means James will play in midfield probably with Barkely as well as Gilmour

As for defence I have no idea which random collection will be picked but I'm betting Alonso gets another game.

That leaves Giroud, Pedro (who can't that work that hard two games in a row at his age unfortunately) and Mount up front.

If we assume the same defence as last game

Arizzibalaga

Dave Zouma Tony Alonso

James Gilmour Barkely

Pedro Giroud Mount

Thats my guess any how

Edited March 7, 20206 yr by ozboy

Hopefully Kepa starts. I dont think we can play a back 3 with gilmour in a midfield 2. I also hope Christensen doesn't play or he will be eaten up Calvert Lewin in the phsical game.so i will go for

 

                               Kepa

       Azpi        Rudiger      Zouma    Alonso   

                            Gilmour

                 James                 Barkley

Willian                Giroud                  Mount

18 hours ago, Ledgerson said:

That's not ideal....

He must be including Marco van Ginkel in that "nine", which is a bit lame when you consider that MVG last played for Chelsea on 24th September 2013 !

I guess that's Twitter for you ... ?

19 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

I've assumed that Christensen, Kante, Kovacic, Willian, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic and Abraham are all out injured, and Jorginho is of course suspended, so the squad is seriously compromised in numbers in midfield and the wings, so maybe we might see the 3-4-3 with wing backs again (i.e. 5 defenders)

Arrizabalaga

Azpiliceuta ; Zouma ; Rudiger

James ; Gilmour ; Barkley ; Alonso

Pedro ; Giroud ; Mount

 

If he sticks with the 4-3-3, then the 3 in midfield is Gilmour, Barkley and one of James or RLC for me.

Arrizabalaga

Azpiliceuta ; Zouma ; Rudiger ; Alonso

Gilmour ; Barkley ; James (or RLC)

Pedro ; Giroud ; Mount

 

Either way, the bench is going to be pretty slim pickings, and I'd expect to see both Anjorin and Broja on it,

 

I think, given what we know about the injury list, this is a very likely lineup. I expect RLC to be on the bench along with Anjorin and Broja because apparently we're down to the bare bones now.

I'm still not convinced about the quality of our medical staff or whether our training methods contribute to that injury epidemic we've been witnessing for weeks and weeks now.

Batshuayi up front for me, not convinced Giroud has the legs to outpace Everton's CBs and Alonso's second goal v Bournemouth came from Pedro's shot on goal from a central position.

3-5-1-1                       

                            Kepa
          Zouma - Christensen - Rudiger
 Azpi - Mount - Gilmour - Barkley - Alonso
                           Pedro
                         Batshuayi

Subs: Caballero, James, RLC, Giroud, Emerson, Tomori, Anjorin

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

He must be including Marco van Ginkel in that "nine", which is a bit lame when you consider that MVG last played for Chelsea on 24th September 2013 !

I guess that's Twitter for you ... ?

Injury doubts:

1. Christensen
2. Kante
3. Kovacic
4. Hudson-Odoi
5. Loftus-Cheek
6. Willian
7. Abraham
8. Pulisic

Suspended:

9. Jorginho

                         Kepa
 Azpilicueta    Christensen      Zouma

James   Gilmour       Barkley           Alonso
           Pedro                      Mount
                         Giroud

Sub in: RLC, Anjorin, Bathsuai

1 hour ago, Zeta said:

Injury doubts:

1. Christensen
2. Kante
3. Kovacic
4. Hudson-Odoi
5. Loftus-Cheek
6. Willian
7. Abraham
8. Pulisic

Suspended:

9. Jorginho

RLC is an injury doubt ? Did he get injured in his "behind closed doors" outing this week ?

Lampard said he was not fit enough yet and is out of this game.

4 hours ago, Zeta said:

Injury doubts:

1. Christensen
2. Kante
3. Kovacic
4. Hudson-Odoi
5. Loftus-Cheek
6. Willian
7. Abraham
8. Pulisic

Suspended:

9. Jorginho

Basically our first team bar Christensen

5 minutes ago, Deino said:

Basically our first team bar Christensen

Tbf Christensen is the first team at the moment. 

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

Lampard said he was not fit enough yet and is out of this game.

I don't think he said he was out of the game ? Just that he was short of match fitness and there was "work to be done".  I read that as he'll probably be on the bench rather than starting ... I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

Another clean sheet would be nice although that might be tough against Richarlison and Calvert - Lewin....we'll need to play as good as we did against Liverpool to get a result

big chance to create some breathing space in 4th - like last year everyone around us is in stuttering form

Just now, carrickblue said:

big chance to create some breathing space in 4th - like last year everyone around us is in stuttering form

Not sure on that. Sheff United and Arsenal have won today, while Wolves will be disappointed with their draw it moves them to 2 points behind us, just like Sheff United, who have played a game less. United stay 3 behind as they, like us, do not play until tomorrow. Arsenal join Spurs at 5 points behind us, Spurs about to kick off at Burnley.

So I would not call it a big chance, I would say it is a huge hurdle against a side well managed by a top class coach and gentleman who have a really talented attack in DCL, Richy and Siguardsen

If Man City can take care of business tomorrow we will be 5 points ahead of the chasing teams, if we win. They are all so bunched up at 43, there is no room for losing. With almost all of our starting 9 injured, it is going to be a tough ask to keep staying ahead. If we do, Lampard should get a lot of credit.

Edited March 7, 20206 yr by Zaphod2319

1 hour ago, Zaphod2319 said:

If Man City can take care of business tomorrow we will be 5 points ahead of the chasing teams, if we win. They are all so bunched up at 43, there is no room for losing. With almost all of our starting 9 injured, it is going to be a tough ask to keep staying ahead. If we do, Lampard should get a lot of credit.

We have to win first. This feels like the biggest game of the season so far. Everton are a bogey team for us and we have a number of injuries. It's one of those games we just have to win. 

They have been very good on the counter since Carlo took over and after our success it has to be a game where we are compact without the ball. High press needs to be shelved.

Looking forward to having Don Carlo return but also looking forward to him going home without a win.

I think this will be close and also see it as important, top 4 is not gone if we don't win yet it will probably be out of our hands, IMO.

2 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

I think this will be close and also see it as important, top 4 is not gone if we don't win yet it will probably be out of our hands, IMO.

Agreed. Need to win this because weve still got to play City Liverpool and Wolves during the run in.

For me that means you pick a solid defence to build on. I'd go with the same defensive pairing as Wednesday. Christensen got bullied last time and lost challenges in the leadup to 2 of their 3 goals. He shouldn't get within 10m of the pitch. 

I'm not predicting anything. Every time we have a chance to create a gap between us and the chasing pack, we somehow fail to get the result we need. It's not just us either, every team chasing top 4 has been doing this for over a year now.

Scary to think that if Willian is inured, Batshuayi will be the only senior attacker who will be on the bench.  RLC may be forced into playing a part. Willian is not everyone's favourite but it is a must he is fit tomorrow. Injuries are actually getting worrying.

Match Day.

Come on Chelsea !

 

Who do we even have available? Fairly sure we're missing Christensen, Jorginho, Kanté, Abraham, Willian, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic. Loftus-Cheek is also apparently not match fit.

Assuming we actually have 11 players left who are capable of playing a football match, I'd be inclined to stick with the back five which kept a clean sheet in midweek. Midfield is a complete crapshoot (Gilmour + ????), and I think the only three fit and competent (sorry Michy) players we have to play up front are Pedro, Mount and Giroud. We might be forced into playing a back three through a sheer lack of personnel elsewhere.

Lampard seemed fairly optimistic about Willian's return, so my guess is that we'll either see this:

Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, Alonso; Gilmour, Barkley, Mount; Willian, Pedro, Giroud

or, if Willian isn't fit, this:

Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma; James, Gilmour, Barkley, Alonso; Mount, Pedro, Giroud

 

Alternatively we could try something completely wacky like a Gilmour-James midfield pairing, but considering they have a combined nine minutes of Premier League experience in that position I'd probably be inclined to try that particular experiment at a less important time...

Match day,whatever the team we can manage to put out.....COME ON YOU BLUES !

Even though we miss 9-10 players who would have been all potential starters I feel we can win. Frank has a system that can overpower opponents. It is essentially down to how we are in the boxes. Can we head out all the crosses and make our good chances count?

Everton is pretty dangerous with Ancelotti and they have a very good squad. This can go either way really.