I’m putting a TV in my bathroom so I can watch this from the safety of my toilet. 

Yea this is a very scary game, our own set piece defending can really hurt us. But I already feel it will be a great day.

Blades have shown their quality and fantastic work ethic. They also have a really mean defence and are good on set plays...

 

Winning this game is diffwrenc between top 4 and no top 4 imo.

As everyone will note, this match has the potential to be difficult. Back in March, I looked at this one as a real tough place to get three points. The lack of home fans in attendance is a help. 

This one may just hold the key to our Top 4 possibilities, and no, not wanting or counting on the City UEFA ban to allow the fifth placed squad in to the CL. Prefer to gain entrance with fourth or above.

So, let's look at the run in. We will assume United goes on to win at Villa on Thursday, so with all three clubs on 34 games played, the table would like this:

 

3. Chelsea 60 pts

4. Leicester 59 points

5. Man United 58 points

 

Remaining 4 fixtures for each Club:

Chelsea:

July 11th - Sheffield United AWAY

July 14th - Norwich HOME

July 22nd - Liverpool AWAY

July 26th - Wolves HOME

Leicester:

July 12th - Bournemouth AWAY

July 16th - Sheffield United HOME

July 19th - Tottenham AWAY

July 26th - Man United HOME

Man United:

July 13th - Southampton HOME

July 16th - Crystal Palace AWAY

July 22nd - West Ham HOME

July 26th - Leicester AWAY

 

We know we must win by outright point total as we will lose on goal difference to either team most likely.

The first GREAT thing that stands out is if we win at least three of the remaining four matches, for NINE points, we finish with 69 points AND we are GUARANTEED no worse than 4th with 69 points as there is no way BOTH Leicester and Man United can have 69 or more points as they play each other the last day of the season. If both Leicester and Man United win out until the last game of the season, Leicester will have 68 points and Man United 67. If we have 69 points, by winning three of four, the winner of LCFC-MUFC would jump us, but we are ahead of the loser, so fourth place. Or if they tie, we would likely be fourth on GD tie-breaker with Leicester.

Let's project a little into the future for fun. Let's say we all win our next matches through game week 36, then we are third on 66, Leicester fourth on 65 and United fifth on 64 with two matches to go. Let's project a loss for us at Liverpool on Trophy hoisting day. United likely wins to go above us with 67 points. What does Leicester do? They could draw or lose at Tottenham. Let's give them a loss there just to make it more interesting, then you have United on 67, Chelsea on 66, Leicester on 65. In this scenario, we must get ALL three points vs Wolves OR have United get all three points. If everyone draws the last game, we are in, but if Leicester draws the prior week or wins at Spurs, we must take all three points vs Wolves.

I know there are still a lot of permutations here to still play out, but I do not see United losing the rest of the way.

So, again, it is all up to us right now. Win three of the four and we are Top 4. Period. 

Lose at Sheffield United, and then you most likely must beat Norwich and Wolves AND hope Leicester drop all three points in their last two.

So all of that "analysis" to say, Come on you Chelsea, tighten the back line lads and focus. Bring home all three from Sheffield!!

 

Edited July 8, 20206 yr by Chelsea Buzz

39 minutes ago, Chelsea Buzz said:

As everyone will note, this match has the potential to be difficult. Back in March, I looked at this one as a real tough place to get three points. The lack of home fans in attendance is a help. 

This one may just hold the key to our Top 4 possibilities, and no, not wanting or counting on the City UEFA ban to allow the fifth placed squad in to the CL. Prefer to gain entrance with fourth or above.

So, let's look at the run in. We will assume United goes on to win at Villa on Thursday, so with all three clubs on 34 games played, the table would like this:

 

3. Chelsea 60 pts

4. Leicester 59 points

5. Man United 58 points

 

Remaining 4 fixtures for each Club:

Chelsea:

July 11th - Sheffield United AWAY

July 14th - Norwich HOME

July 22nd - Liverpool AWAY

July 26th - Wolves HOME

Leicester:

July 12th - Bournemouth AWAY

July 16th - Sheffield United HOME

July 19th - Tottenham AWAY

July 26th - Man United HOME

Man United:

July 13th - Southampton HOME

July 16th - Crystal Palace AWAY

July 22nd - West Ham HOME

July 26th - Leicester AWAY

 

We know we must win by outright point total as we will lose on goal difference to either team most likely.

The first GREAT thing that stands out is if we win at least three of the remaining four matches, for NINE points, we finish with 69 points AND we are GUARANTEED no worse than 4th with 69 points as there is no way BOTH Leicester and Man United can have 69 or more points as they play each other the last day of the season. If both Leicester and Man United win out until the last game of the season, Leicester will have 68 points and Man United 67. If we have 69 points, by winning three of four, the winner of LCFC-MUFC would jump us, but we are ahead of the loser, so fourth place. Or if they tie, we would likely be fourth on GD tie-breaker with Leicester.

Let's project a little into the future for fun. Let's say we all win our next matches through game week 36, then we are third on 66, Leicester fourth on 65 and United fifth on 64 with two matches to go. Let's project a loss for us at Liverpool on Trophy hoisting day. United likely wins to go above us with 67 points. What does Leicester do? They could draw or lose at Tottenham. Let's give them a loss there just to make it more interesting, then you have United on 67, Chelsea on 66, Leicester on 65. In this scenario, we must get ALL three points vs Wolves OR have United get all three points. If everyone draws the last game, we are in, but if Leicester draws the prior week or wins at Spurs, we must take all three points vs Wolves.

I know there are still a lot of permutations here to still play out, but I do not see United losing the rest of the way.

So, again, it is all up to us right now. Win three of the four and we are Top 4. Period. 

Lose at Sheffield United, and then you most likely must beat Norwich and Wolves AND hope Leicester drop all three points in their last two.

So all of that "analysis" to say, Come on you Chelsea, tighten the back line lads and focus. Bring home all three from Sheffield!!

 

I really appreciate this overview and analysis. 

Please continue doing this after every game. 

I wasn't aware that Leicester their last 5 games were actually harder than ours. 

C'mon you Blues!! We got this!

Oh boy!!!

Please, whoever has heart problems, refrain from watching this.

Interesting to see that they only have 34 goals in 33 games. I'm sure we'll find a way to help them out with that...

Good analysis Chelsea Buzz. I don’t see ManU dropping points but they might. I’ve come to see that Leicester are at as much or more risk of missing out than us and with a weaker squad. But let’s look up and try for third. 

Assume Kante will be back, and given how poor we have been defensively, back 3 for this game?

Sheffield Utd recently beat Spurs 3-1 at Utd's ground.

I think we need to be prepared for a fight, don't think Gilmour should start this one.

I think this game will be a lot easier than the Palace game, we dominated the first half in the fixture at the Bridge and ran out of steam in the 2nd half. Seems like we are far stronger now in comparison to back then whereas Sheffield appear a little more wobbly in comparison to the standards they set at the start of the season.

Hopefully we will have Kante & Kova back for this game to replace Billy & Barkley to offer us more control in Midfield, this will allow Pulisic and Willian to do what they've been doing since the restart.

21 hours ago, Munkworth said:

I’m putting a TV in my bathroom so I can watch this from the safety of my toilet. 

“There’s no answer to that.” as the late Eric Morcembe  would have said.

50 minutes ago, erskblue said:

“There’s no answer to that.” as the late Eric Morcembe  would have said.

It’s cheaper than constantly replacing my underwear!

22 hours ago, Munkworth said:

I’m putting a TV in my bathroom so I can watch this from the safety of my toilet. 

Will the lead reach outside ?

Wolves out of the top 4 race imo.

Sheff United just scored a 93 minute winner from a corner. They are very good on set plays.

Long day ahead for us in our game against them.

Yeah, Sheff Utd got an injury time winner which is good and bad, the good side of it is that it basically eliminates Wolves from the equation, the bad news is that Sheff Utds tails will be up after recent home wins over Spurs and Wolves. 

 

This is a very tough game. Sheff Utd are ahead of Arsenal and Spurs so we need to treat this like we're playing one of the best teams. I'm seeing odds floating about at 6/1 for a Sheff Utd win, which I think is pretty crazy given their form and our shaky defence. 

Perhaps we should treat them like City and press not so far up the pitch so they need to come out a bit and then try and hit them on the break. 

Wish Tomori was fit so we could see how he does with Zouma. Christensen hasn't made me feel very confident with his previous performance and neither has Rudiger. Set pieces used to be such a strength and it is the complete opposite currently. Hopefully that gets sorted and soon. Either way, UTC and let's focus on what we can control and get the 3 points.

You have to respect the Blades - well organised, great work ethic, teamwork, solid tactics, setup works for their squad 3-5-2 and they go right to the end. We have to be on it and match their commitment and work rate and of course manage their set pieces. 

Frank might need to change the setup because they pack midfield and go long to mcburnie or down the channels to sharp - so we will find it hard to go through midfield and be under pressure at CB when they go forward. Maybe 3-4-3 but with players with plenty commitment and prepared to battle, so I would start with

azpi, zooms and christiansen

james, Jorginho, Kante and kova if fit or barclay

mount, Giroud and Pulisic

we will create plenty but must take our chances, very very important game

48 minutes ago, ws6blue said:

You have to respect the Blades - well organised, great work ethic, teamwork, solid tactics, setup works for their squad 3-5-2 and they go right to the end. We have to be on it and match their commitment and work rate and of course manage their set pieces. 

Frank might need to change the setup because they pack midfield and go long to mcburnie or down the channels to sharp - so we will find it hard to go through midfield and be under pressure at CB when they go forward. Maybe 3-4-3 but with players with plenty commitment and prepared to battle, so I would start with

azpi, zooms and christiansen

james, Jorginho, Kante and kova if fit or barclay

mount, Giroud and Pulisic

we will create plenty but must take our chances, very very important game

NO WILLIAN? 

10 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

NO WILLIAN? 

I am with you brother - Slick Willie & Pulisic are like Witches working with Black Magic - they cause havoc for the opposition's defense & I love the fact they both look for each other in the box

     I hope lampard does something about the right side of our defence or Sheffield utd might rip us a new one.  Crystal palace targeted James and Christensen the whole game and both goals came from that side, also the chance that hit the post and the Zouma late tackle originated from that side. I would say we should match up with Sheffield and play 3 at the back but i doubt Frank will want to change formations with so little time to drill in the tactics inbetween games.

 

                                            Kepa

     Azpi           Rudiger                Zouma                  Alonso

 

                                    Kovacic

               Barkley                         Mount

 

Ronaldinho           Giroud                    Pulisic

The blades will know they have to beat us to maintain the hope they have for the CL spots. They have the foxes after us too. So know back to back wins could seem them cut the gap significantly.

Really dangerous game this. If we are not bang at it we will be punished.

2 hours ago, ws6blue said:

You have to respect the Blades - well organised, great work ethic, teamwork, solid tactics, setup works for their squad 3-5-2 and they go right to the end. We have to be on it and match their commitment and work rate and of course manage their set pieces. 

Frank might need to change the setup because they pack midfield and go long to mcburnie or down the channels to sharp - so we will find it hard to go through midfield and be under pressure at CB when they go forward. Maybe 3-4-3 but with players with plenty commitment and prepared to battle, so I would start with

azpi, zooms and christiansen

james, Jorginho, Kante and kova if fit or barclay

mount, Giroud and Pulisic

we will create plenty but must take our chances, very very important game

You know this made me wonder how would we best set up the mimic how the blades play.

 

Kepa (Henderson)

 

Azpi (Basham)

Zouma (Egan)

Alonso (O'conell)

 

James (Baldock)

Mount (Osbourn)

Jorginho (Norwood)

RLC (Berge)

Willian (Stevens)

 

Pulisic (McGoldrick)

Giroud (McBurnie)

 

Obvious standout is the lack of a left footed wingback.

 

Edited July 8, 20206 yr by axman2526