Pulisic said yesterday that he is match fit and ready to play. Ziyech is also training and appears ready. However I don’t think Lampard plays either of them on Saturday to give them an extra two weeks with the international break next week. It ducks as the team clearly needs more creativity and offensive threats which both of these guys bring. 

I don't mind the sale of Rudiger because I've seen good signs from all our CBs so far this season. Zouma strong as always, Christensen displaying a bit more aggression and leadership and Silva - despite to major blunders - already looks like he could add another dimension to our defense in terms of boldness, aggression and forward passing. I'd therefore be fine with any combination of these three. I've also liked the look of Tomori but I feel like at this stage of his career he needs to be careful to not only show up focused for the big and difficult games but try and establish dominance against "lesser" opponents as well. Not a starter for me this weekend.

Full backs are a tough one. For me it depends on how much support from the flanks we can expect from our attacking players. If Ziyech is fit to start Azpi deserves to be right back. If Ziyech/Pulisic are still unavailable we need the support from Chilwell-James.

Kanté ironically made a good impact on Tuesday and should start, jorginho might deserve to be his partner this time. 

Up front I have a feeling Ziyech might be fit in which case we should give him a sneaky start and 60 mins. I've been very happy with Tammy so far but it's time to give Werner another shot as lone striker, particularly as we might get one or the other counter chance. Overall our attack to a big part consists of new players and players returning from injury, so I believe Mount absolutely must start as a sticking factor. I can see the first time combination of CHO-Havertz-Ziyech-Werner getting lost up front. Therefore:

Option A:

-----------------------Werner----------------------

CHO----------------Mount-------------Ziyech

-------------Jorginho----Kanté----------------

Chilwell---Zouma-----Silva----------Azpi

------------------------Mendy----------------------

Option B:

------------------------Werner---------------------

CHO----------------Havertz----------Mount

--------------Jorginho----Kanté--------------

Chilwell----Zouma-----Silva-----James

--------------------------Mendy----------------------

 

Players are getting to know each other, injuries make our squad look different every week so there is nothing that could happen in this game that would make me jump on the Sack-Frank-Wagon

 

 

18 minutes ago, Paddy said:

Didn’t he get a straight red and a 10 match ban when playing for st etienne for a mis-timed tackle that fractured the other player tibia, tibia and dislocated an ankle ?

Don't care what he did 20 years ago, 6 years of Premier League football is sufficient evidence for me

20 minutes ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

Don't care what he did 20 years ago, 6 years of Premier League football is sufficient evidence for me

 

20 minutes ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

Don't care what he did 20 years ago, 6 years of Premier League football is sufficient evidence for me

Well it’s hardly 20 years ago, but by that logic the Yorkshire ripper should be released because it’s been 40+ years since he hit anyone on the head with a hammer and killed them ???

1 hour ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I beg you don't make another post on this forum again.

Ah sorry, please don’t beg, it’s unattractive and it doesn’t work !

Lot of good posts. My fav is Spiller's "the dreaded U formation". Sadly that's what we might evolve into. I quite like the diamond since we only have cho as a winger. But playing a diamond is yet another formation and in my mind we need to settle on a foundation and stick with it for a while.

So for me its the 4 2 3  1 and that means Tammy doesn't start

Mendy

Dave/reece  Christenson Zouma Chilwell

   Kante Kova

     Havertz

mount Werner cho

CHO is clearly better on the left 

I doubt pulisic will be risked and we should be able to do it without him.

The worry is Werner playing a lot of minutes and mount playing every minute. Two of the hardest working players in the team.

I'd bring Mount and Werner off after 55 and use Tammy maybe Pulisic for the last 35 

Its astonishing how there is such a shortage of wingers in an attacking line up. Havertz is clearly required in the centre though for the creative side of things and Werner hasn't worked out wide so far. I would prefer werner tammy cho if it worked. Maybe it would work with Havertz doing the creative part.

Edited October 1, 20205 yr by ozboy

No excuses, we need to win this and I believe we will.

1 hour ago, Paddy said:

 

Well it’s hardly 20 years ago, but by that logic the Yorkshire ripper should be released because it’s been 40+ years since he hit anyone on the head with a hammer and killed them ???

Oh so we're not talking about his performance but about his guilt?

Maybe give Mount some time off to clear his head.

 

Mendy

 

James

Zouma

Silva

Chilwell

 

Jorginho

Kante

Havertz

 

CHO

Werner

Pulisic 

 

Look at Ziyach as an option from the bench if fit enough.

Obviously hoping we win this one, but not feeling at all confident or optimistic.

Anything less than a win and the knife will start to twist from fans/pundits alike.

1 hour ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

Oh so we're not talking about his performance but about his guilt?

Hmmmmmm, this all started because you took issue to my observation that whilst recognising Zouma’s last ditch, goal saving double tackle as world class (forget the reason behind why the tackle was necessary) and further suggesting that the next time he does that it could be a mili second mistimed and result in a penalty and a straight red.

In response you said that Zouma NEVER  gets his timing wrong - I gave you an example of when he did and it was SO badly mis-timed that he fractured the other players fibia, tibia and dislocated his ankle and got a 10 match ban as a consequence - you said that it didn’t count because it didn’t happen in the last six years , hence the metaphor regarding the Yorkshire ripper being released because he too hasn’t murdered anyone in the last 6 years !!!!! 

Got f**k all to do with performance.

3 hours ago, Paddy said:

Ah sorry, please don’t beg, it’s unattractive and it doesn’t work !

I do like it when people join up in here all full of opinions and attitude especially when they are able to make up such witty and amusing nicknames for our players coupled with such an in-depth insight into the world of top-class football management, tactics and the transfer market.

I particularly like when they get all confrontational from the gecko!

And that is some sort of tribute coming from me.

4 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

I do like it ..............

And that is some sort of tribute coming from me.

Well bless you, I’ll take it in the spirt and gecko in which you maintain it is intended.

24 minutes ago, Paddy said:

Hmmmmmm, this all started because you took issue to my observation that whilst recognising Zouma’s last ditch, goal saving double tackle as world class (forget the reason behind why the tackle was necessary) and further suggesting that the next time he does that it could be a mili second mistimed and result in a penalty and a straight red.

In response you said that Zouma NEVER  gets his timing wrong - I gave you an example of when he did and it was SO badly mis-timed that he fractured the other players fibia, tibia and dislocated his ankle and got a 10 match ban as a consequence - you said that it didn’t count because it didn’t happen in the last six years , hence the metaphor regarding the Yorkshire ripper being released because he too hasn’t murdered anyone in the last 6 years !!!!! 

Got f**k all to do with performance.

I was talking about whether that tackle more than 6 years ago should impact our view of him as a penalty threat, not on whether or not he should be in prison for it.

And to that I say his tackle against Tottenham didn't worry me at all, because it's what he's been doing for 6 years now.

1 minute ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

I was talking about whether that tackle more than 6 years ago should impact our view of him as a penalty threat, not on whether or not he should be in prison for it.

And to that I say his tackle against Tottenham didn't worry me at all, because it's what he's been doing for 6 years now.

You’ve complete misunderstood the metaphor , there was never any suggestion that he should go to prison ffs.

Any footballer , professional or otherwise, as long as they are on the pitch is capable of conceding a penalty and given the nature of last ditch, goal saving tackles, even more so, to say that a particular player will NEVER concede a penalty is ridiculous, especially if the player in question plays centre back .

So to be clear and for the record , are you saying that because Kurt Happy Zouma (did you know his middle names is Happy ? ? - marvellous thing is google)  hasn’t committed a mistimed tackle in the penalty area in the last 6 years (although he may have done previous to 2014 ?) that he is incapable of doing so between now and the end of his professional football career ?

 

I think from now on the back 5 shouldn't change. At least for a while anyway.

                   Mendy

James    Zouma   Silva   Chilwell

Maybe rest Mount but that might be seen as "punishing" him for his pass & pen miss midweek.

        Kante        Kova/Mount

                 Havertz

I think one of Ziyech & Pulisic might start but I'd be surprised if both did. You could imagine the horror if both went off injured in the same game.

CHO/Ziyech    Werner      Pulisic

22 minutes ago, Paddy said:

You’ve complete misunderstood the metaphor , there was never any suggestion that he should go to prison ffs.

Any footballer , professional or otherwise, as long as they are on the pitch is capable of conceding a penalty and given the nature of last ditch, goal saving tackles, even more so, to say that a particular player will NEVER concede a penalty is ridiculous, especially if the player in question plays centre back .

So to be clear and for the record , are you saying that because Kurt Happy Zouma (did you know his middle names is Happy ? ? - marvellous thing is google)  hasn’t committed a mistimed tackle in the penalty area in the last 6 years (although he may have done previous to 2014 ?) that he is incapable of doing so between now and the end of his professional football career ?

 

No I'm saying the fact he hasn't done that in 6 years means it has no elevated relevance for our considerations regarding the coming game against Palace.

6 minutes ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

No I'm saying the fact he hasn't done that in 6 years means it has no elevated relevance for our considerations regarding the coming game against Palace.

Well I confess I’m confused at your use and understanding of the word NEVER  ? You said initially;

‘“.............Zouma NEVER gets the timing wrong and turns it into a penalty ..................”

In a further post a few hours ago, according to you , never meant a period of time NOT greater than 6 years previous to 2020 and a continuance into the future, seemingly without end ?

However, in your latest post at about 16.30, it’s only up to this Saturday and the palace game !!

Re-read our exchanges  - Zouma going to jail ffs !!!!!! and Saturdays game v palace have NEVER (that’s my understanding of never not yours) been up for or formed part of the discussion - stick to the point !!

 

2 minutes ago, Paddy said:

Well I confess I’m confused at your use and understanding of the word NEVER  ? You said initially;

‘“.............Zouma NEVER gets the timing wrong and turns it into a penalty ..................”

In a further post a few hours ago, according to you , never meant a period of time NOT greater than 6 years previous to 2020 and a continuance into the future, seemingly without end ?

However, in your latest post at about 16.30, it’s only up to this Saturday and the palace game !!

Re-read our exchanges  - Zouma going to jail ffs !!!!!! and Saturdays game v palace have NEVER (that’s my understanding of never not yours) been up for or formed part of the discussion - stick to the point !!

 

ok this is not leading anywhere

12 minutes ago, Luiz4Chelsea said:

ok this is not leading anywhere

 mate, this one is both witty and extremely knowledgeable about everything.

6 hours ago, Paddy said:

Didn’t he get a straight red and a 10 match ban when playing for st etienne for a mis-timed tackle that fractured the other player tibia, tibia and dislocated an ankle ?

That was 6 years ago and he was 17 years old . Chill the f**k out

How has it got to a point where I'm one of the most positive people on the forum? That's f**king scary man...

-------------Werner--------Abraham--------------

---------------------Havertz-----------------------

Chilwell------Jorginho-----Kovacic--------James

----------Zouma-----Silva------Azpi--------------

----------------------Mendy-----------------------

12 hours ago, TheGreatestGame said:

Pulisic said yesterday that he is match fit and ready to play. Ziyech is also training and appears ready. However I don’t think Lampard plays either of them on Saturday to give them an extra two weeks with the international break next week. It ducks as the team clearly needs more creativity and offensive threats which both of these guys bring. 

I hope they stay during the international break, the worst thing to do would be to join their national teams now right when they are coming back from injury...

The US doesn't have matches scheduled.

https://www.ussoccer.com/all-matches