We have the personal but not the system, drive or Organisation to get the best out of them individually or as a unit. It’s been really depressing watching us go downhill. 

no one seems to know what the best team is. Werner and havertz  played  out of position have  seen their spirits drowned and form  evorprate. Same with kova and Jorginho, neither trusted. Pulisic form has also gone off. 

Our possession play is ridiculously slow and ponderous so we never take advantage of all the pace at the front. 

I”m sure the lads are capable of more. 
 

Edited January 17, 20215 yr by ozboy

Kante loves running after the ball so maybe defensive midfielder isn’t the best role for him?

Is it worth trying this midfield out? 
 

Mount Gilmour Kante

Kante and Mount can chase and press, while Gilmour sits back. I know Kante isn’t great at attacking but at least we’d have Gilmour spraying passes forward and Mount can link up with attackers.

So as the table shows we are the underdog here. No one in the media will have that but it is the truth. I watched Leicester play Southampton and they look really good. They have quality all over the pitch and the core is the same as it has been for years. 

I personally don't see us winning if we don't change anything. We have to try and outwit them tactically. Not saying just with changing formation but to really dig deep and find ways to keep them at bay and hurt them. 

If Frank just fields the same side with the same midfielders I am seriously questioning his methods. This game is not won by "let's try harder" or "let the natural talent make the difference".

We need to field in form players and drop players like Werner. CHO is a must starter. I would personally go 4-2-3-1. We would change the dynamic in the midfield which needs a change. 

A draw here will be a huge success. They are in form and I don't see us getting anything. Which is a shame cause we have so much quality but many are either not in form or Frank doesn't know how to make them play cohesively.

I have a feeling that if we play to win we will lose heavily, Leicester are very happy to play an open game they know how to systematically punish teams. 

Not sure this is a must win game (how many times we will hear that this season?  Every game is a must win game?).

I would take a draw but obviously want the win. A loss would be …unwelcome and place Frank under a lot of pressure. My hunch is that Chelsea will play well and either draw or win.

Hate to say it but if we don't gel and start playing as a team, could be an embarrassing defeat. Hopefully not.

I watched some Chelsea FA Cup highlights last weekend. Look at any side we had from 2010-2018 and we've had so matured sides. All our players are pretty much 26-31yrs old and in their own right, relatively big names.

It is a stark contrast of our current side. Don't get me wrong we have one of the best squads in the league in terms of quality but we lack experience of playing together and experience playing against quality sides like Leicester. Our manager is also very inexperienced. 

We can and at the same time can't lose this game. Talk about tough job for Frank. 

Really hope every member of Chelsea do everything to win this one. 

It seems to me that whoever lines up for us at the moment we play the same dull, ponderous, one-pace (slow) football ... its all to feet with no one running into space and no one playing into space. Watching Liverpool yesterday even at less than their best shows what we’re simply not doing ... I can’t remember one instance against Fulham of us executing even a simple give and go ....

It's crazy to see how the table is running this season, everything so close and sometimes unpredictable. 

First player I want to see in the starting lineup is CHO. He's showing a very good ability, he deserves to start and play as much as possible. If we win this game, we're getting closer and we're stopping one of our close opponents. Our performance against Fulham wasn't good enough, but we still got our 2 wins from 2 last games, tough period but maybe the 3 points against Fulham could give us a boost.

I'd like to see this starting lineup:

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

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

----------- Kante --------- Kovacic -----------

Ziyech ----------- Mount ------------ Hudson Odoi

------------------- Abraham ---------------

 

I really believe that we can make it, we can win this game and reach the top 4, we have enough quality and still a lot of potential to be shown. Let's win this game!

COME ON CHELS!!! 

I'd go 3-4-3 for this one.

 

Mendy

Azpi, Silva, Zouma

James, Mount, Kane, Chilwell

COH, Giroud, Pulisic 

 

I'm aware Puli's not been in great form, but I don't think Ziyech has been either. I'd go for pace on the counter, and balls into the box. I think if we try to dominate the ball too much, they'll kill us on the counter. 

Lamps has confirmed that Kanté is out for this game... oh dear.

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

Lamps has confirmed that Kanté is out for this game... oh dear.

Ahhh sh*tttt... If I don't laugh I'll cry. 

Massive blow. 

Vardy is a doubt too so maybe not so bad.

I wonder if Lampard will look to play on the counter against Leicester, we certainly have the personnel who thrive on space in behind and if we opt for a frontline which includes CHO, Werner & Ziyech we can certainly benefit in the transition and restrict the space in behind us by setting up in a low block.

Although my concern is that we have setup in a low block in 3 games this season against Liverpool, United and Sevilla (H) & looked completely toothless on the 3 occasions even though on paper we seem to have the players who should thrive in a counter attacking setup.  

So, if Kante's out, I guess Jorginho is going to start.

I'd give that spot to Havertz.

18 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

I wonder if Lampard will look to play on the counter against Leicester, we certainly have the personnel who thrive on space in behind and if we opt for a frontline which includes CHO, Werner & Ziyech we can certainly benefit in the transition and restrict the space in behind us by setting up in a low block.

Although my concern is that we have setup in a low block in 3 games this season against Liverpool, United and Sevilla (H) & looked completely toothless on the 3 occasions even though on paper we seem to have the players who should thrive in a counter attacking setup.  

Not sure we can play effectively on the counter with both Joginho and Kova in the middle. That would just slow us down as usual. Either Billy Gilmour or Havertz in for one of those 2 players.

To play on the Counter I feel we would be beat served to go 3-4-3 and select a fast front 3, meaning:

 

Mendy

 

Zouma

Silva

Rudiger

 

James

Kovacic

Mount

Chilwell

 

CHO

Werner or Abraham

Pulisic

We now know a new tactic to make us score works: I have to clean the litterbox instead of getting something from the fridge or go on my own litterbox. 

Edited January 18, 20215 yr by Valerie

dont know if we can afford to go 3 at the back. as it is we are struggling to score, and that just limits options further up the pitch. Id like to maybe see a midfield of gilmour and mount, with pulisic on the left, hudson odoi on the right, and ziyech or havertz behind a striker. ziyech could also play right, hudson left and pulisic behind the striker. but i think that is such a fluid attacking lineup and one that could serve us well. Its time frank stop playing the same rigid formations. 

53 minutes ago, Oli said:

dont know if we can afford to go 3 at the back. as it is we are struggling to score, and that just limits options further up the pitch. Id like to maybe see a midfield of gilmour and mount, with pulisic on the left, hudson odoi on the right, and ziyech or havertz behind a striker. ziyech could also play right, hudson left and pulisic behind the striker. but i think that is such a fluid attacking lineup and one that could serve us well. Its time frank stop playing the same rigid formations. 

Agree on not playing with 3 at the back for Leicester.

I would leave Ziyech on the bench tomorrow. Not denying his qualities but sometimes without the ball, can look a little bit of a liability and Leicester's fullbacks love to bomb on. If we lose possession we need to ensure our wingers are able to match them. 

Leicester also play with a high line so think it would be worth trying, CHO, Werner and Pulisic. Werner has been poor but I would play him this game. His pace may well be needed.

Brendan has said Vardy is fit to start.

I have a strange feeling we will win this Leicester will go in over confident Brenda gets found out... 1-2 to us 

Either we score at least 3 goals or we lose, I don't think this game will have 0-1 goals scored.

And I think it's going to be raining so our players might slip while Vardy loves to pour on opponents while it's raining...