5 minutes ago, forbzy said:

To be fair you rarely see a new manager come in and state that the squad is rubbish. Perhaps Barry Fry would have said that but most are going to try and give a positive spin even if they have identified flaws behind the scenes.

Not sure we have any need other than a dm

Just now, Bob stark said:

Not sure we have any need other than a dm

Pretty sure we have ruled out any signings this window. May be because Tuchel hasn't had time to assess the squad. 

2 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Pretty sure we have ruled out any signings this window. May be because Tuchel hasn't had time to assess the squad. 

We won't sign anybody but Tuchel is right, there isn't much flaw in this team except lack of decen dm

6 hours ago, Argo said:

I really hope Kante isn't going to be untouchable, that was my one big gripe with Frank in what I believe was otherwise a good job done last season.

He still more than has a role for us but his present day level simply doesn't warrant an untouchable status. Hopefully Tuchel can differentiate the Kante he's always wanted and the Kante of 2021.

Totally agree, no where near the player he was, and a couple of years ago, we may of been sensible to cash in when he was top dollar to a PSG or Spanish club, still can have a great game, but yes definitely not an untouchable 

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

I think you are talking early season when everyone was praising how we played I remember how great zouma and Tomori played because It was madness, absolute madness. We pretty much couldn't cover our d line, and we kept losing the ball so it was basketball game. Every good team, create a lot concede little, we created a lot n conceded a lot. Fun to watch but unsustainable. 

Kante is pretty much our only midfielder that can actually defend. It is that simple, he may no longer at the peak of his game but he is still very2 good. 

I was referring to games like Brighton home, Ajax away, Newcastle home, Watford away (that one especially) where we controlled the games and barely gave the other teams a sniff. Granted there were some basketball type games in that run like Burnley away and Ajax home but there was many of them with Kante aswell.

Also a bigger gripe was Gilmour completely losing his place (for Kante to be put back in) after those two games vs the scouse duo, three month lockdown or no he totally transformed us from a side that was off form for 2/3 months to a side that was fluent and taking teams apart and by all accounts he was smashing it in those BCD friendly's before the restart.

It may not matter so much who plays as much as how they play. Every player in the squad can do a job it’s just a matter of figuring out how to do it. 

putting wingers in as wing backs is already something. 
‘we all know that high crosses into the area is not going to be the way, so that means either getting behind or penetrating around the edge of the box  we need to be prepared to sacrifice some possession in return for more aggression round the box  In consequence will have to defend more  

 

1 hour ago, Argo said:

I was referring to games like Brighton home, Ajax away, Newcastle home, Watford away (that one especially) where we controlled the games and barely gave the other teams a sniff. Granted there were some basketball type games in that run like Burnley away and Ajax home but there was many of them with Kante aswell.

Also a bigger gripe was Gilmour completely losing his place (for Kante to be put back in) after those two games vs the scouse duo, three month lockdown or no he totally transformed us from a side that was off form for 2/3 months to a side that was fluent and taking teams apart and by all accounts he was smashing it in those BCD friendly's before the restart.

Billy featured in 4 out of the 6 games post lock down including 2 starts against Palace and Leicester before injury ended his season prematurely. 

We need to remember he is incredibly young with a small frame and maybe the excessive football at the top level contributed to his lengthy lay off due to injury. 

4 hours ago, Mike Carefree said:

Its early days for mr tuchel...

There seems to be no rhyme or reason between top and bottom clubs results...

But

I certainly expect , and i mean expect, us to get thru this tough game with 3 points...

Nice to see you are back, thought maybe you had given up on the forum or CFC.

Mount has to play, so as Pullisic. We need to score, can't afford to have Jorginho and Kovacic spray passes away from the final third all day. Be disappointed if Zouma is left out again, our defence is not getting better without him, and we lost that extra threat in set pieces.

I feel like we will be winning this one by 3-4 goals. For sure Burnley will park the trailer and throw bodies around the box but we will break this one for sure. 

TT Welcome Tuchelsea 

4 hours ago, Argo said:

I was referring to games like Brighton home, Ajax away, Newcastle home, Watford away (that one especially) where we controlled the games and barely gave the other teams a sniff. Granted there were some basketball type games in that run like Burnley away and Ajax home but there was many of them with Kante aswell.

Also a bigger gripe was Gilmour completely losing his place (for Kante to be put back in) after those two games vs the scouse duo, three month lockdown or no he totally transformed us from a side that was off form for 2/3 months to a side that was fluent and taking teams apart and by all accounts he was smashing it in those BCD friendly's before the restart.

I honestly can't remember any of that game. 

That game against Everton was one of our best performances. I was worried before the game but we have Pedro and Willian on the wing. Can we expect puli, cho, ziyech or Werner to play like willian and pedro in term production on both side of the ball. I think by now we know the answer is big no

 

 

Don't know about everyone else, but I am REALLY looking forward to this game.

16 hours ago, Argo said:

I really hope Kante isn't going to be untouchable, that was my one big gripe with Frank in what I believe was otherwise a good job done last season.

He still more than has a role for us but his present day level simply doesn't warrant an untouchable status. Hopefully Tuchel can differentiate the Kante he's always wanted and the Kante of 2021.

I hope no player is untouchable! Though to the beginning of December I felt there were four players who were playing at a consistency level to potentially be POTY.... Silva, Kante, Mount and Chillwell. Also felt Zooms was having a decent season.

15 hours ago, forbzy said:

Pretty sure we have ruled out any signings this window. May be because Tuchel hasn't had time to assess the squad. 

That would make sense!

11 hours ago, haviet1 said:

Don't know about everyone else, but I am REALLY looking forward to this game.

Not even Burnley fans look forward to watching Burnley, that’s the Burnley way!

For the first time in a while, I'm excited for a match.

If we go for the 352 formation, then I hope for some thing a bit like this

Mendy 

Azpi Silva Zouma

James Mount Gilmour Kovacic Hudson-Odoi

Havertz Werner

 

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

----Pulisic----------Havertz-------------CHO----

---------------Mount--------Gilmour------------

---------Rüdiger-----Silva------Azpi-------------

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

I think Mount, Silva, and CHO are locks to start, and honestly the other 8 could be anyone. Particularly if rumors are true about the board still backing Kepa, though I would be surprised if Mendy did not start.

Match Day!

Come On Chelsea!!
 

 

2-0 to the future European champions.

2 wins today for the mighty blues 

GAMEDAY!!! COME ON CHELS!!!

Rumor has it Alonso starts. Callum at RWB again.

Mount and Abraham in the starting eleven as well.

3 minutes ago, Amputechture said:

Rumor has it Alonso starts. Callum at RWB again.

Mount and Abraham in the starting eleven as well.

https://twitter.com/SiPhillipsSport/status/1355819559253659654?s=19

It's not going to happen...but would anyone else like to see James in the midfield? Adds physically and can move the ball just as well as the others in there! 

 

Mendy

Api Thiago Zouma

CHO James Kova Alonso

Mount Pulisic

Giroud

 

Or 

 

Mendy

Api Thiago Zouma Chilwell

James Kante

CHO Mount Pulisic

Giroud