1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Given how we and Leicester play we are second favorites in the final as we struggle against physical deep defences and quick counter attacks.

They are the best in the league at pulling off that strategy.

We have known that for quite some time though. The last time we beat Leicester was in the FA Cup but it was back when we still had Willian and Barkley...

In the last 5 games vs Leicester we have only won once so I agree with you that they could be seen as slight favorites, I guess. Though it's a final so there is where we should show the winning mentality.

5 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

We have known that for quite some time though. The last time we beat Leicester was in the FA Cup but it was back when we still had Willian and Barkley...

In the last 5 games vs Leicester we have only won once so I agree with you that they could be seen as slight favorites, I guess. Though it's a final so there is where we should show the winning mentality.

Like we did against Arsenal you mean?

 

See what team news we get from West ham and us today.

Edited April 23, 20215 yr by axman2526

22 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Like we did against Arsenal you mean?

 

See what team news we get from West ham and us today.

Kova out, others avalibale

Ok we got our team news.

No Kova for this or against Real so I would assume we have no choice but to rest Kante for this one, which hits our hopes.  Hopefully Gilmour comes in for him, but probably Mount, or maybe both. 

If TT is totally focused on Real he will protect Jorgi and Kante for that game:

 

Mendy

 

Azpi

Zouma 

Christensen

 

CHO

Mount

Emerson 

Alonso

 

Ziyech

Giroud

Werner

 

Something like that.

Annoying if he does rest Kante and saves him just for RM.

Tuchel has been resting Kante the last few matches with - in my mind - the intention to play Kante this weekend and again against Real Madrid. Of course, I've tried to read into these things before and I've been way off. I think I'd like to see a pretty strong team but with Real Madrid midweek I imagine we will see some rotation but nothing too extensive 

We’re not playing at 12.30pm so there’s a slight chance that we could win. 

I recognise that feeling too.

Felt more confident about this game than Brighton the other day. Up to this far, we have performed well in this kind of 'big' games, usually played our best team and everyone put their shift in. I reckon if we play the level we showed in those CL or City games, we will win it quite comfortably. The distraction of ESL has gone, I do believe it distracted the team the other night, as much as it sounds like a lame excuse. Being levelled on points, think WestHam will have a go at us, which should leave some spaces for us to exploit. I'm pretty sure they'd play the park the bus way had they got the 3 points against Newcastle the other day.

Biggest concern for me is how mentally fragile our players our. Dont imagine they recover so quickly from the super league fiasco and having their bus blocked by fans on Tuesday.

Thinking of that was TT not the Dortmund coach when they had a brick thrown through their bus window a few years back?

If so that may have brought back bad memories for him.

Match day,let's burst those bubbles.....COME ON YOU BLUES !

15 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Given how we and Leicester play we are second favorites in the final as we struggle against physical deep defences and quick counter attacks.

They are the best in the league at pulling off that strategy.

If we have to win then maybe but it is fa cup, draw is not a bad result. 

 

Match Day !

So come on Chelsea !!

The local supermarket has 3 tubs of Ben & Jerry's for €10 on offer. I may need them all today 

I can see "not lose" being TT's strategy for today, albeit we absolutely need to win this in my book ...

Ponder this: we're worried about a match against West Ham managed by David Moyes. Football eh 

Definitely agree the game against Madrid will be prioritised I feel,so we might scrape a drawer if we're lucky.

22 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Ponder this: we're worried about a match against West Ham managed by David Moyes. Football eh 

Lolz aside, I actually think he’s an excellent coach. Taking the United job was a near career-wrecking error. It was a poison chalice and nobody would have succeeded. Anyway he seems to have found his feet / rediscovered his roots as a coach who may not have the panache required to manage the top players/ clubs, but can really punch above his / the players’ weight with the next rung down.

Lot of talk of sides not running away to Super League want to show to us bad guys to earn that place. All fired up for these games. I bet managers use this as a way to fire up their players. 

54 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Ponder this: we're worried about a match against West Ham managed by David Moyes. Football eh 

I doubt many people realise that West Ham have the second best home record in the PL after Man City this season ... they are certainly no pushover in 20/21, and if all results against the ESL 6 had been annulled, they would be practically Champions elect as they would be way ahead of Leicester ...

18 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I doubt many people realise that West Ham have the second best home record in the PL after Man City this season ... they are certainly no pushover in 20/21, and if all results against the ESL 6 had been annulled, they would be practically Champions elect as they would be way ahead of Leicester ...

Thought Moyes would do well there and keep them around mid-table fighting for 4th spot is not something I expected.

I think Kante will start today despite RM midweek.

My forecasting is way off this season yet expect a narrow win for the Blues.

 

36 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Thought Moyes would do well there and keep them around mid-table fighting for 4th spot is not something I expected.

I think Kante will start today despite RM midweek.

My forecasting is way off this season yet expect a narrow win for the Blues.

 

Will be very tight. If we play turgid slow football that will just play into their game. Need to move the ball quickly and stretch the Moyes defence.

This game is more important than Real Madrid game in my view. Looking at ours, West Ham’s and Liverpool’s fixtures, we’re going to need some if performances. We really needed some points as a cushion. 

2 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

I doubt many people realise that West Ham have the second best home record in the PL after Man City this season ... they are certainly no pushover in 20/21, and if all results against the ESL 6 had been annulled, they would be practically Champions elect as they would be way ahead of Leicester ...

That's my point: how things can change in football...

Well fingers crossed we can grind out 3 points.