21 minutes ago, Frawdulant said:

Probably for the best. What’s your preferred lineup? 

Well more than 1 CM against City's strong midfield for a start.

I suspect it will be:

Mendy

Azpilicueta   Silva   Rudiger

James  Jorginho   Kante   Chilwell

Pulisic   Werner   Mount

 

Though I'd consider starting Havertz in the centre and have Werner behind him, like against Real Madrid.

1 hour ago, Strider6003 said:

I guess both us and City will meet with a player or two missing.

Perhaps for us Mendy and Christensen and who knows perhaps they might need to play Stones or and Mendy.

A consideration to be optimistic until K.O

Thought City had everyone fit? Stones is a first choice anyway. Who is missing?

53 minutes ago, Dean said:

Axman you have said elsewhere that in terms of strength of squads it’s 70:30 in favour of City. So if they were to win this, why would it not be about the better team winning rather than us bottling it? 

Good question Dean. 

By bottling this final I did not explain exactly what I meant. 

If we play really well, execute our game plan to near perfection and work from 1st to last minute and are simply beaten by the better side, then it would absolutely not be bottling it.

If however we do not make City work for it. We make silly mistakes, miss clear chances and drop our levels if we conceded 1 or 2 goals, like Villa for example, then that would be a bottle job as we did not bring our best nor sustain the effort for THE game in club football.

Make more sense?

5 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Thought City had everyone fit? Stones is a first choice anyway. Who is missing?

Plenty of time for a training injury.............

15 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Well more than 1 CM against City's strong midfield for a start.

I suspect it will be:

Mendy

Azpilicueta   Silva   Rudiger

James  Jorginho   Kante   Chilwell

Pulisic   Werner   Mount

 

Though I'd consider starting Havertz in the centre and have Werner behind him, like against Real Madrid.

Why Jorgi again a high press team rather than Kova? That is asking for trouble imo.

If we want Jorgi in we need to drop an attacker imo.

 

Jorgi

James---Kova---Kante---Chilwell

 

Mount

 

Werner

 

Dropping Jorgi:

 

James---Kova---Kante---Chilwell

 

Mount

 

Havertz

Werner

Edited May 27, 20215 yr by axman2526

1 minute ago, Strider6003 said:

Plenty of time for a training injury.............

Hah fair enough.

https://www.facebook.com/historic.football.shirts/photos/a.3274027739375265/3869702173141149/

Just now, axman2526 said:

Hah fair enough.

There's always a surprise though hope it is not us due to injury. 

1 minute ago, Strider6003 said:

There's always a surprise though hope it is not us due to injury. 

Biggest club match of their careers. Am sure Kante and Mendy play, at their ages they may never get the chance again. Even at less than fully fit they will want to play.

So will Christensen but he may be too short of match fitness.

However Dave would be a liability against City imo. Prove me wrong skipper.

37 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Good question Dean. 

By bottling this final I did not explain exactly what I meant. 

If we play really well, execute our game plan to near perfection and work from 1st to last minute and are simply beaten by the better side, then it would absolutely not be bottling it.

If however we do not make City work for it. We make silly mistakes, miss clear chances and drop our levels if we conceded 1 or 2 goals, like Villa for example, then that would be a bottle job as we did not bring our best nor sustain the effort for THE game in club football.

Make more sense?

Yep - got it now! I also think a lot will come down to the performance / effort.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

To add to that having bottled the last 2 fa cup finals and only not bottling the top 4 this season because we got help from the top bottlers themselves, if we also bottle the CL final I really hope Roman finally sees there is something wrong in this groups mentality.

Is it possible to lose to a better team on the day or do you class any loss as “bottling it”? 

Just now, turnyitb said:

Is it possible to lose to a better team on the day or do you class any loss as “bottling it”? 

Or do you class being the better side and not taking your chances as “bottling it”?

48 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Well more than 1 CM against City's strong midfield for a start.

I suspect it will be:

Mendy

Azpilicueta   Silva   Rudiger

James  Jorginho   Kante   Chilwell

Pulisic   Werner   Mount

 

Though I'd consider starting Havertz in the centre and have Werner behind him, like against Real Madrid.

Can’t believe I forgot Silva, some fan I am 😂

I really can’t get away with Jorginho, I’d prefer Kovacic in his place but otherwise I like the look of that line up. Fingers crossed for Werner to have learned the offside rule by Saturday haha!

1 hour ago, Strider6003 said:

None of this team were in that final so not sure that helps yet winning the Europa League should, otherwise agree.

I'm aiming at the fact that it's less pressure knowing that someone before you did it, Man City players would be the first ones to do it for their club in their whole history so they probably have more mental pressure in that sense.

I think we'll do it, City aren't as good as people are making them out to be, I'd rather play them than Lewandowski's Bayern tbh

 

2-1 Chelsea Werner to score the winner

26 minutes ago, turnyitb said:

Is it possible to lose to a better team on the day or do you class any loss as “bottling it”? 

 

25 minutes ago, turnyitb said:

Or do you class being the better side and not taking your chances as “bottling it”?

 

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Good question Dean. 

By bottling this final I did not explain exactly what I meant. 

If we play really well, execute our game plan to near perfection and work from 1st to last minute and are simply beaten by the better side, then it would absolutely not be bottling it.

If however we do not make City work for it. We make silly mistakes, miss clear chances and drop our levels if we conceded 1 or 2 goals, like Villa for example, then that would be a bottle job as we did not bring our best nor sustain the effort for THE game in club football.

Make more sense?

 

2 hours ago, sonic90 said:

@Munkworth I will never buy the pink kit now, EVER!

Thank f**k for that, no pink!.. never made sense anyway, especially since we’ve been playing City in home colours.

Chelsea squad listed below in squad number order:

Kepa Arrizabalaga,Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Andreas Christensen, Jorginho, Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kante, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, Willy Caballero, Kurt Zouma, Edouard Mendy, Mateo Kovacic, Olivier Giroud, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Billy Gilmour, Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Kai Havertz, Emerson, Tino Anjorin

Full squad available. Kante, Christensen and Mendy with full training today and yestarday.

1 hour ago, Term_X said:

Thank f**k for that, no pink!.. never made sense anyway, especially since we’ve been playing City in home colours.

We are undefeated in the Pink Jerseys but o well

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Why Jorgi again a high press team rather than Kova? That is asking for trouble imo.

If we want Jorgi in we need to drop an attacker imo.

 

Jorgi

James---Kova---Kante---Chilwell

 

Mount

 

Werner

 

Dropping Jorgi:

 

James---Kova---Kante---Chilwell

 

Mount

 

Havertz

Werner

Jorgi actually plays well against the press. The problem is Jorgi against a low block which fortunately is not how Pep plays so Jorgi should be just fine

Hmm. I'd like to see a forward line of Werner, Havertz, Mount. I have a funny feeling Ziyech will get picked; I have no faith in him at all, but he does have the most quality in the final third when he's on it. 

Kai for me is the best forward in tight areas. I really think City will be looking to completely squeeze the life out of this game, but we can definitely beat their press (FA Cup), and if we can get balls into the number 9 to stick, i think we can really expose their midfield. 

Edited May 27, 20215 yr by Hessleboink

We have to play Werner so much potential for penalties, just cheered up my father, 'Tiny Tim can't score in a brothel yet can win penalties'. 

 

Would like to see Havertz play too though not sure that will happen.

42 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

We are undefeated in the Pink Jerseys but o well

Yup, if it is the new Austin Powers kit....

1 hour ago, The Don Antonio said:

We are undefeated in the Pink Jerseys but o well

but blue socks..........

1 hour ago, The Don Antonio said:

We are undefeated in the Pink Jerseys but o well

I was looking forward to pinky shirts and black socks...