No excuses, we should be winning this comfortably.

Everton are rubbish under Benitez at the moment and they haven't beaten us at Stamford Bridge since 1994.

This needs to be a win. City and Pool are also just scraping by atm. 

Will be interesting to see if Allan and DCL are back, along with Richarlison not being injured. All key players.

On 12/12/2021 at 21:19, CFCCAN said:

Home or not this is never an easy game.  We need to sort our midfield out, without Kante and Kovacic the back 3 have no protection hence the latest set of disastrous defending we have seen.  What is a surprise to me, is despite our apparent strength in depth those players coming in have been very poor, especially Saul and Barkley. RLC is still not living up to his promise despite the number of chances he has been given; I was hoping he would be a Ballack type player but he is so inconsistent when he should be dominating in midfield given his size.  I expect yet another nail biter and more dropped points unless we get that midfield sorted out.  

RLC Is miles ahead of both Saul and Barkley. Barkley gave away the ball for the second Zenith goal he cannnot be trusted in a deeper role. Saul has looked anything but competent.. People keep blaming RLC but the player who has cost us 5 points has been Jorgi. Also RLC is more of a 10 and the fact he is adapting to a much deeper role in which even mount struggled shows his quality.

I am quite happy with the progression RLC is making - one could clearly see he was struggling with his stamina late on against Leeds (he has hardly played two games a week for 3 years) yet the coach kept him on. Because even a 70% RLC is better at the moment than a barkley or Saul in that role. Agree Kova and Kante are better but to slate RLC is unfair..

6 hours ago, Jangz said:

RLC Is miles ahead of both Saul and Barkley. Barkley gave away the ball for the second Zenith goal he cannnot be trusted in a deeper role. Saul has looked anything but competent.. People keep blaming RLC but the player who has cost us 5 points has been Jorgi. Also RLC is more of a 10 and the fact he is adapting to a much deeper role in which even mount struggled shows his quality.

I am quite happy with the progression RLC is making - one could clearly see he was struggling with his stamina late on against Leeds (he has hardly played two games a week for 3 years) yet the coach kept him on. Because even a 70% RLC is better at the moment than a barkley or Saul in that role. Agree Kova and Kante are better but to slate RLC is unfair..

I think Barkley is the better attacking player and RLC the better holding midfielder though would not play them together as a little too slow in movement be that physical or mental not sure.

Kante and Trev were in on Monday doing physical workload and joined the first team in training today. Hopefully that means both could come in against Everton.

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Kante and Trev were in on Monday doing physical workload and joined the first team in training today. Hopefully that means both could come in against Everton.

1 hour ago, Munkworth said:

On 13/12/2021 at 13:37, Deino said:

This needs to be a win. City and Pool are also just scraping by atm. 

Handled Leeds slightly better than us. Sadly City's squad and knowledge of the system just looks too good to me!

I believe Kovas 10th day of isolation is Thursday so that rules him out. I guess if we go with or strongest 11, front 3 being debatable, we go with:

 

Mendy

 

Chalobah

Silva

Rudiger

 

James

Jorginho

Kante

Alonso

 

Ziyech

Lukaku

CHO

 

If we look to give some overworked players an extra breather we may see:

 

Mendy

 

Chalobah

AC

Rudiger

 

James

RLC

Kante

Saul

 

Ziyech

Lukaku

CHO

Put out a combined XI and save some players for Wolves, that's my opinion. Don't start RLC and Kante, put Saul it's a nice gamble.

Kova can be back for wolves. And Silva can get a break for at least part of one of the two games, as can Jorgy. Must say I never expected chalobah to get a hammy so soon. 

9 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Put out a combined XI and save some players for Wolves, that's my opinion. Don't start RLC and Kante, put Saul it's a nice gamble.

Better call saul pause not!

3 hours ago, Amputechture said:

Better call saul pause not!

Saul is brutal and should not play for Chelsea again. I can't believe some Chelsea scouts thought he could play. Send him back to Athleti and use the wage savings to sign Rudiger. 

Kante and chalobah are back in the squad according to tuchel. But I doubt they will feature from the start.

mendy 

azbi silva rudiger 

james jorginho RLC alonso 

mount lukaku CHO 

1 hour ago, Jezq8 said:

Kante and chalobah are back in the squad according to tuchel. But I doubt they will feature from the start.

mendy 

azbi silva rudiger 

james jorginho RLC alonso 

mount lukaku CHO 

Hopefully Kovacic is also about to return.

As time passes it's all going accordingly, our players are slowly returning and we will be favorites against Lille in the CL and maybe even hold on for the PL title challenge as well. Just need to win this match with a slightly less powerful lineup.

TT has said Kante will be on the bench, Trev may make the bench, may not.

Lukaku can play 70 minutes well TT said so sounds like he starts.

He expects it to take time to get Kante match fit and even longer for Kova to be so. Really think we need to risk resting Silva and Jorgi here as we will certainly need them at the peak of their powers to have any chance of beating Wolves and a very determined Steven Gerrard.

If that means Saul or Barkely with Ruben and AC at the heart of defence, then so be it. Hopefully we can outscore them.

On Evertons side they are for sure without Townsend, Davies, Mina and Richarlison.

The situation around around DCL I cannot find. Coleman is doubtful with a bruised foot and Allan and Doucoure are back in heir provisional squad.

Edited December 15, 20214 yr by axman2526

Does Pulisic play against Everton? Why or why not?

1 hour ago, USATim said:

Does Pulisic play against Everton? Why or why not?

Two people know. One is this man...

The other is @Munkworth

After seeing us scrape by with Leeds then seeing city smash them 7-0 it’s not instilling much confidence in our form. Need a turn around and quick 

2 hours ago, USATim said:

Does Pulisic play against Everton? Why or why not?

He does because he's ready to show you his talent.

5 hours ago, SFL82 said:

After seeing us scrape by with Leeds then seeing city smash them 7-0 it’s not instilling much confidence in our form. Need a turn around and quick 

That's true but it might just be that Leeds were tired after playing against us.