5 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Hopefully we play back 5 with Chilwell as lwb with murdyk, kai, Felix up top. 

If we play the way we play against West Ham, there is no point of travelling to Dortmund. All Dortmund need to do is force the ball so it goes to Cucu, and press him and we are done. 

Drop Cucu ? 

Such an exciting evening ahead! f**king love Champions League 🤩. I have watched CL since it started. 

Our players are conditioned to win trophies and this competition is the only where we still can. Players will get borderline aroused when that beautiful Champions League tune starts. 

If the quality of our team shines through today we should win. I think Potter is a smart man and a manager so it won't hinder our chances in this game. Potter has shown he is tactually very astute for clubs he knows well. Chelsea and his squad he still doesn't know well.

Anyway I am hoping for a good showing tonight.

8 minutes ago, evissy said:

If the quality of our team shines through today we should win. I think Potter is a smart man and a manager so it won't hinder our chances in this game. Potter has shown he is tactually very astute for clubs he knows well. Chelsea and his squad he still doesn't know well.

A lot of oxymorons there mate. 

Interested to see how we will cope without Badiashile tonight, and whether Potter will stick with 4 at the back, or go back to a 5. On form so far this season, the options for left centre back are a downgrade on Badiashile, so I think he might go conservative and play 3 centre backs with wing backs. 

9 minutes ago, charierre said:

A lot of oxymorons there mate. 

Quality of players is what I meant.

4 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Interested to see how we will cope without Badiashile tonight, and whether Potter will stick with 4 at the back, or go back to a 5. On form so far this season, the options for left centre back are a downgrade on Badiashile, so I think he might go conservative and play 3 centre backs with wing backs. 

Yep we probably ended up with an abundance of riches and whilst Felix is undoubtedly an asset, his loan has led to us leaving out the player who has so far shown the strongest of the new recruits.

You have to agree with Coley. He knows what he is talking about.

 

 

Dortmund's recent form probably makes them favourites for tonight's match, but I think we're capable of catching them out on the counter and pinching the match that way.

16 minutes ago, evissy said:

You have to agree with Coley. He knows what he is talking about.

Big test for the new era tonight ... we really should have enough to get past Dortmund in this tie, in spite of our current form,

Current SkyBet odds for Champions League have us as 6th Favourite, so definitely in with a shout !

Would love to know what Tony Bloom is betting on LOL

 

Interesting odds because even though PSG are a goal down against Bayern I could still see them getting back quite easily particularly as there is no away goals rule.

Apparently a squad of 23 players has made the trip to Dortmund :

GK: Kepa, Bettinelli, Bergstrom

DEF: Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Chilwell, James, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Fofana

MID: Enzo, Kovacic, RLC, Zakaria, Gallagher, Hall, Chukwuemeka

FWD: Felix, Mudryk, Mount, Ziyech, Havertz

 

 

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Interesting odds because even though PSG are a goal down against Bayern I could still see them getting back quite easily particularly as there is no away goals rule.

Especially if Mbappé is ft for the 2nd leg ...

18 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Big test for the new era tonight ... we really should have enough to get past Dortmund in this tie, in spite of our current form,

Current SkyBet odds for Champions League have us as 6th Favourite, so definitely in with a shout !

Would love to know what Tony Bloom is betting on LOL

 

That looks about right with the odds.

Napoli is the dark horse for mine. Playing very impressive football in the domestic league.

Edited February 15, 20233 yr by Jezz

1 minute ago, Jezz said:

That looks about right with the odds.

Napoli is the dark horse for mine. Playing seriously impressive in the domestic league.

Yes - huge lead they have opened up. The two Portuguese sides might be a good outside bet as well. 

Possibly one of the most open Champions League's in recent years ; many of the top sides don't seem quite as good as they were, which opens it all right up !

Edited February 15, 20233 yr by Sexyfootball

53 minutes ago, evissy said:

You have to agree with Coley. He knows what he is talking about.

 

 

HahahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahaha... best one I've read on here yet!

I lurked a bit on the Dortmund forum and they a pretty certain to win this game. They are on a win streak and the few Dortmund people who are unsure only think that because everything just seems way too perfect for a win tonight. Some remarkes about troubles with high balls into the box but nothing else really. 

 

Another note about the referee tonight. Jesus Gil Manzano, refereed last year for us in the 1:0 loss against Juventus and 2:0 win over Lyon. 

So far he issued 13yellow cards in 3 Champions league games this season. 

 

 

23 minutes ago, Nevamind said:

I lurked a bit on the Dortmund forum and they a pretty certain to win this game. They are on a win streak and the few Dortmund people who are unsure only think that because everything just seems way too perfect for a win tonight. Some remarkes about troubles with high balls into the box but nothing else really. 

 

Another note about the referee tonight. Jesus Gil Manzano, refereed last year for us in the 1:0 loss against Juventus and 2:0 win over Lyon. 

So far he issued 13yellow cards in 3 Champions league games this season. 

 

 

Reminds me of 2012 when Bayern Munich thought they had already won the cup before the match started. must be something in the German psyche.   

14 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Dave did the pre match presser wonder if that means he starts, and if he does I think could be in a back 3.

 

Kepa

 

Dave

Silva

Koulibaly 

 

James

RLC/Kovacic

Enzo

Chilwell

 

Felix

Havertz

Mount/Mudryk

Or maybe left back after last weekend's showing 

Kepa, Mount, Silva, Koulibaly, Chilly, James, Felix, Havertz, Azpilicueta are all relatively experienced Champions League players. Mudryk is on 3 goals and 2 assists on this seasons CL and Enzo has performed well for Benfica. He has 2 assists on his name. 

We are not lightweight in this tournament and the key is the hunger our players have. 2012 we were horrible in the league but won the CL. Players simply saw the gold at the end of the rainbow.... admittedly we had a brilliant squad compared to today's squad....

Edited February 15, 20233 yr by evissy

3 hours ago, evissy said:

You have to agree with Coley. He knows what he is talking about.

 

 

one of the 10 or 11 that can win when there are only 16 teams left?

Hoping for a return to a back 3 personally.

-----------------------Kepa-------------------

-------------Azpi-----Silva-----KK------------

James----------Kovacic-Enzo---------Chilwell

--------Felix--------Havertz------Mudryk.----

 

Not sure about Kovacic's fitness levels. 

4 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Interested to see how we will cope without Badiashile tonight, and whether Potter will stick with 4 at the back, or go back to a 5. On form so far this season, the options for left centre back are a downgrade on Badiashile, so I think he might go conservative and play 3 centre backs with wing backs. 

 

3 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Apparently a squad of 23 players has made the trip to Dortmund :

GK: Kepa, Bettinelli, Bergstrom

DEF: Thiago Silva, Chalobah, Chilwell, James, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Fofana

MID: Enzo, Kovacic, RLC, Zakaria, Gallagher, Hall, Chukwuemeka

FWD: Felix, Mudryk, Mount, Ziyech, Havertz

 

 

 

 

 

well it seems that for the long-term in this competition that our man Potter has gone with Wes Fofana over Badiashile.

which is a gamble as young Wesley is not quite fit yet.

                         Kepa

James        Silva        Kouli      Chilwell

                  Enzo       Kovacic

            Ziyech    Felix    Mudryk

                          DDF

That would be my starting XI, surprise BvB with pace up front, with always at least 4 in midfield, force them down the flanks.

21 minutes ago, coco said:

                         Kepa

James        Silva        Kouli      Chilwell

                  Enzo       Kovacic

            Ziyech    Felix    Mudryk

                          DDF

That would be my starting XI, surprise BvB with pace up front, with always at least 4 in midfield, force them down the flanks.

I'd be extremely surprised if Potter gave DDF his first start in such an important game ... he has hardly had any minutes at all since 8th January, and has only played 60 minutes for Chelsea full stop !

Edited February 15, 20233 yr by Sexyfootball

James and Chilwell are ready to start but not so sure if Mudryk can play full 90minutes yet but he'll get another start.

A lot of work for Enzo and Koulibaly needs to not get baited into bad areas because Reus and Bellingham are going to punish him hard if he goes too much aggressive... Probably a back 3 would backfire but we simply aren't drilled enough as a team yet in comaprison so I would risk it with not starting Mount nor Mudryk in a 3-4-2-1:

 Azpilicueta T.Silva Koulibaly

James Enzo Gallagher Chilwell

             J.Felix Havertz
                   Fofana