On 16/04/2023 at 09:06, Munkworth said:

At least after this we’ll only have 7 more games to suffer through. I reckon Palace are going to overtake us next. 

It was weird wanting Man United to win yesterday so the gap at the bottom stayed to 12 points. 

15 minutes ago, bluehaze said:

It was weird wanting Man United to win yesterday so the gap at the bottom stayed to 12 points. 

Was also weird desperately wanting West Ham to get 3 points to piss on the title chips of those in North London!

Most likely our last Champion League game for a long while. Let's try and enjoy it *sniff*

At least if the super league rears it's head again, we won't be anywhere near it.

1 hour ago, Mod said:

Was also weird desperately wanting West Ham to get 3 points to piss on the title chips of those in North London!

That would be off the scale funny if they blow it can't even call them Spursy cause Tottenham never had a huge gap to squander in 2016. As for tomorrow just show a bit of backbone not get humiliated is all I think everyone is asking for.

If we screw Arsenal’s title chances at their gaff in a couple of weeks, it will be completely and utterly superb. It could happen. We must believe it could. Life will not be worth living if those to55ers win the league. Football Royalty, my arse.

52 minutes ago, Val Denton said:

If we screw Arsenal’s title chances at their gaff in a couple of weeks, it will be completely and utterly superb. It could happen. We must believe it could. Life will not be worth living if those to55ers win the league. Football Royalty, my arse.

Yeah that’s not going to happen. More likely they send us down!

21 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

Yeah that’s not going to happen. More likely they send us down!

Arsenal turned us over a few times when they were crap and we were in top 4. So perhaps we can reverse the roles this time.

Match Day !

Come On Chelsea!!

Please put in a decent performance tonight Chelsea!

I don't expect to go through to the Semi Finals, but I do expect a much improved performance. A Win would be nice, but realistically, we can't score a goal and with Benzema and Vinicius Jnr,  Madrid will probably get one or two, so I think our best hope is a 1-1 draw tonight. 🙏🙏🙏 I am wrong though

Edited April 18, 20233 yr by coombsie

Don’t worry there’s some proper European football at Stamford Bridge on Saturday once we’ve all suffered through this one.

Three nil,and through to the semis.....UP THE CHELS !

Miracles do happen. 

It's clear that nobody believes in us and it's legit, we don't look good. But there is still a chance to make something, if players love their careers and want their names to be remembered, then motivation is must be there.

Even if there is very little hope, but it's still a hope. COME ON CHELS!!!

Last year we should have got through in the second leg ( disallowed goals as usual), and that was in a more difficult circumstances. It's possible, the big difference is who's in charge of the team going into the game. It's probably asking too much for Lampard , but who knows, this could be another night to cement his legendary status as a manager on top of being a great player.

Not an easy lineup to choose.

With Chilwell out and Hall having played for the U21s on Sunday, we don't have much of a choice but to start Cucurella (unless we do something weird like sticking Ziyech or Chalobah there). I might also consider starting Loftus-Cheek, but he is also apparently a doubt (my alternative would be Zakaria). Havertz would also be a nailed-on starter considering how isolated Sterling and Félix were last week and how much trouble we had playing it long, but he is also a doubt.

We can't really not play three in midfield. We also have nobody competent to play at left wing-back. Mount must start, and other than Havertz, Mudryk seems like the one forward in our squad at the moment with any sort of fitness or form. 

Considering this is probably our last game this season of any significance, I'm happy for us to go all-in. This is probably what I would go for:

-------------------------Mendy (if at all possible)

James----------Fofana---------Silva---------Cucurella

-----------------------Loftus-Cheek (drifting wide in possession, same as last year)
---------------Fernández----------Kanté

--------------------------Mount

-----------------Havertz------------Mudryk

Chelsea - Real Madrid 3-0. Silva, Havertz and a late Cucurella screamer. 

Now, before you go on and instill some sanity in my prediction, please remember I am a Chelsea fan. 

3 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

Not an easy lineup to choose.

With Chilwell out and Hall having played for the U21s on Sunday, we don't have much of a choice but to start Cucurella (unless we do something weird like sticking Ziyech or Chalobah there). I might also consider starting Loftus-Cheek, but he is also apparently a doubt (my alternative would be Zakaria). Havertz would also be a nailed-on starter considering how isolated Sterling and Félix were last week and how much trouble we had playing it long, but he is also a doubt.

We can't really not play three in midfield. We also have nobody competent to play at left wing-back. Mount must start, and other than Havertz, Mudryk seems like the one forward in our squad at the moment with any sort of fitness or form. 

Considering this is probably our last game this season of any significance, I'm happy for us to go all-in. This is probably what I would go for:

-------------------------Mendy (if at all possible)

James----------Fofana---------Silva---------Cucurella

-----------------------Loftus-Cheek (drifting wide in possession, same as last year)
---------------Fernández----------Kanté

--------------------------Mount

-----------------Havertz------------Mudryk

I think sadly the shots will probably be shifting wide instead of poor-Ruben.

Anyone here in contact with either Mireles or Ramires for later?

On 16/04/2023 at 09:06, Munkworth said:

At least after this we’ll only have 7 more games to suffer through. I reckon Palace are going to overtake us next. 

After this I'll be joining some of our players in taking a well earned break until August. Except they've been on a break since November. 

Belief and courage. That is all I'm asking for. Realistically our chances are very slim but still we're at home and chasing an achievable result. Crazier things have happened...

Really doesn't matter which players or system we choose. It's defeat either way.

But, for the sake of pretending it could matter, I'd maybe go something like:

Kepa

Azpilicueta   Silva   Fofana

James   Enzo   Kovacic   Kante    Cucurella

Felix   Havertz

And just try not to concede too many.

I wish lampard had said in his presser “I’m useless as a manager,the players are even worse and could score of there were no opponents” “real are far superior in every position”. “We are going to get thrashed, don’t bother turning up” etc

then maybe they would be over confident and we would be motivated to prove to the press he was wrong. 

4 minutes ago, ozboy said:

I wish lampard had said in his presser “I’m useless as a manager,the players are even worse and could score of there were no opponents” “real are far superior in every position”. “We are going to get thrashed, don’t bother turning up” etc

then maybe they would be over confident and we would be motivated to prove to the press he was wrong. 

Well, he has said we are not fit enough to compete. And Real do not need telling we could not score if there were no opponents.

1 hour ago, Mod said:

Anyone here in contact with either Mireles or Ramires for later?

Where is Ryan Bertrand when you need him?