Early one!

A good tennis player I know said that a good test is to beat someone just a bit worse than you. On the table Brentford more or less fit that description. And we are at home again. All the guys playing internationals should be recovered.

None of the subs did enough to warrant starting so I guess it's the same 11. I guess you could consider playing Badiashile and shifting Colwill to left back but I preferred Cucu wide and Colli inside.  I don't really like the false 9 thing, you need a target, reference point but maybe it will work again.

You have to wonder when, if at all, Petrovic will be given a shot. Best keeper in the MLS by a mile last season according to viewers and I'd like to think he was carefully scouted by the club. 

With regards to Sanchez. I can't help but feel this GIF being more than appropriate. 

We've had several must wins this season. This is another must win.

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

You have to wonder when, if at all, Petrovic will be given a shot. Best keeper in the MLS by a mile last season according to viewers and I'd like to think he was carefully scouted by the club. 

With regards to Sanchez. I can't help but feel this GIF being more than appropriate. 

I would guess Petrovic starts against Blackburn.

We are usually asleep at early kickoffs so that is lovely to look forward to for a week...

4 hours ago, ozboy said:

A good tennis player I know said that a good test is to beat someone just a bit worse than you. On the table Brentford more or less fit that description. And we are at home again. All the guys playing internationals should be recovered.

None of the subs did enough to warrant starting so I guess it's the same 11. I guess you could consider playing Badiashile and shifting Colwill to left back but I preferred Cucu wide and Colli inside.  I don't really like the false 9 thing, you need a target, reference point but maybe it will work again.

I reckon Pochettino brings in more height for this game. Brentford are a threat at set plays. Disasi returning to the side seems likely, maybe Reece as well though I don't think he is that great in the air.

14 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We are usually asleep at early kickoffs so that is lovely to look forward to for a week...

I reckon Pochettino brings in more height for this game. Brentford are a threat at set plays. Disasi returning to the side seems likely, maybe Reece as well though I don't think he is that great in the air.

Yes Disasi could come back but that would be at the expense of cucu who looked a far more natural left back than Colwill. That said I didn't think Colwills form on the ball was that flash last time out, a number of mis kicks, think I counted 3. There were games when I didn't do more than that, not many though.

16 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We are usually asleep at early kickoffs so that is lovely to look forward to for a week...

I reckon Pochettino brings in more height for this game. Brentford are a threat at set plays. Disasi returning to the side seems likely, maybe Reece as well though I don't think he is that great in the air.

Would expect one of Nico/Broja to start too for that reason

Can see Colwill back at LB again with the way Brentford play. 

 

6 hours ago, ozboy said:

Yes Disasi could come back but that would be at the expense of cucu who looked a far more natural left back than Colwill. That said I didn't think Colwills form on the ball was that flash last time out, a number of mis kicks, think I counted 3. There were games when I didn't do more than that, not many though.

Most likely yes Colwill back to LB. Disasi is also able to play RB so not impossible he could play there.

Pochettino may even decide he wants his biggest back line and move both to full back so Badiashile can partner Silva, highly unlikely but if he deemed an opponent that good in the air it could happen.

We have Blackburn midweek as well where Cucurella can play. Can't take any risks here. 

 

Sanchez 

Gusto Disasi Silva Colwill

Caicedo Enzo

Palmer Gallagher Sterling
Jackson

19 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

We have Blackburn midweek as well where Cucurella can play. Can't take any risks here. 

 

Sanchez 

Gusto Disasi Silva Colwill

Caicedo Enzo

Palmer Gallagher Sterling
Jackson

Our biggest risk is the kick off time. No matter who he picks this is Pochettino first experience of a Chelsea early kickoffs game.

Didn't Brentford thrash us once previously in an early kick off?

Sanchez

Gusto  Disasi  Badiashile  Colwill

Enzo Caicedo

Palmer  Gallagher  Sterling

Jackson

Go big, get a win. Keep the momentum going. 

On 23/10/2023 at 14:28, axman2526 said:

Our biggest risk is the kick off time. No matter who he picks this is Pochettino first experience of a Chelsea early kickoffs game.

Didn't Brentford thrash us once previously in an early kick off

Hope the early kick off doesn't affect us.

Edited October 25, 20232 yr by hephzibah

It almost always does.

11 minutes ago, Scott said:

It almost always does.

Sad but true.

We need to counter Brentfords physicality, but this is not the game for a rusty James or Badiashile to start and get battered about imo.

 

Sanchez

 

Gusto

Disasi

Silva

Colwill

 

Caicedo

Enzo

 

Palmer

Gallagher

Sterling

 

Jackson

Agree we may have to play Colwill on LB to counter those high balls, bit unfair to Cucurella after a really good game, but team comes first. A bit of toss up between Palmer and Mudryk, could play the same front 3 but I prefer a real striker against a team not doing that well.

On 26/10/2023 at 06:40, icecoolguy22 said:

 A bit of toss up between Palmer and Mudryk

Not sure how this can be a toss up. They are very different. 

It is quite difficult to predict result this season. Our two biggest problem (final third and individual defensive mistake) make any game feel like a gamble. 

If Jackson did not not do I have no idea what he was doing agains raya, it would have been 3-0 done deal. This is  not just arsenal game, this is a common theme for us this season. 

Unless you believe in some kind magical system, fixing final third is not as easy as just move here and there.

The biggest difference maker in final third is still individual quality. Can poch improve Mudryk, jackson and palmer so they are ready to take the next step ASAP? 

What timeline does this player have? Should we consider signing new attacker if they are not ready by next season ? 

 

Edited October 27, 20232 yr by Bob stark

On 23/10/2023 at 08:07, Sconnie Blue said:

We have Blackburn midweek as well where Cucurella can play. Can't take any risks here. 

 

Sanchez 

Gusto Disasi Silva Colwill

Caicedo Enzo

Palmer Gallagher Sterling
Jackson

Not sure that Cucurella starting at LB would be a big risk. He has been one of our best players the last couple of games.

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Not sure how this can be a toss up. They are very different. 

I suspect Palmer will start over Mudryk, based on the fact that Poch has indicated that Mudryk still needs to improve and has subbed him early in recent games.

1 hour ago, forbzy said:

I suspect Palmer will start over Mudryk, based on the fact that Poch has indicated that Mudryk still needs to improve and has subbed him early in recent games.

Unless somebody is in crazy form, the choice between Mudryk and Palmer comes down to what you want from your winger. 

You want speed, Mudryk. You want more connector, Palmer. 

You want them both and Sterling and in this game Jackson. Palmer has to play a bit deeper

27 minutes ago, ozboy said:

You want them both and Sterling and in this game Jackson. Palmer has to play a bit deeper

Who do you want to drop? 

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

Who do you want to drop? 

Guess he is referring to Gallagher. Has been very good this season but think it would be a decent game to try Palmer in the no.10 flanked by Sterling and Mudryk. We will have most of the ball and we will be trying to break down a stern defence. I doubt Poch will do it though.