Cueva needs to be watching the footage of what Arsenal do on set pieces. Going to crowd Sanchez. 

19 hours ago, STATS said:

Rule NO.1. Never trust a word that Arteta says. He said the same about Saka before the Liverpool game then guess what he played...

he came on last night SO he will play

I don't care if its a Gabriel OG off his arse that wins it. 

Need to win here. Moral booster and puts Arsenal into some serious trouble. 

Ok the fun is over, serious business now.

Been far too long since we beat one of the now "top 3" of Arsenal, Liverpool and City.

Need to change that. Pool were strong when we faced them, City better than they are now.

Arsenal are on the floor, but we are charity FC as well, made United look a competent side even. Maresca lacks a big game mentality imo, and so does our team. Lack of experience and leadership.

Marasca saying Palmer may not be fit to start against Arsenal....if he doesn't who should?

a lot will say Felix or Nkunku, BUT how about playing Enzo, Caseido and Lavia together

Regardless of whether Odegard or Rice plays, our back 3 or 4 need to get their sh*te together and stop playing so slow out the back that even a sloth could press them and force a mistake. Any of the back four have a stupid penalty give away in them, especially Fofana and Colwill, so the clown show at the back needs to stop.

I still don't like playing 2 in the middle no matter how good Caicedo and Lavia have been; the opposition this season are simply cutting through them and onto our defence in seconds, especially when the 'inverted' full backs are occupied and can't get into position to help out, in which case I'd go with 3 in midfield for this game as Trossard / Martinez and Saka will be pulling James and whoever is playing IFB on the other side out wide.    

If Palmer doesn't play I'd shove Felix in there after his display last night, he looks hungry while Nkunku looks half arsed. If Maresca wants to shore up the midfield then shove Casedai in there for some height and strength.  Arsenal can't score of late, getting the first goal to give us a chance against a wounded Arteta side snd while Noni has the talent he needs to stop playing for himself and start playing for the team and put those balls in the middle rather than take low % shots.     

I'd love a win, but I'd take a point just to see Arsenal drop another 2 and watch Arteta's season crumble in front of him.   If they lose touch with City and Liverpool and get drawn back into the pack of clubs chasing a top 4 spot, I think they will struggle to make Europe given the quality of teams that they would be surrounded by. 

A few tweaks here and there together with less brain farts, a win against Arsenal may have Liverpool and City looking over their shoulders.   

Going to stick a tenner on a chelsea win. Arenal and City look clueless at the minute. 

1 hour ago, POCH OUT said:

Marasca saying Palmer may not be fit to start against Arsenal....if he doesn't who should?

a lot will say Felix or Nkunku, BUT how about playing Enzo, Caseido and Lavia together

I see the thinking behind playing a third CM, but I'm not sure Enzo offers much more defensively than Nkunku would.

Personally I'd like to see Nkunku start. I would probably have Carney as next in line behind him for that central role, but I appreciate wanting to see him in the PL is wishful thinking!

3 hours ago, POCH OUT said:

Marasca saying Palmer may not be fit to start against Arsenal....if he doesn't who should?

a lot will say Felix or Nkunku, BUT how about playing Enzo, Caseido and Lavia together

I think that is what he will do. Palmer being injured allows him to keep Neto and Madueke wide and try and control the game more with a 3 man midfield.

Did not work vs City, would work better here in terms of control, but would just mean we lose without scoring, imo.

Would also send a clear message to Nkunku that Maresca would rather play without a 10 than use him against a top PL side.

Sancho is out. Palmer will likely start in my opinion. Maresca's message seems like he wants Palmer to at least have a training session before then. 

I think with Sancho out and Madueke unable to play himself out of form, it kind of does encourage Maresca to play with both Nkunku, Palmer, and Jackson. 

 

Jorgensen

 Fofana Colwill James

Caicedo Lavia

Gusto    Palmer Nkunku    Neto

Jackson

 

 

30 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Sancho is out. Palmer will likely start in my opinion. Maresca's message seems like he wants Palmer to at least have a training session before then. 

I think with Sancho out and Madueke unable to play himself out of form, it kind of does encourage Maresca to play with both Nkunku, Palmer, and Jackson. 

 

Jorgensen

 Fofana Colwill James

Caicedo Lavia

Gusto    Palmer Nkunku    Neto

Jackson

 

 

I dont think he will start Nkunku, but think you are right on the back 4 sadly. Though we do have hope for Cucu given he did not play last night.

 

Predicted Maresca with Palmer line up:

 

Sanchez

 

Gusto

Fofana

Colwill

James

 

Caicedo

Lavia

 

Madueke

Palmer

Neto

 

Jackson

 

And without Palmer:

 

Sanchez

 

Gusto

Fofana

Colwill

James

 

Enzo

 

Caicedo

Lavia

 

Madueke

Jackson

Neto

When was the last time a team won 8-0 and then every player was dropped for the next game? 

1 hour ago, BS66 said:

When was the last time a team won 8-0 and then every player was dropped for the next game? 

Playing noah is one thing, playing Arsenal is a completely different thing. Lol

I actually like it though. I like that we can rest players. It's taking time for everyone to get used to it, but it's no longer a starting 11 but moving towards a squad game. More and more teams will start concentrating on their squad of 25 with each season. 60-80 games per season is crazy, tbh. I know more games means it's more fun for us fans but quality will decrease and injuries increase if they continue to focus on just 11 players and a handful of subs.

The game is changing and somehow Chelsea fc find themselves in a decent place. We still need to improve the quality of some of our squad players still (disaster brothers, kdh, etc...) but its only little tweaks here and there.

Marcesca and this team need a win against a big team to help them kick on to the level and believe perfect opportunity on Sunday to do that. 
 

I fear that we’re starting to see Maresca be a “safety” first manager - I.e don’t lose. 

 

12 hours ago, bluetrooper said:

Going to stick a tenner on a chelsea win. Arenal and City look clueless at the minute. 

Absolutely. Doddle of a game. Le Arse are going backwards faster than an Italian tank filled with Tottenham fans. Martin OderEater will be as rusty as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, and their best player and at @Gol15 star man Declan Bomba Rice is an injury doubt. 

They have no wheels. This has a 4 or 5 nil win written all over it for us. Maresca's first win over a top team done and dusted.

 

I'd love to be that confident.

58 minutes ago, Scott said:

I'd love to be that confident.

3 points, up the Chels!

It's about time we get a result against them. Just like the United team, don't think Arsenal carries that much aura right now, we play to the best of our ability we can beat them. We just need to cut out the madness from the back ( noticeably the GK), and find ways to neutralize their biggest threat in Saka ( and Oddegard if he plays). Last thing I want see is Havertz celebrate in front of us ( as much as I don't hate the guy )

3 hours ago, just said:

Absolutely. Doddle of a game. Le Arse are going backwards faster than an Italian tank filled with Tottenham fans. Martin OderEater will be as rusty as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, and their best player and at @Gol15 star man Declan Bomba Rice is an injury doubt. 

They have no wheels. This has a 4 or 5 nil win written all over it for us. Maresca's first win over a top team done and dusted.

 

Its got to happen at some stage... 

Maresca needs a win against a big team. However I fear our defence isn’t good enough to get away with it against these bigger teams. They will punish you. You can see we’re almost there but he needs to sort out the defence. 
 

Also, there’s not enough goals in the team bar Palmer and Jackson. Not enough goals from defence, midfield or attack. 
 

0-2 unfortunately. 

8 hours ago, Mod said:

3 points, up the Chels!

That’s the spirit. Get stuck right into them Chelsea! 

Edited November 9, 20241 yr by erskblue

I am just worried about their set pieces and deliveries into the box, which is going to be there go-to tactic at every opportunity and they have a really big team.

5 hours ago, JM7 said:

Maresca needs a win against a big team. However I fear our defence isn’t good enough to get away with it against these bigger teams. They will punish you. You can see we’re almost there but he needs to sort out the defence. 
 

Also, there’s not enough goals in the team bar Palmer and Jackson. Not enough goals from defence, midfield or attack. 
 

0-2 unfortunately. 

Agreed, I think 0-2 sounds about right.

Would be 4 points from the run of Pool, Newcastle, United and Arsenal. A rather poor return for a side chasing top 4.