A little worried here. We're still very poor in the defensive transition, and many players are not up to speed.

I'd play this to start.

Sanchez

James Lacroix Colwill Palestra

Caicedo Lavia

Estevao Palmer Rogers

Pedro

I expect us to be slow to get going this season.

However, it's the first time in a long time where I'm actually excited for the season ahead.

So excited for this, go with the same XI as last game except Stevie in for Netonyahu and Lavia in for Fofana (with James dropping back)

Sanchez

James Lacroix Colwill

Palestra caicedo Lavia Hato

Palmer Pedro Rogers

Im actually nervous ahead of this season. I keep saying it but I hope Alonso is a good fit for us and the squad, he can get his ideas over to the players and they perform for him. Reckon we'll get the win. Fulham have a new manager as well and lost their best player to Leeds.

Hoping we see a little of what's to come this season by demolishing Fulham.

New manager, new season, players all playing for their futures and a clean slate from here on in.

Ohh I can't believe it's the first weekend of the season already!!

I reckon this could be a very tricky game.

Come on Chelsea! 💙

I’d like to preface this by saying Fulham are a lovely club with some of the friendliest fans in the league and I wish them well for the rest of the season.

However, they’re also the calibre of club that proper Chels would steamroll to send a message back in the day.

We’ve got the squad, we’ve FINALLY got the manager, we’ve got the fixture list. Let’s actually do something this season.

Bob

Palestra, Colwill, Lacroix, Hato

RJ, Caicedo

Stevie, CP, Rogers

JP

On 17/08/2026 at 12:45, Sconnie Blue said:

A little worried here. We're still very poor in the defensive transition, and many players are not up to speed.

I'd play this to start.

Sanchez

James Lacroix Colwill Palestra

Caicedo Lavia

Estevao Palmer Rogers

Pedro

Not how I see us setting up long term but 100% agree with that line up for Monday.

Think Alonso will go 3-4-2-1 for this one ... something like this :

Possibly with Lavia instead of Fernandez, but I think Enzo will start.

6 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Think Alonso will go 3-4-2-1 for this one ... something like this :

Possibly with Lavia instead of Fernandez, but I think Enzo will start.

Think Neto might start over Pep too

27 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Think Alonso will go 3-4-2-1 for this one ... something like this :

Possibly with Lavia instead of Fernandez, but I think Enzo will start.

I do wonder if he will continue with a right footer on the left and a leftie on the right re the wingbacks. Seems to have been quite a consistent theme during pre-season, and something I can't remember I've seen before

There is a possibility Alonso holds back the Argentinan, French and English internationals with them getting far less pre season.

We can still have a strong team of he does

Sanchez

Acheampong

Colwill

Hato

Palestra

Caicedo

Lavia

Chavarria

Palmer

Joao Pedro

Estevao

Feels odd to actually be able to put forward Lavia as a realistic selection option.

Gonna be tough.

think we still need time to gel and get certain players back

Anyway

Sanchez

Josh fofana hato

Neto caicedo lavia palestra

Palmer welbeck pedro

On 17/08/2026 at 13:06, Jezz said:

I expect us to be slow to get going this season.

However, it's the first time in a long time where I'm actually excited for the season ahead.

We really shouldn't be. Most of our players never went to the world cup, we have had better preparation time than most.

Looking forward to what will hopefully be a good season playing some decent football. I have got a complaint though. I know it's been around for a while but how come we've gone from this beautiful badge

To this uninspiring representation. It's too flat. No character. And the Lion seems to have turned into some sort of lollipop man!!! Anyhoo c'mon you Blues.

The United result has made me more wary of this game.

I’m not convinced we’re as dramatically improved as some think, but Hull turning over United has also reminded me of the unpredictability of the PL.

Long wait for an opening fixture, the s*urs disaster class has me smiling, put me in a good mood, 3 points in a London derby against Fulham be a good stat to the week. come on chels - tf summer is over. Roll on the winter.

19 hours ago, Snedger said:

The United result has made me more wary of this game.

I’m not convinced we’re as dramatically improved as some think, but Hull turning over United has also reminded me of the unpredictability of the PL.

As long as Alonso can instill drive and winning mentality, we should be in a much better place. Hull showed that effort beats talent if talent doesn't work hard enough.

Zeta has brought back the prediction competition:

Quite confident for this one. Think Fulham could struggle this year and we’ve had as full a pre season as possible in a World Cup year really.

They’ve lost their manager and two top scorers from last year.

On 22/08/2026 at 08:57, BewareoftheDrog said:

Looking forward to what will hopefully be a good season playing some decent football. I have got a complaint though. I know it's been around for a while but how come we've gone from this beautiful badge

To this uninspiring representation. It's too flat. No character. And the Lion seems to have turned into some sort of lollipop man!!! Anyhoo c'mon you Blues.

The top badge can never be bettered in my opinion. Quality

24 minutes ago, Dubair said:

Quite confident for this one. Think Fulham could struggle this year and we’ve had as full a pre season as possible in a World Cup year really.

They’ve lost their manager and two top scorers from last year.

Just zero excuses from anyone at this point. Need to be seeing consistent levels of performances.

Hard to know what to expect from this game.

Both clubs have new managers. They both played at a high level in the premier league but have never managed in it. Both are fresh of disappointing spells managing real madrid. Both are bedding down new players while implementing their own style and personality on their respective teams, which is different to how the teams are used to playing.

Game could go from us whaloping them all the way to them whaloping us and everything in between.

Hoping for a win.

I hope we go after them and play a high tempo.

No one sent off.

See you all on the other side

Match Day!

Come On Chelsea!!