Sarri''s likely lineup against Huddersfield:

Kepa
Azpi Rudiger Luiz Alonso
Kante Jorginho Fabregas or Barkley
Pedro Morata Hudson-Odoi

________Kepa
Azpi Luiz Rüdiger Alonso
Fabregas Jorginho Kanté
Pedro Morata Odoi

comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
Sarri''s likely lineup against Huddersfield:

Kepa
Azpi Rudiger Luiz Alonso
Kante Jorginho Fabregas or Barkley
Pedro Morata Hudson-Odoi
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Sounds about right, Huddersfield were a nightmare last season to play against at The Bridge.

Luiz and Alonso shouldn't be no where the line up.

comment by Bluewoji (U16428)
posted 4 minutes ago
Luiz and Alonso shouldn't be no where the line up.
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I agree, but he likes playing out from the back so Luiz seems to be 1st choice even though he's terrible in a back 4.

Alonso as mentioned many times is not capable of playing LB, lacks pace and will be exposed this season.

Would love to see Emerson at LB but highly unlikely that will happen.

comment by Bluewoji (U16428)
posted 22 minutes ago
Luiz and Alonso shouldn't be no where the line up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

So they should both start?

Surely he wont start Hudson-Odoi over Willian or Pedro? I can't see that happening as the only reason he was playing Hudson-Odoi in pre season was because Hazard was away and Willians future was questionable.

I think it'll be

Kepa
Dave - Rudiger - Luiz - Alonso
Kante - Jorginho - Fabregas/Kovacic
Hazard - Willian
*Inset useless Spanish striker name here*

saying this, I think Kovacic wont start but we might see a bit of him, I really don't know what to expect from him as I don't know a lot about him but I can't see Sarri starting him.

I'll be disappointed if that Spanish striker starts, Im refusing to say his name anymore until he starts sorting himself out. Hopefully Giroud or Bats starts

Don't see Hazard, Giroud and Bats starting, they returned on Monday so will not be match ready.

Kante is a different animal so he'll start.

Think CHO might be on the bench, with Willian on the left and Pedro on the right.

Unfortunately it will be Morata up front...

Bakayoko scored at Huddersfield last season so surely we should win!

luiz shouldn't be starting anywhere ever Christiansen all the way please

Thought Sarri said Barkley was goign to be his midfielder for the season?

comment by I Kante Drinkwater (U15973)
posted 1 hour, 47 minutes ago
comment by Bluewoji (U16428)
posted 4 minutes ago
Luiz and Alonso shouldn't be no where the line up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree, but he likes playing out from the back so Luiz seems to be 1st choice even though he's terrible in a back 4.

Alonso as mentioned many times is not capable of playing LB, lacks pace and will be exposed this season.

Would love to see Emerson at LB but highly unlikely that will happen.
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from what i saw against Lyon he was very good going forward

comment by MTC 2.0 (U21799)
posted 10 minutes ago
luiz shouldn't be starting anywhere ever Christiansen all the way please


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I think Christensen is vastly overrated personally. Luiz is a much better footballer than Christensen, if anything Rudiger should be dropped and Christensen could come in.. but even then I'm not convinced at any of our central defenders

Luiz is the only one who is a winner and can play, the others.. meh

Luiz in a back 3, I'm comfortable with.

Your team just swap CHO for Pedro, Alonso for Emerson and possibly Christensen for Luiz.

Think Jorginho-Kante-Barkley will be the established mid 3 until someone (i.e. Kovacic) does something forcing him to break it. Emerson will get in over Alonso eventually, just a matter of time given how Sarri likes to play. Same with Luiz losing his place, the risk to reward ratio isn't worth it when someone like Christensen is in the wings - whose more than capable of playing out from the back.

Gunna be an ugly game this. We're still adapting and they'll offer little intent to control midfield. Will be very scrappy. 0-1 or 1-1.

What you have to remember aswel is Conte was full of shlt at times, Luiz blatantly was not injured and the first season Luiz was brilliant, yes it was in a different formation but Luiz is more than twice the player Christensen is at the moment.

I don't think much of Emerson from what I've seen of him. him and Zapacosta are a bit weird, not sure what our plans are with them but they're clearly back up players by the looks of it

I can see the game being a bit rubbish, I hope we put in a good performance but I can actually see us losing or at the very least a draw

They'll play how they did at The Bridge, defend really deep and play long to Depoitre and hope for the best.

Hope we can get an early goal which will make them come out a little.

What you have to remember aswel is Conte was full of shlt at times, Luiz blatantly was not injured and the first season Luiz was brilliant, yes it was in a different formation but Luiz is more than twice the player Christensen is at the moment.
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Something else in need of consideration is the fact Christensen played a far more aggressive role when he was on loan in Germany. Conte shackled him just as he did Luiz as the central sweeping CB. Christensen is more than capable with the ball at his feet, he just doesn't share Luiz's eccentricity making him a safer option.

Personally not sure about Alonso or Emerson in a back four, I would maybe go Dave at left back and Zappa at right back till we can buy a really good left back for a back four.
As for centre ,towards end of season Cristensen made quite a few mistakes , not sure he is ready for a full time spot, for now Luiz and Rudiger, really not sure why people have it in for Rudiger, I think he is very good.
Luiz until we can buy that ball playing Centre back Sarri wants

Yep.
Christensen is our best defender & ball-playing CB (elite) for me.
Those diagonals/switch of play balls which the detractors say he can't do is completely false and misguided.
Anyone who had watched Gladbach would know that he was key/known for those type of passes, initiating attacks.

Should be first name on the team-sheet (in defence) along with Azpi & Emerson.

Pointing out mistakes (when more experienced players were making just as many, if not more last season) as a reason why he shouldn't be in the team is a complete joke.

I'm pleased Christensen did go through that brief adversity, learning curve (he is still 22 afterall!).
Will work better under Sarri this season to not be in the same situation.

Chelseamf, of course you can point out mistakes , that is a ridiculous thing to say. If we had Karius in goal last season could we not point out mistakes and say he should not be in goal or should we play him and just say everyone makes mistakes?.
I am not saying he should never be in the side, just not at the moment, he is 22 and still plenty of time.
Those mistakes are still fresh in he's memory.
Yes all players make them but the older ones will cope with them better, younger players could get destroyed if you carry on playing them and more mistakes follow.
I think Cristensen is a great talent and he will get a lot of game time.
Lets not be kidding ourselves here, Sarri is going to try and make a complete system & tactical change
and there is I believe a good chance we could lose 4 or 5 games in first 15 matches, while we get the system in place , hence why I think the older pros would be best used.
Its ok to use younger players in midfield or forwards , if they make mistakes really very rarely does it lead to goals being scored against us, but its harder for young defenders, if they make mistakes it will more likely lead to a goal.
I have no doubt Cristensen will go on to be a very very good defender very possibly world class, but in my opinion not just yet and he still need careful handlng.
As I said thats just my opinion

Let me just add one other thing, I am also not completely sold on Luiz being used, I think we should of maybe moved him on as I feel we have really seen the best of him in the 2 times he has been with us.
I really think we should have given Sarri the center back he obviously wanted to help us with this new system, he obviously wanted a CB who he had worked with before in this system,
We went half way and got Jorginho but not far enough as far as I concerned.
Even though Jorginho knows this system well, I think even he will be a bit surprised how quick the press is in prem league and it will take him time to adjust and that is in a system he knows very well.

Couldn't agree more on jorginho, think the first few weeks/months will be very hard for him till he realises just how quickly he's going to have to move the ball about

Bridgeofdreams.

Fair points on Christensen. Last season I think he played a little bit too much, his weaknesses became exposed the more our form dipped, and that was Conte cutting Luiz out of the squad (nothing on him, he's still young). All in all he was a shining light last year, showed defensive maturity beyond his years and i have no doubt will go from strength to strength under Sarri's coaching.

The point comparing him to Luiz had to be made cos some people (understandably) believe Luiz is our only ball playing CB. Christensen is more than good enough with the ball, Conte just didn't want him to get into the same areas Rudiger & Azpl did where he could've demonstrated it - same with Luiz the year before when we won the title. So all things considered Chelseamf is right, Christensen should be prioritised over Luiz this season.

Agree with Bridge. There's no doubt that Christensen is our most naturally gifted ball-playing defender. That is not in doubt, and I don't really think anyone is questioning it. But there are other parts of his game that need improving before he is going to be trusted to a starting position. I also don't think anyone is under any illusion that Luiz is faultless - he clearly has his faults. But one thing he does have is a tough mentality, and at this level you really cannot show any kind of weakness in that respect.
Rudiger is not nearly as good at ball playing as either of the other two - but he adds physical strength and height and speed.

I also think the issue of "mentality" is the reason why Alonso will be starting over Emerson. Azpi, Luiz, Rudiger and Alonso are all tough competitors - none of them will crack under pressure. I'm not suggesting that they don't make mistakes - I just think theyall have that confidence that makes them mentally tough. They all have their weaknesses, but at least for now I believe Sarri sees them as his starters. Christensen has lots of potential, as does Emerson, but I don't think either is quite ready to start yet.