I look forward to a cracking game on Saturday,both teams could well have a field day,I hope it's us ,because we are due one,our goalscorers must click some time !
Whatever, and whoever wins,will lay down the mark for the rest to follow.

COYBs

The reason I think the points dropped yesterday was so disappointing is because we all dreamt there could potentially be another Conte season (16-17), Winning against all odds v Mourinho at Utd and Pep at City.

Yesterday was a wake up call, It wasn't a bad result in the grand scheme of things but our lack of quality was evident.

Kanté for all his quality and energy is playing out of position and I'm starting to think it's hindering the team.

Pedro was a big miss yesterday, He can run around like a headless chicken at times but he brings an energy and unpredictability where as Willian can look laboured at times.

Giroud is decent but he should be an alternative option, Not plan A.

Morata should be plan A but for me he simply doesn't have the mentality, He doesn't want it enough, There's probably a reason he's rarely been "The Man" at Juve at Madrid.

During the next two transfer windows the club's priority should be a right winger/attacking midfielder and a striker. For me Leon Bailey and Ciro Immobile would be realistic enough targets and they would improve the dimension of the team.

Chelsea are very decent. If you stay within touching distance of City and Pool and get rid of Morata and replace him with Quality in Jan then you're right in a title shout.

The reason I say I think Kanté is hindering the team is because he has no attacking output if we're honest, A player like Barkley would benefit much more from the role Kanté is being asked to fulfil.

Could be a great game on Saturday, Chelsea aren’t going to sit and defend like they have for the last number of years.

comment by KLS- kolo loves sperm especially from his ja hero moresperm right up the batty (U1695)
posted 15 minutes ago
Could be a great game on Saturday, Chelsea aren’t going to sit and defend like they have for the last number of years.
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They may not, but Sarri isn't stupid, and I doubt he'll send his team out to play as openly and attacking as he did for games against teams like Cardiff, Huddersfield, or even Arsenal to some extent.
If he does, I think we'll take them apart.

The last two manager appointments of Chelsea are good ones. Chelsea as a club has a winning mentality unlike Spurs.

comment by The garden of Eden (U12176)
posted 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
The reason I say I think Kanté is hindering the team is because he has no attacking output if we're honest, A player like Barkley would benefit much more from the role Kanté is being asked to fulfil.
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No chance in Barkley replacing Kante in the side, he hasn't got the ability to play the box to box role. If Barkley it will be in replace of Kovacic,

Kante is not hindering the team, it's not his fault our strikers are hopeless.

It's been a good start to the season considering Sarri has only had a short time to implement his ideas. We've obviously got areas to improve on and I'd happily take top 4 this season.

Hope we give Sarri time, like Liverpool have done with Klopp.

I think we're going to find it hard to juggle the Europa League and premier league, the Thursday and Sunday fixtures will be a problem for us especially if Sarri does not play the youngsters in the EL. It's the perfect opportunity for them as we've got a relatively easy group.

He should have made at least 8 changes vs PAOK, however he hinted as possibly making 11 for the game vs Liverpool in midweek.

Got to agree. A confident striker would've slotted home the chances especially the one Morata smacked into Fabianski's face. Laughable that some on here think West Ham should've won for the miss by Yaramelenko but that's dismissing the chances we had. We are now going through the same motions as when Drogba left in 2012. The incoming strikers were not up to his standard. CFC board should've learned from that and not let Costa go after his spat with Conte. It wouldn't be the first time the board interfered and this was one time it would've been justified.

Oh and Hazard needs to be greedy in front of goal and not think of setting others up all the time

comment by Bov (U6696)
posted 53 seconds ago
Oh and Hazard needs to be greedy in front of goal and not think of setting others up all the time

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Agree, he's far too nice. He was trying to set up the useless Morata yesterday when he could have just done it himself.

It will be difficult to find a decent striker in January but in the summer I hope we're in for Icardi/Immoblie and if Mitrovic continues on this form this season I don't think he's a bad option reminds me of Diego Costa but obviously not to his standard yet.

Yesterday was a wake up call, It wasn't a bad result in the grand scheme of things but our lack of quality was evident.
——
This, for me yesterday highlighted all our weaknesses. Slow full backs who struggle to provide width, little goal threat and poor defensively bar Rudiger. I think Azpi will/must improve defensively though

that morata chance was ridiculous, just had to slide it either side of the keeper

Can't wait to see the team for Wednesdays game !

comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 4 minutes ago
that morata chance was ridiculous, just had to slide it either side of the keeper
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Nah he did well lifting it just a great save, 9/10 that goes in Fab just reacted quickly and even then a bit of luck it hit his head and not either side of him. If he shoots low it’s more likely to be saved and would come across as a poor finish

I’m hoping Liverpool’s attack don’t click against us or things could get messy. Whenever we lose the ball in midfield we end up with the opposition in a 3v3 or 2v2 situation. So easy to get at.

comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 4 minutes ago
that morata chance was ridiculous, just had to slide it either side of the keeper
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Nah he did well lifting it just a great save, 9/10 that goes in Fab just reacted quickly and even then a bit of luck it hit his head and not either side of him. If he shoots low it’s more likely to be saved and would come across as a poor finish
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I cannot agree with a single word of that
When you are so central, all you have to do is slide it either side. You only see a dink finish usually from an angle.

I don't think Liverpool will go with Salah/Firmino/Mane. Possibly Sturridge and Shaqiri along with one of their usual front 3. Fabinho probably starts with Henderson and Keita.

I think we'll go with Kepa, Azpi, Christensen, Cahill, Emerson, Jorginho, Fabregas, Barkley, Willian, Morata, Hazard.

My prediction of the Chelsea team is a complete guess.

comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 24 minutes ago
Yesterday was a wake up call, It wasn't a bad result in the grand scheme of things but our lack of quality was evident.
——
This, for me yesterday highlighted all our weaknesses. Slow full backs who struggle to provide width, little goal threat and poor defensively bar Rudiger. I think Azpi will/must improve defensively though
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I think Azpi needs to improve going forward, he was hardly a threat yesterday, it ended up being Kante on the right wing for a lot of our attacks.

I think both our full backs lack the pace to go up and down which is a problem when both wingers want to come inside all the time. A huge lack of width was evident yesterday.

I hear Jorginho broke some passing record, thought he was poor yesterday. Lots of sloppy passing and I didn't realise he was so slow.

Personally I'd go with..

___________Kepa
Zappa Christensen Luiz Alonso
Fabregas Jorginho Kanté
Willian Hazard Hudson-Odoi

comment by The garden of Eden (U12176)
posted 4 minutes ago
I don't think Liverpool will go with Salah/Firmino/Mane. Possibly Sturridge and Shaqiri along with one of their usual front 3. Fabinho probably starts with Henderson and Keita.

I think we'll go with Kepa, Azpi, Christensen, Cahill, Emerson, Jorginho, Fabregas, Barkley, Willian, Morata, Hazard.
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Is that your team for Wednesday?

I'd make close to 11 changes...

Caballero
Zappacosta Christensen Ampadu Emerson
Barkley Fabregas RLC
Moses Morata CHO/Willian

comment by Tablighi Jamaat (U15973)
posted 1 minute ago
I'd make close to 11 changes...

Caballero
Zappacosta Christensen Ampadu Emerson
Barkley Fabregas RLC
Moses Morata CHO/Willian
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this