Chelsea Buzz

Reports are he was offered £30 million a year from Chinese club and wants Chelsea to match. He evidently is upset and got into arguments with Chelsea trainers. He has not trained and Conte left him home.

The drive to the title starts with this match. Win this and put pressure back on the chasers. Liverpool has a difficult one at Man United on Sunday. Leicester proved they are still dangerous with heir 4-2 win over Man City a few weeks back. I would prefer to have Cesc in for this one as we go forward, but I know we may need Matic given Mahrez and Vardy. I am still not sure we cannot play Pedro as left wingback instead of Alonso. I am not sure I would not try something like this for the Leicester match: - - - - - - - Courtois - - - - - - - - - Azpi - - Luiz - - Cahill - - Moses - Kante - Cesc - Pedro - Willian - Costa - Hazard - Come on you Chelsea!!

Nice win. Pedro MoTM. Took 10-15 minutes for this mix to find some chemistry. Solidified the game has passed a few by, but that is ok, they have some past unforgettable Chelsea plays. Zouma needs more time to work his was back into PL playing time as can be expected. RLC just does not do much for me. But that is just my opinion. Batshuayi needs some more playing time, not necessarily as a starter, just more playing opportunity. I am intrigued by the possibility of Ake coming back in January. I have watched a few Bournemouth matches and he has played well. All and all, a good day and on to the Fourth Round! Come on you Chelsea!!

I think the red for JT is the only reason they are in, otherwise they would not be.

Batshuayi mauled in the box, no call because he did not flop around and fall like he had been shot. Too bad. Zouma just go crushed. Hope he is ok. As others have said, Ivanovic has just been passed by. The backline play looks alot like last year, players and the performance Come on you Chelsea!!

I am very interested in this one tomorrow. It is another chance to see a Chelsea victory, always a good thing, and we should get to see many we want to get playing time. I am excited to see Batshuayi and Zouma, plus others like Chalobah. We will get some regulars sprinkled in, as we should. Hope Terry gets a start. This is a good one to move on from the game Wednesday night. Leicester is coming up in 7 days and we can continue the march to the title! As for the competition, Top for goals every should be, I think, 1. Champions League title, 2. Premier League title, 3. Premier League Top Four, and 4. FA Cup title. At least I think finishing top four in PL is ahead of winning the FA Cup. Regardless, it is a top four goal, so why not win it! Come on you Chelsea!!

Who do you play for Alonso? Need someone with pace. I would be tempted to put either Willian or Pedro out there so you could get both in the game. I know this would not happen. Chalaboh? Too young for this game? Put Azpilicueta out there and bring Zouma in? i would like everyone else's thoughts on this. Come on you Chelsea!!

Liverpool drops some points at Sunderland today. Excellent. Now, focus on Spurs. Any injury news yet for us or them? Both sides healthy? Come on you Chelsea!!

Just watched the game for a second time. As good as William's and Costa's finishes were, so were the two assists from Cesc and Hazard's little touch pass to Willian on his first goal. I know we probably need Matic vs Spurs, but it is difficult to take Fabregas out of the lineup right now. Certainly need his offensive skills. His pass to Willian on his second was pure magic! Cesc seems to be moving much better in this system as well. I will mention again I think we need a rotation for Moses and Alonso to give them some rest and I am not talking Ivanovic late for defensive purposes. Certainly the weakest game from both Kante and Luiz since joining this year. They need to be at their best Wednesday. Last but not least, I know Drogba is legend and had some massive goals, but I am not sure Costa is not the best in club history at just out willing opponents inside the 18 yard box and finishing. The goal today, he just out muscled the guy and boom, back of the net. With his new positive attitude, he is the heart and soul of this club. Love this guy. And there you are. 13 in a row!! Come on you Chelsea!!

Big hand for Willian! Costa get in, mate! 4-2 Come on you Chelsea!!

Who said Willian would come alive second half? Get in Willian! Let's add some more! Come on you Chelsea!!

Ok, lads, time to get serious and focused. Take control. Come on you Chelsea!!

Zouma? JT? Good question. Ivanovic? Come on you Chelsea!!

Oh, well, thought we would see Kante Matic together again, but maybe saving Matic for Spurs. Happy for Cesc again. Hope he continues his return to form and plays well. Come on you Chelsea!!

Yes

Looking forward to watching this one shortly. This is a good one to win to wrap up the first half with lots of momentum and 13 straight. All three points puts us with second best start in PL history through 19 games with 49 points, second to only our 2005-06 squad with 52. A nice comfortable 4-0 win and a draw between Liverpool and Man City would be nice. Kante and Matic need to be reunited for this one. I am pumped and ready to watch. Come on you Chelsea!!

On the telecast shown here in the States, the analyst commented on the Bournemouth fellow trying to defend Eden with the ball at one point in the second half, "he looks like he is expecting kittens trying to defend Hazard"

Solid win, especially considering no Costa or Kante. Pedro was my MotM. He seemed to be all over the pitch. Hate he misses the next one after the yellow. Moses and Alonso seem to be getting a little worn out. Moses not quite at the speed and quickness as earlier in the year. Need to find some rotation here I think as we head into the second half of the year next week. Great to get all three points and the clean sheet. Top of the league! Come on you Chelsea!!

Just as I post about Pedro, he gets a yellow and misses Stoke match. Guess he will not be in the XI now Come on you Chelsea!!

Game is opening up a bit. Let's add a couple of more. Pedro showing more and more he belongs in the XI all the time. Lots of movement, etc. Come on you Chelsea!!

Really surprised Batshauyi not getting the start today. If he cannot get significant minutes in this one then will he ever in a Chelsea shirt? Oh, well, I suppose. We have a match to win. Need Willian, Hazard and Pedro to link up well. We will see how this goes. Come on you Chelsea!!

It is live on CNBC, which is just as good as NBCSN, unless you do not get CNBC of course.

Here is a little bit of info about Chelsea's start thus far. And there is a chance this year's team can be in some unique company. In the prior 24 PL seasons, there have only been FOUR clubs with more than 46 points at the halfway point of the season (19 games): 2006-07 Man United 47 points 2005-06 Chelsea 52 points *1994-95 Blackburn Rovers 47 points (43 points after 19 games) *1993-94 Man United 52 Points (48 points after 19 games) *NOTE: The first three PL seasons (1992-93 through 1994-95) consisted of 42 matches (21 games halfway) due to 22 clubs in the PL. The PL went down to 20 clubs and 38 matches beginning with the 1995-96 season. And yes, all of those clubs won the league in those years. So, as you can see, through 19 games to start a season only three clubs have started better than 46 points. Win the next two and finish the first half with 49 points and the top FOUR starts to a PL season at the 19 game mark (halfway) would be: 1. Chelsea 2005-06 52 points 2. Chelsea 2016-17 49 points 3. Man United 1993-94 48 points 4. Man United 2006-07 47 points Great company for this club to be in so let's take all six points the next two matches and join this group!! Come on you Chelsea!!

I am fine with Batshuayi getting the start. I am comfortable especially with Pedro and Hazard with him. I also have no issues with a Fabregas-Matic midfield against Bournemouth. I suppose you could always have Willian-Hazard-Pedro up top. I am really behind Draw at the moment. Hopefully they can get the result in City-Arsenal. Currently, Draw leads 1-1. Yes! Hope it holds. Then tomorrow, I am all Everton. Come on you Chelsea!!

It will be on my telly here in the States, live and in living HD color