Chelsea Buzz

Batshuayi has earned and needs a start or two in my opinion. Would love to see him start up top. Coming off the break, will this be the game we finally start seeing the affect of Conte's stamp on this team in formation (3-5-2) and style? I hope so. Come on you Chelsea!!

Well, we are into the second international break. 4-1-2 with 13 points in 7th place 5 points off the top is not awful. It is not our 2014-15 start, but neither is it our start last year, which was 14th place after 7 games: 2-2-3 8 points and 8 points behind first place Man United (I do not remember them ever being top of the league at any point last year, but they were). Leicester were 3-3-1 eighth place 4 points back. We are still finding our chemistry and our way through the Conte system. We can win the next two at home (Leicester and Man United). That would put us 6-1-2 with 19 points and not only achievable but acceptable at that juncture. I just want to see continued improvement. Come on you Chelsea!!

We are not Liverpool. They get more penalty calls then anyone I have ever seen. Chelsea gets the least. Is what is it I suppose.

Lol. Oscar, two instant turnovers on first three touched.

Can we keep a clean sheet? Kante and Moses have looked good in midfield and going forward today. I know, I know, its Hull. But still for us, it's nice to see. I still do not understand Matic so far forward. He does not do it for me. I would rather have Batshuayi. Come on you Chelsea!!

Costa!!

Ok, finally. Nice goal from Willian. Now, finish it and add one or two more goals!!!! Come on you Chelsea!!

We look better going forward with Hazard more inside. Kante more forward today. Moses looking good. Would prefer Batshuayi in there somewhere. Come on lads, find a goal before Hull gets the obligatory Shambolic defending goal. Come on you Chelsea!!

I like the XI, especially if 3-5-2. Come on you Chelsea!!

Come on lads! Show me something today! It may just be Hull, but win the match and then kill it off, say 0-4. i want to see they care and are in step with Conte. I want to see Conte to start putting his stamp on the team. No more 4-2-3-1. Give me 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 please. Rumor is Ivanovic not to start, but I would prefer him at CB over Cahill in a 3-5-2. i will also add I am tired of reading about Courtois' love of Atletico Madrid. You are at Chelsea so play like you care about the blue shirt my man. We need this guy to get his head out of his rear. I would go with this: --------------Courtois------------- --Azpi----Ivan(or Cahill)----Alonso-- Moses--Kante--Cesc-Luiz--Hazard ---------Batshuayi-----Costa---------- Come on you Chelsea!!

Going about as expected. Just a question of how bad this one will get. Come on you Chelsea!!

It is rare I am not optimistic before a match, but I am not feeling it here. I hate this PL match follows Liverpool. I am thinking 3-1 to those stinky Gooners. My observations thus far: Willian and Moses are pretty much equal to this point. Pedro brings more to the pitch than Oscar, certainly more scoring ability and no flipping around or diving either. Cesc's passing touch is needed desperately, but as everyone knows his mobility and defensive help is limited. Batshuayi is quick and physical and needs more playing time. Kante is a boss in midfield. Cahill is average at best and linked with Luiz can be shaky like years ago. Matic is inconsistent. Time to give Alonso LB and Azpiliqueta RB. Courtois looks better than Begovic but statistically is not. He takes bad paths to the ball and is terrible with his feet. He is no Petr Cech. Hazard and Costa back to 2014-15 form. Would like more punch in the lineup tomorrow, but think we have to play a little defensive with Cesc behind the frontline. Guess we should revert to the Mourinho 4-2-3-1. I would start with this: ---------------Courtois------------ Azpi--Cahill--Ivanovic--Alonso ---------Kante---------Matic------- ----Willian----Cesc----Hazard--- ------------------Costa-------------- A draw would be good result. A win would awesome, but not looking for it. Come on you Chelsea!!

Ok, after nearly 48 hours to reflect, though Liverpool came out extremely focused, it took a one in a million strike from Henderson and a complete disaster on a free quick to lose 2-1. Very disappointed Liverpool was more focused the first 35 - 45 minutes, but it was not like we lost 5-0. We fought hard to get back into it just not enough. I would have to make a few tweaks to the XI. I would get Batshuayi and Cesc in for Matic and Oscar. I would also have to strongly consider Moses for Willian. Have to wonder how United fans are loving Jose after losing 3-1 to Watford. Hate Arsenal is the next PL opponent but then again Come on you Chelsea!!

Sigh. What a let down. Crowd was juiced. Great entrance with the lights dimmed. Then, nothing. Liverpool well prepared and took it in the first 30 minutes. Bummer. Where would we be without Costa's goals?

The next 45-50 minutes will tell us a lot about the rest of this season. I have confidence the Conte will figure out solutions. Not sure if it will get us the points, but we will look better. Need Batshauyi and Cecc now. Come on you Chelsea!!

That goal might just be what we need to get going. Come on you Chelsea!!

First Oscar sighting 15 minutes in. Come on you Blues!!

Usual 4-1-4-1 starting XI with Luiz in for Terry. Ok, works for me.

Watching live TV coverage from the Bridge now here in the States. Ready to get it on! Cannot wait to see Conte's XI. Due any minute. Come on you Chelsea!!

Two hours to kickoff. Anyone at the Bridge? How's the weather? Any Scouser scum around? Up the Chels!

This is our first early big test against a quality club. They will score. I think we will better. 4-2 to the Chels. Costa-Luiz-Oscar-Costa with the goals. Come on you Chelsea!!

Ok,I think this is a great match to get Cesc in there to exploit there shambolic back line. I say this: - - - - - - - Courtois - - - - - - Ivanovic - Cahill - Luiz - Azpilicueta - - - - Kante - Cesc - - - - - - Willian - Oscar - Hazard - - - - - - - - Costa - - - - - - - This will be a good test and am glad it is at the Bridge. Hope the fans are in full voice. Really excited for this one. Come on you Chelsea!!

Honestly am not as down after this 2-2 draw as any from last year. Thought overall, team played well and certainly well enough to win. Kante is a beast and Costa is heart and soul for this club most of the time. Except for the 5 minute stretch of poor play from Courtois and the ref, we win. It's that simple. Cahill had each leg swept out from under him and no call. Unbelievable. Courtois never looks comfortable and I am not confident with him on long balls in or ones he chases. He takes the wrong path to the ball and panics a lot. He is not Petr Cech. Not yet any way. Conte seemed VERY disappointed in the post match interview. Really emphasized the need to kill the game off up 1-0. I have zero doubt this will be stressed from here on out. I think all of us that watch every game and post here would agree, this is something we have been missing the past several years. We couldn't kill games off consistently in 2015 when we won the league. Heads up mates. Big one at the Bridge Friday. Need all three points. Come on you Chelsea!!

Lineup as expected and it should be at this point. Unfortunately, Cesc probably on his way out in January. Not that I can see him breaking into the XI too often, he has been a good player for us and likeable. I think he was obviously a huge reason for the 2014-15 title. I am thinking this looks like our match at Swansea a couple of years ago. I am going with 5-0 to the Chels, Costa, Hazard, Terry, Costa and Luiz late! Come on you Chelsea!!

Most certainly a different window then some of the recent past where we loaned/sold Lukaku, Mata, Schurrle, Luiz, etc and bought the likes of Pedro, Cuadrado, Baba, etc. I can think of three key acquisitions from Mourinho version 2.0: Willian, Costa and Fabregas. I think Conte has the moves right for the most part, i.e. loaning out Cuadrado, even Traore to get him playing time and keeping Moses, etc. I think we are only going to get better under Conte and with Kante bossing DM and Conte training Luiz, David will look better and bring the passion