MrExcalibur100

Michy

Just remember, we aren't facing Bayern Munich or Real Madrid here so a pleasant surprise is still pretty possible. Let's enjoy the game.

The interest level I had for this game just took a massive nosedive. Evidently, Conte doesn't think too much of the FA Cup.

Demotion of Costa? Are you guys mental? That's not a demotion, he's "resting" him. Tuesday vs Southampton more important! How else could Hazard be on the bench? Seriously...

Wow, that's disappointing from Conte. WTF is he thinking?!

So is everyone fine with Matic starting this game ahead of Fabregas? Assuming Conte sticks to 3-4-3?

Talented player but imagine thinking the favela kid is better than Hazard. Imagine Eden looking like nothing special with so much quality around him. Eden is the most talented player the world has seen since Messi and I put that opinion against anyone.

Imagine Kante and Matic playing in this one. We've already tried it in both games vs them and they outplayed twice in 135 mins of football. They both get easily dominated by Dembele and Wanyama. Time to ditch that shit and be brave and just go for Fabregas and Kante. Matic isn't worth the hassle at all.

Not when it was 11 v 11. whenever 22 players were on the pitch a team outclassed the other one. both with style and opportunities. this is an undeserved win football wise.

Madrid today, Barcelona tomorrow, who next? Madrid is favoured recently, it could easily be Bayern being favoured against us next year. Chelsea, Man Utd, City, PSG, Arsenal. These teams are on UEFA's undesirables list. Get the hardest draws, at the wrong end of "bad refeering decisions" (manipulation), get paired with the hardest teams in the group stage if not a top seed (see us in the first years of Roman and City with the Sheikh). It's the same shit every year.

I think they'll "tone it down" for Barca tomorrow. Madrid seem to be the favoured ones this year.

Bayern Munich the best team in Europe right now gets nothing despite showing their superiority in both legs. UEFA and their cronies unfortunately decided in favour of the other team. Imagine fools thinking any of this is real. Never thought I'll see the day when I'm gotted for Munich of all teams. Hats off to Robben as well. I thought he was the best player in both matches. They seriously need to replace Ribery though. He's done.

100% Rigged and manipulated rubbish. I'm totally convinced now. If not for the money involved, I won't want our club anywhere near this theatre.

A bit far reaching but *if* we end up winning the league, JT must start that last game vs Sunderland.

I don't understand the timing but thanks for everything legend. The greatest captain and leader in Chelsea's history. CAPTAIN LEADER LEGEND. Nothing more. I hope the club already have a role for him at Chelsea.

I don't think now is the time to be posting that tbh

It's interesting but not surprising that in both games we've lost recently, we didn't have our first choice wingbacks. Shows how important that role is to the system we play.

Alonso was ill the night before the game. Couldn't be helped.

Had half a good season in his entire CFC career then peaked. Was never the same again. Just disposable garbage these days. Shouldn't even be a squad player.

Without Alonso fit, we have little to no chance to win. Honestly, Conte is in a dilemma and he's been in it all season long. Should he go for the average but defensively passable Matic to partner Kante or for the positionally suspect but creative Fabregas instead. Kante is a good player but it's clear now that in a 2 man midfield, you need a specific type of midfielder to partner him because he's not a defensive midfielder like Makalele who holds his position and tries to plug in gaps, he roams a lot. Personally, I'll go for: Courtois Azpi Luiz Cahill Moses Kante Fabregas Alonso Pedro Batshuayi Hazard

Beating Chelsea has become Mourinho's cup final these days.

I still don't think a strikerless formation is the best way to go. It has its problems and can be easily negated when we play away from home. Hazard isn't comfortable playing as a false 9. Batshuayi has to start but he's now one of the new untouchables (literally) under Conte, so he won't.

According to him, Alonso was ill the night before the game. That must have thrown his entire game plan out of the window. I've said it a thousand times already today, but without a single piece in place in our 3-4-3, particularly a position as crucial as LWB, defensively and especially offensively, the system collapses and is officially useless. Hazard had at times, 2-3 bodies on him today with Herrera every time he recieved the ball. With Alonso's overlaps, that won't have happened. Or at least it won't have been anywhere as effective.

There's no pressure on Conte whatsoever. Success this season should have been a top 4 finish. We have the 4th best squad and are the worst team technically in the top 6. We finished 10th last season and our board failed him in the summer. The fact that we've been top since October and at certain moments, 10 points clear is insane.

Similar to the Spurs game away at WHL. But there's a simpler explanation for our inept performance Back three - not good enough getting castrated by a 19 year old pace merchant. No communication or quality. All over the place anytime they were attacked. Wing backs - started with Azplicueta playing LWB for the first time in his life and squad player Moses (who has been shit in big games away) on the right. Zero creativity or width provided. DM's - Matic. Offers us nothing. Zero creativity between himself and Kante. A lot of sideways passing and multiple touches to make passes. Zero vision or ambition to the passes. Inept under pressure. Inside forwards - Hazard our only real source of creativity in that line-up was man-marked all game by one player. The fact Jose even felt comfortable with dedicating an entire man to do man-mark a player shows how little he rates our other players. Pedro, the only other player with any real attacking flair and quality in that starting XI was poor. Striker - Currently one of the worst players in the Premier league, if not the worst. You say we can't string two passes together but how many of our actual starting XI today have anything near elite technique? Only 1 out of 11. Maybe 2 or 3 if you're pushing it. With the 3rd being one of our CB's. So against a good team utilizing high pressing and the ref choosing to swallow his whistle, it's to be expected we can't string two passes together. Out of all the teams in the top 6, we're the least capable technically. I hope Roman is watching. I fear Conte and Hazard will walk if we don't strengthen this squad substantially with fucking WORLD CLASS quality in the summer.