King Kante

Why is more not being made of Keita's kung fun kick on Chabolah? He needed stitches after the game. That non-VAR call is up their with the handball at Everton.

It looks like Werner, he is hardly playing atm.

Not surprised. Makes our defending under SFL look like peak 90's Milan.

Why is AC out?

The only people who could buy Chelsea and keep it running as it is (by which I mean investment) are: Ratcliff Ek Bezos Musk The last two are in a space race and don't strike me as people who would want a football club. After that it is investment firms or Nation States.

Well that is because in the first three games we didn't have Lukaku and in the last two we did. Anyone watching our first three and City's games against Spurs and Everton would have noted that to get success against them you need the front line pressing like crazy. Not possible with Lukaku in the team.

So are we most likely.

Alonso will likely be ok for the next few games after this. Lille, Leeds, Burnley, Soton, Norwich, Newcastle and Brentford are fine for him as we'll be able to keep them at bay. The real problem with him is when we play teams that will also have a lot of the ball. That means, imo, a move to a back 4 with Sarr or Dave playing LWB when James is fit.

Great news on Kova and Ziyech, I thought they would both be out. Be interesting to see who starts out of Jorgi, Kante and Kova. I have a feeling Jorgi will start owing to the lack of involvement on Tuesday. As for the forward line, it has to be: Puli Kai Mount To start for me. Both Puli and Kai deserve to start, whilst we need Mount's pressing. As for defense, I expect Kepa to start and AC, Silva and Rudi to get the nod. RWB will likely be Dave unless James can start. Not sure what will happen with LWB.

Not sure he can start. However, very good news. Hopefully he can be playing in the next couple of weeks.

Can't see him staying in England. He has admitted himself that he never really wanted to play here prior to signing for us. I have the feeling we only got him as PSG lost the plot and we were his only decent option of winning silverware and give him the wages he wanted.

Activate the option, at worst sell him to Barca for a low fee. Imo, we need a player like him for the squad so ideally this can be sorted.

Been saying it for a while, but he really needs to be our starting No.9. We are so much better with him leading the line.

Ah, I thought he had been and was working towards match fitness. If that is the case, then not sure what to do other than have one of the wingers out there as cannot see a back 4 and Alonso (as much as I have defended him throughout his time here) is either semi-injured or lost some of the pace he did have, which wasn't much to begin with.

Problem is Sarr cannot play WB and Alonso will get absolutely roasted. If James is fit enough to start, Dave may play there.

Kepa AC Silva Rudi James (Dave) Jorgi Kante CHO Puli (Werner) Harvetz Mount Bench Mendy, Sarr, Dave, Chabolah, Alonso, RLC, Werner If Ziyech is fit then either start him or have him on the bench.

Give credit to Lille they came to play. We could've been better in midfield but at least we didn't give them anything at our end. Overall happy with that, not prefect but happy.

Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition. Lille are being really physical, pressing well, playing quick balls and are finding their passes. That said the defence aren't giving them anything so I am not too worried as I cannot see them keeping this intensity up past the 65th minute. However, there are a few issues. First is Alonso, his legs have gone (and he didn't have much before). For me we need someone to keep pace with Sanchez/Bamba's runs, so I would look to bring on CHO. Second, is that the CM's aren't keeping the ball/dominating enough. I would bring on Jorgi for Kante to try and get some control in there. Last is Ziyech, he isn't liking Lille's physical approach and he isn't getting the him to get on his favoured left foot. For me, I would look at Mount or Werner to come in depending on how fit Mount is and what TT wants to do, go out for more or to try and close down their balls out from the back. However, if they do slow down, then this may not be needed. Either way, front line is looking infinitely better.

Don't get my hopes up.

Raphina is someone we should look at if we decide to get a AM. I have said elsewhere I am done with buying players if we have a youth product with potential in the wings/on a buyback. Thus, Gallagher is my first choice out of all CM options now, whilst Livra is my RWB option, Broja at CF and Colwill at CB. I say this as I do not feel the scouting department can evaluate players properly and I am sick and tired of wasting money and who doesn't love a HG boy doing good? Chabolah's progress for instance has been my favourite thing about this season, thus far. However, if we do go for players outside of our own players outside of our own, then PL proven players is my next criteria. As a result, Raphina would be my first choice target regardless as we know he can deal with the league.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10536303/MARTIN-SAMUEL-Romelu-Lukaku-letting-Chelsea-team-mates-down.html Someone finally talking sense in the media about Lukaku.

Mate, those goals in the CWC are hardly steller and he was non-entity in most of those games like he has also been against teams like Plymouth. Most people on here who actually watched him said this was going to happen prior to him signing whilst if you look at other team forums they also rip their players who aren't performing. Rather than attacking the poster, provide some stats that back up Lukaku is an asset to the team and/or can function at a top team in the PL.

Well, I think it depends on how quickly we can drop Lukaku. Listening to TT and reading between the lines it sounds like he isn't exactly doing cartwheels about his performances. If we can drop him, get the front line moving like it was without him and get James back, we'll be ok imo. Only problem is how long that is going to take. The Torres situation tells us it probably won't be soon.

Yeah, but we are starting each game with only 10 men these days.