jernej93

Cahill over Rudiger and Cesc "Passenger" Fabregas over Drinkwater ...

Why is Luiz not in the squad? Fabregas, Cahill and Alonso still in first eleven, it is down to Conte if we lose this one ....

And with some fantastic prospects like Clarke-Salter and Tomori our central defence really looks sorted out for years I am really pleased with our loanees this year, especially Premier league ones .. Zouma, Abraham and Loftus Cheek are making a big impact and should be in our team next year. Both Tomori and Clarke Salter need those kind of loans next season Christensen and Rudiger should become regular starters within this season and Zouma will come back next year with full Premier league season under his belt. Cahill doesn't offer enough to stay here and take minutes away from them

Every wingback would get destroyed by Sterling and Sane playing 1vs1 with them That is why you need winger dropping back and central defender & midfielder closing space around the ball on their side. But we have to agree that our left side is really poor with Cahill - Alonso - Fabregas and also Hazard not being a hardworker in defensive side ... we need changes With Hazard as left winger you need to realize that he is our main attacking threat and he won't run like Pedro or Willian, that is why you need better defenders on his side of the pitch. That is why I am hoping for some bigger changes in our starting lineup tomorrow, maybe even with different formation? Courtois Rudiger - Luiz - Christensen Zappa - Bakayoko - Kante - Azpi Pedro - Morata - Hazard or Drinkwater in 352 instead of Pedro

With Cahill in starting eleven: Games: 11 Won: 5 Lost: 4 Draw: 2 Clean sheets: 2 Without Cahill in starting eleven: Games: 5 Won: 5 Clean sheets: 3 Watch him start tomorrow

This is my biggest concern, playing same team with same formation every match and hoping for miracle is stupid. TBH he dropped Ivanović, Terry and Fabregas pretty late last season, after relatively long string of bad results. Pretty much every fan on this forum realized that all three are big underperformers much sooner ... just like Cahill, Alonso, Fabregas and Willian are this year Transfer window is over, we can't do nothing about it, Conte can't do nothing about it. Focus on the players you have and try to find the best solution within the squad. Every underperforming player can be benched and we have players that can replace them -> Cahill (Rudiger), Alonso (Kenedy, Azpi, Pedro, Zappa), Fabregas (Drinkwater, Bakayoko, Luiz), Willian (Pedro, Musonda) ....

Luiz should be used in midfield or try him at LWB Just don't start Fabregas All of our midfielders seems to be fit now and he should only be used as super sub for last 20 minutes if we are behind. Bakayoko will be a different player with Kante or/and Drinkwater alongisde

Still don't know how Cahill is starting over him or Christensen

I think we should try with backline of Rudiger - Christensen - Luiz. LCB position would give him a little more freedom to roam forward and this backlinw would be perfect to start building from the back. We need defenders that can create something unlike Cahill

Agree! This is currently our strongest lineup without Kante

Drinkwater has to be ahead of Fabregas in pecking order He is machine in midfield with pretty good passing ability, great squad player as it seems

When is he expected to be fit? He had some really good performances for Schalke as LWB

Every start for Rudiger and Christensen was due to suspension (Luiz red card and Cahill red card) or injury (Rudiger today because Azpi was moved to RWB). When the whole squad is fit they will be back on the bench with Cahill starting over them in every match that matters.

And all should be older than 25 apparently because Conte doesn't include players like Christensen, Musonda, Kenedy and Rudiger even if starters are underperforming Conte doesn't rotate much even though he is talking about squad depth We can bench every underperforming player out there but it ain't gonna happen ... Musonda deserves some minutes (of the bench at least) but Willian is still far ahead in pecking order as it seems; Cahill is huge underperformer and one of the worst passers I have seen in back 3 system but he is still starting over Rudiger and Christensen, who are tailor made for back 3 and playing out of the back system; Alonso seems to be tired or his (slow) speed is just becoming a real issue now but we haven't seen Azpi, Zappacosta or Kenedy starting on LWB. Our second unit will probably bring another great performance in cup match but they will be all benched for league match next weekend

Watch our "B" team perform some good football because half of the squad should actually be starting

You realize this is Napoli we are talking about, right? No way they will sell him to us in january when they are suddenly title contenders But yes, GREAT player !!

Finally working out with the team 352 with Danny - Kante - Bakayoko in midfield and Morata - Hazard upfront could be our way to go

Morata is very good at holding up the ball and link up play. I think Vardy would be a great option alongisde if we decide to go 352 but with Hazard and Pedro both capable of playing second striker I think they are both better We need some short term option, too bad we missed out on Llorente. Don't recall Abraham, his loan to Swansea is one of the best things that happened to our youngsters in last few years I would only recall Abraham if Michy is sold and Tammy is #2 striker .. otherwise it doesn't make sense I would rather spend cash on some LWB if one is available

We could rotate, we SHOULD rotate but we won't Fabregas, Cahill, Alonso and probably even Willian will probably all start but they all lack qualities for Conte type of football IMO Kenedy should get his minutes on LWB, he was very good against Nottingham Forrest ... I still don't get it why Rudiger and Christensen are not regular starters and Cahill is ... if Gary is playing against Watford we will struggle once again because they tend to press high and he can't play a proper pass or rush forward. My lineup for Watford would be: Courtois Rudiger - Christensen - Azpi Zappa - Bakayoko - Luiz/Ampadu - Kenedy Pedro - Morata - Hazard Start Ampadu if Luiz is not fit, this kid is the real deal and he will bring some stamina and hardwork in our midfield. Fabregas is just a passenger in that midfield ... once Kante is fit I would start Azpi on RWB/LWB and move Luiz to LCB. We need defenders that can play a pass or rush forward when are under pressure. Please Antonio, react!! Time to do your Chelsea renovation nr.2 ! Some regular starters need to be rotated or dropped, just like Ivanović was last year

With our team being all over the place in last games, I think Watford could seal the deal much earlier ...

I would like to see Willian, Fabregas, Alonso and Cahill benched for this one but it ain't gonna happen Probably all 4 will start ...

I agree Our left side of defense was a big problem last year (Cahill-Alonso and also Matić in some extent). I would love to see following lineup when everyone is fit: Courtois Rudiger - Christensen - Luiz Zappa/Moses - Kante - Bakayoko - Azpi Pedro - Morata - Hazard

Courtois Azpi - Christensen - Rudiger Zappa - Luiz - Bakayoko - Alonso Musonda - Pedro - Hazard Conte should realize that Cahill is last years Ivanovic and he should be dropped.

How things can change after one loss His game is based on stamina and Conte already stated that team was tired after tough match against Atletico ... he was superb against Spanish team and actually in all games before City. I don't know who are you kidding if you actually think that Matić would make a difference in Saturdays game. Our whole team looked tired and we lacked aggressiveness. Once again - OUR WHOLE TEAM!

We let them beat us, thank god it was only 0-1 ... Fabregas, Alonso and Willian were shockingly bad. I can understand that 352 worked on Wednesday but Fabregas was passenger in midfield, his lack of work rate is disturbing. Pedro was fresh, Zappacosta was fresh ....