Closed Chelsea v Cardiff

[kellzfresh 7,229]

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I agree + hopefully keep Hazard out of the starting 11 - I think he will play tomorrow as well, so with the nagging injury a rest would be awesome. Depth enough anyways!

I'd like to see Kevin as well, possibly in the number 10 role which he performed brilliantly well in during preseason. Give Oscar who flew halfway across the globe a rest. Mata/Willian on the right and Schurrle on the left.

[haranr 485]

Willian should start

[The Mak 4,459]

In all honesty, we should be steamrolling Cardiff.

They're a recently promoted side coming to the Bridge. There's showing respect for a team, but there's also knowing our level and theirs. If we're not confident of winning these types of games rather comfortably, well then I don't like our chances of lifting a trophy this season.

[Jase 43,479]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Vs-6shdWE

Also includes Eddie Newton speaking about his role at the club..

[Tomo 21,751]

Cardiff have sacked their head scout and replaced him with a 23 year old work experience student

and we think we have it hard with manager changes?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

In all honesty, we should be steamrolling Cardiff.

They're a recently promoted side coming to the Bridge. There's showing respect for a team, but there's also knowing our level and theirs. If we're not confident of winning these types of games rather comfortably, well then I don't like our chances of lifting a trophy this season.

Tbh, I'd be more confident if they hadn't beat City. They deserved that victory as well. They can definitely play. Better than Fulham, imho.

[Yeboii 1,844]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Vs-6shdWE

Also includes Eddie Newton speaking about his role at the club..

I like that idea with Eddie.. Chelsea uses the loan system a lot and is overloaded with young talent.

[Special Juan 28,141]

I'm not normally shouting from the roof tops about 3-0/4-0 wins but I think this will be one.

I think we will just out pass and out class them all over, I expect a clean sheet and hopefully people like Eto'o get a goal and Willian starts.

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

Cardiff have sacked their head scout and replaced him with a 23 year old work experience student

and we think we have it hard with manager changes?

Before his role as head scout, he was doing maintence work for them. What a step up

[Neira 19]

I'd like to see Kevin as well, possibly in the number 10 role which he performed brilliantly well in during preseason. Give Oscar who flew halfway across the globe a rest. Mata/Willian on the right and Schurrle on the left.

I put my money on a spot in the stands again for Kevin.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I'm not normally shouting from the roof tops about 3-0/4-0 wins but I think this will be one.

I think we will just out pass and out class them all over, I expect a clean sheet and hopefully people like Eto'o get a goal and Willian starts.

Severely underrating Cardiff mate. They'll be a tough nut to crack. They're better than Fulham, Hull etc. and could potentially be as hard as the Norwich game IMO.

But of course anything could happen.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Severely underrating Cardiff mate. They'll be a tough nut to crack. They're better than Fulham, Hull etc. and could potentially be as hard as the Norwich game IMO.

But of course anything could happen.

Not the way I feel or see it, but like you say....anything could happen.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Severely underrating Cardiff mate. They'll be a tough nut to crack. They're better than Fulham, Hull etc. and could potentially be as hard as the Norwich game IMO.

But of course anything could happen.

I agree. It could be like the Villa home game last season where an early goal blew the doors open, or it could be a very tight affair where we have tons of possession but struggle to get into the box. Then you're looking for a moment of magic from one of the usual suspects to unlock them.

We need to be high tempo from the very beginning, get a goal and then force them to open up a little because the one thing they will probably be is disciplined in defence.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Cardiff have sacked their head scout and replaced him with a 23 year old work experience student

and we think we have it hard with manager changes?

Turns out he's the friend of Vincent Tan's son.

[Jase 43,479]

I agree. It could be like the Villa home game last season where an early goal blew the doors open, or it could be a very tight affair where we have tons of possession but struggle to get into the box. Then you're looking for a moment of magic from one of the usual suspects to unlock them.

We need to be high tempo from the very beginning, get a goal and then force them to open up a little because the one thing they will probably be is disciplined in defence.

Will be nice if we can kill the game off early, something that we hardly do these days. Can then at least conserve some energy for the key game against Schalke in mid-week.

[Barbara 15,149]

If some think Mourinho will make any changes in the team after the squad hasn't trained together for almost two weeks, I guess they'll have another think coming.

Chances are he'll start exactly the same team that started against Norwich or with at most one of the changes he made during the match (probably Eden for André) - saved injuries.

Which makes sense, as why would rotation be done after coming from international duties with no proper training on that?

Also I really don't get the clamor for Azpilicueta. I feel like some fans don't fully appreciate how flawless Ivanovic has been for us so far this season. Also the guy is a tank so it's not like 14 matches (or so) under his belt in two months could have possibly wore him out.

And I read someone somewhere (too many pages as this is the first time I visit the thread I guess) saying that Bertrand isn't rubbish... yes, he is we have two great players to play as RFB, but only half a player as LFB because Cole these days is half the player he used to be, and it seems he isn't up to his best physically either. And I have no hopes for this scenario to change and Mourinho to see the light and sign a new left FB because he never showed he would replace Arbeloa in RM and it's really difficult to pick the worst out of Arbeloa and Bertrand.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Will be nice if we can kill the game off early, something that we hardly do these days.

Exactly.

I havent seen us do that on regular basis since the Double winning season.. Back then we used to score early, kill the game and enjoy ourselves all together (players and supporters) till the end.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I think Ba starts for this one because of his good performance against Norwich and because he didn't have international duty and would be the freshers and also because, with Torres out, Jose would want to save eto'o for Schalke.

If Torres is still out, i reckon Mour is gonna go for Eto'o against Cardiff and maybe wait for Torres to be fit for Scalke. If not, Eto'o for both matches.

[Jase 43,479]

Exactly.

I havent seen us do that on regular basis since the Double winning season.. Back then we used to score early, kill the game and enjoy ourselves all together (players and supporters) till the end.

Our attack can't convert chances on a consistent/regular basis these days. And, there always seem to be 1-2 mistakes in our defence every time. Doesn't make us feel totally safe and confident like it used to be.