Closed Chelsea v Steaua Bucharest

[oxfordblues 299]

mh/lower for me that night

[CHOULO19 24,332]

We need to be very careful here as reading this thread you would think we are facing Barnet and not Steaua, Im not saying there are superb but we cannot take this lightly thus for me we cannot be starting Omeruo or anyone like that, we have to kill this one off first and that means starting the best 11.

Yes some players haven't been great lately but first and foremost we must win the group and beat these for confidence levels.

Exactly! Steaua have draw 3 of their 5 matches so far. They won't be pushovers.

[The Skipper 20,609]

We NEED to win this game. Chelsea is a sacking club.

...So you're suggesting Mou will get sacked if he doesn't win this?

[The_Flash 1,144]

...So you're suggesting Mou will get sacked if he doesn't win this?

No of course not, well i hope not but the thing is they keep saying Moyes will be given time, if everyone here is honest we know that wont happen here at Chelsea, if we dont finish top four and at least a few more rounds in the CL, i fear he will be.

[Joe Cool 388]

I'm sick of seeing Dave playing on the left while Ivanovic has acres of space on the right yet never delivers one accurate cross the entire game. I don't know what Jose has against Bertrand, but I really think that he deserves a shot, especially if it means keeping Ivanovic away from the right back position.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

We lost against stoke and we are in second place 5points from Arsenal and everybody is going crazy

The points were in the bag though, the way we're giving goals away is very worrying.

[svajo 153]

I hope we repeat the results against Nordsjaelland from last year... 4-0 away (done) and 6-1 home

[Barbara 15,149]

Oscar is missed.

I know we conceded goals in set-pieces and then mistakes in defense, but he gives such a consistency and stability that it completely takes away the opponent's illusions that they can get something from the match. It's a psychological thing that comes with everything being held well together because of this one player. It's like a hammer on the opponent's confidence, every time he tackles, he holds the ball slowing down things (annoying and tiring the opponent), his distribution is many times obvious and predictable, but it's normally of good quality and once in a while in a match he provides the unexpected splitting pass.

He has to play centered though because he's a waste in the wing.

I'd start him, Willian and Hazard now, give Schürrle a rest, so we can have Schurrle, Oscar and Hazard on the weekend against Crystal.

IMO Mata did absolutely nothing to displace Oscar from the team creatively wise - which is the biggest advantage Mata has over Oscar, I'm not saying he was bad, he wasn't, but I still feel our pivot is less overwhelmed when Oscar plays and even the defenders feel the impact of him in the team... He presses high in the wing and in the middle, so maybe he could be near Azpili in that play that got Stoke a goal (although it seems to have been a foul not called by the clueless referee). He covers the pivot AND the FBs depending on the side he's closer to. Ofc he's no superman and he can't be everywhere and he isn't perfect, but if there's one thing I think we need now and stability and calm, and imo he brings both. I think Oscar holds the team together better and with both Hazard and Schürrle in such good moments, I'd give them more freedom (especially Eden) and count on their pace, takes-on and dribbles, using Oscar to organize and distribute the ball, in addition to his undeniable work-rate.

Then once we're feeling confident again (hopefully before Arse and Pool) Mourinho could think of a way to rotate Mata into the team.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

I hope we repeat the results against Nordsjaelland from last year... 4-0 away (done) and 6-1 home

6-0.

Time for some clean sheets.

[robdog 2,084]

Hey what is the status of Schurrle? I haven't heard anything from anyone except that he was hurt. How serious was the injury or was it just tired legs?

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Seems like Lamps will play in every game this season, one way or another. Remarkable for him, but not so good for the team.

[robdog 2,084]

I'm sick of seeing Dave playing on the left while Ivanovic has acres of space on the right yet never delivers one accurate cross the entire game. I don't know what Jose has against Bertrand, but I really think that he deserves a shot, especially if it means keeping Ivanovic away from the right back position.

Bert was caught in a Coffee house w/ Jose's misses....ok joking

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Do you know who I'd like to see up front for this game? Schurrle.

I stopped myself from saying it in the match thread but on occasion he looks like a white Henry. He's big, he's fast, he's good off both feet and he can finish. Plus he's never once let us down so why not go with him up front in a not-quite-a-false-nine role?

Cech

Azpi Luiz/Cahill Terry Cole

Lamps Rami

De Bruyne Oscar Hazard

Schurrle

If Luiz is fit then he needs a run out. Cole needs some time on the pitch too. De Bruyne deserves a chance in this game and if he does well then he starts at Palace. Oscar NEEDS to come back, Mata simply hasn't done much in his recent starts. Hazard can have another Sunderland performance and the midfield probably picks itself.

We could drop Cech but I honestly don't know if it'll do much. Schwarzer is good but I'm not sure if he's a good option for the rest of the season. The permutations for Cech's inconsistency will be felt next season when we possibly move on to Courtois.

Only Mour takes such risks and play an auxiliary striker up front when we have 3 fit strikers.

As for your team, Rami needs his rest especially if it's a game with little significance.

Also I'd try de Bruyne in the pivot with Mikel.

Mikel's could set deep between our CB while Kevin can stomp good authority in that more free flowing area of the pitch.

My midfield.

......... De Bruyne.... Mikel......

Willian...... Oscar....... Hazard/Mata

......... Schurrle.......

[Shakez 755]

Oscar is missed.

I know we conceded goals in set-pieces and then mistakes in defense, but he gives such a consistency and stability that it completely takes away the opponent's illusions that they can get something from the match. It's a psychological thing that comes with everything being held well together because of this one player. It's like a hammer on the opponent's confidence, every time he tackles, he holds the ball slowing down things (annoying and tiring the opponent), his distribution is many times obvious and predictable, but it's normally of good quality and once in a while in a match he provides the unexpected splitting pass.

He has to play centered though because he's a waste in the wing.

I'd start him, Willian and Hazard now, give Schürrle a rest, so we can have Schurrle, Oscar and Hazard on the weekend against Crystal.

IMO Mata did absolutely nothing to displace Oscar from the team creatively wise - which is the biggest advantage Mata has over Oscar, I'm not saying he was bad, he wasn't, but I still feel our pivot is less overwhelmed when Oscar plays and even the defenders feel the impact of him in the team... He presses high in the wing and in the middle, so maybe he could be near Azpili in that play that got Stoke a goal (although it seems to have been a foul not called by the clueless referee). He covers the pivot AND the FBs depending on the side he's closer to. Ofc he's no superman and he can't be everywhere and he isn't perfect, but if there's one thing I think we need now and stability and calm, and imo he brings both. I think Oscar holds the team together better and with both Hazard and Schürrle in such good moments, I'd give them more freedom (especially Eden) and count on their pace, takes-on and dribbles, using Oscar to organize and distribute the ball, in addition to his undeniable work-rate.

Then once we're feeling confident again (hopefully before Arse and Pool) Mourinho could think of a way to rotate Mata into the team.

I agree on your points but the only time i enjoyed our play with Oscar was the first 40 minutes of the Hull game. Dunno what it is but Mata brings something extra. Despite losing against Stoke and almost drawing against Sunderland we played beautiful attacking football with Mata. For stability i agree with you at the moment, Oscar is the better choice.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Oscar is missed. I know we conceded goals in set-pieces and then mistakes in defense, but he gives such a consistency and stability that it completely takes away the opponent's illusions that they can get something from the match. It's a psychological thing that comes with everything being held well together because of this one player. It's like a hammer on the opponent's confidence, every time he tackles, he holds the ball slowing down things (annoying and tiring the opponent), his distribution is many times obvious and predictable, but it's normally of good quality and once in a while in a match he provides the unexpected splitting pass.

I disagree.

We shouldn't need Oscar to deter the opposition psychologically, it's just not good enough from the defensive point of view. If the defence performed we would've easily had 6 points in the last 2 games.

We shouldn't need to have to score 3 goals every game to win.

[Barbara 15,149]

I disagree.

We shouldn't need Oscar to deter the opposition psychologically, it's just not good enough from the defensive point of view. If the defence performed we would've easily had 6 points in the last 2 games.

We shouldn't need to have to score 3 games every game to win.

I agree, but what I mean is that this hammering can help us. We look quite helpless right now defensively, so any improvement will take a bit of the confidence off sides have been showing to attack us.

We shouldn't need it, doesn't mean it doesn't help us given how things are which is why I said once things are stable again, we can rotate Oscar again.

[Strike 7,490]

I'm sick of seeing Dave playing on the left while Ivanovic has acres of space on the right yet never delivers one accurate cross the entire game. I don't know what Jose has against Bertrand, but I really think that he deserves a shot, especially if it means keeping Ivanovic away from the right back position.

remember reading somewhere 5/67 crosses completed. he should look to keep the ball and pass it back to the midfielders

[Spyker 27]

remember reading somewhere 5/67 crosses completed. he should look to keep the ball and pass it back to the midfielders

Unfortunately he is not that intelligent.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Please tell me Schurrle is not injured?

[Jase 43,479]

Please tell me Schurrle is not injured?

We should know more in Mourinho's presser in a few hours time, taking place at 1pm UK time.

Dan Levene ‏@BluesChronicle 9m

Chelsea v Steaua Bucharest preview day: Jose Mourinho presser, Cobham, 1pm; Laurențiu Reghecampf presser, Stamford Bridge, 6.30pm.

Edited December 10, 2013 by BluesMaster