Closed Man City v Chelsea

[Shane 2,275]

You're a smart boy. I really didn't know that we can win the title if we lose this game, thanks for the enlightment. Looks like Manu can win the title too, wow.

On a serious note: My comment is not stupid , i said that it's not a fact what i am saying , it's an opinion. Do you really think we can win the title if we go 6 behind City? We are chasing arsenal for months now and we are only 2 behind them(Arsenal, let this sink in).

I am not slagging off the club or the players or the manager because i didn't expect us to win the title this year like some people did. Mourinho is no magician who can turn Mikel into Pele but i have faith in him that we will build a team in a year or too that will be unbeatable more or less.

But hey, you are right, if we lose the next 3 games mathematically we can still win the title.

Can we still win the title if we lose on Monday? Yes, of course we can. City will probably be competing on all fronts the whole season, and they have a very tough run of games coming up, including two games against Barcelona which will take the energy out of them. If they come through that, they'll have two more, and so on. I think what can win the league for us is that everyone of City's players seem to be hitting form at the same time. This cannot go on forever, they'll drop in form, and thats when we'll see what their made of.

Even if we lose, which I don't think we will, The title race is far from over.

[Roquila 1,335]

Now you are talking. Just one little correction here. 90 % of parking the bus & maybe 10 % of counter ?

Whatever it takes mate, whatever it takes to win.

[The only place to be 11,313]

You're a smart boy. I really didn't know that we can win the title if we lose this game, thanks for the enlightment. Looks like Manu can win the title too, wow.

On a serious note: My comment is not stupid , i said that it's not a fact what i am saying , it's an opinion. Do you really think we can win the title if we go 6 behind City? We are chasing arsenal for months now and we are only 2 behind them(Arsenal, let this sink in).

I am not slagging off the club or the players or the manager because i didn't expect us to win the title this year like some people did. Mourinho is no magician who can turn Mikel into Pele but i have faith in him that we will build a team in a year or too that will be unbeatable more or less.

But hey, you are right, if we lose the next 3 games mathematically we can still win the title.

6 points with 14 games left is nothing, especially with City having some tough games. It makes it tougher, but even if we went and won on Monday then I wouldn't put us as favourites. Unfortunately it's games like last night's one (and home to West Brom) that tend to decide titles.

But 6 points off the top in February is certainly surmountable.

[bushman 2,043]

Whatever it takes mate, whatever it takes to win.

Right on. Whatever works. Jose mentioned Black&Decker today. He ought hand out axis on Monday. Just chop them down.

[Roquila 1,335]

Can we still win the title if we lose on Monday? Yes, of course we can. City will probably be competing on all fronts the whole season, and they have a very tough run of games coming up, including two games against Barcelona which will take the energy out of them. If they come through that, they'll have two more, and so on. I think what can win the league for us is that everyone of City's players seem to be hitting form at the same time. This cannot go on forever, they'll drop in form, and thats when we'll see what their made of.

Even if we lose, which I don't think we will, The title race is far from over.

It's not that i don't like Chelsea winning the title, believe me i like it as much as everyone here. Problem is that we have Champions league games too and we could drop in form too, it's not like only City and Arsenal are affected by this. If we lose on monday we then have to wait for City to really fuck up and we need to win 85-90% of the games. Yes, it's possible but the chances are slim. This doesn't mean that i dont believe in the team or that im hoping for City to win the title.

On a more off-topic note: If we don't win the title i actually hope City wins it. I cannot watch Arsenal fans jizzing all over their pc's on forums on how about Ozil and Wenger are the best in the world, and who doesnt enjoy Arsenal going into a decade without any cup?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Didn't watch the West Ham game but it sounds like they employed RDM tactics vs Barca and got the result. It doesn't mean we aren't playing good football, it means we couldn't put the ball through the eye of a needle.

City will be VERY different! They are scoring at will it seems. I don't think it would be wise to play for a draw, I think we need to play to win because City will almost assuredly score at Etihad.

Cech

Azpilicueta - Luiz - Terry - Cole
Matic - Ramires

Schurrle - Oscar - Hazard
Eto'o

I left Willian out because we need an impact sub this game and he seems the most likely candidate. I can't predict a scoreline but hoping for a 2-1.

[Roquila 1,335]

6 points with 14 games left is nothing, especially with City having some tough games. It makes it tougher, but even if we went and won on Monday then I wouldn't put us as favourites. Unfortunately it's games like last night's one (and home to West Brom) that tend to decide titles.

But 6 points off the top in February is certainly surmountable.

If we go level with city then we have a fairly better chance of winning the title just because of our fixtures compared to them. Doesn't mean that we will ofcourse but we have a slightly better chance if you look at the fixtures. If we go 6 points below City it's still doable but then we would have only a slim chance to win the title. I am only comparing the chances that we and city have. If we lose they have a better chance to win it. If we win we have a better chance to win it. If we draw then things are still open for me since i cannot foresee the future. Having better chances doesn't mean we or them will win it. It's the Premier League and everything can happe here.

[Roquila 1,335]

Right on. Whatever works. Jose mentioned Black&Decker today. He ought hand out axis on Monday. Just chop them down.

I sometimes think that Mourinho doesn't give a shit about his word. One day he comes out and says that we won't buy anything in January and it will be quiet. One month later: Essien,Mata,KDB out. Matic and Salah in. Today he says that West Ham played 90s football and then he does the same on Monday. I love him for this.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

6 points with 14 games left is nothing, especially with City having some tough games. It makes it tougher, but even if we went and won on Monday then I wouldn't put us as favourites. Unfortunately it's games like last night's one (and home to West Brom) that tend to decide titles.

But 6 points off the top in February is certainly surmountable.

Tough games? against who? They are steamrolling everyone in the Prem... They have tough games against Barca that's it.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Tough games? against who? They are steamrolling everyone in the Prem... They have tough games against Barca that's it.

Sunderland at home.

Stoke at home.

Hull away.

Man United away.

Arsenal away.

Liverpool away.

Palace away.

Everton away.

West Ham at home.

All these teams are either fighting for survival or fighting for a top four spot or even the title.

Their last three games are away to Palace (under Pulis they are a tough team), away to Everton and then the last day of the season they've got West Ham who might be fighting for the Premier League lives.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Sunderland at home.

Stoke at home.

Hull away.

Man United away.

Arsenal away.

Liverpool away.

Palace away.

Everton away.

West Ham at home.

All these teams are either fighting for survival or fighting for a top four spot or even the title.

Their last three games are away to Palace (under Pulis they are a tough team), away to Everton and then the last day of the season they've got West Ham who might be fighting for the Premier League lives.

Honestly, the only thing that's gonna stop this City team is injuries, I don't think any of those teams pose much of a threat to them. Its not like they are winning marginally, they are battering teams right now...

[Jype 6,398]

Eto'o

Hazard Willian

Matic - Mikel - Ramires

Cole - Terry - Cahill - Azpi

Cech

A three man midfield to battle it out against Yaya - Fernandinho and then Hazard and Willian to counter-attack them to death. If we're in need of a goal, get Oscar on for Mikel and try to take more control of the game, otherwise stick Lampard in there at some point to further choke the midfield.

[Strike 7,490]

Should go for an old fashioned smash and grab here. Attacking City at the Etihad would be stupid

[jmarlow 458]

Now you are talking. Just one little correction here. 90 % of parking the bus & maybe 10 % of counter ?

yeah, that comment clearly shows you have watched alot of Mourinho's teams play over the years!

[Hutcho 8,443]

So Jesus Navas up against Cole....sometimes I wish it was 2010 as well, but honestly I think Navas would torment Cole. I hope I'm wrong but I think I'd go with Azpi there.

Then you've got Ivanovic at right-back probably up against Silva (?) who is skilful but not likely to skin him for pace. If we can keep it tight then maybe Ivanovic's presence at set-pieces can be one of our best chances.

Rami in midfield against Man City last year was a disaster, so maybe Lamps instead. Again, he's a goal threat (compared to our other options) and Matic can do a lot of his defensive work. The front three probably picks itself.

I am honestly not seeing this huge dropoff on the cole front. He is not what he was for certain. But he isn't as bad as he is being made out. And having a naturally left footed player there has its own advantages. As for Rami, his engine is what we need in these sort of games. Get back and defend then springboard into attack. Ivans presense at set pieces is kind of off set by his delivery which occurs a lot during the game imo. And i don't think we lose out significantly from Ivan to Azpi at RB. But yeah you make a good point, and i can see it both ways.

As for Lampard, having Matic should provide him more freedom so its a viable option, but against City especially Matic could probably use some assistence.

But tbh i would honestly put lampard up front pack the midfield and let lampard make his late runs and take shots at his hearts content.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Can we still win the title if we lose on Monday? Yes, of course we can. City will probably be competing on all fronts the whole season, and they have a very tough run of games coming up, including two games against Barcelona which will take the energy out of them. If they come through that, they'll have two more, and so on. I think what can win the league for us is that everyone of City's players seem to be hitting form at the same time. This cannot go on forever, they'll drop in form, and thats when we'll see what their made of.

Even if we lose, which I don't think we will, The title race is far from over.

It's why I don't get why people root against our domestic rivals in other competitions. The more games they play, the harder it is for them to win any particular competition. Them getting into the CL knockout stage was great for us. It's the difference between being pro-Chelsea and anti-other teams.

[Sheva. 5,373]

What's with all the title talk? the goal is to finish in the top 3 and we're well on course to achieve that.

If we really wanted to win the title, we would have signed a striker given how we're so close to the top, with 3 average options.

But Mourinho keeps talking about next season, which imo is a big mistake. Man city could well run off with it from the start like 2 seasons ago, and not drop silly points away like this season. Oh well.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Best defense vs best attack, a proper showdown.

City are going to play against West Ham?!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Why are people stressing about the title. Our aim has always been top 3. If something happen to City and they seriously fuck up, then we or Arsenal can capitalize. But this is City's title to lose regardless of the outcome of this match.

[pakito 17]

This is one game I am really worried about. It's fucking City at their demolition ground. Scary thing is that that they have many amazing players (just like we do) but they finally play like team with game plan under Pellegrini. I wish Mancini was still in charge lol he held them back.