Closed Man City v Chelsea

[kellzfresh 7,229]

02

well its the question if you want to have a proper offensive-link for Eden or a (probably) better defensive side in terms of Azpi. I would prefer the former, because we already have Ivanovic as a RB. playing with two full-backs who cant contribute anything in offense will make us even more vulnerable for attacks, because we will be losing the ball all the time, due to shit crossing or just sideway passing from our fullbacks. City are especially vulnerable trough the flanks and we should use this. in the mid, they are beasts with yaya+fernandinho+kompany...we need to use the flanks.

02

futhermore I think that we will sit deeper anyways so A.Cole could be quite good, because his positioning usually is good. There is a chance of Azpi getting destroyed by Navas too so...

There is also a 100% chance we will concede goals when navas goes one on one with cole.

Why risk that with mancity's scoring form?? If we had another quicker leftback I can understand you, but we don't

[Toli 977]

Since when does Azpi not contribute anything in offence?

Azpi was used against Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal. I think there's a good chance he starts tomorrow.

since he is playing as a LB. he is offensively horrible in that position (not his fault). I think it would be important tomorrow to get Hazard playing good and a LB who can actually provide and link-up with him is important. as I said, they are vulnerable trough the flanks and we should expose them there.

And I think Cole gets slated too much. he aint at his best yeah, but he is still experienced and usually in big games, he turns up and proves that. I dont know how many last-ditch saves he has made for us.

[Nero 1,874]

team news for tomorrow? in detail please.

[Jype 6,398]

since he is playing as a LB. he is offensively horrible in that position (not his fault). I think it would be important tomorrow to get Hazard playing good and a LB who can actually provide and link-up with him is important. as I said, they are vulnerable trough the flanks and we should expose them there.

And who is the LB capable of linking up with Hazard because it sure as hell ain't Cole? Ash hasn't offered anything going forward in years so it's not like Azpi can do any worse.

[Toli 977]

And who is the LB capable of linking up with Hazard because it sure as hell ain't Cole? Ash hasn't offered anything going forward in years so it's not like Azpi can do any worse.

did you watch the game against stoke? cole and hazard linked up pretty well. even a shit ash offers more in terms of offense than Azpi, because he is a natural LB.

[Barbara 15,149]

I don't think either Ramires or Lampard are the men for this match. Their pivot would rape Frank and he'd look lost like he did against strong pivots in recent matches. Ramires is an error machine based in the WHU game.

I'd go with Luiz + Matic, but I feel like Mourinho will go with Mikel + Matic (if he feels confident with Matic already starting a match as big as this one, otherwise Luiz + Mikel).

There's no way we should play Cole against Navas. He's going to be overrun every single time by Navas. We need Azpili there.

There rest is indifferent imo.

For everyone saying we should or will park the bus, please, don't be naive. There's one thing given in football this season: Manchester City will score at all home matches. If we park the bus it means we won't have a chance to score ourselves. Watch the match against Arsenal... Arsenal defense was a disaster that day, but City offered them space to score three goals. We need those spaces and we need a solid defense. Parking the bus will only lead us to lose 6-0 like all the others. We need a well posted defense, properly covered by a strong pivot and Oscar and Willian harassing their midfield. We could have a strong pivot for this match with the options we now have, and it's a given Oscar and Willian will press and tackle like there's no tomorrow. I hope Eto'o brings his scoring boots and for Hazard to have a blast.

1-2 away win for Chelsea on my account and prediction.

[The only place to be 11,313]

since he is playing as a LB. he is offensively horrible in that position (not his fault). I think it would be important tomorrow to get Hazard playing good and a LB who can actually provide and link-up with him is important. as I said, they are vulnerable trough the flanks and we should expose them there.

And I think Cole gets slated too much. he aint at his best yeah, but he is still experienced and usually in big games, he turns up and proves that. I dont know how many last-ditch saves he has made for us.

He's not horrible offensively, and the most important thing he does is consistently get up and down which creates space for Hazard. Cole is massively inconsistent at the moment and it's hard to predict which one we'll get. But with Negredo, Kompany and Toure at set-pieces I think we'll need Ivanovic's presence at set-pieces, plus he's one of our main targets from goal-kicks where he'll probably be up against Clichy. If you want to exploit the wings then you need to win first-phase ball.

[The Skipper 20,609]

People need to stop putting Luiz in midfield... It's not going to be happening anymore IMO.

[bushman 2,043]

I am almost certain Jose comes in with Luiz, Ramires & Matic. After all, who is more suitable than these three ?

[Melanicus 5,208]

team news for tomorrow? in detail please.

Sergio Agüero picked up a minor hamstring problem against Spurs and could miss out for up to a month.

Gaël Clichy started ahead of Kolarov in midweek and after an excellent display he's likely to keep his place at left-back.

Negredo was rested in midweek, even when Agüero was forced off through injury, so Pellegrini may have had this game in mind for the Spaniard's return.

OUT: Nasri, Garcia, Milner, Aguero.

[bushman 2,043]

Win or draw is needed, park the bus, cement the net, do something to get result. Liverpoops are getting close now.

[1chelsea 864]

FFS this match is our, in my mind we are winning this one "this is Jose!! and This is Chelsea!!!!!!" Awo Awo Awo

[ZOS 580]

A midfield of Matic-Luiz-Ramirez will do the job. Also I see no need for a striker although Jose will probably field Eto'o

[Roquila 1,335]

The closer we get to the match the more i think we will win it.

[didierforever 7,349]

Luiz- matic midfield I hear. In that case just srll rambo, lamps and mikel off.

Also since when did ramvo stop being a nailed on starter for us. Was not he the player who literally owned yaya at the bridge???

[LAB 1,030]

We have the balls to win this game, like no other team, and we have the right to believe in our team and manager.

[ZOS 580]

Luiz- matic midfield I hear. In that case just srll rambo, lamps and mikel off.

Also since when did ramvo stop being a nailed on starter for us. Was not he the player who literally owned yaya at the bridge???

Luiz-matic is the best midfield pair we've got if Jose decides to go 4231, which would be a mistake by itself

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

I have a feeling Jose will go with

--------------Eto'o--------------

Hazard------------------Willian

--------------Rami--------------

------Matic----------Luiz-------

Azpi----JT-----Cahill--Ivanovic

-------------Cech---------------

and Schurrle, Lamps and Oscar coming in during the game. Solid team with two defensive midfielders (Luiz and Matic) that can pass the ball and initiate the counterattacks, one central midfielder (Rami) to harass Yaya and two pacey wingers.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

My line-up

........Cech...........

Ivan---JT--Cahill---Azpi

------Luiz--Lamps------

Rami----Oscar----Hazard

---------Eto'o--------

#Ktbffh

[The Chels 2,502]

I don't think either Ramires or Lampard are the men for this match. Their pivot would rape Frank and he'd look lost like he did against strong pivots in recent matches. Ramires is an error machine based in the WHU game.

Although he obviously says different I don't think Mourinho picks players based on performance and form all that often. I mean you could argue that he plays Azpi instead of Cole but why do Ramires and Ivanovic start virtually every game? He clearly has his favourites. Ivanovic/Ramires breaking down potentially very promising attacks gifting the opposition the ball time after time is arguably just as bad as Cole getting beat relatively easy by the opposition's winger. In my opinion all 3 should be replaced in the summer but that's not going to happen.