Closed Chelsea v Stoke

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea vs Stoke City
PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT

2014/15 Premier League Match 30
4th April, Saturday, 2014
Stamford Bridge
17:30 Kick Off (UK time)

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Oh I do love the international break....said no one ever.

[didierforever 7,349]

courtois

azpi zouma JT luis

matic cesc

cuadrado willian hazard

costa.

[thekid9 418]

Anyone but Cahill

[Thor 2,421]

Oh I do love the international break....said no one ever.

Given the way we are playing, and how the players look on the field, especially Fabregas, who looks like he could be outrun by a 6th grader, I'm glad it has come around.

Let some players get some rest and hopefully come back fresh.

Saying that, hopefully Jose can come up with something fresh after the break. The current line up gives up too much defensively, and we don't get anything in return offensively. Felipe Luis needs to be a constant starter in the team, as does Azpi. Ivanovic should be rotated centrally. Luis is a capable crosser, can beat his man off the dribble, and is great 1 on 1 defensively. I honestly wouldn't mind him as a winger given that he is actually far more direct than Willian, and he can whip a nice cross in.

------------------Costa-----------------

Oscar--------Hazard--------Cuadrado

----------Cesc------Matic---------------

Luis------Terry-----Zouma-----Azpi

Even if Ivanovic must play according to Mou, get Azpi on the left, Iva on the right, and put Luis in Oscar's spot. He is one of our most techinically gifted players, who can beat his man, and he rots on the bench. Cuadrado may as well get his shot since Willian on the wings is a disaster. If you're going to bring him on, put him centrally and push Hazard out to the wing since he is world class there already. Let's try and progress Hazard as a player by getting him accustomed centrally, and let Cuadrado develop, while also having Willian play his more natural position.

I dunno, maybe I'm just rambling due to the lack of decent play these last 6 weeks. But clearly, something at the back has to change.

[bluephoenix 1,126]

Lets just hope the overlords are on our side and we keep winning and maintain 6 points or more lead till the end of the season.

[Special Juan 27,439]

Got a feeling we will win this with ease for a change. 3-0

[CFC888 219]

Got a feeling we will win this with ease for a change. 3-0

Been a while since one of those, would bloody love it to return!

[stroey 2,525]

Remy deserves more minutes.

If Costa is fit to play:

Costa

Hazard Cesc Remy

Matic Rambo

Luis JT Zouma Azpi

Courtois

Hazard and Remy to switch flanks if the set up isn't effective.

Cesc can't play pivot this match cause Stoke is very strong in midfield, and we can't afford to lose Cesc on a two match ban.

We can rest Willian if Azpi plays RB.

If Costa isn't fit:

Remy

Hazard Cesc Cuad

Matic Rambo

Luis JT Zouma Azpi

Courtois

What I am afraid to see:

Remy/Costa

Hazard Oscar Rambo

Matic Cesc

Azpi JT Gary Iva

Courtois

[ILoveLamp 270]

How about this please?

Courtois

Azpi Zouma Terry Luis

Fabregas Matic

Remy Willian Hazard

Costa

[Laylabelle 9,376]

Been a while since one of those, would bloody love it to return!

seems ages since a clean sheet lol

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

seems ages since a clean sheet lol

west ham?

[DanishBlue 426]

This is another final that we have to win.

It's important that we win the home games against the smaller teams because it would allow us to drop points to one of the big teams.

[CeleryFC 373]

Really need us to play well. I'm taking my cousin to his second game, and his first was when we lost to Bradford.

Remy deserves more minutes, but its not like Costa deserves to be benched. I hope his injury isn't too bad, and I believe we'd be fine without him, but he seems to take a while to get back into form whenever he's out for a bit, naturally. Besides Costa's on my fantasy football team, so I'd rather he was playing anyway.

I doubt Iva will be dropped, but I'd like to see Azpi at RB, and let Luis have a run of games. I want to see Cuadrado as a starter. I think its unfair to have to prove yourself in the dying minutes of a game, and he's only ever brought on if we need a goal which always means desperate decisions instead of intelligent ones. I just want to see what he does with 90 minutes.

Courtois

Dave - Zouma - Terry - Luis

Matic - Cesc

Cuadrado - Willian - Hazard

Costa

[Laylabelle 9,376]

west ham?

ya and even though only 3 games ago let in 5 since.Used to be so good at defending yet soon as score we switch off.Big game and gotta win

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Actually if I could choose, I prefer we play Pool, MU or Arsenal after the international break. Stoke will be fresh and will giving us a hard time.

Hope everybody come back fit and ready for this.

Playing at home again, we have to killed the monkey on our back. It has been a while since we last won.

[OneMoSalah 8,783]

Same team that beat them at the Britannia please.

Mikel, Matic sitting, Cesc #10.

[LAB 1,030]

I feel confident about this. Normally Stoke shouldn't cause us many problems at home.

But then again the same i said about Hull.

Unless we shoot ourselves in the foot again multiple times, like we've been doing lately, we're going to win it convincingly.