closed Roma 3-0 Chelsea

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Cesc and Baka against Radja Strootman and DDR, Hmmm this can get ugly.

[Vybzkartel 284]

This is why Conte never did well in Europe. His too stubborn. You keep your first  clean sheet in 6 games and all of a sudden you decide to change that??. 

[Leif 6,006]

1 minute ago, Mufassir08 said:

Cesc and Baka against Radja Strootman and DDR, Hmmm this can get ugly.

I promise you every single one of those 3 is borderline awful this season. Their best midfielders aren't on the field; Pellegrini & Gonalons. That would have been interesting. This is more predictable - surely we win.

That said, there's nobody who can't outplay our current midfield.

[Vybzkartel 284]

7 hours ago, Jason said:

Our record in Italy...

D 1-1 Milan

D 0-0 Lazio

W 4-0 Lazio

L 1-3 Roma

D 2-2 Juventus

L 1-2 Inter

L 1-3 Napoli

L 0-3 Juventus

After that pathetic line up he put out expect the bad run to go on

[LAM09 6,535]

Not happy with Azpi at RWB & our midfield. Just hope we get a positive result

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Just now, Leif said:

I promise you every single one of those 3 is borderline awful this season. Their best midfielders aren't on the field; Pellegrini & Gonalons. That would have been interesting. This is more predictable - surely we win.

That said, there's nobody who can't outplay our current midfield.

Your last line sums it up for me. Even if all three of them have been awful, Baka and Cesc together have been nothing short of a train wreck this season. Not expecting any miracles against even if an out of form midfield but still a midfield with plenty of quality. 

[Pizy 17,860]

Yeahhhh...

A midfield 2 that includes Fabregas will struggle against even bottom half PL teams. Can't see how it's going to work in the CL against a midfield 3 away from home. It's like we've handicapped ourselves before the game has even kicked off.

[FabHazard 655]

Hope we do not play too defensive...Though that is what i expect to see...A balanced attack is needed 

[Jase 43,479]

10 minutes ago, Vybzkartel said:

This is why Conte never did well in Europe. His too stubborn. You keep your first  clean sheet in 6 games and all of a sudden you decide to change that??. 

Not sure if keeping a clean sheet against an insipid Bournemouth says much.

23 minutes ago, Polo7 said:

That midfield struggled against worst teams than Roma. Why not play Drinkwater aswell. How I'm just being pessimistic.

Said it a couple of posts ago, unless we switch to a back 4, playing 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 will be risky either way. Go with the former, we get exposed down the flanks - like in the reverse fixture. Go with the latter, we get exposed in midfield. Would like to think that we'll perform better than the first game.

[FabHazard 655]

5 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Yeahhhh...

A midfield 2 that includes Fabregas will struggle against even bottom half PL teams. Can't see how it's going to work in the CL against a midfield 3 away from home. It's like we've handicapped ourselves before the game has even kicked off.

I do not think 3-5-2 suits for our style..Even though it covers Fabregas limitations...It hinders our attack and gives too much space just infront of wingbacks ..When we concede possession it actually becomes 5-3-2

[Special Juan 27,093]

Really poor choice of team from Conte, ready to be proved wrong though.

We need to take a hold of this game like we did in Madrid.

[Jase 43,479]

Worth noting that 4 points from Roma (a) and Qarabag (a) will be enough to guarantee qualification from the group stage.

[Leif 6,006]

Personally would've played Azpilicueta as a left wing back with Zappa on the right. Neither would let anyone really get behind them, meaning no chasing to do for Fabregas, in theory. I really like Azpi on the left.

[Leif 6,006]

+ it's damn shambles that we have Kenedy on our books. The guy should be a high-flying skill merchant dribbling past 11 players at once in La Liga or Serie A. Our arrangement is bad for both parties, and he's a player I know we'd love if he was at another (the right) club.

[Pizy 17,860]

Alright, hoping for the best!

[manpe 10,855]

5 minutes ago, Leif said:

Personally would've played Azpilicueta as a left wing back with Zappa on the right. Neither would let anyone really get behind them, meaning no chasing to do for Fabregas, in theory. I really like Azpi on the left.

Same. It's like Conte wants to fold by playing Alonso and Cahill next to each other, I don't understand it. Azpi left, Zap right and the obvious CB choices in the middle - that is something I think would be solid defensively AND skilled on the ball. Or just simply keep GC away from the team and replace with Rüdiger, defence would be 20% stronger already.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

Bakayoko - Fabregas Double Pivot 

I never want to see these two again paired together after their performances vs Crystal Palace & Watford. 

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

Gonna need Morata/Hazard/Pedro to pull a masterclass if we're to win this. 

Expect a lot of goals in this one. 

Also: very happy Pedro is full recovered and Willian is back on his rightful place on the bench.

We thank God.