closed Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona

[communicate 2,703]

Just now, manpe said:

With 3-5-2 we'll be toothless in attack. We don't really have ideal solutions whatever we go with, Barca will dominate either way.

For me at home it is important not to concede due to away goal rule.

[manpe 10,861]

For me at home it is important not to concede due to away goal rule.

Good point

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[Unionjack 7,531]

Has anyone else got a runny botty? I get so mucj more nervous having to sit and watch it at home than being at the game. My neighbours going to be wondering WTF is going on in here tonight! but theyre used to me by now lol

I just hope we take it to them and we get the full of swag Eden turn up. I would go with a 343 with Giroud and Willi plus a Kante/Cescy CM.

And please please please no fuckin Cahill.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

The starting XI selection for this game is a headache. Do you go with a 3-4-3 and leave yourself exposed against Barca's diamond midfield (not to mention choosing between the slow Fabregas vs the average Drinkwater to partner Kante), or do you go with a 3-5-2, but bench Willian who's in great form?

Tbh I'm leaning towards the latter. I think Barca will destroy us in the middle if we pair up Kante with Fabregas/Drinkwater. Messi drops deep a lot too, so they essentially play with 5 midfielders. 

[Special Juan 28,107]

I reckon the English lion heart Cahill will start.

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

Just now, Special Juan said:

I reckon the English lion heart Cahill will start.

I fear me too

I dread to think that he will play Fabregas, Alonso, or even Drinkwater as well

[sainttourist 68]

I really can't see us overcome our weaknesses there. This season we always struggling against high pressing and Barca naturally pressing team. Alonso, Moses will sit deep and midfielders will have a hard time again. Hope I am wrong, this Barcelona is certainly beatable, but we need to play our best game.

[Strike 7,475]

2 hours ago, manpe said:

Time to post the team I would like to see tonight (already!!! big night).

Courtois

Azpi - Christensen - Rüdiger

Moses - Kante - Fabregas - Alonso

Willian - Giroud - Hazard

 

Tbh any kind of midfield we put out is going to be weak. Drinkwater or Fabregas? At home I'd take the risk and play Cesc, he isn't that bad defensively but granted he's slow. When we recover the ball and he can quickly spread accurate passes up front then it will make up for it, Drinkwater is lacking in that department. I don't envy Conte, but whatever he does I hope he doesn't play Hazard as striker and keeps Cahill on the bench.

Drinkwater. Just like the last time around when Ramires, Meireles Mikel and Lampard started in a packed midfield. 

I think a 3-4-3 leaving out Fabregas gives the team the energy needed to press Barcelona. That means the only one able to create is Hazard but it is a chance that Conte has to take. 

 

 

[Pizy 18,858]

Such a headache for Conte in terms of selection. Go 3-4-3 with both Hazard and Willian in great form and hope like hell that a midfield 2 of Kante and Cesc can withstand the pressure of dealing with Busquets, Rakitic, Messi, and Iniesta or go 3-5-2, sacrifice a bit going forward, and solidify the midfield. 

We can either go balls out and try to play with them or go conservative and somewhat cowardly to minimize risk of away goals. For me we have to go 3-4-3. Let's be honest, we probably ain't stopping them from scoring no matter what we do so we may as well have a go with our best attacking XI.

I'm praying that Cahill doesn't start. Absolutely praying. Azpi/Christensen/Rüdi is our best back 3. Cahill will be his infuriating passive self that he always is against top opposition. He just back peddles and let's his man run at him. He cannot start tonight. But sadly will most likely.

[cfcs most wanted 657]

No matter the result

Just keep your heads up and the blue flag flying high 

[cfcs most wanted 657]

I think it would be a 3-4-3 with Drinkwater starting instead of of Fabregas, so we'll basically have 7 players holding the defence and 3 players to break on the counter, and that's why I think Morata will be such a better option than Giroud.

[gadget 126]

Going to get stick for this... ( i know he's been poor in a lot of matches this season) but...

Think we're going to miss Baka tonight.. can see them running rings around Cesc 

[Barbara 15,149]

Fàbregas shouldn't be starting big games for us at all. He can only face pub teams in domestic cups because even by relegation fold he's been bullied, bypassed easily and his creative contributions - which isn't as often as it used to be - don't make it worthy

 

 

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

I'l be honest. I think we are getting knocked out. So I don't see the point in a 352 with just 2 players attacking. We are going to concede either way. Or hope for a 0-0 at home? No point.

I say, have a go at home. Play 343 but really drill into Hazard and Willian to drop back. If it's 343 no Fabregas. 

There's no pressure because we shouldn't realistically expect to go through (come on, the Bournemouth result didn' exactly fall out of the sky! Our midfield is terrible). 

I'm a cynical bastard. So I hope we put up a fight and I'll be happy. Anyway, going out with Tottenham and Liverpool still in the latter stages could really help with top 4. 

After noon, I'll be an optimistic fan. I promise 

[Pizy 18,858]

3 minutes ago, Barbara said:

Fàbregas shouldn't be starting big games for us at all. He can only face pub teams in domestic cups because even by relegation fold he's been bullied, bypassed easily and his creative contributions - which isn't as often as it used to be - don't make it worthy

 

 

In this particular case he'd be going against midfielders who are similar to him. None of Barca's midfielders are the type that Cesc struggles against (powerful, dynamic, athletic, fast). For this reason I actually think he can start tonight. He's not going to get bullied by Busquets/Rakitic/Iniesta or beaten for pace.

The biggest problem I see is us not having much of the ball meaning Cesc will be expending all his energy chasing shadows.