closed Chelsea 2-1 Lille

[Vesper 27,383]

36 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

The most important thing is to get into the next stage and even if we lost there, I would not mind. Playing CL and getting into the next stage would be a huge improvement compared to last season if you ask me. Our players and Lamps would get more experience and we can go from there. Then some signings in the summer and then I would expect more from us.

I would say a 2nd place finish in a weak group and then a crushing defeat in the first knockout stage (which so could happen if we draw one of the monsters and play like we have been for the last multiple weeks) is not going to be anything great

at that point the main achievement will be that 3rd place that we somehow eeked out that even got us into the CL in the first place

the only silver lining is that we can then be more free to concentrate on a top 4 this year

so fucking pissed we only got one point out of 6 versus shit Valencia

 

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Am I correct when I say the only way we can win the group is if we beat Lille and Ajax draws with Valencia?

We would have 11 points, the same as Ajax, but we beat them in the head to head

If Valencia wins and we win, the Valencia wins the group, as they have the head to head over us.

Obviously, an Ajax win and they win the group no matter what, and then we only need a draw to grab 2nd.

If we draw with Lille, we are fucked with anything other than a an Ajax win.

A loss and we are out no matter what.

All correct.

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

I have to say, we are probably also fucked if we do not win the group, as we will more than likely draw a monster side in the very next game as the 2nd place team. Unless the dippers fuck up, the ONLY team that we would perhaps be favoured against in the round of 16 would be the winner of Group G (RB Leipzig or (only if they lose) Zenit (if Zenit wins and Leipzig loses)

the other winners are a nightmare (the overall best 6 teams in the world, basically, the only way it could have been worse is if Real Madrid had been in Group G and won it)

Liverpool (unless there is a HUGE upset)

Barca

PSG

Bayern

Shitty

Juve

 

As a group winner, the main biggest threats we might draw would be Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid (if they get 2nd, which they should easily as they play a shit Lokomotiv team at home and Bayer Leverkusen plays Juve) Napoli, Inter (or more likely Dortmund as Inter play Barca and Dortmund play a shit Slavia Praha team so a huge bullet dodged there more than likely for someone, and you have to then rate Inter to win the EL), and finally Spuds

We can't play teams from same country in the R16. So, City, Liverpool, Spurs are out of the equation if we qualify.

[Jase 43,479]

56 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

The most important thing is to get into the next stage and even if we lost there, I would not mind. Playing CL and getting into the next stage would be a huge improvement compared to last season if you ask me. Our players and Lamps would get more experience and we can go from there. Then some signings in the summer and then I would expect more from us.

Dropping into the Europa League (again!) would be (kinda) embarrassing for us but it offers us another route into the Champions League next season, although there are gonna be some tough teams in the draw. 

[Vesper 27,383]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

All correct.

We can't play teams from same country in the R16. So, City, Liverpool, Spurs are out of the equation if we qualify.

I did not know that

I guess that could be called the RM/Barca rule, lololol (or more like the Messi/CR7 rule)

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Vesper said:

I did not know that

[Vesper 27,383]

7 minutes ago, Jason said:

Dropping into the Europa League (again!) would be (kinda) embarrassing for us but it offers us another route into the Champions League next season, although there are gonna be some tough teams in the draw. 

although, grrrrr

Real and Atletico Madrid will could replace shitty and victimpool?????

so still potentially a six out of 7 chance of drawing a monster if we finish 2nd???

 

edit

I replied to right person, wrong post

[Jase 43,479]

6 minutes ago, Vesper said:

although, grrrrr

Real and Atletico Madrid will could replace either shitty and victimpool?????

so still potentially a six out of 7 chance of drawing a monster if we finish 2nd???

GROUP WINNERS
PSG
Bayern Munich
Man City
Juventus
Liverpool/Napoli/RB Salzburg
Barcelona
RB Leipzig*/Zenit/Lyon

GROUP RUNNERS-UP
Real Madrid
Spurs
Shakhtar/Dinamo Zagreb/Atalanta
Atletico/Leverkusen
Liverpool/Napoli/RB Salzburg
Inter/Dortmund
RB Leipzig*/Zenit/Lyon

* RB Leipzig already through but final position still TBD.

Let's make sure we qualify first before we worry about who we might face in the R16...

[Vesper 27,383]

Just now, Jason said:

GROUP WINNERS
PSG
Bayern Munich
Man City
Juventus
Liverpool/Napoli/RB Salzburg
Barcelona
RB Leipzig*/Zenit/Lyon

GROUP RUNNERS-UP
Real Madrid
Spurs
Shakhtar/Dinamo Zagreb/Atalanta
Atletico/Leverkusen
Liverpool/Napoli/RB Salzburg
Inter/Dortmund
RB Leipzig*/Zenit/Lyon

* RB Leipzig already through but final position still TBD.

Let's make sure we qualify first before we worry about who we might face in the R16...

yes, I am taking zero for granted atm, lolol

[Special Juan 27,106]

This will be another cagey affair, we don't do easy, certainly not at the moment anyway...

Could see them taking the lead

[Superblue 6,331]

If Rudiger is fit like Lampard says, he has to play this game.

Toss up between Zouma who I think is the better player and playing much better this season, or Christensen who Rudiger has some experience over the last couple of seasons playing alongside.

[Special Juan 27,106]

Can't see Toni been shot straight in there.

[Superblue 6,331]

39 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Can't see Toni been shot straight in there.

Yeah but with Tomori out, the only other option is Christensen and Zouma paired together again unless Azpi is put into centre back with one of them.

[milka 3,308]

[Jase 43,479]

Hmmm....

[ZAPHOD2319 3,903]

UGGGGGHHHH, Not being shown on the normal channels in the US and I am at work when it is live,

[Vesper 27,383]

3 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Can't see Toni been shot straight in there.

I agree

and thank you for this:

 

[Vesper 27,383]

Chelsea handed huge boost in push for Champions League progress as Lille plan to rest big stars for clash 

Chelsea take on Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday evening 
They need a win to advance into the knockout stages of the competition
Sportsmail understands Lille are planning to rest a number of their big stars 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7776277/Chelsea-boost-push-Champions-League-progress-Lille-plan-rest-big-stars-clash.html

[BDTips 34]

So much negativity goes around here.
Oh my!

We´ll win this game and we will achieve what nothing expected!
Lille plays nothing in this game and will rest the best players.
We will play to win and with the support of our fans.

I think it is extremely necessary to rest Willian and Pulisic.