Chelsea (H) - Sat 17th Feb, 17:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[richards30]

We need to up the goal diff. Falling behind after Liverpool and Arse today.

Arsenal are flying to be fair and look the real deal

 

[Haaland94]

We need to up the goal diff. Falling behind after Liverpool and Arse today.

I would focus on winning the game. Even 1-0 would be sufficient. We should be targeting the likes of Brentford on Tuesday.

 

[55yr old teenager]

Are you Chelsea?

No why?

 

[kippaxwarrior]

We need to up the goal diff. Falling behind after Liverpool and Arse today.

I'm telling you right now the league won't be decided on goal difference

 

[GaudinoMotors]

We need to up the goal diff. Falling behind after Liverpool and Arse today.

Least of our worries today.

 

[TrentGrisham]

Doku and Alvarez losing the ball continually doesn’t excite me

I usually agree with your takes, but from a quick look per 90:

Dispossessed:

Doku- 1.83

Grealish- 2.28

And that's with Doku averaging THREE times as many take-ons per 90. Doku's pass completion percentage is only 4% lower than Grealish's. Averaging almost one whole tackle + interception per 90 as well, too.

 

[Haaland94]

It concerns me that Bernardo is on the Bench and we continue with Alverez, while I have nothing against Alverez I just feel that Pep is playing him to convince him to stay with us. He is too good to be coming off the bench every game but personally I feel we have more balance when Berny is on the pitch.

Doku can be replaced with Bernardo as well. Doesn't have to be Alvarez. He has been fantastic for us for most of the season.

edit: Doku has been very good as well, but if given a choice, I prefer to have Julian in there.

 

[eastmanc]

A little bit concerned that it's the centre half pairing of Stamford Bridge otherwise an OK City side, I guess Bernie is still feeling his ankle or he would have started. Anyway come on you Dolly Blues.

 

[vanchi]

Well, Rodri does seem isolated, so I wonder who will help him out defensively. It looks like it's going to be Akanji...
That's why it's difficult to explain how are we not playing Stones today...

maybe he can’t play so often.

i’m in the who knows which chelsea will turn up today camp, they’re bizarre. i don’t want to see that stupid cold celebration today, i want to see them totally destroyed.
and rodri needs to keep calm, last time gallagher and jackson tried to provoke him into another red card, assholes.

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Fannies everywhere. They should fuck off to the match thread

I very rarely go there now. It can be an absolute mess. Fannie wipes fucking everywhere

 

[Silva&Silva]

Hard to know which Chelsea will turn up. They’ve been incredibly inconsistent. They were excellent away to Villa but dire away to Liverpool. They seem to be struggling to forge an identity as a team.

We weren’t at our best at Stamford Bridge but despite that left the win behind. Pochettino has a decent record against us but even still if feels like we are starting to purr. We haven’t won more than 6 league games in a row this season, it’s time to really put that run together.

I expect Palmer and Sterling to cause us problems but we should have more than enough for them.

You could sound a bit more positive.

 

[super_city_si]

I usually agree with your takes, but from a quick look per 90:

Dispossessed:

Doku- 1.83

Grealish- 2.28

And that's with Doku averaging THREE times as many take-ons per 90. Doku's pass completion percentage is only 4% lower than Grealish's. Averaging almost one whole tackle + interception per 90 as well, too.

Doku I can see in the absence of grealish. It’s Alvarez I worry about more. I like him but he’s not a midfielder

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I very rarely go there now. It can be an absolute mess. Fannie wipes fucking everywhere

So "Fannie wipes" is having watched players performances and analysing the team set up and selection (albeit some forced changes)
Pass me another sheet.

 

[wolviedinho]

Not a bad team. Might suffer trying to control the game without stones and Bernie. They can always come on if needed.

Boring Pep eh Rato !

 

[Bluewars]

Go on, explain why

In short, I feel Alvarez playing central makes us worse offensively and defensively. And simultaneously means Phil on the wing.

Rodri will be exposed and overworked in midfield. Akanji is intelligent but doesn't have the composure or passing range to step into DM. Doku will have a few turnovers with no Kovacic or Bernardo to press against a counter attack. Basically I expect us to dominate but be very susceptible to counter attacks.

 

[TrentGrisham]

It concerns me that Bernardo is on the Bench and we continue with Alverez, while I have nothing against Alverez I just feel that Pep is playing him to convince him to stay with us. He is too good to be coming off the bench every game but personally I feel we have more balance when Berny is on the pitch.

I've said this before and got shit on, as it's almost sacrilegious to criticise Pep and suggest that he's playing favourites. Don't get me wrong, Alvarez has played well this whole season, and I like him, but for nearly two months previously, he wasn't playing well and consistently maintained his position. He isn't held to the high standard that Bobb, Palmer, Foden, etc., are/were—just my two cents.

 

[Blue-Ghana]

Bernardo for Alvarez should have been a perfect team.

 

[Bluewars]

Fannies everywhere. They should fuck off to the match thread

Relax pal, your clearly not 'stoned' enough.

 

[Blueknows]

Need a big win after today's results

 

[Macca77macca]

I am a little sad Jonny is on the bench