Chelsea (a) pre-match thread

[Cobwebcat]

http://clubelo.com/

Win 25%

Draw 26%

Lose 49%

The first team we have played this season that is better than us (slightly) Before someone says we are higher in the league; 6 games isn't the best measure for predictive purposes (about a season and a half is) and we are away.

I'd be happy with a draw away from home with no Kompany and Mendy.

Fun fact: In the Premiership/Football league this season only City, United and Shrewsbury remain unbeaten.

We can tell ourselves we will win this one but objectively the odds are against us on Saturday.



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[Claytop]

I'd take a draw, gutted about Mendy injury, both full back have already added so much this season.

 

[Akiva]

I've read your last 3 or 4 posts on here and I agree with you, but I don't think people are seeing us as underdogs necessarily, I just think people are shitting themselves a bit because it was this match that seemed to bring our progress to a grinding halt last season and seemed to imbue Chelsea with a confidence that saw them go on and win the league. The other reason is that Chelsea will be the first top side we have played in the league this season and people aren't sure quite what to expect.

I see where you're coming from, certainly there was a similar reaction here before the dippers who, lest we forget, were high flying and tipped by some as contenders this year.

I'm not without hesitancy when it comes to this game. Chelsea are a top side, well oiled and always dangerous. Conte did the double over Pep, the first manager to do so in his career, last season and capitalized on a fairly comfortable sprint to the title. That said, I think that situations aren't quite what they seem. I've seen the media go out of their way to insist "City started well last year too" but did we? I think the writing was on the wall early on. We toiled for goals and at the other end all the other side needed was one single chance and it was put away. Aguero was horrendously off form, Bravo may as well have been an open net. Yet despite this, when we first met Chelsea we were the better side and may well have won it had Kevin not missed a tap in.

I feel the same situation holds true, to an extent today. Take our chances and we'll win. The difference is, we seem to be much more decisive in front of goal this season (just look at how hungry Raheem is, for example) and I think our pace will give them big, big problems.

Clearly, you're forgetting the official in charge. To win any game we have to be by far the better side so their machinations become irrelevant.

Can't argue with you here, certainly one need only look at our meetings with them last year to see how overtly bent the officials are. I think Pep is very aware of it and factors it in, though.

 

[eversince 76]

We're scoring goals for fun and haven't conceded in forever. Meanwhile, the "impregnable DM partnership of Kante and Bakayoko" were dispossessed on the ball 5 times last night, as much as Fernandinho in his 8 games this season combined.

Some of the recency bias here is staggering. Only a week ago Chelsea limped to a 0-0 draw against a poor Arsenal and a week before had to hold on to beat Leicester 2-1. They're a good side but on current form we're better and, as much as we should be afraid of sloppy play, all the more so does that apply to them.

The wumming after a (admittedly very good) Chelsea performance last night is indeed shocking. Sane before we played Liverpool. It's fear and being able to come back in here to state the famous words " told you so".
Of course Chelsea are a great side under Conte and the win at Atletico, homedise still getting used to new surroundings, lifted confidence with them. But we are better and it'll be simply a very interesting game. We lost twice to them last season despite being clearly the better team and some real dodgy refereeing decisions that we seem to have banned out of our minds.
I expect an interesting game and we are imho favourites to win it. Not losing will be a good result but only satisfy Pep if his team has played to entertain. Mendy will be a miss but Delph showed he can do his part at leftback. So can Danilo. Looking foreward to a good contest.

 

[Kinkys Left Foot]

Im of the opinion that nobody and I mean nobody will out football us this year.
Yes Chelsea are a good side but if we defend properly and take our good chances on Sat night we will win.

 

[Danny_Johnson4]

Can absolutely guarantee we go to Atleti and put in an even more dominant performance,
Atletico do not keep the ball, they get their set piece goal (or penalty in last nights case), and sit back and soak up the pressure

Chelsea are getting plaudits, perhaps rightly so, for controlling the pace of the game against a team who are happy to have 24% possession in a champions league final

Took two fantastic goals from Chelsea mind, and we obviously have to be wary of their undeniable quality with the ball and on the break, but I would not be worried of the Chelsea who Arsenal stood firm against 2 weeks ago
I fancy us and we certainly owe them a beating

I think it has been in Peps mind after the way he set us up perfectly agains Chelsea twice last year only to lose due to the tools he had available not quite being good enough to beat them this year HIS way
Would not be surprised is Gundogan starts and he goes to make a statement by slapping them around properly with the ball at our feet

 

[The Blue one!]

I'd expect us to beat Atleti, just saying. They hardly killed them off either, which a last-kick-of-the-game winner.

You're right, there's no room for error, but if you think the same rules don't apply to the Chavs then you're wrong. How many of their fans are saying "A poor start like against Arsenal and Leicester..."? We have the most prolific attacking prowess in the league by a mile and no longer have as much dead-weight at the back which was constantly left exposed to a Hazard counter last season. We're the better team, our bench alone would all start in their side, and we have the better manager, so I don't see why so many people act like we're the underdogs here.

Great great posts mate , really dont uderstand why to think we are the underdogs , we playing brilliant right now!!

 

[Roachy]

Love the optimism but a defeat would not surprise me. Chelsea will be a real threat this season in all comps. Personally I think this may be a good time to play them, hard game last night and Luiz missing. This game could really give us an insight into how good we are. A win would be superb in possibly the hardest game of the season. However, like I said a defeat would not surprise me or indeed derail us. 50/50 for me.

 

[TBooksbluearmy]

I would take a draw and not play the game. We need to be a bit more defensive in this game if we are to get anything out of it.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Who do we want on penalty duty should we get awarded one? It's ridiculous how many we miss and we certainly can't afford to be missing them in matches like this.