Chelsea (a) pre-match thread

Chelsea v City prediction

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They sat back and did us on the break last year because we had no pace at full back, lets hope thats been rectified.
Do they have the ability to open us up, probably. Do we have the ability to open them up, definitely.
Do we want or expect Pep to be a pragmatist in his team selection?
I think the contrasting styles makes for a possibly great game, if we are on it we can win this game but we'll have to take chances to do it and there lies the conundrum.
What would you rather see in the risk reward stakes?
 
ninjamonkey said:
I hope Pep has a specific plan for this and doesn't just go all out attack, they're too good and well drilled of a side not to take full advantage of the space in behind if we start with just Fernandinho holding the midfield together. I'm all for imposing our game on to them but it's more important not to get beat here. Will be interesting and a big test for Pep more than the players on the pitch to see exactly how much he's learnt about this league last season. If he gets it right and we come away undefeated i can't see us being troubled in the league until at least the visit of Arsenal in November. That would be an amazing foundation to build the season upon and gain that fearsome unbeatable aura that helps you win games that might otherwise be tricky.
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This game is going to answer a lot of questions. I’d like us to go a bit more defensive, but it won’t happen with pep. We’be been to dominant for anyone to take advantage of counter attacks this season, but this could be the game were we see some cracks. I can remember at this exact stage of last season when spurs bossed us at white hart lane, we couldn’t handle their pressing. Coming away with a point would be good, but a win would set us up for the season. We’d be a few points ahead of Chelsea and united have got some very hard games in October.
 
BlueAnorak said:
Chelsea were superb tonight against Atletico (Luuz asside) and Kante and Bakayoko are starting to form an pretty impregnable DM partnership.
Play like we did on Tue night (and against Palace) in the first half and we will lose on Saturday. There is no room for slow play, no room for errors and no room for sloppy finishing.
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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.
 
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Akiva said:
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 Arsena 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.
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You tell him fella.
 
It's going to be a real test. I watched them against the proper Madrid, and they were very, very good.

If Chelsea play like that on Saturday, we'll have a good measure of how far we have progressed this season.

We don't have a good record against the top teams over the last few years, so I'm hoping our attack will be too much for them.

It will be a good battle.
 
Akiva said:
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.
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Chelsea are a completely different side with Hazard in the team as tonight showed, he's their talisman & his influence is staggering. Morata has also been adjusting to the League. Do not write them off, they are a formidable opponent & this will be our toughest game in the League this season.


We'll need KDB & Silva to be at the top of their game if we're going to win this one.
 
Chrisdunk said:
Chelsea are a completely different side with Hazard in the team as tonight showed, he's their talisman & his influence is staggering. Morata has also been adjusting to the League. Do not write them off, they are a formidable opponent & this will be our toughest game in the League this season.


We'll need KDB & Silva to be at the top of their game if we're going to win this one.
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Hazard was actually quite poor, their only player to lose possession on the ball more than Bakayoko. Morata is settling well but, again, only a week ago this Chelsea team were unable to produce anything against a listless Arses side with such defensive stalwarts as Holding, Monreal and Coquelin.

I'm not writing off Chelsea, they beat us twice last year and it'll be a tough game, just some in here appear to be writing off us. The Chavs should look at our recent form and be justifiably concerned and, if we take our chances, I think we'll win here.
 
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Akiva said:
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.
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They practically played Athletico off the park last night. At their gaff. The chavs are hitting form and this will be one tough game.
 
Akiva said:
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.
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Yes we've played well but Atletico are one of the best teams in Europe and Chelsea were better than they were last night. So all I'm saying is there is no room for error on Saturday and a poor start like Palace and Shakhtar WILL be punished!
 
BlueAnorak said:
Yes we've played well but Atletico are one of the best teams in Europe and Chelsea were better than they were last night.

So all I'm saying is there is no room for error on Saturday and a poor start like Palace and Shakhtar WILL be punished!
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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.
 
Akiva said:
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.
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This! Though they'll raise their game. But they have far more to fear than us!
 
Akiva said:
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 Arsenal and Leicester..."? We have the most fierce-some 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.
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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.
 
Chelsea were excellent last night.
High intensity, great performance from 2 up front. Wing backs worked hard, covered wide areas of defence. If they play to this level a draw will be a good result.Most difficult match of the season out of the way whatever.
 
They'll be on a high after last night. We have to be at our best for the whole game, as long as we dont get played off the park I am not worried, and I dont think that is going to happen nowadays.
 
Another manager whinging about the game not being on Sunday and then having a day less to recover.

Has pep moaned about it? Nope just gets on with it.
 
Akiva said:
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.
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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.
 
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