Chelsea (A) - Sun 18th Aug, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Blue and true]

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Aké
Gvardiol

Rico
Kovacic

Bernardo
KDB
Savinho

Haaland

Would be what I'd start with. I'm assuming Phil, John and Rodders are unavailable.

Phil and John too? Why? Giving ourselves a handicap early on isn't ideal.

 

[blueparrot]

That's the frustrating thing. Why isn't Rodders good to go? Mbappe got to the semis and played in the super cup last week.

Not being match fit is piss poor, in my opinion.

Because we plan for May,not August

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Phil and John too? Why? Giving ourselves a handicap early on isn't ideal.

Think it's a conscious decision to ensure they get the proper rest after a long hard season. I don't mind it. Don't want to risk anybody pulling up lame because they have been thrown straight into a 90+ minute Premier League game without a pre-season.

 

[Blue and true]

Think it's a conscious decision to ensure they get the proper rest after a long hard season. I don't mind it. Don't want to risk anybody pulling up lame because they have been thrown straight into a 90+ minute Premier League game without a pre-season.

It was a gruelling season, I agree. But still frustrating that they aren't ready for a tough away game to open the season. Title could once again be decided by the finest of margins.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

It was a gruelling season, I agree. But still frustrating that they aren't ready for a tough away game to open the season. Title could once again be decided by the finest of margins.

From what I've seen of Chelsea in pre-season we are a lot more ready than they are!

 

[chickaroon]

That's the frustrating thing. Why isn't Rodders good to go? Mbappe got to the semis and played in the super cup last week.

Not being match fit is piss poor, in my opinion.

Rodri was injured in the final. There has been no update on that injury. It was a hamstring.

 

[Crooked_rain]

That's the frustrating thing. Why isn't Rodders good to go? Mbappe got to the semis and played in the super cup last week.

Not being match fit is piss poor, in my opinion.

Bellingham got to the final and played the other night, same with Carvajal.

I'm sure ours could play. Maybe the staff think it's just better in the long run to give them a bit more rest.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Ederson

Akanji
Dias
Aké
Gvardiol

Rico
Kovacic

Bernardo
KDB
Savinho

Haaland

Would be what I'd start with. I'm assuming Phil, John and Rodders are unavailable.

Yea I'd go with that, but with Grealish in for Savinho if he's available.

I think we're going to need a big performance from Kovacic aren't we. Light in that central midfield without Rodders and an unfit Kev

 

[IronsideKozuch]

Tough game, but no reason to not be hopeful. Its gonna take Enzo some time to make a football unit out from this Chelsea foreign legion.

Its gonna be away and with more players for Chelsea ready to go than us, but still we were noticeably better than them preseason.

It pains what happened to Oscar. He would start hear, no doubt. But so strong feeling hes been about to start magnificent contribution to the first team on a regular basis. Fingers crossed its only a relatively short delay.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Yea I'd go with that, but with Grealish in for Savinho if he's available.

I think we're going to need a big performance from Kovacic aren't we. Light in that central midfield without Rodders and an unfit Kev

Rico will run the show, going to be a big season for him