Chelsea - FA Cup SF | Pre-Match Thread

[jim tolmies perm]

Why would we bring in Ake to play against PSG when we’ve won something like 27 out of 29 games with him being barely involved? It would be random as hell and he no where near deserves a start over over the likes of Zinchenko or Cancelo.

I agree about Zinch he deserves it
There have been doubts on here about him against pace so just an option imo
Seems to have been forgotten
Defo Ake before Mendy , on that I would insist

 

[domalino]

This might just be the toughest game of our season so far. In general, they don’t really concede goals under Tuchel. There is of course that freak game when they had an early red card, but ignoring that, they are probably more solid than us at this current moment. They have actually kept a clean sheet in 14 of their last 18 games. Also, we are going to rotate, whether you like it or not. Such a tough game coming up. They have an extra day of rest and have had no travel at all. I’m predicting 0-0 and pens. Let’s hope Steffen is good at saving them. He surely can’t be worse than Ederson’s penalty record!

It's hard to know how to judge them though, because they've not conceded goals, but who have they played?

They did play Liverpool and United, but it was when liverpool were at their absolute worst and United was inbetween Europa League games and they were knackered because Ole never rotates.

I wouldn't be surprised if they beat us, and I wouldn't be surprised if we won easily - because despite conceding few they've given up a lot of chances. Just not enough information on this Tuchel Chelsea to know how it's going to go.

 

[Cotton Weave Blue]

Muric wasn't our our 2nd keeper he was our 3rd. I f Bravo had been fit he'd have played.

Granted but he was 2nd choice by default that season and played the other ties

 

[Norbiton]

Ake not even mentioned
For me ,if fit , a big shout at LB where he plays for Holland
I would defo think about him v PSG
We'd have pace both flanks with Kyle

Ake? Pace? He’s looked painfully slow whenever he’s played this season. Great header of the ball though.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

Apart from Palace they don't score many goals & apart from WBA they don't concede many.
First goal could be vital.

 

[Vialli98]

Interesting game. I have wanted to see how this team fares against City in a game that matters. Every big team we've beaten since Tuchel has come in has had it's caveats surrounding it - Liverpool and Atletico Madrid's seasons were both spiralling out of control. Spurs were too scared to play, Everton were missing some guy. None of those wins got the credit I think they deserved, but I think beating an in form City team, who most consider the best team in Europe this season, would go a long way to solidify Tuchel's ability and the team's potential under a tactically astute manager.

Hoping for a good game, and for a bit of revenge for that unexpecting thrashing at the Bridge earlier in the season :)

 

[WesthoughtonJohn]

We will meet em again in the C.L. final....

Makes it important to lay down a marker then - although the lineup would be quite different I suspect

 

[bluemoon32]

Have the feeling it may go to pens, more confident in Steffan saving any

 

[mdj0520]

Ederson actually replaced Muric for the League cup final win against Chelsea

Fair enough, egg on my face, but muric is a bit different to steffan.

One couldn't get onto the forest side, the other had a successful stint as the dusseldorf keeper.

 

[Vialli98]

Apart from Palace they don't score many goals & apart from WBA they don't concede many.
First goal could be vital.

Kovacic will be a big miss for us. The energy and pace he plays with is in a different stratosphere to Jorginho, even though Jorginho brings other qualities to the table, I worry about being overrun in midfield.