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

[Damien10]

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...

I would try Ake popping up in midfield.

 

[mosssideblue]

Good team, come on lads

 

[Nour]

We will. Especially with no Bernardo dropping deep to help the build up. There is nobody else there with Rodri. Akanji will be in there, with Alvarez also having some build up responsibility, which is also not a good thing. If Chelsea get their tactics right it’ll be a frustrating game.

Alvarez and Akanji in the mid is suicidal

 

[vanchi]

I hope we don’t see Akanji popping up in midfield!

but if he doesn’t rodri will be alone there and that didn’t end well previously.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Very attacking, but fuck it. It’s about time we smashed someone, good and proper.

This team, in my opinion, makes it even harder for us to smash someone. Our build up will be a mess if Chelsea press well. None of our back four have the build up as one of their strengths, and for Dias and Walker it is an actual weakness. The presence of Stones usually overcomes all this. Then with Alvarez and Akanji having to be in midfield a lot, plus the unpredictable touch of Doku, and even Haaland at times, it’s got potential to be really iffy. I just hope Pep has got something different up his sleeve with these players, but I doubt it as it seems to be obvious how we’re setting up.

 

[Chi-town blues]

We are doomed .

 

[kaz7]

Going to be another basket ball game

Cu on the other side

 

[blue b4 the moon]

All that money spent and a very poor bench.

 

[Saddleworth2]

probably no choice with that team if Bernie is still carrying a knock and Stones isnt ready for 2 games a week. We may be a bit too open though.

 

[Haaland94]

Alvarez and Akanji in the mid is suicidal

Doku in there constantly losing the ball as well. At least James is not playing, but still risky to have him in there today.