Chelsea (H) - Sat 25th Jan, 17:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[cleavers]

Love a bit of optimism but that clean sheet is unlikely.

Especially without Dias.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

Chelsea players will shoot right at him now he’s camouflaged himself with the goalnetting.

Frank and Bert are pissing themselves laughing at this monstrosity.

 

[Bluesince1979]

Think that's a myth. Didn't Micah Richards say Sergio spoke English ok but pretended not to so as not to have to do interviews?

True. Same with dave silva. They are told to speak their native language in interviews in case they are misinterpreted by our arse hole media

 

[North Wales Blue]

This would be my team
Ederson
Nunes Khusanov Akanji Guardiol
Kovacic O'Reilly
Marmoush Foden Savinho
Haaland
I don't think it will be 0-0!

 

[Dial M 4 Mercer]

This would be my team
Ederson
Nunes Khusanov Akanji Guardiol
Kovacic O'Reilly
Marmoush Foden Savinho
Haaland
I don't think it will be 0-0!

We might be lucky to get nil!

 

[North Wales Blue]

We might be lucky to get nil!

Well I'm not optimistic we'll keep a nil, if that's what you mean. I'm just hoping we can score more!

 

[skillman]

Dreading this. Every single bit of their team is what we hate playing against.

Physical, strong defenders
Pacy wing backs
Combative, energetic midfielders
Calm, decisive attackers/wingers

The only thing they’re missing is a clinical striker. Hope Pep has some sort of master plan up his sleeve but I fear it’ll be a tough watch.

Hope to see Marmoush starting. Maybe Khusanov too. Hopefully no Gundo or Lewis.

 

[Goater101]

My theory is that he’s tried wright/O’reilly in midfield in training and he just doesn’t fancy them. Can’t be any other reason when you watch the performances of others

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Micah Richards barely speaks English himself - how would he know?

Back of the net....

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Dreading this. Every single bit of their team is what we hate playing against.

Physical, strong defenders
Pacy wing backs
Combative, energetic midfielders
Calm, decisive attackers/wingers

The only thing they’re missing is a clinical striker. Hope Pep has some sort of master plan up his sleeve but I fear it’ll be a tough watch.

Hope to see Marmoush starting. Maybe Khusanov too. Hopefully no Gundo or Lewis.

And me.

 

[BlueDan91]

My theory is that he’s tried wright/O’reilly in midfield in training and he just doesn’t fancy them. Can’t be any other reason when you watch the performances of others

He's alluded to O'Reilly not having the mentality/belief in himself to play DM a number of times.

Pep has said he's got all the quality to do so, so it seems it lies at the feet of the players.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

With Dias, I feel like we would have conceded 0-2 goals. Without him, the range increases to 2-4. Really feels like 2 goals conceded would be best case scenario. Realistically it’s another game where 3-5 goals are needed if we are to win, so with the addition of Marmoush we might as well just go full Kevin Keegan.

 

[North Wales Blue]

He's alluded to O'Reilly not having the mentality/belief in himself to play DM a number of times.

Pep has said he's got all the quality to do so, so it seems it lies at the feet of the players.

That may be the case but, surely, it could work in a double pivot with a more experienced partner to guide? We really could do with the energy in midfield.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Been a very long time going into a game just hoping for the best. Could be anything.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Go full Kevin Keegan.

Never go full Kevin Keegan

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Chelsea players will shoot right at him now he’s camouflaged himself with the goalnetting.

Haha wonder if he knows about Baldrick's cunning plans?

 

[noseve]

Never go full Kevin Keegan

Totally agree - 1970s perms are crap...

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Been a very long time going into a game just hoping for the best. Could be anything.

Really? It’s been 36 hours since I felt like that!

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Been a very long time going into a game just hoping for the best. Could be anything.

I actually wake up now on match day almost dreading the games! That really isn't healthy is it?!

 

[SamTheGuru]

I predict a hat trick for Jo.