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

[Dereck Jeffries 3 wd]

What’s Gundo got on Pep? Love the guy but seriously… That midfield is going to get run through.

Bernardo is beyond overdue a rest.

Grealish could do a better job in midfield and Pep is probably reluctantly including him in the squad full stop at the moment because he clearly wants rid of him.

Poor Nunes back defending again…

New guys in straight away - will certainly make it a fascinating watch! Although Savinho is probably going to feel a bit miffed as I thought he’d have been down to start this one.

I do hope I am wrong but the slowest and weakest midfield we could put out again!!! I want to be wrong please!!!

 

[kaz7]

Don't understand how Bernardo gets the captains armband ?

how many more times does it have to explained !

 

[Blueknows]

Sadly Pep has grown too attached to a couple. I suspect Bernardo gets a start again to rectify his awful performance midweek. But sadly he has been run into the ground and expecting something better from him at this point just isn't realistic

We all love bernardo but sadly he's not that player anymore file alongside Gundo and Stones

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

Could go either way for the new boys but I’m hoping we win for their sake/confidence…..exciting to get a proper look at them both in any event..

 

[Inter Me Nan]

I don't know why everybody is fucking crying about the lineup. Two new players coming in and given our injuries, Walker fucking off and a huge game in midweek who do you whingers think we should be playing? We're trying to rebuild the side and as we've already seen until we do we'll just have to take some pain.

Grealish for starters.

 

[Kippax77]

I do hope I am wrong but the slowest and weakest midfield we could put out again!!! I want to be wrong please!!!

Nope.
Our Midfield gets the run around again today, which usually means a loss.... sadly

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Grealish for starters.

It seems clear at this point that he's out of favour for reasons other than performance.

 

[Ajm1985]

Happy to see Khusanov and Marmoush get a run out.

 

[paulchapo]

Grealish for starters.

Possibly. He's not exactly ripped any trees up when he has been selected but he's probably not been any worse than a lot of others.

 

[sh249]

We’re playing without wingers so I don’t think we’re going 4-2-4

you’d hope not, but it’s the system Pep has been trying to force recently.

The worry is that it could be Bernardo right, Marmoush left, and Foden in the second striker role that De Bruyne has been playing (or Foden left, Marmoush more central). Leaving Kovacic and Gundogan in midfield ….

Will hopefully be more like:

—-Bernardo-Gundogan-Kovacic—
-Foden———-Haaland——Marmoush-

 

[Protein Junkie]

Bit concerned over who will lead the back four -Akanji maybe. Really struggling with injuries there.
Jackie Boy seems surplus to requirements too.
It is what it is however.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Grealish for starters.

He came on midweek and got himself a goal and assist, Now more than ever it looks like we are forcing him out the door, Let's call a spade a spade, Come the summer he'll be sold.

If he can't get into the team now then he never will.

 

[NptonBlue89!]

it’s a shame grealish not in the team the one game we looked best in our run in was forest at home and he played CM yet we haven’t seen him there since…

 

[Paul1970]

Midfield will get over run and then in post match we will be bemused how no defensive mid has been brought and then we again in mid week and rinse and repeat again .

 

[Ric]

Wonder if it might be a back three today, with Nunes and Bernardo as wing backs? 3-4-2-1 (or 3-5-2) formation?

 

[Pedestrian]

Playing gundogan is like ringing in for work sick from the pub. I think more than Walker have checked out.

 

[pbueno16]

Possibly. He's not exactly ripped any trees up when he has been selected but he's probably not been any worse than a lot of others.

He could at least do the dirty work that Bernardo and Gundo are required to do but aren't capable of because they've been ran into the ground. We can't even keep possession with either of them so we might as well have some legs and steel in the midfield.

 

[kaz7]

Possibly. He's not exactly ripped any trees up when he has been selected but he's probably not been any worse than a lot of others.

He checked out the day we won the treble, he doesnt deserve to play anymore

 

[King Jay]

It looks more like a 4-3-3 with Bernardo - Kovacic and - Gundogan to make it a 3 CM. Guess savinho will start vs Brugge.

 

[Omar the King]

4-1 to the real blues, Haland hatrick, Omar one goal and three assist , Kush red card...