Chelsea pre-match thread

[Deleted member 13905]

From the MUEN...............

James Robson
Given how impressed Guardiola was with Yaya Toure's appearance from the bench against Arsenal, it's fair to say he'll be back in the starting XI against Chelsea.
The question then is whether Fernandinho drops out, or plays at right back - as he has on several occasions since the turn of the year.
In my mind that would be harsh on Jesus Navas, who was superb against Arsenal and my man-of-the-match.
Guardiola was also impressed - enthusing about the winger's display.
Eden Hazard will be another major test, but Navas has earned the right to keep his place after that showing at the Emirates.
Raheem Sterling, on the other hand, might not after getting the hook at half time.
Guardiola could play Kevin de Bruyne in a wider role and use Fernandinho and Toure together in midfield.

 

[cadds92]

From the MUEN...............

James Robson
Given how impressed Guardiola was with Yaya Toure's appearance from the bench against Arsenal, it's fair to say he'll be back in the starting XI against Chelsea.
The question then is whether Fernandinho drops out, or plays at right back - as he has on several occasions since the turn of the year.
In my mind that would be harsh on Jesus Navas, who was superb against Arsenal and my man-of-the-match.
Guardiola was also impressed - enthusing about the winger's display.
Eden Hazard will be another major test, but Navas has earned the right to keep his place after that showing at the Emirates.
Raheem Sterling, on the other hand, might not after getting the hook at half time.
Guardiola could play Kevin de Bruyne in a wider role and use Fernandinho and Toure together in midfield.

If Navas starts tonight I am not watching. I have had enough of him to be honest.

Navas was lucky to not be taken off after half an hour against Arsenal. Sanchez and Arsenal targeted him and was walking on thin air in regards to a red card towards the end of the first half.

 

[MarsLlama]

The way I look at it:

1. Both our keepers average - Give defence no confidence.
2. Terrible defence - No settled formation, no cohesion and always look like conceding.
3. Non-combative midfield - Terrible tackling, woefully slow and often can't pass for toffee.
4. Forwards - The shining light; Aguero is a goalscorer supreme, Sane is an exciting prospect and Sterling can be a world beater if he stops bottling it.

Can we beat Chelsea? Of cause we can but I do not have very high expectations of achieving such a result.

I hope you don't mind my take on it:

1. One of our keepers is world-class and on an awful run of form probably triggered by personal issues. The other has had an excellent twelve months and would get into over half the teams in the league.
   
2. A defence that is worse overall than most other top teams but usually looks fine and has suffered immeasurably from recruitment issues and injuries, and has improved massively since Christmas.
   
3. A midfield that has recently been hit hard by the woeful form of De Bruyne who seems to have forgotten how to make passes, but is usually very good, with David Silva one of our best players of the season.
4. Four exciting young attacking prospects and a top goalscorer as you say, who recently has gotten back into his old ability to score from anywhere.
   

A draw against Chelsea would do us no good but Spurs a world of good. We need to win it and I think we can but I agree that we will probably not.

 

[cibaman]

That would be stupid for Chelsea. They have to win. If Spurs win at Swansea, and Chelsea City is a draw then the gap to Spurs would be 5 points, and it would be up in the air again. Chelsea haven't been under pressure all season, but imagine if they draw tonight and SPurs win. I doubt any Chelsea fan would settle for a point. Of course it's fine if Spurs slip up, but they can't rely on that

Spurs aren't consistent enough to win every one of their remaining fixtures, they will almost certainly drop points, probably against weaker teams as they did last season. So even if the gap is down to 5 points tonight, Chelsea still have a degree of cushion. A 5 point lead isn't comfortable but equally it isn't up in the air. They do not have to win. And I think Conte respects us, he knows that the final scoreline at the Etihad was misleading and that this is a very difficult fixture for them. So playing the percentage game, a draw for them is acceptable, just as it was in 14/15. A loss though would ramp up the pressure, not so much because of the extra point dropped but because they really would appear vulnerable.

I'm not saying that Chelsea will come out and park the bus, they'll definitely have a go. Who wouldn't against our defense? But if the scores are level after 75 mins I expect the final substitutions for both teams to be defensive rather than attacking.

 

[Josh_D]

3 at the back, and I would bet good money on that being next years preferred system
All games besides the Leicester game, where Pep simply got personnel wrong against Leicesters long ball counter, we have controlled games and possession excellently with 3 at the back
In the initial game against Chelsea where we lost 3-1, we were awesome for an hour with the system and should have had the game won,
We had a spell with Gabriel where 4 3 3 was perfect, and 3 at the back was shelved, but its time we reverted back with the injuries and woeful defensive application of late

Ideally I would go with Stones Kompany Kolarov
But Otamendi will start, god help us.

Add Mother Nature, Easter bunny and tooth fairy help us. This team (bar the occasions the back line were made to look like Swiss cheese) has played better than most but still drawn. City's profligacy in front of goal is costing wins. I'd give license Sané to do as he pleases. If he can take 4 on, he should. Even if he loses the ball. It'll drag more Chelsea players towards him freeing up other players. Sterling is conservative with his approach. More of a safe player. Sigh, I'm just trying to think of any and everything that can help. If Dinho and Nando play, it'll allow KDB or/and Silva to play with a bit more freedom. Can't see Fernando playing though. I'm scratching my head as to how this game can be approached. I'm just going to be patient until game time. Pep certainly doesn't have it any easier.

 

[mosssideblue]

I disagree. Statistics suggests that there's a 50% chance he'll make another bad mistake, from which we can infer that it's dangerous to play him.

Oh dear - stats again :(

 

[MarsLlama]

Oh dear - stats again :(

I can put it in words if you'd prefer- I don't trust Clichy anymore and that distrust is vindicated by the fact that he's cost us more goals this season than any other City player I can remember in their whole time here combined.

 

[aguero93:20]

I wouldn't mind Navas at RB again, what's the worst that can happen? He was actually excellent against Sanchez and offered two good crosses.

The difference with this game is that if Navas gets another early yellow Hazard will go all out to get him sent off, as opposed to Sanchez who pretty much gave him a free pass.

 

[mosssideblue]

I can put it in words if you'd prefer- I don't trust Clichy anymore and that distrust is vindicated by the fact that he's cost us more goals this season than any other City player I can remember in their whole time here combined.

We will agree to disagree then. Far too simple to single out players and not look at the team performance.

 

[Josh_D]

The best thing I've seen today.