Pre Match Thread: Chelsea vs City

[Andouble]

if we had Nasri I'd be more confident. Without both Nasri AND Yaya we lose so much of our ball retention. A draw would be great as to not lose ground.

 

[mancity1]

So guys what's does everyone think our chances are on Saturday? My confidence is quite low at the moment but can actually win at Stamford bridge? I love pellers and our team and really hope we at least just put in a good performance. COME ON CITY!!!!!!

I think most of us deep down are worried about the state of our defending at the moment. Give away free kicks and corners and its curtains. If were going to get anything out of the game were going to have to play with intelligence and time our tackles to perfection. I'd be happy with a draw although I'm not sure that will be enough.

It's more so how they react to outcome of the game win lose or draw.

No doubt the efforts in the last seven games give one little confidence , there is always hope and football is a funny game ( where have I heard that before ? ).

To be honest I am more concerned about our sides drive and desire to secure a decent second spot this season should Chelsea have a home record come May similar to ours in our two title winning seasons.

18-1-0 , 17-1-1

We are probably going to have to win our last 7 home games to be in with a shout and I don't think we know how to defend well enough this season to achieve that.

If we can win out last 7 homes games I think we are in with a shout.

Make no mistake Chelsea will drop the required number of points but I really have grave concerns on our ability to put together the run we will need this season which we did in our title winning seasons.

I just don't think we have the hunger , the motivation , the confidence in our team as a whole to do it.

Would be more than happy with a solid second this season and have a real crack at Barca.

 

[mancity1]

Not sure why starting with Drogba or Remy will influence MP to start with 2 upfront.

Because Chelsea will be less of a threat down the middle without Costa, much less. I also suspect that Mourinho, especially if Fabregas is out, will want to play on the break like Arsenal did even though they're at home. I think Pellegrini will go Dzeko/Kun and try and dominate the game and win it early.

I think it's standard practice on Bluemoon to always prefer the Silva + a striker route. I think it kids some into thinking we're more solid or pragmatic if we play that way. For me because we haven't scored in two matches I'd be going back to all out 442.

I think we will create chances as we usually do whether we play 442 or have a midfeld 5 starting Jovetic ahead of Dzeko.

The last two games were more about our inability to create enough clear cut ones because of the slow tempo going forward combined with average defending.

Three of the four goals should have been avoided.

We struggle to win games early these days MA we win it over 96 minutes and I doubt we will win it in the first half but we could lose it unless we defend well.

 

[ST Coleridge]

I think it's standard practice on Bluemoon to always prefer the Silva + a striker route. I think it kids some into thinking we're more solid or pragmatic if we play that way. For me because we haven't scored in two matches I'd be going back to all out 442.

I'm a 433/451 cheerleader, but I know what you mean - when Silva plays as a 10 then it effectively becomes a 442 anyway. Pellegrini doesn't give him much in the way of defensive responsibilities, and Milner/Navas drop back to form two banks of four. The old system had it's faults (Yaya's covering being chief), but it was also a lot more fluid. Nasri and Yaya's absence doesn't help, mind.

Would like to see:

Zab___Komp___Mang___Clichy
_______Fern1___Fern2
___Silva____________Milner
_______Kun____Dzeko

 

[coleridge]

I think it's standard practice on Bluemoon to always prefer the Silva + a striker route. I think it kids some into thinking we're more solid or pragmatic if we play that way. For me because we haven't scored in two matches I'd be going back to all out 442.

I'm a 433/451 cheerleader, but I know what you mean - when Silva plays as a 10 then it effectively becomes a 442 anyway. Pellegrini doesn't give him much in the way of defensive responsibilities, and Milner/Navas drop back to form two banks of four. The old system had it's faults (Yaya's covering being chief), but it was also a lot more fluid. Nasri and Yaya's absence doesn't help, mind.

Would like to see:

Zab___Komp___Mang___Clichy
_______Fern1___Fern2
___Silva____________Milner
_______Kun____Dzeko

Seems about right, bro'.

I think that Edin will play in part for his defensive duties at set pieces and in part as an aerial outlet upfront. As you say, one upfront is less likely in the absence of Yaya and Nasri.

 

[mancity1]

I think it's standard practice on Bluemoon to always prefer the Silva + a striker route. I think it kids some into thinking we're more solid or pragmatic if we play that way. For me because we haven't scored in two matches I'd be going back to all out 442.

I'm a 433/451 cheerleader, but I know what you mean - when Silva plays as a 10 then it effectively becomes a 442 anyway. Pellegrini doesn't give him much in the way of defensive responsibilities, and Milner/Navas drop back to form two banks of four. The old system had it's faults (Yaya's covering being chief), but it was also a lot more fluid. Nasri and Yaya's absence doesn't help, mind.

Would like to see:

Zab___Komp___Mang___Clichy
_______Fern1___Fern2
___Silva____________Milner
_______Kun____Dzeko

I think it boils down to confidence and the ability to move forward with pace and guile simple as.

When we do that either with the forward press and the speed on the break from defence we are fine.

What's interesting about this group is the difference between their best and their worst notwithstanding our inability to handle the opposition press.

Of course the obvious is when Silva is shut out and two of Silva , Nasri and yaya are out we struggle against sides that close us down.

It will be the same on Saturday.

We fail to realise how good we can be until its too late too often this year and as a result we are not nearly as good as we should be once the bird has flown.

 

[momo88]

Well seeing how we are playing since many games ! and the fact Chelsea will be missing Costa and Fabregas + tiredness after the cup game

but despite that im not going to stress myself the best we can get is a draw otherwise a loss

8 pts after this weekend then wait for yaya + bony return to maybe play a catch up in the remaining games

 

[citymad]

So guys what's does everyone think our chances are on Saturday? My confidence is quite low at the moment but can actually win at Stamford bridge? I love pellers and our team and really hope we at least just put in a good performance. COME ON CITY!!!!!!

I think most of us deep down are worried about the state of our defending at the moment. Give away free kicks and corners and its curtains. If were going to get anything out of the game were going to have to play with intelligence and time our tackles to perfection. I'd be happy with a draw although I'm not sure that will be enough.

It's more so how they react to outcome of the game win lose or draw.

No doubt the efforts in the last seven games give one little confidence , there is always hope and football is a funny game ( where have I heard that before ? ).

To be honest I am more concerned about our sides drive and desire to secure a decent second spot this season should Chelsea have a home record come May similar to ours in our two title winning seasons.

18-1-0 , 17-1-1

We are probably going to have to win our last 7 home games to be in with a shout and I don't think we know how to defend well enough this season to achieve that.

If we can win out last 7 homes games I think we are in with a shout.

Make no mistake Chelsea will drop the required number of points but I really have grave concerns on our ability to put together the run we will need this season which we did in our title winning seasons.

I just don't think we have the hunger , the motivation , the confidence in our team as a whole to do it.

Would be more than happy with a solid second this season and have a real crack at Barca.

I think thats realistic considering we now have Bony, our bad luck with injuries and having Yaya missing at such a crucial stage. Normally you just don't expect Maureen to blow a lead TWICE but hey weird things happen in football.

 

[mancity1]

Well seeing how we are playing since many games ! and the fact Chelsea will be missing Costa and Fabregas + tiredness after the cup game

but despite that im not going to stress myself the best we can get is a draw otherwise a loss

8 pts after this weekend then wait for yaya + bony return to maybe play a catch up in the remaining games

There players are used to two games a week and they don't rotate as much as us.

More a question how they cope without Costa and Fabrigas and whether we can take advantage of it.

 

[Ray78]

Well seeing how we are playing since many games ! and the fact Chelsea will be missing Costa and Fabregas + tiredness after the cup game

but despite that im not going to stress myself the best we can get is a draw otherwise a loss

8 pts after this weekend then wait for yaya + bony return to maybe play a catch up in the remaining games

There players are used to two games a week and they don't rotate as much as us.

More a question how they cope without Costa and Fabrigas and whether we can take advantage of it.

Ivanović (Kolarov's mate) bags the winner from a set piece is my primary concern.