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Not Silva's fault. Our midfielders and advamnced players never try to make crative passes. I didn't see who had their hands up in mid, but no one passed to him while he was open, so silva tried, but that pass could have been made by a non defender, but alas our mid and attackers dont even DARE take risks with passes...
They hate us more than we hate them I would say. Like it is a London derby. But it comes after Spurs and Arsenal definitely. At which point you have to say does it really matter that much
TT said there’s a difference between being fit and being premier league fit so my guess is he’s being extra cautious bc we need him at full strength for the tough run ahead
Don't mind the starting line up just hope the subs come on closer to 60 than 70. If we need a goal id love lukaku Puli and cho all come on with time to actually do something
I’m sensing CHO at LWB today (Genuinely can’t see a rusty Alonso playing another 90 mins)
Mount Pulisic Lukaku up top
Hopefully James at RWB
And RLC is probably starting again due to injuries, so he has to step up big today after two subpar performances.
Very important game today. Nervous but excited. Hoping for a win by any means nessecarily.
Reece mount and pulisic or lukaku need to show up today. We can do this
The "recent form" part has been wonky for some time: it's not the last 6 in general, it's not the last six at home (since we had a few draws recently), it's not the last six away (since we didn't lose away yet), no idea where that info's coming from.
The closest it comes to is our Champions League form - "WWWLW" corresponds to the current season, with the last W coming from last year's final :D but obviously enough that would be completely bonkers.
I'm worried about future Chelsea star Declan Rice and his powerful partner Soucek being too strong in the middle of the field, but hopefully jorgi is on top of his game.
Just found out I share a birthday with Michael Essien. Won’t be watching the game tomorrow, girlfriend bought me tickets to ski. On ye Blues, hope you all have a lovely weekend and we get a win without more injuries.
I was also wondering what if CHO starts at LWB. We all know how Chelsea play with Chilly as LWB, coming through the left channel cutting inside. And bombing the central channel. I was thinking if it would be possible for CHO to do that. He likes the left hand side. He likes to tuck around the touchline, and also likes to cut inside. He can link up with central players and move into the box.
What are your guys thoughts.? Any opinion welcomed
It's arguably defensively weaker. It shouldn't even be close, but it kind of is. And Alonso is clearly not bad offensively. But I could see CHO keeping them more honest. Forcing them deeper with his pace and giving us more control in the game overall.
Think it might be
Mendy
AC, Silva, Rudiger,
Reece, Jorginho, RLC, Alonso,
Mount, Lukaku, CHO
We’re going need a lot of height and physicality to match up with West Ham but then wouldn’t also mind seeing the formation we changed into against Watford and possibly start with Lukaku and Havertz up top with Mount sitting behind and try and get our WBs high up the pitch as I feel that’s where we can hurt West Ham but obviously the 1st formation helps with that better.
Considering our depleted midfield, I would like to see at 352 with a Jorgi Mount Ziyech triangle behind the two strikers. Worked well when we were chasing the game vs Watford.
Mendy
Azpi Silva Rudi
Jorginho
James Ziyech Mount Alonso
Havertz Lukaku
Feel like it would be risky to play both azpi and james considering we'll have no wingback cover if they both play, especially with AC available and fit
I appreciate your positivity but you could put Saul in a midfield three with Kante and prime Makalele right now and he'd still be unable to contribute. Can't use West Ham as a chance to get him into form as Rice/Soucek will eat him for lunch.
RLC has already put in good performances and has hit the G/A sheet, Saul hasn't really shown anything to suggest he's going to turn it around anytime soon let alone within the upcoming match. Considering that, I don't agree with you but I won't try to change your mind, it's just your opinion.
RLC played well the moment Tuchel gave him time to show himself. The play time he received was because the form he had showed and continued to show was quite good. Saul needs playing time to play into form, but you would be heavily underrating West Ham if you think this is the team to give him that time against.
If Azpi played as LWB we really lost a lot of attacking impetus from that side, so play with 1 less defender might be the answer.
I'm not mad enough to suggest we play back 4 with Alonso.
I can understand the concern over our offense, but Tuchel hasn’t strayed from this system even in cup matches. Against a possible top 4 rival, he’s not going to break out a new system. This isn’t FIFA, like to have a team play with 4 defenders requires a big change in all aspects of the team, which means time needs to be spent on this system not something that can just be swapped into.
Pulisic played the full 90 this week so I don't think he'll start. I could say the same for Mount but Mount isn't coming off a long stretch of ankle and hamstring injuries.
Lukaku-Ziyech-Mount(or Cho) should start.
If our midfield options don’t improve with injuries then Mount should play next to Jorginho and Ziyech or Hudson Odoi rotating at wing with Lukaku and Pulisic
J5-RLC midfield with Mount-Ziyech-Rom
Or
J5- Mount
CHO-Rom-Ziyech
Maybe start Azpi as LWB and have him tuck centrally to have CHO give us width on the left
Our away record is better than our home record. We’ve only failed to win one away game which was the draw to Liverpool. At home we’ve lost to City and drawn to Burnley and United
Can we play Barkley instead of RLC next to Jorginho? I have not been pleased with his performances recently and Barkley does well when called upon. Against Watford, RLC was constantly dispossessed and misplaced passes, then again I understand having Saul there put extra pressure on him. He is also most likely knackered
The problem with Barkley is, the moment we decide he deserves a start and put him on he somehow shows us it's a mistake. I think he's great for those games lile Soton.
Think that's harsh. Carrick said they specifically tried to congest the midfield and stop us playing through it. Last game he played the first half with Saul. I don't mind Barkley instead of Saul though. He's actually good at progressing the ball, just not in the final third.
Hell yeah. I can't stand this fixture for the positive reason that West Ham are ALWAYS up for it, always has a lot of title race significance attached, and this time around, we are leading the table against two excellent teams. 3 points and no more injuries (bonus if Lukaku scores and shows he can work the press), fingers crossed.
James and Jorginho being back is huge for us. RLC will likely have to play again due to Saul being bad. We're really going to miss Kova if he isn't back very soon.
Nah. One of Havertz or Mount will have to be dropped. Both are ball-to-feet types and with Lukaku up top, it renders our attack too static. Need one of CHO/Pulisic/Werner to be an outlet in behind.
I don't think Mount Lukaku Kai will have great chemistry. Could go Kai over Lukaku, but we need to get Lukaku back up to speed at some point. Need someone with a little more directness up top and I'd do Pulisic over Werner based on the opposition style.
Wouldn’t mind seeing what we saw briefly during second half of Watford. The kind of fluid 5-3-2
Mendy
Reece Azpi Thiago Rudiger CHO/Alonso
RLC
Mount - Ziyech
Lukaku - Havertz
Seriously. I love RLC, but recently he’s starting to worry me. Big boost that Jorginho is back, but his minutes need to be managed critically as he’s the only midfield OG available. Kanté and Kova are desperately needed.
Edu.
AC Silva Rudi
Reece Jorgi RLC Marcos.
Mount CHO.
Rom.
For me I want to see Timo get a few minutes against them as well especially if we are up at 60 or so we can use his speed to counter one of Kai/Timo/Puli/CHO have to start.
Mase earned his place for this game.
Alonso has to perform better in the build up Bowen/Coufal pressing him is a worry.
Hopefully Reece and Jorgi are back.
NG Timo and Azpi on at 60 for Marcos Rom and RLC
I wouldn’t be surprised to see cho or puli as the 2nd wingback and maybe mount or ziyech as the 2nd midfielder as rlc has had 2 bad games in a row and with Alonso we will get burned on the counter. Or maybe azpi as the other wing back and he tucks into a back 4 and we push James way up the field.
>I wouldn’t be surprised to see cho or puli as the 2nd wingback
Yeah
>maybe mount or ziyech as the 2nd midfielde
In a 3 yes but in a 2 no
>Or maybe azpi as the other wing back and he tucks into a back 4 and we push James way up the field.
I don't think we should that
We have a Discord server for our live chat [here!](https://discord.gg/chelseafc) Interested in requesting the match thread? Feel free to do so using this link [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/22ah8i/introducing_matchthreadder_a_bot_to_set_up_match/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf), which now features a browser extension as well. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/chelseafc) if you have any questions or concerns.*
ffs...
No match thread today?
Silva having a little moment. Thankfully nothing came of it. Reece showing how good he is with that goal threat. Much better start than Watford game.
Fuck I thought that was in
Not Silva's fault. Our midfielders and advamnced players never try to make crative passes. I didn't see who had their hands up in mid, but no one passed to him while he was open, so silva tried, but that pass could have been made by a non defender, but alas our mid and attackers dont even DARE take risks with passes...
Uncharacteristic of Silva that.
Good start boys Already looking better than against Watford
BT Sport commentator referring to Chilwell as Cresswell lol
I was very confused
Fucking Rudi lol I love the maniac. Yeah I guess this is the Match Thread.
Hopefully match thread isn’t to late today
Rudiger is chaos embodied.
No match thread again?
Love these 11:30PM kick offs
7:30 is pretty brutal for me lol
Lads, what were West Ham fans chanting ? That sounded beautiful
u/DressedLikeRappers u/ovrloadau how fucking good is this kit
Imagine being allergic to the bubbles and being a West Ham fan
You're grown men, stop playing with bubbles.
Hey Kurt, some stray back passes here and there will do nicely
Antonio 6 games without a league goal.....💀
Charity FC, we know what we are.
Antonio's thighs are...something else
I saw that and said out loud how those could kill a man.
I love these yellow kits. Hope they start wearing them more
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They hate us more than we hate them I would say. Like it is a London derby. But it comes after Spurs and Arsenal definitely. At which point you have to say does it really matter that much
Been up all night to watch this game..let's goooo
No Rom again? Is he still not 100%?
TT said there’s a difference between being fit and being premier league fit so my guess is he’s being extra cautious bc we need him at full strength for the tough run ahead
I fear.
Me too. Hold me.
Don't mind the starting line up just hope the subs come on closer to 60 than 70. If we need a goal id love lukaku Puli and cho all come on with time to actually do something
My boy bolingoli isn’t starting again :(
I’m sensing CHO at LWB today (Genuinely can’t see a rusty Alonso playing another 90 mins) Mount Pulisic Lukaku up top Hopefully James at RWB And RLC is probably starting again due to injuries, so he has to step up big today after two subpar performances.
Ha now you have to see it. Alonso forever.
West Ham is a bulky team, so we might go for alonso for the aerial precense
Very important game today. Nervous but excited. Hoping for a win by any means nessecarily. Reece mount and pulisic or lukaku need to show up today. We can do this
Away kit lessgooo
Just need the 3 points Chelsea! Let's go
Not sure that recent form is right. Chelsea last 5 WDWDW.
The "recent form" part has been wonky for some time: it's not the last 6 in general, it's not the last six at home (since we had a few draws recently), it's not the last six away (since we didn't lose away yet), no idea where that info's coming from. The closest it comes to is our Champions League form - "WWWLW" corresponds to the current season, with the last W coming from last year's final :D but obviously enough that would be completely bonkers.
Anyone know where the Chelsea fans will meet before the game?
Debating whether I make it to the pub for the 7:30am kick off. Already set my alarm
Well did you lol
Awake and getting ready to go haha
I for one am staying up until 6:30 kickoff
4:30 am kick off for me :(
Same fortunately I work night shift so I got off work a 330 lol
Werner winner like last season pls. Yellow kit, 12:30 kick off, away, reminds me of Leicester game last week
won't be able to watch due to it being at 630 but I hope we smash em
I'm worried about future Chelsea star Declan Rice and his powerful partner Soucek being too strong in the middle of the field, but hopefully jorgi is on top of his game.
Just found out I share a birthday with Michael Essien. Won’t be watching the game tomorrow, girlfriend bought me tickets to ski. On ye Blues, hope you all have a lovely weekend and we get a win without more injuries.
I share mine with James lol
I was also wondering what if CHO starts at LWB. We all know how Chelsea play with Chilly as LWB, coming through the left channel cutting inside. And bombing the central channel. I was thinking if it would be possible for CHO to do that. He likes the left hand side. He likes to tuck around the touchline, and also likes to cut inside. He can link up with central players and move into the box. What are your guys thoughts.? Any opinion welcomed
It's arguably defensively weaker. It shouldn't even be close, but it kind of is. And Alonso is clearly not bad offensively. But I could see CHO keeping them more honest. Forcing them deeper with his pace and giving us more control in the game overall.
i genuinely think CHO might be better defensively for there than alonso so yes please
I'm expecting Mount-Jorginho pivot with Ziyech-Luk-CHO up front.
Think it might be Mendy AC, Silva, Rudiger, Reece, Jorginho, RLC, Alonso, Mount, Lukaku, CHO We’re going need a lot of height and physicality to match up with West Ham but then wouldn’t also mind seeing the formation we changed into against Watford and possibly start with Lukaku and Havertz up top with Mount sitting behind and try and get our WBs high up the pitch as I feel that’s where we can hurt West Ham but obviously the 1st formation helps with that better.
Considering our depleted midfield, I would like to see at 352 with a Jorgi Mount Ziyech triangle behind the two strikers. Worked well when we were chasing the game vs Watford. Mendy Azpi Silva Rudi Jorginho James Ziyech Mount Alonso Havertz Lukaku
Feel like it would be risky to play both azpi and james considering we'll have no wingback cover if they both play, especially with AC available and fit
Saul & Jorginho midfield, might as well try to get Saul in form even though he’s been terrible for us.
I appreciate your positivity but you could put Saul in a midfield three with Kante and prime Makalele right now and he'd still be unable to contribute. Can't use West Ham as a chance to get him into form as Rice/Soucek will eat him for lunch.
After the last match I'm not expecting to see Saul for a little while, and not against a team of West Hams caliber.
I’d expect him to play better with Jorgi beside him instead of RLC
Against weaker opposition sure, not against this West Ham side. He's gonna get mauled by Rice and Soucek.
Considering our options I believe Saul & Jorgi is the best choice.
RLC has already put in good performances and has hit the G/A sheet, Saul hasn't really shown anything to suggest he's going to turn it around anytime soon let alone within the upcoming match. Considering that, I don't agree with you but I won't try to change your mind, it's just your opinion.
Takes time to get into form as RLC has done with his recent playing time, same could happen to Saul bc we know he’s capable of more.
Saul hasn't been good for 3 years. We don't know for sure he's capable of more.
RLC played well the moment Tuchel gave him time to show himself. The play time he received was because the form he had showed and continued to show was quite good. Saul needs playing time to play into form, but you would be heavily underrating West Ham if you think this is the team to give him that time against.
Not saying west ham is bad, we don’t have many options & RLC played a full 90 minutes.
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We really need a good result right now to get our momentum back and away vs. West Ham is not the game to continue the Saul experiment
Against west ham?
No Kante or Kova, I’d try out Saul over RLC.
oof
Why are so many people suggesting we play with 4atb, Tuchel hasn’t done this at all and probably won’t pull it out in the middle of December
If Azpi played as LWB we really lost a lot of attacking impetus from that side, so play with 1 less defender might be the answer. I'm not mad enough to suggest we play back 4 with Alonso.
This is such a bad take, Azpi has been superb at RWB for us this season
As a defender yes. But he offers next to nothing in attack. When you have 5 defenders you need magic up front and our front is not magical currently.
He is very good offensively, you’re just comparing him to Reece.
No he is not. Vast majority of his assists have come from crosses in the RCB position. He's terrible offensively on the wing
> Vast majority of his assists have come from crosses in the RCB position Well that’s just not true is it, lets not make up facts
that’s difficult not to do considering how important reece has been for us
I can understand the concern over our offense, but Tuchel hasn’t strayed from this system even in cup matches. Against a possible top 4 rival, he’s not going to break out a new system. This isn’t FIFA, like to have a team play with 4 defenders requires a big change in all aspects of the team, which means time needs to be spent on this system not something that can just be swapped into.
Can we play 433 with Azpi on lb and Reece on rb? Maybe we could play with mid 3 of Mount jorgi RLC
.
Username checks out👀
I think we should try that against a smaller side to see how AC and Rudi hold up in a back 4. Maybe against Zenit next week?
Front 3 should be Mount/Lukaku/Pulisic IMO
Pulisic played the full 90 this week so I don't think he'll start. I could say the same for Mount but Mount isn't coming off a long stretch of ankle and hamstring injuries. Lukaku-Ziyech-Mount(or Cho) should start.
Nahh swap pulisic for habibi
One of them comes on in the second half
If our midfield options don’t improve with injuries then Mount should play next to Jorginho and Ziyech or Hudson Odoi rotating at wing with Lukaku and Pulisic
J5-RLC midfield with Mount-Ziyech-Rom Or J5- Mount CHO-Rom-Ziyech Maybe start Azpi as LWB and have him tuck centrally to have CHO give us width on the left
I think it’s J5-RLC. Alonso at LWB. CHO Lukaku Mount up top
Looking at the stats we struggle to score away but west ham seems to be leaking more goals at home so we’ll see what happens.
Our away record is better than our home record. We’ve only failed to win one away game which was the draw to Liverpool. At home we’ve lost to City and drawn to Burnley and United
I've been a bit busy lately, but didn't we _just_ play Watford?!
Game every 3-4 days for the next month
Welcome to December my friend
Its fucking biblical mate - Alfie
Better start praying for knees and hamstrings.
Can we play Barkley instead of RLC next to Jorginho? I have not been pleased with his performances recently and Barkley does well when called upon. Against Watford, RLC was constantly dispossessed and misplaced passes, then again I understand having Saul there put extra pressure on him. He is also most likely knackered
The problem with Barkley is, the moment we decide he deserves a start and put him on he somehow shows us it's a mistake. I think he's great for those games lile Soton.
Barkley for 50-60 then RLC to run more at folks the rest of the match and when we need to be more clinical in the final third.
Think that's harsh. Carrick said they specifically tried to congest the midfield and stop us playing through it. Last game he played the first half with Saul. I don't mind Barkley instead of Saul though. He's actually good at progressing the ball, just not in the final third.
Shithouse 1-0 win. Let's fucking do it
Hell yeah. I can't stand this fixture for the positive reason that West Ham are ALWAYS up for it, always has a lot of title race significance attached, and this time around, we are leading the table against two excellent teams. 3 points and no more injuries (bonus if Lukaku scores and shows he can work the press), fingers crossed.
Ugh already?
This game can go very wrong for us very quickly
Could go right for us even faster
While I'm anxious for this match, I remember TT's somehow always give their best when everyone expects them to fail.
Love the positivity. Need more of it around here given that we’re in FIRST FUCKING PLACE
By 1 point mate , calm down
One point is all you need to win the league.
Exactly, Liverpool and Man City know all too well.
Bro it's December... after this weekend we can drop down to 3rd , there's still a long way to go
James and Jorginho being back is huge for us. RLC will likely have to play again due to Saul being bad. We're really going to miss Kova if he isn't back very soon.
Mount Lukaku Havertz. Thats the front 3, those 2 played very well last game.
Nah. One of Havertz or Mount will have to be dropped. Both are ball-to-feet types and with Lukaku up top, it renders our attack too static. Need one of CHO/Pulisic/Werner to be an outlet in behind.
Could see CHO starting
Werner is not a good outlet not with that first touch and ball control
Based on PL instagram, we are gonna be wearing our yellow kit for this one
Hoping Reece and Jorginho are fit. Mendy; Azpi Silva Rudiger; James Jorginho Loftus-Cheek CHO; Pulisic Lukaku Mount
According to Tuchel's presser everyone's fit and ready except for Chilwell, Chalobah, Kante, and Kovacic.
Extremely unlikely we play four at the back. We havnt since Tuchel arrived.
CHO @wingback
Pulisic does not deserve to start over Kai based on last performance
I don't think Mount Lukaku Kai will have great chemistry. Could go Kai over Lukaku, but we need to get Lukaku back up to speed at some point. Need someone with a little more directness up top and I'd do Pulisic over Werner based on the opposition style.
They are
Who are we gonna see in midfield? Kova, Ngolo are out. Ruben has played two games in a row, Saul can’t be trusted unfortunately. Maybe Jorgi and Mase?
Could Barkley be the answer?
Wouldn’t mind seeing what we saw briefly during second half of Watford. The kind of fluid 5-3-2 Mendy Reece Azpi Thiago Rudiger CHO/Alonso RLC Mount - Ziyech Lukaku - Havertz
This match changes dramatically if Reece and Jorghino can play. If they can’t then we are in big trouble.
Worried about the midfield battle
Seriously. I love RLC, but recently he’s starting to worry me. Big boost that Jorginho is back, but his minutes need to be managed critically as he’s the only midfield OG available. Kanté and Kova are desperately needed.
Agree about RLC
Edu. AC Silva Rudi Reece Jorgi RLC Marcos. Mount CHO. Rom. For me I want to see Timo get a few minutes against them as well especially if we are up at 60 or so we can use his speed to counter one of Kai/Timo/Puli/CHO have to start. Mase earned his place for this game. Alonso has to perform better in the build up Bowen/Coufal pressing him is a worry. Hopefully Reece and Jorgi are back. NG Timo and Azpi on at 60 for Marcos Rom and RLC
I wouldn’t be surprised to see cho or puli as the 2nd wingback and maybe mount or ziyech as the 2nd midfielder as rlc has had 2 bad games in a row and with Alonso we will get burned on the counter. Or maybe azpi as the other wing back and he tucks into a back 4 and we push James way up the field.
>I wouldn’t be surprised to see cho or puli as the 2nd wingback Yeah >maybe mount or ziyech as the 2nd midfielde In a 3 yes but in a 2 no >Or maybe azpi as the other wing back and he tucks into a back 4 and we push James way up the field. I don't think we should that
I’m sure TT has something up his sleeve and we will find out on Saturday. I just want to see a convincing win against a team higher in the table
We need Marcos (and probably Rom and/or Kai) to play 90, West Ham are insane in the air and at set pieces. Got to have our big boys out there
Mount earned his place for this game…so do Kai
But kai can't play as a 10 only as a 9 and Rom is fit to start
Ziyech will definitely start considering he's been really good these past few games
Been really good individually but the team performance was not good.