Kante & Costa off. 2 Huge pieces in our jigsaw. First real test may be? We need collective effort and scoring boots to get us over line against Bournemouth. Another 1-0 would do just fine. But I would take a score draw even now. Great chance for Batters & Chalobah to start a game may be? Thibo Dave Luiz Cahill Moses Chalobah Matic Alonso Willian Batters Hazard
As you say StanDman a great result and another 3 points, but sad to see Kante and Costa go missing on Boxing Day. I see Luiz, Matic and Pedro are only one card away from a suspension as well. Let's hope the replacements whoever they are do themselves proud!
Luiz, Matic & Pedro - will be missed. But they are not as bad as Kante & Costa misses. We have Zouma back in & Ivan can fill in for Luiz easily. Matic & Pedro we will be ok.
You're going to hate this Stan but Mikel has got the nod over Chalobah. Fully expect batshit to start up front with the 60m man as sub.
Cue the hyperbole......'we are going to lose 5-0 and then go on a 10 game losing streak due to Mikel....'
Batters will do well with a goal or assist. Eden would step up especially at home. As usual I was so right - correctly illustrated by Kante less Lester & Kante full Chelsea. DM is the most important position in the modern game. I was crying out for a decent DM last season all along. I will stick with my predo or you call it hyperbole. Mikel is the weakest possible link and if he starts we need to be lucky to get a point. But Conte is better than what you think. Mikel may get in the shop window for January with few sub minutes.
It's the very fact that you genuinely think Kante alone is the difference between the changing fortunes of us and Leicester which proves my hyperbole point. We did alright without Kante when we won the league the year before. And we looked just as ****e with him in the side before we switched formation. If Mikel comes in, he will do a job and I fully expect us to win at home against a decent but unspectacular Bournemouth side. We certainly should if we expect to compete for the title come May.
Mikel is a surprise, but I think he might surprise in a good way. If he plays as he does for his country, he will do well, and maybe this formation will suit him, lets hope so. Chalobah needs a run out as a sub, and I expect he will get it.Hope to see Zouma appear too if we are travelling well. This will answer some questions about our depth, but I think we will still win. My usual 1-0 will be just fine.
Hope no Ake unsettles their back line. Also, looks like Eden has a knee injury. Fantasy PL says 75% chance of playing. Not good.
All banter aside re Mikel, probably the time to give Chalobah a start. Either that or the Fabregas/Matic midfield with Bats replacing Costa.
Seems to me we are in a position that was inevitable, and was going to happen at some point during the season. It is not the question, can that player fill the gap created by suspension? But, can he fit the system? Some on here were berating the very players that are now league leaders. So lets just stand back for a while, let Conte' go to work, some of the much maligned players, as was Moses are now thriving in their new role. Who is to say Mikel or any of the other fringe players will not rise to the challenge of a new formation, it could be we find new diamonds under the earth created by skimming off the cream.
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/manchester-...ose-mourinho-defensive-chelsea-tough-to-catch Mourinho more like SOURinho !!
Classic Jose veiled dig about not caring about bringing defenders on to secure 1-0 wins. Pretty much a staple Jose tactic for the last 10 years!