Unfortunately this is the exact sort of game where form goes out of the window. I hope I'm wrong, and I said it 2 or 3 weeks ago, but I hope this isn't the game where Chelsea's fortunes take a turn for the better. - especially as we're due a defeat. Football is a funny old game. Fingers crossed we play like we have been recently and we get a result. Don't think I'm going to have any nails left by 2pm. COYS!
Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Mason; Dembele, Eriksen, Son; Kane Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Carroll, Lamela, Onomah, Clinton Mason in the pivot? Uh oh...
Very interesting line up from Mourinho. Those four on form are far less predictable and far harder to track than Costa. A lot here will depend on how seriously Son takes his defensive responsibilities. He works hard but isn't a Lamela. Also nervous about Mason. He didn't seem 100% against Qarabag (unless he was told to take it easy knowing he'd start today). Him and Dier will have to track those 4 as they will interchange positions quickly and effectively.
Oh crap, I didn't see mason was starting, i had presumed lamela would come in for ali and son would play number 10. Not so confident now, but we will still win.
Mason worries me, too. I'd rather have seen dembele played alongside dier, and Lamela in dembeles attacking position.
Not only an early Sunday KO, but at midday when generally the first game is 1pm???? Don't know whether the extra hour or two will have on physical recovery, but the bigger issue would likely be psychological and human nature suggests that having an early/early start will impact on the players mindsets. The lack of any comment from the club suggests that they either are happy with these arrangements or accept that they are impotent to influence these arrangements...... Oh well - guess we will soon find out........
The key here will be the pressing game and if we have the energy to pull it off for 90mins. Force Chelsea back into their own half as often as possible so that they have to build attacks from deep positions. Say what you will about Costa but he's one of the best there is at holding the ball up and bringing others into the game. Without a target man up top, long diagonals won't be an option and they'll have to work attacks on the ground with short passing, which suits Dier and Dembele perfectly.
Eriksen is going to have to produce some decent corners today. If he fails to get it past the first man, we risk Chelsea breaking at pace.
We do not look very fluent compared to recent performances. We could do with Dembele further forward, missing Ali I think.
Pretty even first half... Dembele has been our stand out player imo Walker has been poor ... stupid tackle to put us under pressure right on half time and another pointless yellow and he has made a couple of poor passes across midfield which nearly led to Chelsea breaks. The yellows worry me...Rose and Walker can not put a foot wrong now and Chelsea will react to every tackle they make in the 2nd half
I reckon Kane will nick a goal or an assist. They haven't had a shot on target. This is an opportunity to win. Content with a draw? Maybe. Happy? No. Not me. I want three points. Tired of us being the team that helps out of form teams find form.
What I don't understand is why dembele has been played alongside dier, and mason out wide? Surely we'd have just been better starting Lamela? Mason looks lost. We need Lamela on the pitch soon. He's not had many minutes in the last couple of weeks and we need his work rate, especially getting back.
