A nice 3 o'clock kick off at home to a lower placed side. Should be a routine 3 points but you just never know in this league. Seems most if not all the international players came through the international break ok and hopefully Fabregas and Costa are fit and raring to go having been rested/withdrawn. I expect we'll play the normal 11 of Courtois, Ivan. Cahill, Terry, Dave, Matic, Fab, Oscar, Hazard, Willian and Costa. Wouldn't mind seeing Schurrle getting a game though. With Arsenal playing United, could be a week to put some more distance over one or both of these sides as well. City I expect to win at home to Swansea. COYB.
Like you say, anything can happen. Assuming we do our job and get the 3 points, it should be an interesting weekend for the others. City SHOULD win at home to Swansea, but they haven't looked like the team they were last season, if Stoke can get a win at the Etihad, then so can Swansea, though I would think they should get the 3 points. United and Arsenal is a tough one. A draw is probably the most favourable result but Arsenal are abysmal against tougher opposition, a win for either would not be the end of the world assuming we get 3 points in our match. Would like a draw, or at a push an Arsenal win. I don't think Arsenal have the stones to make a title challenge anyway, and their squad has been decimated through injury as usual and I don't want United getting any sort of momentum or boost through a victory at the Emirates.
Yaay, back to proper football again (though I did enjoy the Scotland/England game). United/Arsenal a tough one to call, surprised to see Utd only 1 point behind, a draw would be ideal. Come on Chelsea.
After what happened last season against West Brom - a draw home and away - I reckon they've become our bogey club. Ramirez saved the day - and Mourinho's league home unbeaten record at that point - but I reckon on a commanding 3-0 win. I can't wait for Saturday and a long awaited andrenaline fix of watching what I reckon to be the best balanced Chelsea team yet.
There's a lot of moaning and groaning from various quarters about the Premier League and its 'overpaid' players, too many foreigners blah, blah, blah but in all the time Chelsea has played in the Premier League I've enjoyed every minute. Internationals are totally boring in comparison to the Premier League - in my opinion.
There seems to be a likelihood that Fabregas and Costa could be out injured. That seems to make this game that little bit harder!
You lot have short memories, I always fear this fixture. Just take a look at our results since we beat them 6-0 a couple of years back. The Baggies are becoming a bit of a bogey side, well at The Hawthorns at least, and I think they took 4 points off us last season, or was it the one before. Anyhow we should put them to bed tomorrow if we play as we have been, we need to keep Berahino quiet mind he is JT's worst nightmare fast and unrelenting. Cahill will not enjoy the experience either, hope the lad has a bad game, well tomorrow anyway.
Was at this corresponding match last season and my memory of it was, that the atmosphere from the start of the match to before Eto's goal, was the quietest i had ever experienced at The Bridge since I started coming over in '78. It's ironic that this will be the first home game since Jose's "empty" comment. Unfortunately, apart from games against title rivals and big local derbies, I can't see the atmosphere of the old days coming back. Anyway that discussion is for another day. Great to have the Prem back and I go for a comfortable win (3-0). The scary thing for all our rivals this year, is that our best team which we all know at this stage, doesn't have a weakness in any position. I don't think that's being smug in anyway, it's just a fact.
History doesn't count for much. We are in a much better place than we've been for years and should be winning games like this routinely if we want to win the title - no disrespect intended to West Brom of course. 2-0 Chels.
No match is a formality. I know you were saying all last season that if Chelsea got a decent CM and CF, they would be extremely formidable and would **** all over Liverpool; but we aren't taking anything for granted https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sour...active&q=we're gonna win the league liverpool
No disrespect to West Brom, but any team that has designs on the PL title should have a comfortable home win against them. Which is exactly what I think will happen. 2-0 with Fabregas, 1-0 without. Expect to see Schurrle start and Oscar take a break for 45 mins or so, but with Jose??? Great work by the manager to give so many players a break during the International season. Fresh legs going into Christmas.
Formula win for the form team and another unbeaten game, we never looked in danger or was extended. Next please!
All good ! Confidence gained from this unbeaten run was evident today, especially in that first half performance. First team picks itself now which is always a good sign. Costa's strength and movement, apart altogether from the goals, is fantastic. J.T.'s international retirement is now paying big dividends for us. Hazard is now the real deal. What a joy to have a player that gets you off your seat when he goes on a run ! You could literally go through the whole 11 with positive comments. All in all, a great time to be a Blue. Long may it continue. Next w-end if we do the business against Sunderland Saturday, we can sit back and relax on Sunday.....Southampton v City. That "little horse" from last season has drank up all his milk !!!
