Match Day Thread League Cup Semi Second leg - Chelsea v Liverpool

Ok, lets move on and use this match as a right preparation for the game against City.

Bradford has proven Matic is our DEFENSE, cutting out all the dangerous crosses and impedes all the dangerous runs.
Without him - our CB pair are SO overrated. How many times Matic has slotted in as 3rd CB during difficult periods this season?

Seriously need a decent cover for Matic. Rambo, Oscar, Fab et al don't have the defensive discipline or strength of Matic.

Would love one of Victor, Morgan, Alex before January window. Wouldn't mind 20M pounds for any of these players.

 

JT and Cahill will be fine with Matic in front of them.

We need to score three to be assured of going through, away goals count and we've gone out too many times with only one to our name.

 

Think we'll see a big reaction here and probably win 2-0

 

I just think we need to get a sense of perspective. We've had a horrendous day at the office but a very good season generally. Top of the league, still in CL and semi coming up on Tuesday. I think questions have been answered about some of our fringe players and Jose will have noted this. The players should be eager to get the Bradford game out of their systems and put in the required performance against Liverpool. COYB.

 

See that there are returns on sale from Liverpool fans. Surprised they can't sell out their reduced allocation

 

The boys owe us big-time on Tuesday. Anything less than a 3 goal margin will be disappointing.

 

i reckon we are going out on away goals or pens

 

Nathan Ake was MOM last time he played the Matic roll at the Bridge. The kids definitely good enough.

 

Not sure I agree about the fringe players part of your post. With some decent game time, and not all thrown together 5 mins before kick off, most if not all, are excellent players. Jose is not using the squad properly and not giving young players a chance. He is a poor judge of young talent in my book e.g. De Bruyne, and just doesn't believe in youth.It's worked well for him so far, but it's time he changed his ways.

 

If you use the game as preperation you'll get done. #arrogant

 

Apart from what we would all like to see and what happened over the weekend I'm not sure what we are going to get on Tuesday night. Our away game against Swansea was sublime and probably the best 45 minutes by any club ever in the premiership and then FA Cup. Usually dips aside, Chelsea are relatively consistent but I don't know which Chelsea are going to turn up against the scousers?

 

Not arrogant at all. City game is one that matters. Be great if we beat Liverpool, but let's save our A performance for City.

If a B performance is not good enough to beat the likes of Liverpool at home, so be it.

The Leicester game (28 Feb) will not be postponed and we may be less tired for West Ham (3 March) if we don't reach Carling (1 March).

Although, doing Sours at Wembley would be magic....

 

Win the next 2 and our season is very much back on track with a real possibility of a league and league cup double....that should be motivation enough to put in 2 top home performances.

 

But - Not playing enough.
For that reason - Jose may very well pull one more like last season.

 

Seriously think you are better than Bantams? Hahahaa
To us you are not. We shall see.

 

I don't understand it Stan, kids like Ake do the business and then get splinters in their bums, the Mikels, Ramires',Schullres' get some game time week after week. All of them are good players but all need more time on the pitch, especially the inexperienced ones. Surely there are enough comps and games to play 2 or 3 fringe players more often and not have to put out a team with 8 changes once every blue moon, then call them a disgrace when they lose ?

 

Agree with you CP.
I was over confident last season and not so much this season.
Jose at times reminds me of Rafa or Arsene with some serious lack of flexibility or imagination.
At this rate Costa, Fab, Matic will be playing with one leg come May. They cannot carry the burden entirely.

I am not like - "I won't mind sacrificing League cup for 3pts against City on Saturday".
At the moment. I would think we have 95% chance for league cup & less than 50% chance for league title.
If we goof up league cup, league title is no way close.

Getting buried in snow tomorrow, provided electricity is there - I would watch the game. Hope it will be a good day.

 

Looking forward to the game, lets hope it's a real contest with goals as with some of our other semi-finals.

 

Chelsea should walk it. They never lose at home.

 

Yeah it is certainly a tough fixture. We will have to be on top form to have a chance.