please log in to view this image Monday 2nd May 8pm Stamford Bridge Premier League Three games to go and it looks like we've blown it, unfortunately. It was always going to be a big ask, but our draw against West Brom could see the title won before this even kicks off. It's our third consecutive Monday night game and possibly the most stupid of the lot. Whose idea was it to have such an aggressive derby game on a Bank Holiday Monday night? It's a tie with a history of off-field violence and a headline waiting to happen. Our record at Stamford Bridge is almost legendarily appalling. The scorer of our last winner at the place may well be cheering on the opposition, too. Gary Lineker added to a David Howells goal in 1990 before heading off to the Italian World Cup. That's a ridiculously long time to wait for a win. There have been some rather contentious results in the meantime. The most famous of which was probably the one in which we scored, didn't concede a proper goal and lost 2-1. Gomes dropped a clanger that didn't cross the line before a last minute Saloman Kalou goal won it. It was so obviously offside that a Chelsea supporting colleague of mine didn't bother cheering it. He stayed in his seat, waiting for a flag that never came! If Leicester beat Man Utd, then there'll be something of an anti-climax about this game. It's something that we'll need to get over though, as we still need to put points on the board. Second place would be an important marker, if we can't take first, so our remaining fixtures have to be won. Southampton and Newcastle are still to come and neither will roll over. Our last visit to Stamford Bridge was a familiar disaster. We started well, missing a couple of good chances and hitting the bar through Harry Kane. Hazard and Drogba netted a quick double just after that though and we never looked like getting back into it. Loic Remy killed off any hopes of a revival about halfway through the second period. The game at White Hart Lane earlier in the campaign was frustrating for different reasons. Both sides had limited chances, but we had more and probably better ones, too. It was part of a good run, but one in which we dropped too many points to draws. This was another example of that, as both teams failed to break the stalemate. Bentaleb is our only confirmed injury for this one, again. Dier picked up a concussion in the draw to West Brom and he'll be assessed before the game. Alli will also miss out, due to his suspension. Remy and Zouma are injured for Chelsea, while Terry and Cahill have been included in the squad. Courtois is still suspended, as he serves his last game. Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Alli; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Mason, Carroll, Chadli, Son. League form: WWDWWD. Chelsea: Begovic; Azpilicueta, Mikel, Ivanovic, Rahman; Matic, Fabregas; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Costa. Subs: Amelia, Miazga, Kenedy, Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Pato, Falcao. League form: DDWLLW. Referee: Mark Clusterfuck. Er... I mean Clattenburg. Sorry. Alli is suspended for our remaining games this season, so who should replace him? Chadli, Son, Mason and Carroll are the obvious contenders, I think. One of them or someone else? Should anyone else be changed, following our draw with West Brom?
Another one for the Poor Little Lamb thread: http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...t-home-to-tottenham-in-26-years-a3236566.html
The choice to replace Alli is an interesting dilemma for Mauricio, and I think that you can make a case for Chadli, Son and Mason, I think I would choose Chadli and move Eriksen into the middle behind Harry, but I would also understand playing Mason as a straight swap particularly for this match as Mason may be more up for it. As a side issue will Alli's absence from the matchday squad make space for N'jie on the bench?
Mason has been out of the loop for a while and not unsurprisingly looked well off the pace on Monday night. With Dier still a possible absentee and Bentaleb also having few opportunities to get 'match fit', I think we could have some serious issues to face at the Chavs. Would happily take a draw at this stage even if it perpetuates the record into a 27th year...... ☹️
One possibility is moving Toby into midfield, where he played for Southampton a few times last season, while having Verts and Wimmer at the back - although this will have us hoping none of the three picks up a knock, because with CCV injured, Ball and Ogilvie on loan, the only other centre back options at the club are Filip Lesniak and Christian Maghoma.
I think we trust in Mason he will be short of match practice for sure but he will not be lacking in commitment. We should not be stifling our special forward movements and although a rusty Mason may lose possession more he can also provide some telling tackles and decent forward balls. Trust Mason.
He had a concussion so not sure whether he has actually recovered 100%. There are tight restrictions now after those kinds of incidents.
It'd be so sweet to get the three points, Chelsea have literally made their whole season about this game, beating them would put the icing on top of what has been a disastrous campaign for them. Was going to be a tough game with our strongest team but with Alli suspended and Dier possibly out through injury, it's going to make it that much more difficult but hopefully a challenge we'll rise too. Hugo Walker, Toby, Jan, Rose Mason, Dembele Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli Kane Vorm, Davies, Tripps, Big Kev, Onomah, Clint, Son Dier in for Mason with Onomah dropping out if Eric's fit to play. COYS!
Some Chelsea players have been mouthing off about how they'd prefer Leicester to win the title, rather than Spurs. Don't mind neutrals saying this, but since Chelsea have still got to play both teams before the end of the season, isn't that bringing the game into disrepute? Or maybe it's some other charge? Seems well out of order to me, anyway. And if Dier is unfit, the reason is the elbow in the face from Dawson as he was scoring the Baggies' equaliser. Should have been a free kick to us instead of a goal to them! Funny old game, football.
From the OS Mauricio Pochettino will make a late call on Eric Dier ahead of Monday night's Premier League clash at Chelsea. The midfielder was forced off after taking a bang to the head in Monday's draw against West Brom. "Eric suffered concussion but he's doing well this week," reported Mauricio after training on Friday. "We need to wait until Sunday to make a decision as to whether or not he's available for Monday." Clinton Njie is now fit so Nabil Bentaleb (knee) is our only injured player while Dele Alli misses out through suspension. "Nabil is also doing well but he is too far away (from full fitness) to return at the moment," added Mauricio.
It's a relatively recent thing, like over the past 5 years or so. Everything bad that happens to us seems to have John Terry or Chelsea at its core. Whereas Arsenal have become more an object of pitiful ridicule than hatred. I cannot f*cking stand Chelsea.
I know what you're saying, CK. Since the start of the North London Power-Shift, it's extremely difficult to muster the old rivalry with Arsenal. Their supporters speak far more harshly of Arsenal than we ever did, so it all seems a little pointless us getting worked up about them, these days.
