Chelsea vs Newcasttle United
This topic contains 81 replies, has 17 voices, and was last updated by nine nine nine 5 years, 2 months ago.
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January 10, 2019 at 1:46 pm #1715411
Focus turns to this game. After our loss against Spurs which we were unlucky not to get something from that game. 3 points from this game is very important. I would replace Barkley for Kovacic, Willian for Pedro, Luiz for Christensen. I will retain CHO. And keep Hazard as a false 9.
January 10, 2019 at 1:59 pm #1715416I think we’re wasting Hazard’s talents as a striker if Giroud is fit play him then bench Willian and play a front three of Hazard Giroud and Hudson Odoi.
January 10, 2019 at 2:13 pm #1715426Would definitely start Giroud with Hazard and HOD as the creative forces, Hazard is wasted as a striker and in fact scores more from his attacking midfield role, based on Barkleys recent indifference form and RLC injured would go back to Kovacic with Kante and Jorginho. The defence I suppose will be the usual back 4 but maybe give Alonso a break for Emerson.
January 10, 2019 at 3:03 pm #1715461When you look at the other games this weekend there are certainly points that could be dropped so Chelsea getting 3 points is massive for us
Assuming they are fit then I would start Giroud flanked by Hazard and Hudson Odoi. Agree that I would go for Kovacic in the middle instead of Barkley but consider to use RLC if he is fit. Luiz clearly to return for Christensen and I actually would look to replace Alonso with Emerson
Cannot believe that Rafa will come to attack but in Rondon they do have a big, dangerous and awkward forward who can feed of balls from Shelvey or crosses from Ritchie. So we must not throw caution to the wind but overall you have to assume that man for man we are better and stronger so as always (broken record again) we must convert the chances but with Giroud up front I think he adds that extra dimension that should help get us the 3 points. KTBFFH
January 10, 2019 at 3:07 pm #1715468I will start Hazard instead of Giroud. We need technical players here to play short and quick passes. Newcastle will play super defensive, there’s no secret.
January 10, 2019 at 8:28 pm #1715529Totally agree with Chelseaman. Hazard should play central. Rafa will play tight this game, So we need movements and speed up top. Hazard has been good since we srarted to play him as a striker. Until we get a better alternative he is our best bet so for that position. Giroud will slow down our tempo. Bench Barkley as he has been out of form in the last few games. May be the injury has affected his form. Bring Kovacic for now. If we have any aspirations to keep CHO we should play him in this game. Or else he his fate would ve sealed.
Am worried about this game, these are the kind of games that has been our problem. I think we may drop points once again. But i hope i’m wrong. But i can’t see how we can break down NewCastle. My predicted scoreline is 0-0.
January 10, 2019 at 9:30 pm #1715547Wise Fan
You/we have every right to be worried with every game we play at the moment.
Since 4th November against Crystal Palace (thats just over 2 Months ago) Chelsea have played 11 Premier League games scoring 14 goals across those games.
That is a measly 1.2 goals a game.
Most teams would struggle to pick up 1 point let alone 3 points with that scoring record. We are lucky that our defence recently has been decent.
January 11, 2019 at 8:26 am #1715576Bort – totally agree. These days you have absolutely no idea what type of game we are going to see and you cannot walk into the Bridge feeling confident about any games anymore
I try to look on the bright side feeling that Sarri is still coming to terms with the league and his squad plus he has faced more injuries this year than we have seen for a while (I think anyway) but there is no getting away from the fact that the early euphoria is no longer there
Unfortunately this also transmits to the fans in the ground who by and large are very nervous which is why at times it feels like no atmosphere….? KTBFFH
January 11, 2019 at 9:54 am #1715608The good thing is we haven’t failed to score in 3 consecutive PL games since Glenn Hoddle’s days. Here’s hoping for a win and a couple of Goals.
January 11, 2019 at 10:27 am #1715623Must must win anything else would be a minor disaster, we should be beating every team at home. I mean we beat possibly the best team in the world and then we bottle it against your average teams.
January 11, 2019 at 10:54 am #1715635We can only beat Newcastle if we select the right players and drop the lazy players. Playing Hazard supported by CHO and Pedro makes a lot of sense to me. I will also bench Kante for this game and play Fabregas instead. It may sound strange, but the reality is that we don’t have a prolific CF. So we need more creative and clinical players on the pitch. We also need speed because Rafa will play tight back 5.
January 11, 2019 at 11:10 am #1715646WF why not rather let Fabregas play in Jorginhos position, his more suited to that, Kante is indispensable for any important game which is every game in the EPL.
January 11, 2019 at 12:05 pm #1715674Can’t see what Kante will offer apart from defending he cannot pass. Our next PL game is against Arsenal. And at the moment we have a 3 point lead. Should we fail to beat Newcastle, it sends the wrong message. And will create panic and tension within the camp. At least Fabregas has an eye of the killer pass. And we may need plenty of that tomorrow. We know the type of the opposition that we are facing. Expect them to adopt similar tactics as Southampton. So do we sit and allow Kante to run like he is a headless chicken or do we want to break them? That is the choice we are facing. Rest Kante since he has been playing alot of games. Try Fabregas in the first half at least. I will also instruct Pedro to stay near Hazard in order not to isolate Hazard. Then Fabregas will launch those inch perfect passes. Or if Giroud is played, Hazard could benefit from the second balls. But my preference is Hazard up top.
January 11, 2019 at 12:48 pm #1715689In my opinion you need a genuine striker in the box to take advantage of the old fashioned winger play that Hudson Odoi brings to the team. But we’ll know soon enough.😊 Agree with Notnice Kante is indispensable and he will definitely play.
January 11, 2019 at 1:28 pm #1715699Sarri has stated all along that Fabregas is the direct cover for Jorginho and NOT Kante. Regardless of where you play him I cannot believe that anyone would sanction dropping Kante and there is absolutely nothing wrong with his engine either
My feeling is that Hazard does like the false role he is being asked to play so my preference is for a normal striker on the pitch as the aerial threat just gives us another option
Sarri has confirmed that RLC is not fit or available for tomorrow but Morata did train with the squad yesterday and assuming no adverse reaction is deemed fit for the game. KTBFFH
January 11, 2019 at 1:31 pm #1715702Sarri says that Cecs is not mentally ready to play v Newcastle. Sounds like Morata will play if he comes through training ok.
January 11, 2019 at 2:28 pm #1715726Would prefer Giroud to start but if it is Morata then so be it. So long as he stays in the box and does not drift then down to us to give him the service. Hazard to dazzle and hopefully Hudson Odoi to get to the bye line and cross….!! KTBFFH
January 11, 2019 at 2:31 pm #1715727It will be a difficult game Rafa is the master of the massed well organised defence and Chelsea are struggling for goals. As need to score early and draw them out.
January 11, 2019 at 3:12 pm #1715739If I was picking the line up:
4-2-3-1
Kepa
Azpilicueta | Rudiger | Luiz | Alonso
Kante | Kovacic
Pedro | Barkley/RLC | Hudson-Odoi
Hazard
I would pick this formation as it fits the players we have available and we need players closer to Hazard to get the best out of him, so having the 3 behind hazard should give him more to play with. I could even tinker with the idea of playing RLC up top and have Hazard behind him.
Jorginho deserves a spot on the bench as He hasn’t offered much to the team in months.
January 11, 2019 at 3:54 pm #1715754Bort
I can see where you are coming from, Jorginho has been out of form recently. But that has more to do with the opposition figuring him out. He is not a physical player, so any slightest pressure would cramble him. But let us also remember that he is know to the league and its physicity. This is his first season at the club. I would have played him and Kante in the two pivotal midfied. And would shift Kovacic in the attacking mid trio Supporting Hazard. Also i have my concerns about Alonso also. Teams seem to target when he moves forward. We need someone who can defend first. Alonso has been running forward without success.
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