UCL vs Sevilla 20/10/2020

This topic contains 13 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by Stuilse Stuilse 3 years, 5 months ago.

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  • #1885265
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    This will be a tough match. But we have no choice but to beat them as the only way to avoid the big guns in the second round is to finish first in the group.

    Hopefully Thiago Silva is back to help our defense. Kepa wasn’t particularly at fault at any of the goals against Saints but I think we should start Caballero for now. Kepa’s confidence is really short and he may need to address that confidence problem first before ever playing again for Chelsea.

    Not really happy with Kante Jorginho partnership. 2 DM. But so much space between the midfield and the defense against Saints. Not sure whose fault it is. We have Kovacic, I reckon he should start tomorrow, probably play Kovacic Jorginho and rest Kante.

    My team: Caballero – Reece James,Tomori,Zouma,Azpi – Kovacic,Jorginho – Hudson-Odoi,Havertz,Mount – Werner

    #1885275
    MightyM
    MightyM
    Participant
    • :

    Android I also would like that team to start but I don’t know if Lampard will select it exactly like that.

    #1885296

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    The current goalkeeping situation is a really difficult one for Frank. Kepa made some decent saves v Southampton but he did get stuck in no man’s land with the poor Zouma back pass.

    Clearly Kepa still lacks confidence but the only way to get his confidence back is to play him dropping him again to effectively third choice won’t help him find his confidence.

    I think Kovacic has to play in the next two games but who to drop out is the problem I don’t think the next two games are the ones for Ziyech to start and he should probably be used from the bench.

    We could do with Silva being fit enough to start in both if not I would play Tomori in place of Christansen.

    If Chilwell is fit enough I think he will play in both games whether Pulasic is capable of playing two such high profile games is open to conjecture so perhaps CHO should start v Sevilla with Pulasic on the bench when to play James is also a question mark perhaps he should start v Sevilla with Azpi returning v United?

    On the above basis the team v Sevilla would look something like this : Kepa, James, Silva or Tomori, Zouma, Chilwell, Kovacic Kante, CHO, Havertz, Mount, Werner.

    #1885311
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    I hope that our squad can stay fit and avoid injuries. We have players back like Ziyech, Pulisic and Chilwell (not sure why he pulled out from England though). But we have to consider that CHO plays well so far, and so as Abraham. But the attack is not our main problem since last season, the defence is.

    Frank Lampard tries to keep the same backline but with injuries and internationals, it’s difficult. And Christensen for me, I think we gave enough opportunities. He’s played like that already for 2 seasons? Not good enough. Tomori is young, raring to go. For me if Rudiger is frozen, give Tomori a chance.

    Not convinced with Kepa at all. Caballero is not a world class GK but he performs better than Kepa last season and for me he deserves to start.

    #1885319

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Yep all about opinions Aindro thankfully none of us on here have to make a decision on who starts and who doesn’t and it’s only Frank’s opinion that counts.

    Two massive games coming up though and we need two positive results.🤞🤞🤞

    #1885335
    Stuilse
    Stuilse
    Participant
    • :

    Big Willy has to start. Nines team is probably right although I’d rather have Kovacic and Kante in the middle. Chilwell definitely starts as well. Not sure where that leaves Dave. Playing 3-4-3 could allow for both James and Dave but then we only really have three attacking players. Here’s a contentious lineup:

    Big Willy

    Azi
    Silva
    Zouma

    Chilwell
    Kante
    Kovacic
    James

    CHO
    Werner
    Mount

    #1885378
    Blaze
    Blaze
    Participant
    • :

    I think Silva and Zouma are possibly the best pairing for now, every centre half seems to have made vital mistakes in recent games and the previous season so you can’t really be sure who the right pairing should be. Difficult predicament for Lampard.

    #1885380

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    “Frank Lampard has been given a boost ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Sevilla as Edouard Mendy trained with the squad.

    The Senegal international missed the 3-3 draw with Southampton after picking up a thigh injury while with the national team.

    Kepa Arrizabalaga took his place in the team, however another mistake led to a Southampton’s second goal, putting him under even more pressure.

    Mendy trained with the rest of the first-team squad at Cobham this morning and is in contention to feature against last season’s Europa League winners.” Football London. 19/10

    Good news???😊

    #1885381
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    999 good news! I am more confident if Mendy and Silva start. However last time it was against a toothless Palace. Tomorrow is against Sevilla, Europa champion last season.

    #1885820
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    Only saw a bit of the 2nd half towards the end. I think a clean sheet is really welcomed. Thiago Silva was excellent. Mendy too, he looked very safe. Chilwell clearly is a class apart from Alonso or Emerson. What I am afraid of is that Abraham and CHO, our ex academy players, did not have much opportunity recently. I thought at least Abraham should play the last 30 min as we looked tired upfront IMO. Pulisic, Werner, I really thought they should have been substituted much earlier. Ziyech does not seem to be 100% match fit.

    Anyway, all in all, it’s a good result. Sevilla are a very good team. Mendy took 1 goal against Spurs, kept clean sheet against Palace and against Sevilla. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we took less goal with Mendy between the sticks.

    #1885825
    Blueowner
    Blueowner
    Participant
    • :

    Mendy looks much better however I think Lampard is wrong by playing Mount a bit too much, he appeared to be tired while Jorginho offers nothing except for the very occasional brilliant pass, I also believe Odio and Abraham should be playing much more if not starting as well as Kovacic. Sevilla is always a very competitive team but really at home we should be doing a bit better.

    #1885895

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Sevilla showed what a good side they are that was a really tough game and we did well to come away with a clean sheet.

    Mendy is very laid back and assured and that rubs off on the back 4, Silva purrs like a Rolls Royce and reads the game so well bar injuries that is probably our best back 5 plus Azpi at times.

    Hopefully everyone is fit for United, the 6-1 was a freak result and United have hit some form now and are particularly strong going forwards so it will be tough a tough game at OT.

    #1885947

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    “Thiago Silva proved age is only a number.

    The 36-year-old centre-back was imperious as Chelsea kicked off their Champions League campaign here.

    Silva is only two years younger than Cech, who has been named in Frank Lampard’s 25-man Premier League squad, despite retiring last year. And the Brazilian may serve as an inspiration to Cech as he continues to excel at the highest level.

    Lampard wanted the Brazilian defender to instil an air of authority into his side. He hoped his experience at the top of the game would bring on the young players in Chelsea’s squad.

    Silva is already doing that after only a short time at Stamford Bridge. After missing Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Southampton, he returned to keep Europa League winners Sevilla at bay.

    This was the type of defensive solidity Lampard has been desperate for his side to produce after such ragged performances at the back this season. It felt like no coincidence that it came with Thiago there to marshal the rearguard — making it three clean sheets in his four starts for the club.

    “I thought he was very good,” said Lampard. “I spoke about quality and experience before the game and he brought both of those and it affects others around him.

    “He was a big plus in terms of getting the clean sheet. The concentration and focus you need to get a result, to get a clean sheet, was big for the team.

    “The decisions they made when they defended well, the decisions to play longer rather than keep possession, the decisions were good tonight so it is a really nice place to build from.”

    Sevilla were limited to very few chances, despite dominating possession in the first half. After the break Edouard Mendy was left with virtually nothing to do, such was the discipline of the defence in front of him.

    The challenge for Lampard is knowing when to rest Silva for his own good. His decision to leave him out against Southampton, due his travelling with Brazil during the international break, backfired.

    “Over the season I will manage him,” said Lampard. “I have a very close relationship with him already, even if he uses a translator.

    “I will always work closely with him and I remember being in the same position myself towards the end of my career, in the last year in the Premier League.

    “So I will be very aware of maintenance training and his selection as we want him to play as many games as we can.”

    Lampard had every right to take satisfaction from a game short on excitement, after his nerves were shredded by 3-3 draws against West Brom and Southampton this term.

    After those goal frenzies, here was a welcome dose of sanity against a very good, battle-hardened team with European know-how.

    The defensive horror shows that have been all too evident in the opening weeks of the campaign gave way to a mature performance and potentially a valuable point in Group E.

    Mendy’s return from a thigh injury was also an important factor, with Lampard confirming afterwards the Senegal international is now his No1 ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    The great frustration for Chelsea was their own lack of potency in attack.

    The thrilling forward play of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz this season was somewhat stunted by Sevilla. Werner was bright and busy, but lacked cutting edge, while Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount struggled to create openings.

    Chelsea’s best chance fell to Kurt Zouma, who headed straight at keeper Yassine Bounou from a second-half corner. He should have done better — and so should Werner when snatching at a few chances in the first half.

    But on this occasion, Lampard could be forgiven for focusing on the other end of the pitch.

    “It is a positive result,” he said. “We felt what it was like last season when we lost the first game and the pressure to get out of the group which we did.

    “So I understand the importance of the first game. I feel when you are playing in real-time without much time to train, the Southampton game was a hit to us. This was a really positive one as Sevilla are a top team.” Standard 21/10

    #1886001
    Stuilse
    Stuilse
    Participant
    • :

    A very decent point. Mendy and Silva make a massive difference to our defence, especially in European competition. We looked far more composed and that’s the difference a decent keeper and experienced CB, who can organize our defence, makes. Last season we lost our opener against Valencia. Seville are far better opposition. We should qualify before having to play them again. But top spot would certainly make our progress from the knockout phases easier. To be honest, with the exception of Bayern, we shouldn’t have to fear any side. Next stop…Old Trafford.

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