[Sassy Colin]

Fat Frank battered you lot out the FA cup last season. Be thankful you're up against Slim Thomas.

Slim Tim would work better.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

What if I tell you that our double pivot midfield today will be Fred and VDB?

Scott and Pogba are ruled out due to injuries, Matic played full 90 mins on thursday night and also 90 mins vs Newcastle United so Ole might choose Fred-VDB here and he had picked this pair before vs Istanbul.

 

[ForeverRed1]

I HATE this game.

 

[Red00012]

What if I tell you that our double pivot midfield today will be Fred and VDB?

Scott and Pogba are ruled out due to injuries, Matic played full 90 mins on thursday night and also 90 mins vs Newcastle United so Ole might choose Fred-VDB here and he had picked this pair before vs Istanbul.

I hope so

 

[mitchmouse]

What if I tell you that our double pivot midfield today will be Fred and VDB?

Scott and Pogba are ruled out due to injuries, Matic played full 90 mins on thursday night and also 90 mins vs Newcastle United so Ole might choose Fred-VDB here and he had picked this pair before vs Istanbul.

I read Scot was a doubt not that he was definitely ruled out... but I just can't see us getting anything today if we do the usual of starting slowly (and giving away stupid chances). Sort of presume Werner and Havertz will remember to be world-class players - plus doesn't at least one Chelsea full back always have a total blinder against us?

 

[Kag]

Worried about Ole’s potential selection here. Chelsea have some serious speed up top and Lindelof is not the right partner for Maguire in this game, nor do I want him anywhere near Giroud (if he starts) in the box.

I don’t like the idea of Matic playing a third game off the belt either. Van de Beek should start, irrespective of his generally anonymous performances. If he doesn’t start today then when will he?

 

[Berbasbullet]

What if I tell you that our double pivot midfield today will be Fred and VDB?

Scott and Pogba are ruled out due to injuries, Matic played full 90 mins on thursday night and also 90 mins vs Newcastle United so Ole might choose Fred-VDB here and he had picked this pair before vs Istanbul.

That was the home one right? Where we smashed them. The away one was Matic and VDB?

 

[sewey89]

Massive game this. Beat these and Palace and it’ll make the derby next week a free shot really. Whereas if we drop points today and Wednesday, then we go into the derby needing to win to stay in the driving seat for top 4. It’s a mad season

 

[predator]

4-0
Bruno 2
Martial 1
Rashford 1

 

[Red00012]

I read Scot was a doubt not that he was definitely ruled out... but I just can't see us getting anything today if we do the usual of starting slowly (and giving away stupid chances). Sort of presume Werner and Havertz will remember to be world-class players - plus doesn't at least one Chelsea full back always have a total blinder against us?

Scott is out as confirmed by Ole

 

[Loon]

Stamford Bridge not a great place for us and I fear the incredible away form train will come to a halt here.

Then we’ll probably beat bloody City next week.

Go figure.

 

[ColvaleGoa]

4-0
Bruno 2
Martial 1
Rashford 1

 

[Berbasbullet]

The only comedic part I see is Martial scoring.

 

[FireballXL5]

That beautifully coiffed tosspot Giroud will score. You know he will.

 

[groovyalbert]

Not feeling confident for this one bit. This and our game v City next week and I fully expect us to be scrapping for top 4.

I can see us really over-stretching ourselves given the competitions we're still in and the depth of our squad in certain areas. We're already a little bit shot in midfield, an injury to either Fred or Matic and we're in trouble. Matic playing three times in a week is a huge risk.

 

[red4ever 79]

Going to be another absolute shit fest from us. Every game against a big team this year Ole has got literally 8 men behind the ball and 3 fast guys upfront. Expecting no different today.

 

[Foxbatt]

That's not good news at Leicester.

 

[Wilt]

4-0
Bruno 2
Martial 1
Rashford 1

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

Tough game. I’m a bit worried about our midfield with no McTominay or Pogba and if Cavani’s still out that’s a big blow as well, I’m hoping Ole’s playing a bit of mind games though and Edi is fit enough to play.

 

[Havak]

Hope Cavani is fit, but I doubt he's starting. At the moment, I think we're most likely to go with this:

de Gea
Wan-Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Van de Beek Fred
Greenwood Bruno Rashford
Martial​

 

[Devil may care]

Hopefully Matic's legs hold up for this one and I expect James to have a part to play on the counter.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Hope Cavani is fit, but I doubt he's starting. At the moment, I think we're most likely to go with this:

de Gea
Wan-Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Van de Beek Fred
Greenwood Bruno Rashford
Martial​

Can’t see VDB starting.

I think it’s going to be Matic-Fred behind Bruno.

 

[DoomSlayer]

I'd take a draw, considering half of our team seems to be injured.

 

[VP89]

I have no confidence in getting 3 points. I have little confidence of a goal too. We've been terribly cautious in our approach to traditional top 6 sides and our return has been shite. 1 goal against all of our top 6 opponents so far, and obviously, no wins.

If Ole sets us out to go at them, then sure. But I just don't see it happening the way he's set us up in the bigger games.

 

[jderbyshire]

What if I tell you that our double pivot midfield today will be Fred and VDB?

Scott and Pogba are ruled out due to injuries, Matic played full 90 mins on thursday night and also 90 mins vs Newcastle United so Ole might choose Fred-VDB here and he had picked this pair before vs Istanbul.

I'm thinking this as well y'know.

I think Ole might go with the back 3/5, to match Chelsea but also to add extra protection to the depleted pivot.

Something like this maybe.

De Gea
Bailly Maguire Lindelof
Wan-Bissaka VDB Fred Shaw
Fernandes
Greenwood Rashford​

Hopefully Cavani makes the bench. Then if we want to be a bit more adventurous later on we can bring on Telles and Cavani for Lindelof & Greenwood.

 

[Jaxa]

That beautifully coiffed tosspot Giroud will score. You know he will.

Giroud against our CB's

 

[charlenefan]

Arsenal doing us a massive favour, a draw would be a decent result now

 

[Adcuth]

Awful comeback. Bet he got rinsed off camera

 

[PoTMS]

After the Leicester result, this game is no longer a must win for either team, but a must not lose.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Id take a draw.

 

[peridigm]

Ole's done well against Tuchel when he had a much better side. We'll be fine.

 

[RonaldoVII]

Id take a draw.

Was just going to say that. The Leicester result allows it and keeps Chelsea out of reach.

 

[Coops73]

Slim Tim would work better.

He looks like he should be in Kraftwork or Autobahn from the big lebowski.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

A draw isn’t a disaster but it’s a poor result. I said in the first half of the season if you are going to settle for 0-0 at home you simply have to come out and win the away game. Nothing has changed on that front. It’s a shame about our injuries because at full strength we could demolish this Chelsea team. Overall I’d still back us for the win. We just have the better players and match winners.

 

[mav_9me]

Just realized winning this gives us a 9 point cushion to 5th place and gets us in a very comfortable place in top 4 race. Which means that won't happen, we will lose and make it much much harder and closer in the top 4 race. Sigh.

 

[Adcuth]

Do we have the full traveling squad?

 

[Random Task]

4-0
Bruno 2
Martial 1
Rashford 1

Good post.

 

[Adam-Utd]

With no mctominay I suspect we will go 3 at the back for this one and just look to counter. Nervous day incoming!

 

[Cee90]

Never confident playing Chelsea.

 

[red4ever 79]

With no mctominay I suspect we will go 3 at the back for this one and just look to counter. Nervous day incoming!

You mean the standard 5 at the back