Imagine replacing Pedro with a suddenly alive hazard as well? Starting in defense Ivanovic, while clearly not a star at RB has stabilized and hasn't been a liability the last few games. In defense I think it is obvious that matic wasn't the stabilizing factor he needed to be which caused cesc to think and try too much in defense and in the end bring nothing to the table. Mikel is not world class but at least accepts his role. Cesc being freed up has gotten the ball forward and allowed Costa, Oscar and Willian to play more. You also see Costa actually making runs in the box. I still think Pedro is nothing more then a sub and would rather see Kenedy or Traore over him
Best league game they've played in months perhaps in the last calendar year. Pedro was poor but put in a tough situation w/ the Hazard injury. Everyone else did well IMO, even Ivan. Oscar really grew into the game, really encouraging if Hazard is out for a bit. Still no youngsters tho. Would love to see RLC and Kenedy get time, if not a start.
Hazard being out could be a blessing in disguise, he's been a shell of his former self this season. The problem is you know how good he is capable of being, so you almost have to try and keep playing him if fit.
Pretty sure he is already done and dusted for City. That said, I'm sure Roman could have a few pals putin a good word to sway Pep towards London.
Mourinho is gone and we are playing scunthorpe in the FA Cup. If we don't play youth now we never will. Would love to see Bertrand Traore/Kenedy/RLC get a run but I have my doubts we see any of them in the starting XI
I was going to say good finish by Diego but looks like he might not have touched it. Either way it is nice to see Diego in the right area. Things happen when you cross to a good striker who is making the right runs Really hate this lineup though. Tells me that we won't see any youth until we are mathematically eliminated from any European spots and/or relegation
watching the U21 squad on NBCSN is kind of fun. Future stars of Sunderland/West Ham/WBA/Newcastle on display.
Anyone else surprised we have not added one player yet? I am not really a fan of the January window but I expected a panic buy or 2 for sure. I wonder if Roman has written the year off and is just planning a £200m summer with the new coach.
managed to hit both of his legs, impressive. Lukaku standing up 4 guys on the goal, would be nice if we hadn't sold him
Deserved the point but clearly offside, fuck it. No one will feel bad for us when the shoe is on the other foot.
Our team this lunchtime is Collins; Dabo, Aina, Davey, Baba Rahman; Loftus-Cheek, Houghton; Atsu, Musonda, Traore; Bamford. #CFCU21 Looks like with the midweek having no first team games hiddink allowed our fringe young players to all play in the u21 game. No surprise we rocked QPR. Very strong lineup. Some of these guys have got to start getting games once top 4 is eliminated
Daily mail running with an article that hiddink is seriously considering musonda for the bench vs Arsenal, a possible cameo depending on how the game goes and inclusion in the first team moving forward. Pedro, while the effort is there and he runs hard, does not do enough for me and in this lost season, we should be seeing Kenedy, Traore or musonda. Also for my post yesterday that u21 game was a "friendly" behind closed doors so it won't effect anyone in that game (Bamford and atsu) from being eligible for another loan. Some are saying there were scouts from more then a few teams in Europe looking at possible loans and hiddink also giving a chance for them to prove they could be a part of the first team this season
Projected starting XI for Arsenal Courtois Ivanovic Terry Zouma Azpi Mikel Cesc Hazard Oscar Willian Remy I think hiddink would be wise to play a better pressing lineup with Willian as a #10 and Kenedy down the wing or RLC as a #10 but I don't think he will do that and I expect a similar lineup to the one he has been fielding but no Costa (injury), the return of hazard and mikel over matic after matic' poor performance vs everton
A guy who scores a goal every 3 games in Brazil, most of those goals coming against teams like scunthorpe to us in cup games. What isn't to like? Seriously Chelsea has absolutely no leadership or vision. I would say Bamford is a better player than pato right now. So is Bertrand Traore who was better in a better league in holland than pato has been in Brazil. Chelsea are trying to one up the San Francisco 49ers in trying to become the textbook example of absolutely ruining a championship level team in record time Need a strong manager during the summer who can takeover, right the ship and cut the fat or Roman needs to just outspend the problem and drop £250 million. If not I really don't see us as a top 4 side even next year judging by the transfer decisions made by people outside mourinho since the summer that brought hazard and Oscar. Mourinho sold people too early but we haven't bought courtois, mata, de Bruyne, hazard, Oscar, Willian. We are buying pato, Djibouti, cuadrado, falcao and other outright flops
Locked up Ivanovic on a one year extension with an option for another year. Below average move if the option is Chelsea's. Absolutely horrific move if the option is his. Apparently giving him £120k/week which I believe makes him the highest paid or at least in the top 3 highest paid fullback in England for a guy who would be starting at RB for maybe 5 teams in the EPL on current form
Thought of this yesterday and no idea why i remembered it but... Thoughts on thread title change to "Pato, Pato, Guus"?
great save by cech and clear off the line. could be 2-0 although they have had 1 or 2 great chances as well. team set up to win 1-0 with the matic/mikel pivot but with cesc having a dominant performance in the center of the park right now I wonder if Hazard for Matic, move cesc back and let hazard and oscar run the counter attacks would set us up better to get a 2nd or 3rd goal and ensure that one defensive error doesnt cost us points