Ampadu (David Luiz look alike) is a really good young prospect we signed this summer for a league 2 side. Just turned 17. Dujon Sterling (most recent sub) is a winger who we have played a good amount at wingback since conte took over. Incredibly pace and skill. Really good potential. Probably not close to ready defensively to play for the first team. Probably will get a league 1 or possibly championship loan next season
Rudiger’s Long balls and crossing are so far superior to cahill. Having rudiger and Azpi as outside CBs vastly improves the flow of the team. I will admit I was wrong on rudiger. Looks so much like zouma in defense and I didn’t understand the need but his ability on the ball is vastly superior.
Just had it streaming on my phone at work so wasn't paying full attention but my god Rudiger was dropping dimes from defense. I've never been a Cahill hater but he's the fifth best CB on the team right now, particularly when we play 2 midfielders and need a bit more passing dynamism from the back.
https://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2017/09/diego-costa-transfer-agreed.html Official on the website. How does this work outside of the window? Edit: NM, seems we'll let him go train with them until January when the move will be finalized. Spoiler and we'll acquire Griezmann
So much to love with that play. Bakayako’s steal and run with pace and power, azpilicueta’s incredible pass and morata’s run, first touch and cool finish. What a fucking move.
willian has to lead the EPL in counter attacks fucked up. I dont know if thats a stat they keep but I have never seen a player worse in the final 3rd with as much skill as willian.
wasnt a fan of cahill sub over zappacosta but I didnt realize crouch came on. Plan was probably to pick on azpi. moving him out wide and having 3 big CBs in there to deal with crouch is the right move so good on conte.
Our defense has gone to absolute shit once cahill went in for Azpi at CB. I dont know what it is but cahill cant even seem to defend anymore let alone play out the back. you can tell he is just low on confidence. similar to last season before the switch to 3 at the back.
Truthfully if you were to tell me I could have any 3 CMs in the premier league in order my choices would be kante, pogba and bakayoko in that order. Bakayoko still has a few flaws but he is 2 years younger than pogba. He doesn’t have the YouTube highlights but he is so fucking good.
I am a Chelsea fan. I have been trained that CMs have to be box to box and players like KDB are only number 10s. Mourinho conditioned me to know this
Very excited for the game today. Will be a big test for the players. I think conte has learned that you need bakayoko and kante in the midfield and that you need 3-5-2 to play cesc. I hope he has learned that rudiger should be the guy at LCB. Out of the two “big” teams we have played I thought we played an even game against Tottenham and got a bit lucky we won but had no hazard. Against Arsenal we played cesc in a 2 man and cahill which hurt our ability to play out from the back and get the ball into attack. To me, rudiger has to start and the decision is Pedro or cesc and formation based unless he decides to replicate the Tottenham game and put Luiz in midfield. Projected lineup Courtois Moses Azpi Luiz Rudiger Alonso Cesc Kante Bakayoko Hazard Morata
Atletico Madrid starting lineup (4-4-2): Oblak | Filipe Luis, Lucas, Godin (c), Juanfran | Carrasco, Thomas, Koke, Saul | Griezmann, Correa Substitutes from: Moya, Savic, Gimenez, Gabi, Gaitan, Vietto, Torres Chelsea starting lineup (3-5-2): Courtois | Cahill (c), David Luiz, Azpilicueta | Alonso, Kante, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Moses | Hazard, Morata Substitutes from: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Zappacosta, Pedro, Willian, Batshuayi
Really worried about our ability to play out the back with cahill in. Have a feeling he continues his theme of passing backward and sideways instead of forward like the other 4 CBs are capable of. Glad we are moving to a 3-5-2 and attempting to sure up the midfield a bit more though.