Chelsea (A) 20/01/25 - Build up & Match Thread

[Jinky]

Just about to sit and watch Vitors pre-match presser so might as well start this up.

Without hearing what he has to say, I would switch to 3-5-2 for this one. The defence is still an issue, regardless of who we play in there - but the extra body in midfield will help and it also means we don't have to play Hwang or Guedes.

Sa
Agbadou Santi RAN
Semedo Andre Doyle J.Gomes R. Gomes
JSL Cunha
​

The defence is horrible. Santi can only play in the middle of a three (and isn't very good) - Doc, we all know what he is. Aggy should be on the right, not the left. Dawson could come back in but needs to play in the middle - but then Santi doesn't have the pace to play either side. Honestly, our defence is horrific.

 

[Jinky]

Press conference.

- Lemina is training with the first team. Apologised to the team and Vitor this morning for how he reacted before the Newcastle game. Mario said he is "prepared to help and fight with the team until a solution is found". It sounds like Vitor is allowing him back in to the group and I wouldn't be surprised to see him feature on Monday. Vitor said it "depends on his mind". Refused to answer any questions regarding interest in Mario from other clubs.

- Cunha hasn't trained today and "is a bit sick with the flu". Hopes to have him training tomorrow. Err, Vitor, having had the flu myself before Christmas, I can tell you he will not recover in 24 hours. Doesn't sound ideal.

- Semedo is training and hopes to have him involved, but then started talking about "1 week/2 week" so God knows.

- Bouba is back working with the squad. Toti definitely out.

 

[Lycan]

Palmer, Fernandez, Lavia & Colwill all doubts for Chelsea

 

[Kenny]

Palmer, Fernandez, Lavia & Colwill all doubts for Chelsea

Down to their last 35 players!

 

[Jinky]

More from press conference:

- "we need to look and learn on how we concede goals and how we score goals at the other end. This is the basis on where we start with training the next day. We have potential to improve a lot. When we lose a game, we view the game and then we correct where we went wrong and where we can improve. We need to defend inside the box and this we must improve. Not only see the ball in the box, but see the player"

- "we cannot lose easy balls and balls in transition because this leaves us unbalanced. In this league, one mistake equals one goal conceded. We cannot lose in the 1 v 1's in these moments"

- "when we are attacking it is the decision making. the last pass, the last shot, the position, the angle - we need to improve together"

- Had conversation with Cunha. He must be committed in all moments, every moment in game. If we lose the ball, he must be the example to the team - work hard, back and recover position. These are the behaviours of the players at the very top level. This is what he demands from Cunha at all times. Said he has the magic and unpredictability to change a game.

- On Chelsea - have identity and style. We go there trying to play our OWN style. "I'm not the kind of manager to switch styles and things around just because we lose a game - doesn't sound like a switch to 3-5-2 is happening then.

- "to play with three midfielders is different to playing with two. Different profiles. With two players they cover lots of meters. If we play with three in midfield, we cannot play with a 10"

 

[mangotree]

Dawsons' not the answer, but if he's fit, I can't see him doing any WORSE than the defence in the last two league games. I like Santi when he has the ball at his feet, looks fluid and can pick a pass, unfortunately, he can't actually defend, which negates the previous points. He was awful against Forest and Newcastle, a real ball-watching defender.

Sa
Agbadou Dawson Santi (unfortunately until Toti back).
Semedo Andre J.Gomes R. Gomes
Cuhna Larson Ait-Nouri

If not, put Ait-Nouri at LWB and add Doyle to the mix.

 

[The Bear]

Dawson is better than Doc so he needs to come back in. Not ideal but needs must.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Dawson is better than Doc so he needs to come back in. Not ideal but needs must.

I'm not sure he is anymore.

Everton and Spurs performances from Dawson were horrific.

 

[Tony Towner]

I posted after Newcastle I don't want to see Agbadou on the left or Bueno in the team, he's awful in the middle so I definitely don't want to see him on the left. Dawson will at least battle even though he shouldn't be near a PL starting 11 these days. I think the biggest criticism I could give our recruitment is we badly miss Toti Gomes who'd struggle to make the bench for most other PL teams.
Doherty-Agbadou-RAN/Agbadou-Dawson-RAN or at a stretch Agbadou-Dawson-Doherty

 

[Sniffer]

I posted after Liverpool I don't want to see Agbadou on the left or Bueno in the team, he's awful in the middle so I definitely don't want to see him on the left. Dawson will at least battle even though he shouldn't be near a PL starting 11 these days. I think the biggest criticism I could give our recruitment is we badly miss Toti Gomes who'd struggle to make the bench for most other PL teams.
Doherty-Agbadou-RAN/Agbadou-Dawson-RAN or at a stretch Agbadou-Dawson-Doherty

Some foresight you have TT for knowing that Agbadou was going to sign in September and about his frailties on the left.

 

[Tony Towner]

No idea where that cane from...just woken up is the excuse I'll go for

 

[Alan]

I’m a huge sucker for the “Cunha must set the example” stuff.

Talks a good game, does Vitor.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Do we think RAN at LCB is a good idea? Really?

 

[NicholasG1973]

Do we think RAN at LCB is a good idea? Really?

If we weren’t so threadbare for quality, he’d be one of the players that needs a rocket up his arse.

Nowhere near as good as he can be - looks half arsed a lot of the time and flashes of brilliance come with flashes of invisibility.

Probably a mixture of believing his own hype and the fact there’s no one remotely as good to take his place.

 

[Tony Towner]

Do we think RAN at LCB is a good idea? Really?

As opposed to Bueno in the middle then yes.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

We've tried everything at CB now haven't we?

Doc
Lemina
RAN
Semedo
Toti
Dawson
Mosquera
Bueno
Agbadou

Just the nine, any more?

Pond must be fed up off

 

[Kenny]

After the last 2 games in front of goal I would pop Larsen in there next

 

[slink]

He’s not going to do it but i’d be going to a back 4. We haven’t got 3 centre backs and it will close the gaps between players as in transition we’ve been caught out in the last 2 league games again with wing backs. Not going to happen though so i genuinely don’t know what i’d do because apart from Agbadou playing on the right i wouldn’t want any of the others to play in the middle or on the left.

 

[1986]

Cunha with flu - that's the last thing we need .

I see Chelsea as a key game . It's the first game back where we have ( or were supposed to have ) all our key players back available and fit.....Semedo , Andre and Cunha .
If two of the three above are a bit iffy , then that changes things clearly .

Two 3 - 0 defeats in a row is a problem , we can't allow that . We need to score on Monday and be well in the game in the second half . We need to come away from it with something to hang our hat on . The following few fixtures are tough on paper , but a strong performance on Monday should set the tone going forward .

I simply can't see us starting with Doc - Bueno - Agbadou at the back . Surely he will change something there .

 

[Tony Towner]

I'm hoping flu is that generic term people use which really means a cold