Chelsea 1 MOL Vidi 0

[Michael Tucker]

 

Please use this thread for all posts relating to our Europa League match against MOL Vidi at Stamford Bridge, before, during and after the game.

The Moderators will be keeping an eye on things, so let's try to keep it intelligent.

Please note that this un-moderated forum is a privilege and its abuse will result in the suspension of your account.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00, Thursday, 4th October, 2018 (Local UK time/date).

[Mark Kelly]

Please play some prospects Mo.

[My Blood Is Blue]

Surely we'll see CHO and Ampadu in this one, at least off the bench

[paulw66]

57 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

Surely we'll see CHO and Ampadu in this one, at least off the bench

Surely European games don't come much easier? Need to rest the key players. Squad is big enough this year, finally. 

[chiswickblue]

Time to make 11 changes. 

Caballero 

Zappacosta Cahill Christensen Palmieri

Ampadu Fabregas RLC

Moses Morata CHO

Subs: Bulka, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Barkley, Kanté, Willian, Giroud

[The_Ghost]

2 hours ago, chiswickblue said:

Time to make 11 changes. 

Caballero 

Zappacosta Cahill Christensen Palmieri

Ampadu Fabregas RLC

Moses Morata CHO

Subs: Bulka, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Barkley, Kanté, Willian, Giroud

Interesting eleven. I am however almost 100% certain Kepa will start most of our EL games. Before the last game he had never played in this competition. I think the club is quite keen for him to have a full European season under his belt before returning to CL football (hopefully) next year. 

--------------------Arrizabalaga

Zappacosta-Cahill-Christensen-Emerson

------Barkley----Fabregas----Loftus-Cheek

------Moses--------Morata-------Willian

Subs: Bulka, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Ampadu, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud

Missing out: Caballero, Green, Rüdiger^, Alonso*, Jorginho*, Kanté*, Drinkwater, Hazard*, Pedro^

*=rested

^=not worth the risk 

[My Blood Is Blue]

I hope we'll see CHO and Ampadu, but I have feeling Sarri may go for a stronger team again, until qualification from the group is secure, so I don't expect both to start. I think it'll be:

Kepa

Zappacosta Cahill Christensen Emerson

Kante Fabregas Barkley

Pedro Morata CHO

Subs: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Ampadu, Kovacic, Hazard, Willian, Morata

[Droy was my hero]

15 hours ago, The_Ghost said:

Missing out: Caballero, Green, Rüdiger^, Alonso*, Jorginho*, Kanté*, Drinkwater, Hazard*, Pedro^

*=rested

^=not worth the risk 

So my Research takes me to this site: http://footballdatabase.com/clubs-ranking/paok-thessaloniki-fc

Where I found that Chelsea are (it claims) the 12th best team in the world.
So on the basis that the website is correct to +/-11 places (and by far...)

Chelsea 12th
PAOK  53rd
BATE  98th
MOL Vidi  206th

I reckon we are in for an easy ride this week, and even if not, it is a 3 point game not a 6 point game as MOL are not going to be challenging for top 2.
(and they already lost 2-0 at home to BATE).

In other words none of the senior players need to play, we could put out the U23 team I reckon.

Or rather the only criteria for selection is who most needs game time, albeit not serious game time.
(If I were RLC or Drinkwater I'd be pushing hard not for this game but for the Man City away Development/U23 game on October 20th.   That is where they can properly show their stuff.  And if I recall Drinkwater isn't even listed for Europa)

--------------------Cabellero

Moses-Cahill-Christensen-Emerson

------Fabregas----Ampadu----Loftus-Cheek

------Zappacosta--------Morata-------Barkley

Ball winners not needed in this game.
Ampadu - lets try him in the Jorgy role.
Fabregas needs to show he can play alongside a Jorgy, not just instead of him.

Zappacosta is a far more likely RW option IMO than Moses so play him there.
Morata desperately needs a couple of goals.
Barkley needs to be put somewhere his defence shredding passing does some good.

CHO first sub.  In terms of development he may be a priority, but this is still a time of bedding down the first team squad, and I don't see him pushing for a place there just yet.  Big loan season for him next season or maybe January.

Subs - not many to choose from, so many will be U18s with no hope of getting on.  I do expect the seniors to turn up and watch though.

[Droy was my hero]

To add:  lots of senior pros wanting/needing to put in a good performance.  Rubbish oppo.  6-0 assuming Fabregas plays and shows Sarri how to break down 10 man defences.

[McCreadie]

...of postmen and taxi drivers.