Chelsea Banter Archive October 22 2017

22 Oct 2017 20:26:54
My XI vs Everton:

Caballero

Cahill Christensen Clarke-Salter

Zappacosta Bakayoko Ampadu Kenedy

Willian Batshuayi Musonda

Subs:

Eduardo, Rudiger, Sterling, Drinkwater, Fabregas, Pedro, Morata.

22 Oct 2017 20:35:01
I would even play Christensen in middle and rudiger at back, completely out of position but bakyoko looked knackered and with only him and cesc we need them both rested, the boy can play a pass but need to really mix Ymir up to rest players, love sterling to get run out.

23 Oct 2017 04:10:48
I'd like to see Bakayoko giving a rest but with our injury list in midfield i can't see it. As long as Musonda is starting it'll keep a lot of fans happy. Also i was really impressed with Kennedy against Forrest, his forward runs were great and had the pace to get up and down the picth all game, another solid performance (if he starts) and maybe he could start to seriously challenge Alonsi for that starting position.

23 Oct 2017 09:49:59
The headache for this game is in the central midfield.

22 Oct 2017 16:12:52
Alright guys new user to this site so I just thought I'd give my opinion's on how we're currebtly doing I've been following Chelsea Home and Away for around 20 years now but I mainly just go to games as I prefer the atmosphere better.

We seem to have lost our identity this year and I really think we should consider going back to 4-3-3 soon. Conte did well clearing out the dead wood last season or giving them squad roles instead and he needs to do it again. Cahill, Fabregas and Willian are the main three. Cahill has been a great servant not the most eye catching defender but now seems to be declining. He should be a squad player this year before sold although the criticism he gets of some fans is disgusting. Fabregas seems to be immune from heavy criticism due to his passing but it's like playing with ten men when we're defending as he's just way to slow. I've never really took a liking to Willian since he's been here he's not direct enough for me and slows down way to many attack's. Pedro is so under-rated it's criminal he will be a fantastic squad player for us if we can eventually upgrade that right wing position because we haven't replaced Robben properly since he left. Alonso has a sensational left foot and has scored a lot of important goals for us but his defending and pace getting back is really poor. In some ways he seems like the new Ivanovic.

As for our summer signings I am happy with them to a certain extent. Morata is over the moon with he's a complete striker in my eyes and once he settles he will eventually reach that world class level. Bakayoko has had a mixed start I think it will take him a year to settle similar to Pogba. Although it's hard to play in a midfield two with Fabregas yesterday he was just giving the ball away all the time and also stupid fouls. I do think he will be a force once he adapts to the English game though. Rudiger has been very good I prefer seeing him play with Dave and Christensen as I think they are our most solid trio. Drinkwater is very under rated in my eyes and I think him and Kante will be our first choice central midfielders when fit. They complement each other well, they both work hard and Drinkwater can also pick out a decent pass.

As for next year it's clear we have problems in terms of our squad. Conte seems to think it's quantity and not quality but I think it's both. I only value three of our current squad as world class and they are Azpi, Kante and Hazard. If we could actually bring in the right players I'd love to see us go back to 4-3-3. Cahill, Fabregas and Willian should be moved on. Azpi back to RB with Christensen and Rudiger central. I know it's hard to get these two but I'd love to see Alex Sandro and Nainggolan in these team. Nainggolan is absolutely mustard I'd love to see him in a midfield three with Kante and Loftus-Cheek next year that would have everything. Loftus-Cheek has shown his quality at Palace in such a short space of time and next year he should be ready to compete. We desperately need a box to box leader in midfield who can do it all.

Our main problem for years has been the RW position going forward. Pedro has come close to filling it but he's not the world class player we need. Willian's not good enough. If City have a clear run at Sanchez I'd not only question Marina and Emenalo I'd start to question Roman too. Sanchez is a proper Conte player too. Sanchez or Griezmann and our trio would be complete.

Antonio is the best manager we've had since Jose in his first spell he worked absolutely wonders last year winning the league with a poor squad and we can't afford to lose him. Anyway sorry to drag on with my opinions but that was just an insight into how we're currently playing.

22 Oct 2017 16:37:48
Your post was semi interesting until you said "YOU WOULD START TO QUESTION ROMAN"! Unbelievable mate.

22 Oct 2017 16:53:55
Very good post Frank.

22 Oct 2017 16:56:00
Antonio Conte has never used in his career 433. He used 442,3142,3421,4141.
To play 433 one need at least 5 ideally 6 CM and Chelsea has 4 with only 2 fit to play.
Don't complicate things, this is real life not FIFA.

22 Oct 2017 17:35:34
Antibot, that’s a lot of combinations!
Could you also include all the shape changes Conte has made during all our games?
I’m going to lay down now, I’ve got a headache!

22 Oct 2017 19:03:43
Nainggolan smokes and partied heavily. Given his age I’d steer far far clear of him. Also the fact that you seem to think Bakayoko will be force next year but then don’t include him in your starting line up? Azpi is a sensational defender but his attacking output unfortunately isn’t good enough to play RB or RWB imo.
There was a lot of speculation that Fabregas would move on last summer, and I think he would have if we hadn’t lost both Matic and Chalobah or had been able to bring in a replacement. So I do think he’ll probably leave next summer.
I do agree that Cahill needs to start being phased out of the starting line up as Christensen has shown to be up to the standard whenever he has started so far and Rudiger has shown glimpses of being able to cement a starting place so both should be given opportunities ahead of Cahill.
We definitely do need to sign a RW, unfortunately I don’t think we’ll go for Sanchez despite him being an almost ideal player due to his wage demands. Whilst only paper talk, his wages would far far exceed Hazard and the rest of the squad and I just don’t see that happening for us.
Personally I’d go all out for Dybala or if not him then maybe Lemar or Berardi or even someone a bit less finished like Pulisic.

22 Oct 2017 19:26:57
Welcome Frank hope to see many more posts from you. Conte won't drop Cahill purelly because if he does then he will seem like a failure because he made him captain. don't like Cahill aswell myself. I panic everytime Cahill gets the ball. He either passes it back or he dumps it over the sideline. I tjink he is trying to play forward more often to fit into our style of play but seems to not work out for him. He will never be a JT. Move Luis to midfield and Christiansen to CB. This will be a strong midfield for our current style.

22 Oct 2017 23:26:46
Let's not forget that JT was captain last year and was used only as a squad player (how many games did he start? )
I can't see why Cahill should be an automatic choice just because he's the club captain.

23 Oct 2017 17:03:03
TomB are you a hypocrite? Great post? What happened to I supported Chelsea when Chelsea was down, Roman gave Chelsea a new life and then you write great post to a guy who would question Roman Abramovich.?

23 Oct 2017 18:32:03
Never been called a hypocrite before but my guess is your remembering my total reverence to Roman?
I didn’t pick Frank up on his negative referral to RA because in the overall context, Franks post was relivent and thought provoking.
I promise to be more vigilant in the future!

23 Oct 2017 20:20:07
Just as an add on. I’m surprised that even most trivial of posts receive such a following!

22 Oct 2017 11:20:54
Not really sure why Bakayoko is getting so much abuse and negativity? You all realise he does 2 men's running every single game when he plays next to Fabregas? Let's face facts, Fabregas should not be starting in a 2 man midfield. Only way he can play is if we play a midfield 3 with Kante and Bakayoko, Cesc is effectively a luxury player, good on the ball but a liability when we don't have it. I think you'll see a better input from Bakayoko when he isn't required to cover Fabregas's running too, it probably explains why he looks so tired!

22 Oct 2017 11:34:59
Agree with this to some degree but he was also have the ball away and giving sloppy fouls away. But agree when he has right partner ( Kante ) and someone else depending on formation he will then show his qualities,

22 Oct 2017 12:32:25
I agree that Fabregas is a luxury player, a nice luxury to have but he should only play where we can dominate and at the moment that is debatable who that might be against. Superb passer of the ball but when he is not doing that pressure is brought to bear on others. I have said before that Bayakoko needs a year in the Premiership to come to terms with the pressure which is causing him to waste energy. If he could slow himself down, pick his passing better and think about his tackles; he is a bit 'bull in a china shop' at the moment.

22 Oct 2017 15:15:05
Bakayoko was getting too much positivities without any reason. Chelsea supporters should wake up and realize reality. Talented player who might or might not get to expected level in the future. The problem is that many took him for granted. He is 23 and it will take time for him to reach expected level. Take of the pink glasses and try to see things the way thay really are.

22 Oct 2017 22:06:34
Let’s not try to judge players after just nine games in the premiership!

22 Oct 2017 05:15:58
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Premier League Match Previews Sunday 22nd October 2017