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Chelsea predictions.

Well I hope we've got some good thermals for the Samba boys. Can't disagree that Chelsea must be strong favorites and man for man are far superior...BUT, sometimes softer factors come into play such as crowd atmosphere, team spirit and individual motivation. And some of their multimillionaire journeymen mightn't take to kindly to the icy weather (or Hughsy). Now get the tactics right and we've got a reasonable chance of snatching it. Hopefully learnt from the Arsenal game. Best if they score first so we stay on the front foot and don't relax. 2:1 to us or could even be another 0-0.
 
Eagleman13 said:
Hughes out injured(stitches top of foot), Chalobah out(ineligible), Guehi back from ban.
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Hughes being out is a blow. He’s been our best midfielder by some distance this season. I hope the back three performs better than the last time Chalobah didn’t play. It was a shambles against Arsenal. One of Guehi and Lacroix needs to step up and organise on the pitch.
 
Willo said:
Chelsea have been defeated in 2 of their last 3 games, only scoring a solitary goal in those 3 matches.
Despite this dip in form I expect them to emerge victorious by 2 goals.
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Despite your somewhat negative predictions of our forthcoming games, your view is clearly based on years of your heuristic support of our beloved club and your wizened knowledge of the elite league at large. In light of the enforced absence of Chalobah and now the news of Hughes ill timed injury preventing his participation, I can understand your no doubt reluctant yet valued view a propos the game tomorrow.
I obviously hope you are wrong but annoyingly my mind is inclining towards your esteemed opinion.
 
Missing Hughes is a blow but Doucoure and Lerma are a fine pairing and Devenny is excellent back up, Richards was playing really well before his injuries so hopefully he can make our back three more effective than it was against Arsenal, they were less of a unit then but it may take a game or two to bed back in, and we had Clyne instead of Munoz v Arsenal and he was guilty of ball watching for at least one of their goals. We really need a performance from Eze and from Mitchell, if we can get as much threat down the left with those two as we do with Sarr and Munoz on the right we'll have a fighting chance. Hopefully we can extend Chelsea's run of bad form, which will be in large part down to how we stop them from playing the football they're capable of. I won't be there but I'd pay these silly ticket prices for the privilige of seeing Cole Palmer - the most talented English footballer since Wayne Rooney. 2-2 or 2-1 to us.
 
PatrickA said:
Chelsea rested some of their best players v Ipswich, perhaps complacently, and deservedly lost the game.
I expect to see all their big guns back (including their strong bench) for the Palace game and think it will be difficult to keep them out.
I think they could score 2, can we match this to make it 2-2?

They have very capable wide players and I do have a concern if , as expected, Richards takes the right sided role in the back 3 behind Munoz at RWB.
For this game at least I would use Clyne for the role as he is comfortable defending this right sided area as he ably demonstrated at the end of last season.
I doubt too many will agree with me, but I have set out my reasoning.
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Clyne might be better these days as a cental defender than a full back, similar thing happened with Martin Kelly, but he was guilty of ball watching v the gunners esp for Jesus's second goal - we were disjointed at the back v Arsenal and you may have spotted something awry with Richards and Munoz, but hopefully Ollie's on to whatever it is and sorts it out, because I was a bit doubtful of Richards at first but I think he's starting to grow as a player.
 
dreamwaverider said:
JDespite your somewhat negative predictions of our forthcoming games, your view is clearly based on years of your heuristic support of our beloved club and your wizened knowledge of the elite league at large. In light of the enforced absence of Chalobah and now the news of Hughes ill timed injury preventing his participation, I can understand your no doubt reluctant yet valued view a propos the game tomorrow.
I obviously hope you are wrong but annoyingly my mind is inclining towards your esteemed opinion.
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Priceless.
 
Willo currently has us on 3 points, but that is for the last 10 seasons, not just this one.

If Cheikh is fully fit then I think he provides better protection for the defence than Hughes, but he hasn't looked very mobile since his return from injury. I'm also concerned about the lack of options if he can't last 90 minutes (which I doubt he can). Despite having had a cheeky dig at Willo I am also predicting a defeat as I think the depth of Chelsea's squad will give them an advantage when it comes to subs. 1-2.
 
Can't see us winning this one with the likelihood that Richards will play right side where he looks like a fish out of water.
I suspect he will start Kamada as well.
If he does then we will get done, just a question of by now many.
 
dreamwaverider said:
Despite your somewhat negative predictions of our forthcoming games, your view is clearly based on years of your heuristic support of our beloved club and your wizened knowledge of the elite league at large. In light of the enforced absence of Chalobah and now the news of Hughes ill timed injury preventing his participation, I can understand your no doubt reluctant yet valued view a propos the game tomorrow.
I obviously hope you are wrong but annoyingly my mind is inclining towards your esteemed opinion.
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With the greatest respect I would not use the word "Esteemed" with reference to 'Yours Truly'.
I am humility personified and a mere mortal amongst all the erudite luminaries who grace HOL.
I am an intellectual vacuum and a limited clunker to boot.
 
We were thumped by Arsenal because we didn't put away our chances and in the end that extra bit of class mattered. With our makeshift defence I think we'll lose today. Chelsea's forward movement is good and they'll want a return after a poor showing against Ipswich. I hope I'm wrong and we can eke out a draw at the very least.
 
The Dolphin said:
Can't see us winning this one with the likelihood that Richards will play right side where he looks like a fish out of water.
I suspect he will start Kamada as well.
If he does then we will get done, just a question of by now many.
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I agree with your observation re Richards on the right of the back 3.
I feel we will be exposed down that side today.
There is also a concern about the central midfield of Doucoure and Lerma, both of whom are vulnerable to a booking leading to the need for a substitution without a like for like sub available.
A draw is the best I can see as I think we’ll concede.
 
With the best will in the world I can't see us gaining even a point today. A full strength Chelsea team will be working full tilt to put the Ipswich defeat behind them and show the world that even the defensive might of CPFC can be broken.

0-1 if we're lucky.
 
We've seen their frailties, so who knows.

Glasner pointed out that a lot of their recent goals are transitional errors. So I suspect its all about us pressing hard at the right time and trying to release Sarr early. Wouldn't be surprised to see his starting position fairly high up.

I know a lot on here say we were terrible against the Arse, I dont think we were great, but IMO that was more a case of 1 side being ruthless.

We seam to make chances against everyone now. Its a case of being clinical.

2-1 Palace for me. Lacroix and Eze
 
We could well be playing Chelsea at the right time.

That being said they are still a very dangerous side even when not playing to their full ability.

I'm going 1-1, which would be a decent point against a top 4 side.
 
A difficult game this. Both teams have had time to prepare which helps Chelsea more than us as they’ve had time to move on from a couple of bad results. Hughes being out is a massive blow for us as Doucoure hasn’t looked at the races this season. Gives us very little off the bench in central midfield either which could be key for the final 20 minutes. I also worry about the back three based on the Arsenal game. Richards had a shocker in that one and it’s a lot for a player who hasn’t played much to come in against a good attacking team. Having said that if we can get the first goal they might get ragged and I could see us squeezing out a narrow win or draw. If they score first I think it could be a thrashing, 3 or 4 nil.
 
Willo said:
With the greatest respect I would not use the word "Esteemed" with reference to 'Yours Truly'.
I am humility personified and a mere mortal amongst all the erudite luminaries who grace HOL.
I am an intellectual vacuum and a limited clunker to boot.
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Without wanting to swell your head too much, I have to disagree.
Even though your match predictions are rarely positive, your in depth knowledge of football activities both past and present is impressive.
 
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