Oh and does anybody think that Sarri's obstinacy playing Hazard as a false 9 is a veiled attempt to the Chelsea board that he believes his #9s aren't up to the job? Talks of Higuaín joining seem solid, and I suspect Hazard and Willian will flank him in a front 3 if he does join. Managers have done this in the past, seems strange from a purely tactical point of view given his previous teams.
2/2: Bellerin's injury looked bad. They often are when you go down un-challenged. I haven't heard how long he will be out but I wouldn't be surprised if it is for the rest of the season. I doubt we will buy a replacement RB in the window, even if that is the case, with Maitland-Niles, Lichtsteiner and Jenkinson contracted. Lacazette being subbed before the 70-minute mark despite playing well suggests to me that we have an agreement with Lyon that we pay them, for argument's sake, £10k every time he plays 70+ minutes or maybe a lump sum if he plays 20 or more league games of 70+ minutes etc. There is no reason why he would be subbed otherwise. Of he and Aubameyang, it was Pierre-Emerick who looked tired from all the pressing. We will never get an answer from our dysfunctional, contemptuous club but it has happened under both Wenger and Emery and we get/got BS excuses from both. In light of the nonsense signed into Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's contract, it cannot be ruled out.
1/2: I have been calling for us to use this system since it was used in the 1st half against Brighton and it worked extremely well today. Our pressing was particularly good, hunted in 3s & 4s so that angles were sufficiently covered and space in advanced positions blocked. It needs some work, the back line was jagged at times and the CMs didn't always provide the best cover for the FBs. Both of these will be helped by sticking with the same XI in the same formation for a run of games. Whether Koscielny can do that, I'm not sure. He did play very well after an abysmal few games since his return. At his age, he will need to play just once a week but every week without fail. The upcoming game against Utd shouldn't be a problem but he will not be able to play against Cardiff four days later. He might be the 'weekend' CB partner for Sokratis with Mustafi the 'midweek'. I would certainly retain the fit members of today's team for the game on Friday in the hope we can build some momentum.
I think Sarri tries to use Hazard as did with Mertens back at Napoli. He was a left winger back then, too. Then when circumstances (sold Higuaín & Milik got injured) forced him into the centre, he played better than he ever had before. The logic must be similar, except Hazard hasn't got used to playing inside yet.
@andrew7taylor Giroud is a good (and world cup winning) centre forward. Morata isn't fantastic, but no matter what Hazard must be the left inside forward in this system. Kante should be DMC too. Everything about this Chelsea structure today suggests Sarri doesn't understand football or his players.
@Champion Agreed. I cannot wrap my mind around this...why would you play someone in a position he obviously doesn't want to play and limit your team on purpose...and he has two healthy forwards on the bench!!! They might not be the best in the world or he may not like them but they are there... I just don't get it. He also plays Kante as some sort of attacking midfield which is hilarious. Kovacic also plays some sort of half-winger or whatever you want to describe it...and always subs him for Barkley at around 60 minutes mark...LOL! He is so predictable and bad with his players it's unreal...
@Bmaxillon@moo13@Champion@splint3r - I'm not Sarri myself. You don't have to convince me about Hazard, Giroud, Morata, Kovacic, Kanté or anybody else. I'm just trying to make sense of this situation as it is. I just know that until the end of November Chelsea has been up there with Pool and Man City, then they fell off. Is it the way he's been using Hazard? Maybe. Unless you're omniscient and have access to alternate worlds, you can't say definitely. But you can't say that Sarri doesn't understand football. If he didn't, he wouldn't even be a coach, let alone one who has done what he has done at Empoli and Napoli, including winning 3 Coach of the Year awards.
I am a chelsea fan but this hazard at false 9 is not a good system i dont think. All i have seen in recent weeks are the oppositions centerbacks asleep because there is NO ONE IN THE BOX EVER!!! Arsenal defense is bad but it is hard to see chelsea punishing that with the closest player being 25yd from goal on the wing !! ): under 2.5
I have a feeling that Arsenal might win this match especially if more than 2 goals are scored. Obviously as a Spurs fan, I want Chelsea to beat Arsenal but on their day, Arsenal have a more potent attack. Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal.
@KiraFabri maybe... just maybe... you don't know as much about football as you think you do and you should treat other people's predictions with a bit more respect.
Arsenal defense is so weak this season * Chelsea offense is so weak this season = (who will win the match) so do the math, this is the Equation for today
both teams are sucks those days, Arsenal is really bad in defense ( like always been) and chelsea really bad in attack, 2-1 for Arsenal I think and hope Ozil will have some minutes in this game cuz we don't have a creative MF those last games.
Arsenal 0 - 2 Chelsea Predicted West Ham to beat us last weekend. Almost 90% sure Chelsea will do the same. Arsenal are a crisis, joke club at the moment.
i think this will be under, Arsenal couldnt score against West Ham, only 1 goal against Brighton, while Chelsea are very, very bad in front of the net, thousands of situations and cant score even one, 19 attempts on goal vs Tottenham, same amount against Souhtmapton and nothing. Something tells me it will be very tight.
Hopefully the back 3 is abandoned. It was implemented to stop our porosity but the 'per game' stats when starting with a back 3 vs a back 4 are similar: Points (1.86 vs 1.87); Goals For (2.14 vs 2.07); Goals Against (1.43 vs 1.47). The win percentage is slightly better (57.1 plays 53.3) but included in the 'back 4' stats are the opening two games of the season. Getting the FBs (Kolasinac in particular) further forward is a good idea in theory since our first choice duo are considerably better in the opposition third than our own, but our CB corps is weak. Sokratis/Mustafi/Holding R to L would be fine, for reasons I've said previously, but Koscielny has been terrible since coming back from injury and Lichtsteiner has proved himself to be useless in every position he plays. A back 4 with a 3-man midfield therefore seems the best (or least bad) permutation. I'm not optimistic that we'll strengthen in that area during the window but Mavropanos is fit again so we'll make do as sodding per.
@SteveHyland yes hope that too, our bad defense affect our good attack cuz the wings have more works to do in defense beside helping the attack. just pray to not put the duo ( Koscielny/Monreal) in this game.
Same old same old, stubbornly old-fashioned Sarri. No wonder he has never won a single trophy in his entire career.
but but Sarri Ball .....
Oh and does anybody think that Sarri's obstinacy playing Hazard as a false 9 is a veiled attempt to the Chelsea board that he believes his #9s aren't up to the job? Talks of Higuaín joining seem solid, and I suspect Hazard and Willian will flank him in a front 3 if he does join. Managers have done this in the past, seems strange from a purely tactical point of view given his previous teams.
2/2: Bellerin's injury looked bad. They often are when you go down un-challenged. I haven't heard how long he will be out but I wouldn't be surprised if it is for the rest of the season. I doubt we will buy a replacement RB in the window, even if that is the case, with Maitland-Niles, Lichtsteiner and Jenkinson contracted. Lacazette being subbed before the 70-minute mark despite playing well suggests to me that we have an agreement with Lyon that we pay them, for argument's sake, £10k every time he plays 70+ minutes or maybe a lump sum if he plays 20 or more league games of 70+ minutes etc. There is no reason why he would be subbed otherwise. Of he and Aubameyang, it was Pierre-Emerick who looked tired from all the pressing. We will never get an answer from our dysfunctional, contemptuous club but it has happened under both Wenger and Emery and we get/got BS excuses from both. In light of the nonsense signed into Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's contract, it cannot be ruled out.
@SteveHyland it's great reading comments with substance and actual insight.
@MEHJones- Cheers, though I wish I was categorically wrong about situations like Laca. Doubt I am.
1/2: I have been calling for us to use this system since it was used in the 1st half against Brighton and it worked extremely well today. Our pressing was particularly good, hunted in 3s & 4s so that angles were sufficiently covered and space in advanced positions blocked. It needs some work, the back line was jagged at times and the CMs didn't always provide the best cover for the FBs. Both of these will be helped by sticking with the same XI in the same formation for a run of games. Whether Koscielny can do that, I'm not sure. He did play very well after an abysmal few games since his return. At his age, he will need to play just once a week but every week without fail. The upcoming game against Utd shouldn't be a problem but he will not be able to play against Cardiff four days later. He might be the 'weekend' CB partner for Sokratis with Mustafi the 'midweek'. I would certainly retain the fit members of today's team for the game on Friday in the hope we can build some momentum.
lmao, somebody changed sarri's wikipedia article to say that he's about to get sacked tomorrow
Sarri is way too predictable. Its so easy to nullify them
@falcon_ranger Dreadful manager. Plays his best players out of position and treats Jorginho like a son.
I have no idea how Willian managed to get 5 key passes in this match. I haven't seen any clear chance.
1 shot on target out of 13. Nice job.
blind referees at least 3 obvious corners not given
If Bellerin gets injured, Arsenal can say bye bye to the league title.
@GioMonaldo , League title , lol
I think Sarri tries to use Hazard as did with Mertens back at Napoli. He was a left winger back then, too. Then when circumstances (sold Higuaín & Milik got injured) forced him into the centre, he played better than he ever had before. The logic must be similar, except Hazard hasn't got used to playing inside yet.
@andrew7taylor Hazard CANNOT play the false 9 role. I'm still having nightmares from a match where Roberto Di Matteo tried to play him in that role.
@andrew7taylor Giroud is a good (and world cup winning) centre forward. Morata isn't fantastic, but no matter what Hazard must be the left inside forward in this system. Kante should be DMC too. Everything about this Chelsea structure today suggests Sarri doesn't understand football or his players.
@Champion Agreed. I cannot wrap my mind around this...why would you play someone in a position he obviously doesn't want to play and limit your team on purpose...and he has two healthy forwards on the bench!!! They might not be the best in the world or he may not like them but they are there... I just don't get it. He also plays Kante as some sort of attacking midfield which is hilarious. Kovacic also plays some sort of half-winger or whatever you want to describe it...and always subs him for Barkley at around 60 minutes mark...LOL! He is so predictable and bad with his players it's unreal...
@andrew7taylor But hazard is best winger in PL
@Bmaxillon @moo13 @Champion @splint3r - I'm not Sarri myself. You don't have to convince me about Hazard, Giroud, Morata, Kovacic, Kanté or anybody else. I'm just trying to make sense of this situation as it is. I just know that until the end of November Chelsea has been up there with Pool and Man City, then they fell off. Is it the way he's been using Hazard? Maybe. Unless you're omniscient and have access to alternate worlds, you can't say definitely. But you can't say that Sarri doesn't understand football. If he didn't, he wouldn't even be a coach, let alone one who has done what he has done at Empoli and Napoli, including winning 3 Coach of the Year awards.
They are wasting Hazard on false 9 position.
How can you waste one of the top ten best player in the world like that... Hazard is 1m70 dribbler trying to deal with 4 1m90 defenser
Chelsea need Higuain as soon as possible as Chelsea have striker problems.Hazard is just a midget up front.
@nexus747 Chelsea needs a new manager...one who doesn't play his best players out of position...
Pedro to score
Arsenal wins, 2-1
@koziol.mutant You're dancing right now xD
I am a chelsea fan but this hazard at false 9 is not a good system i dont think. All i have seen in recent weeks are the oppositions centerbacks asleep because there is NO ONE IN THE BOX EVER!!! Arsenal defense is bad but it is hard to see chelsea punishing that with the closest player being 25yd from goal on the wing !! ): under 2.5
OVER 2.5 Goals
CHELSEA Kepa, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Willian, Pedro, Hazard.
ARSENAL Leno, Bellerin, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Ramsey, Guendouzi, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
I have a feeling that Arsenal might win this match especially if more than 2 goals are scored. Obviously as a Spurs fan, I want Chelsea to beat Arsenal but on their day, Arsenal have a more potent attack. Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal.
That's an easy game for Chelsea. I don't know what's wrong with you people who think that Arsenal can get away at least with 1 point lmao
@KiraFabri maybe... just maybe... you don't know as much about football as you think you do and you should treat other people's predictions with a bit more respect.
@KiraFabri I'll be shocked if Arsenal do not win 3-1
Draw.
X-2 4.30
Ladies & Gentlemen Tips for today: Crystal Palace X2 @4.25 / Udinese win @2.20 / Newcastle win @ 2.10 , Total odds @18.00 , Good Luck guys
Chelsea wins 2-1 or draws 1-1. Please put my Arsenal fan friend to shame.
Arsenal defense is so weak this season * Chelsea offense is so weak this season = (who will win the match) so do the math, this is the Equation for today
aubameyang and lacazette 3 goal of the match
chelsea are the better side.
@angelo44 willian too under 5 rate and only hazard and kante and giro and alonso good rate
@angelo44 my freind rudiger and luiz and azplicueta rate under 6 whoscored thats a layer
arsenal will win 4-1 or 3-1
@mohammadand Keep dreamin', playa
Arsenal 0 -1 Chelsea.
both teams are sucks those days, Arsenal is really bad in defense ( like always been) and chelsea really bad in attack, 2-1 for Arsenal I think and hope Ozil will have some minutes in this game cuz we don't have a creative MF those last games.
1-2
1-1 DRAW
1-1
Hi Droids, BTTS and draw...
Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
Arsenal to win and auba to score
Arsenal 0 - 2 Chelsea Predicted West Ham to beat us last weekend. Almost 90% sure Chelsea will do the same. Arsenal are a crisis, joke club at the moment.
Arsenal 1, Chelsea 3. Eden Hazard with a brace!
@tboyjojo Not from the false 9 position.
1-2
Pause or Final X
1-1
i think this will be under, Arsenal couldnt score against West Ham, only 1 goal against Brighton, while Chelsea are very, very bad in front of the net, thousands of situations and cant score even one, 19 attempts on goal vs Tottenham, same amount against Souhtmapton and nothing. Something tells me it will be very tight.
Hopefully the back 3 is abandoned. It was implemented to stop our porosity but the 'per game' stats when starting with a back 3 vs a back 4 are similar: Points (1.86 vs 1.87); Goals For (2.14 vs 2.07); Goals Against (1.43 vs 1.47). The win percentage is slightly better (57.1 plays 53.3) but included in the 'back 4' stats are the opening two games of the season. Getting the FBs (Kolasinac in particular) further forward is a good idea in theory since our first choice duo are considerably better in the opposition third than our own, but our CB corps is weak. Sokratis/Mustafi/Holding R to L would be fine, for reasons I've said previously, but Koscielny has been terrible since coming back from injury and Lichtsteiner has proved himself to be useless in every position he plays. A back 4 with a 3-man midfield therefore seems the best (or least bad) permutation. I'm not optimistic that we'll strengthen in that area during the window but Mavropanos is fit again so we'll make do as sodding per.
@SteveHyland yes hope that too, our bad defense affect our good attack cuz the wings have more works to do in defense beside helping the attack. just pray to not put the duo ( Koscielny/Monreal) in this game.