Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 1

[JaneB]

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

The match is scheduled to kick off at 13:30 hours on Sunday, 1st September 2024 (Local UK time/date)

[thevelourfog]

Oh crap, did this match get moved? I had it down for Saturday for some reason. Guess that's the first match of the season I'll be missing.

Just realised it'll be because of the Servette second leg, won't it.

Edited August 23 by thevelourfog

[JaneB]

Ref: Jarred Gillett

VAR: Michael Oliver

[My Blood Is Blue]

I presume we will see the following lineup, as Lavia is still out.

Get the win and go into the international break in a good position and on a high.

[chiswickblue]

2 hours ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

I presume we will see the following lineup, as Lavia is still out.

Get the win and go into the international break in a good position and on a high.

This XI, plus maybe Tosin, James, Lavia and Nkunku need to be playing 80% of league minutes this season if we're going to finish in the top 4. The rest of the squad isn't good enough.

[My Blood Is Blue]

14 hours ago, chiswickblue said:

This XI, plus maybe Tosin, James, Lavia and Nkunku need to be playing 80% of league minutes this season if we're going to finish in the top 4. The rest of the squad isn't good enough.

Agreed, although I’m less convinced by Tosin, but we’ll see.

Interested to see what happens with Lavia, because IMO the best pairing in CM is Lavia and Caicedo, but that means no place for Enzo, which the club won’t be happy about, but if you try and force him in along with Lavia and Caicedo, you’re left with just two positions for Nkunku, Palmer, Madueke, Neto, Felix and Sancho if he has actually signed. You’ll also be pushing Palmer and Nkunku out wide, which is lessening the impact they have on the game. Mynfrar therefore, is that Lavia gets sacrificed for Enzo, which I think will be a terrible decision.

Also interested to see where Nkunku plays, can he play in the same team as Palmer, as arguably they both play best more centrally.

[Sciatika]

I suspect Lavia and Caicedo will be sharing minutes, one or the other, paired with Enzo or one of the AMs playing slightly deeper.

[chiswickblue]

4 minutes ago, Sciatika said:

I suspect Lavia and Caicedo will be sharing minutes, one or the other, paired with Enzo or one of the AMs playing slightly deeper.

As Chukwuemeka didn't leave, hopefully he gets some minutes in midfield so we don't have to see too much of KDH.

[Miguelito07]

2 hours ago, chiswickblue said:

As Chukwuemeka didn't leave, hopefully he gets some minutes in midfield so we don't have to see too much of KDH.

thats not going to happen - dont even think he played any of the pre-seasono games

[DannyLB]

3 hours ago, Miguelito07 said:

thats not going to happen - dont even think he played any of the pre-seasono games

He featured in one very briefly but indeed, the squad is set. It would take special circumstances (like another wave of injuries) for excluded players coming back into the fold and really, Chilwell is the only one that would be likely, if at all. 

[NoblyBobly]

This is the first “must win game” of the season.  The players now know what the squad is and also the frustration of many of the fans. They need to be on it and focused. Let’s go into the international break with some calm and some hope. We need to back the team now and they need to show us that Wolves wasn’t a fluke . 

[Chelsea_Matt]

I don’t understand why he persists with Enzo and Caicedo, who looks half the player when he has to cover for Teddy Bear Legs weakling Fernandez. 

Lavia’s injury record is for me already very concerning - another Reece James it seems.

But a win going into the break would be great to build on last week. Let’s hope we can do it without relying too much on Palmer. 👀😬💯

[Mark Kelly]

Please god we win this one. Palace c sold their best defender and Trev can't play against us so we should be fine if we turn up. 

And if we don't turn up then they can all do one. 

[east lower]

25 minutes ago, Chelsea_Matt said:

I don’t understand why he persists with Enzo and Caicedo, who looks half the player when he has to cover for Teddy Bear Legs weakling Fernandez. 

Lavia’s injury record is for me already very concerning - another Reece James it seems.

But a win going into the break would be great to build on last week. Let’s hope we can do it without relying too much on Palmer. 👀😬💯

Maybe because he tried TBL at ‘10’ and he was a disaster. He (Maresca) knows he has to play Fernandez, so will sacrifice Caicedo’s legs and physical wellbeing to squeeze him in somewhere.

I watched Maresca with Fernandez just after the final whistle at Wolves, believe me Fernandez is the first name on the teamsheet, when a fit (if) Lavia is available it will be interesting to see how Maresca copes.

If could change, if Maresca’s job is at risk - but I doubt it. 

We’ve a new untouchable.

[chara]

34 minutes ago, Chelsea_Matt said:

I don’t understand why he persists with Enzo and Caicedo, who looks half the player when he has to cover for Teddy Bear Legs weakling Fernandez. 

Lavia’s injury record is for me already very concerning - another Reece James it seems.

But a win going into the break would be great to build on last week. Let’s hope we can do it without relying too much on Palmer. 👀😬💯

Watched the Wolves highlights last night..as much as to get the Sevette game out of my mind as anything...watching the absolutely perfectly weighted passes from Cole to Madueke (and other similar moments plus the goal) was like watching a great snooker player making an effortless strike to pocket a ball,

So many similar through balls are too heavy and outpace the player but Cole's almost gentle contacts were perfect.

While on it watching KDB stroking and strolling through the West Ham game was a delight,

Trying to be positive as we all ponder on the upcoming game wondering which Chelsea will turn up..at least we know there are two possibilities!

[Chelsea_Matt]

28 minutes ago, east lower said:

Maybe because he tried TBL at ‘10’ and he was a disaster. He (Maresca) knows he has to play Fernandez, so will sacrifice Caicedo’s legs and physical wellbeing to squeeze him in somewhere.

I watched Maresca with Fernandez just after the final whistle at Wolves, believe me Fernandez is the first name on the teamsheet, when a fit (if) Lavia is available it will be interesting to see how Maresca copes.

If could change, if Maresca’s job is at risk - but I doubt it. 

We’ve a new untouchable.

TBL 🤣🤣

Do you think part of Maresca’s brief was to get the best out of Fernandez? It’s just that while I don’t doubt his talent, I do doubt his suitability for the PL. 👀😬

[VA96]

4 hours ago, DannyLB said:

He featured in one very briefly but indeed, the squad is set. It would take special circumstances (like another wave of injuries) for excluded players coming back into the fold and really, Chilwell is the only one that would be likely, if at all. 

He's back training with the group 

b

[east lower]

12 minutes ago, Chelsea_Matt said:

TBL 🤣🤣

Do you think part of Maresca’s brief was to get the best out of Fernandez? It’s just that while I don’t doubt his talent, I do doubt his suitability for the PL. 👀😬

Should have been the brief of all the coaches, but that fits all players not just TBL.

Just my take, but that’s what happens when you prioritise the monetary aspect's, as a higher priority than the footballing ones. 

Last season showed we were a better team without him (apologists will say he was injured and we didn’t see the best of him). Watched him before and after the hernia op now and he just cannot use whatever his talents are to any consistent effect in this league. No disgrace to admit it and move on, BUT there are other agenda’s other than what’s the best for the team at play, and that’s been created and allowed to fester and grow by the owners.

I’ve no time for him (TBL) as a person or a player. Gallagher v Fernandez = One clear winner and it’s not the one who stayed here.

Edited August 31 by east lower

[bertles86]

I was hoping for this line up earlier, then I woke up and realised it wasn't a nasty dream.

 

Cech

Ferriera-Carvalho-Terry-Gallas

Maka

Lampard-Geremi

Duff-Drogba-Cole

[NoblyBobly]

3 hours ago, bertles86 said:

I was hoping for this line up earlier, then I woke up and realised it wasn't a nasty dream.

 

Cech

Ferriera-Carvalho-Terry-Gallas

Maka

Lampard-Geremi

Duff-Drogba-Cole

Always Duff on one side and Robben on the other. Geremi was so forgettable that I totally forgot about him!! Happy days though 🥲

[kev61]

As long as we play with the high tempo we played against Wolves I'll be happy.If we start this slow, stop start 10 yard passing, i will start to question what the hell the manager is doing.

Edited September 1 by kev61

[Chelsea_Matt]

On 27/08/2024 at 22:04, JaneB said:

Ref: Jarred Gillett

VAR: Michael Oliver

 Will Gillett be the best ref the match can get? 🪒🤣🤣

[east lower]

35 minutes ago, Chelsea_Matt said:

 Will Gillett be the best ref the match can get? 🪒🤣🤣

Well, let's hope he's 'armless 

[Proud-Blue]

Need a win today, and we need the crowd to be behind the players. None of this booing if we have some spells where we play out a little too slowly.

I suspect we won't keep a clean sheet, but I'm confident there are goals for us in this game. They are very lightweight defensively at the moment too.

If we can get 6 out of 9 points going into the international break that's a good start to the season. Especially since one of those games was against City.

[Holymoly]

Commonsense would suggest a win for us. However the pervading sense of cynical pessimism developed over the last few years means we the supporters are far more nervous. Wolves showed what we are capable of as did Servette. I'm expecting both teams to score but whether we end up winning is anyone's guess at this point.