FC Heidenheim 0 Chelsea 2

[JaneB]

Please use this thread for all posts relating to our UEFA Conference League match against FC Heidenheim at the Voith-Arena before, during and after the game.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 17:45 hours on Thursday, 28th November 2024 (Local UK time/date) (Live on TNT Sports)

[My Blood Is Blue]

I think Maresca will want to make as many changes as he can again but also continue to give Lavia some rest. He won't rush Neto back in for a Conference game, so I expect KDH and Casadei to start in CM and Nkunku to drop back slightly with Guiu ahead of him.

This is one of the harder matches for us in this stage of the tournament, but with them sitting 15th in the table and without a win in the league since the end of September, I expect another comfortable night for our boys.

[Proud-Blue]

Heidenheim are one of the better teams in this competition so I'm expecting a difficult game. It'll be interesting to see how the B team copes with it.

[paulw66]

9 hours ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

I think Maresca will want to make as many changes as he can again but also continue to give Lavia some rest. He won't rush Neto back in for a Conference game, so I expect KDH and Casadei to start in CM and Nkunku to drop back slightly with Guiu ahead of him.

This is one of the harder matches for us in this stage of the tournament, but with them sitting 15th in the table and without a win in the league since the end of September, I expect another comfortable night for our boys.

I'd go for that 

 

[Sciatika]

I would want a strong bench in case we are underestimating Heidenheim.

[asvaberg]

This is our first real opponent for direct qualification to round of 16.

We should use our strongest lineup available for this tournament.

[Bert19]

I'd go something like this: 

Jorgensen 

Gusto/Disasi Tosin Badiashile Veiga 

Enzo Casadei KDH 

Felix Mudryk 

Nkunku

[CarefreeMuratcan]

Their ground looks like a non-league English side's ground. Beautiful. Gonna have an FA Cup tie feel about it.

Can you do it on a cold Thursday night in a German village.

[asvaberg]

4 hours ago, CarefreeMuratcan said:

Their ground looks like a non-league English side's ground. Beautiful. Gonna have an FA Cup tie feel about it.

Can you do it on a cold Thursday night in a German village.

I think it looks decent - single tiers all around,

[Backbiter]

M

My German friend, who played for Heidenheim in the 70s, has just sent me this, which says: "The biggest game in the club's history", and quotes the current squad values in euros. It also states they have had the same manager since 2007, in which time we've had 20.

[Bert19]

22 hours ago, asvaberg said:

I think it looks decent - single tiers all around,

Looks like a cracking stadium that.  Tight, no gaps in the corners, german beer and i suspect very loud.  Should be fun. 

[paulw66]

On 25/11/2024 at 08:15, asvaberg said:

 

We should use our strongest lineup available for this tournament.

Not really. Why risk players ahead of Villa?

We should work backwards from who is going to be needed on Sunday, and pick from the rest.

We have two further games left against Astana and Shamrock Rovers, both of whom we will beat comfortably.

They sit 15th in the Bundesliga. 

Edited November 26 by paulw66

[asvaberg]

I see your point, Paul. But we see this differently. I want us to win silverware this season AND end top 4 in the PL.

They are unbeaten in this tournament, just like us. Hence, our strongest possible lineup.

[Morgs]

I'd go with:

 

                      Jorgensen

    Disasi - Tosin - Badiashile - Veiga 

Dewsbury-Hall - Chukwemeka (Or Casadei if he isnt in the squad)

Sancho      -        Felix      -   Mudryk 

                       Nkunku 

[paulw66]

3 hours ago, asvaberg said:

I see your point, Paul. But we see this differently. I want us to win silverware this season AND end top 4 in the PL.

They are unbeaten in this tournament, just like us. Hence, our strongest possible lineup.

1. Putting a weaker side out wont prevent us winning silverware

2. Win, lose or draw on Thursday and we will qualify anyway

3. Our "weaker" side is still miles better than theirs. 

4. Are you seriously suggesting we should pick Colwill, Cucurella, Gusto, Caicedo, Jackson for this, when we host Villa on Sunday?

 

edit - a loss on Thursday and a win on Sunday helps us better achieve your objective of top 4 and silverware 

edit 2 - if Maresca starts any of those listed above, i will be furious. 

Edited November 26 by paulw66

[carrd]

3 hours ago, asvaberg said:

I see your point, Paul. But we see this differently. I want us to win silverware this season AND end top 4 in the PL.

 

bronzeware

[asvaberg]

2 hours ago, carrd said:

bronzeware

It's at least silver plating 😁

"The Conference League trophy, designed by Pentagram, is made from brass, with galvanic steel and silver plating."

[asvaberg]

2 hours ago, paulw66 said:

1. Putting a weaker side out wont prevent us winning silverware

2. Win, lose or draw on Thursday and we will qualify anyway

3. Our "weaker" side is still miles better than theirs. 

4. Are you seriously suggesting we should pick Colwill, Cucurella, Gusto, Caicedo, Jackson for this, when we host Villa on Sunday?

 

edit - a loss on Thursday and a win on Sunday helps us better achieve your objective of top 4 and silverware 

edit 2 - if Maresca starts any of those listed above, i will be furious. 

For what it's worth, see what Cucurella says here:

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/five-from-training-refreshed-and-focused

But I'm beginning to agree with you 👏👏👏

[paulw66]

On 26/11/2024 at 17:05, paulw66 said:

 

4. Are you seriously suggesting we should pick Colwill, Cucurella, Gusto, Caicedo, Jackson for this, when we host Villa on Sunday?

 

edit 2 - if Maresca starts any of those listed above, i will be furious. 

Thankfully all apart from Colwil stayed at home 

[Sciatika]

On 26/11/2024 at 19:42, asvaberg said:

It's at least silver plating 😁

"The Conference League trophy, designed by Pentagram, is made from brass, with galvanic steel and silver plating."

All that brass will make it ring nicely. Is it supplied with a clapper?

[Bert19]

2 hours ago, paulw66 said:

Thankfully all apart from Colwil stayed at home 

I'd have had no issue with a stacked bench tonight to be honest - I think this could be a trickier game than it looks on paper. 

I'd also be quite happy for Jackson to have a chance at some of these sides - every other striker seems to get credit even when they stat-pad (e.g. Kane) - be nice if a Chelsea striker got in on that action every now and again 

 

[paulw66]

1 hour ago, Bert19 said:

I think this could be a trickier game than it looks on paper. 

 

 

It's also fairly inconsequential. don't want us to lose, but if we do, we'd only need to win one from Astana and Shamrock Rovers to qualify. 

I'm happier that those key players are resting rather than travelling just to sit on the bench.

[paulw66]

Pretty close to the XI I'd have picked. 

[My Blood Is Blue]

On 24/11/2024 at 13:08, My Blood Is Blue said:

I think Maresca will want to make as many changes as he can again but also continue to give Lavia some rest. He won't rush Neto back in for a Conference game, so I expect KDH and Casadei to start in CM and Nkunku to drop back slightly with Guiu ahead of him.

This is one of the harder matches for us in this stage of the tournament, but with them sitting 15th in the table and without a win in the league since the end of September, I expect another comfortable night for our boys.

Not one to gloat, but I believe I was spot on.

[Backbiter]

My ex-Heidenheim FC German mate has got the scarf...