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Not sure why, but have an inkling we'll win this one. Is a tough game though, and hoping that Chelsea are as far along in their development and adaptation to a new voice as we are (seemingly not very).
Gonna go with 1-0 to the Irons.
Lineup:
Areola
Coufal
Mavropanos
Kilman
Wan Bissaka
Rodriguez
Alvarez
Paqueta
Kudus
Bowen (C)
Summerville
Can't see Todibo getting the nod yet, hearing rumblings of Emerson being crocked, and don't see Soler getting the start yet either. But surely after hooking Antonio and Soucek at half time, we won't see them 'gracing' the starting line up again?!
I, like many, am trying to be patient. I dont think we bought the striker we needed and will have to play Bowen there to give us better options from midfield and stretch the oppositon. Although, in a moment of “chin stroking” I did wonder if Kudus, with his strength protecting the ball, could rotate with Bowen during games to play as the central striker too? Of course, it all assumes Loppy is tactically looking to play to feet and stretch teams like most of the better teams do these days?
Which leads back to a discussion of Lopeteguis tactics. Reports, from those who have followed his managerial career in Spain, suggest he likes his teams to have a target man and swing crosses in? A bit of throwback to the days of Moyes and BFS? Yikes !!! Its ok to do that(I suppose) if its not the only way we play but you do have to wonder why we bought an ageing, slow but physically strong German who’s good in the air?
So tomorrow, although obviously we want 3 points, it would ( IMHO ) be just as important to see us enjoying periods of possession where we put pressure on teams and create chances by playing through midfield and beating the opposition press. In the first 5 games, that simply has not happened aside from maybe a 15 min spell against City and Palace. Also, in the first half of all games we seemed to have really struggled ourselves with being pressed quickly, losing possession and getting overrun in the middle.
Will we finally see a run of games where our new players start and the old guard etc.. go to the bench? If we continue to struggle with the same issues with the new personnel then I think the alarm bells will go off? Well for me they will.
Coufal having to play worries me (Emerson sounds like he’s out). He will be a definite weak point in my mind. Stavros is the other main worry. Todibo starting unlikely. Think he will first play in the league cup at Anfield.
I also think we'll see Antonio start again. Cannot see another start for Rodriguez, Alvarez and Soucek, completely crazy and surely Lopetegui could see like us all that it didn't work. I guess we will see 2 out of these 3 starting though. Cannot see Tobido either, Lopetegui seems to want to ease him into the Premier and he really has not played much. Which 2 I could say for sure. Really not much of a change in the starting selection from Moyes, considering the transfers.
What we really don't want is to lose our first three home games, that will not be a good look at all. So a draw would be acceptable against this mob imo, with two 'winnable' games up next.
Hard one to call but one thing is certain. If we start the game then way we did last week, they will bury us. I say in hope more than anything else that we'll nick it 2-1.
Todibo needs to replace Mavrapanos as he costs us a goal virtually every game, and Todibo wasn't signed to rot on the bench!
I do not want to see Antonio starting either.
Maybe not Bowens best position, but he did it well quite a few times for Moyes. He is great when he gets a break one on one with a keeper, I love seeing that.
Really don’t agree with Bowen being played out of position as a centre forward. Don’t believe he’s happy with the role either, especially as Ings can do the job as we have seen.
Nice one Miike, thanks, but Lopetegui didn't say much did he?I
Emerson late fitness test and apparently Fullmrug is the same.
I don't suppose Lopetegui will do it, but I'd like to go to just one DM. If it is two, I am still of the opinion it should be Soucek with someone as he has the best record going forward. Obviously Soucek as some sort of forward, as last Saturday, does not work and I hope Lopetegui doesn't try that again.
Obviously if Emerosn is available Coufal out and Emerson in.
If Fullkrug is available, Soler to the bench, Fullkrug for Bowen, Bowen to the right and Kudus to the middle with Paqueta.
It's a tough call between him and Rodriguez. Chelsea have some dangerous players so I opted for the defensively sturdier option, but I could easily be convinced to go with Paq.
