Team v Chelsea

[eddiev14]

Is Lennon injured? Big shame if so...

Agree with the sentiment re Parker, his defensive discipline has been absolutely shocking this season. Sit damn it, just bloody sit, tackle and tidy up with short passes.

When the dude breaks forward it's a waste of time. He just runs in a straight line and cannot change direction without doing one of those bloody 360s.

Reminds me of a wind up toy I has as a kid.

Sit and let the other two do the creative stuff. If he can do this, then it's Parker sitting with Holtby and (hopefully) Dembele.

Lennon out would be a worry though.

 

[JAYSTAR]

I think if it were me I would play pretty deep with two defensive midfielders and a quick front 4, to play on the counter attack. I know AVB is loathe to doing that though, but sitting deep with something like this would work imo:

Because though Dawson and Caulker couldn't play a high line, they could definitely be effective sitting deeper. Parker could man mark Mata while Vertonghen could shield the defense. It is a very defensive setup but we can't afford to lose and I think we could catch them on the break.

Anyway, knowing that AVB wouldn't do that, and will probably play a pretty high line, the strategy imo should be to outnumber them in midfield and starve the service to their front 4. I think a team like this could do so:

Kind of assumed Dembele won't start for the first one, but I didn't know who to put in his place in the second formation.

Really agree again Boris. I've been thinking about verts as the defensive midfielder in a three quite a lot, but it could work in a 4231 formation too. Personally I hope we play 433 and dominate the midfield. Carroll would have to come in for dembele to make it work if he's not fit.. We need to score on the break and I reckon we can.

 

[JAYSTAR]

I'd like to see caulker in the mix for set pieces and don't trust parker not to give the ball away or slow down any of our possible counter attacks, so I'd like to see a defensive middle 3 to allow the front 3 to have a go:

Lloris

Walker dawson caulker bae

Dembele / carroll - verts - holtby

Bale Ade Lennon

 

[Marcus_spur]

Ok, considering our injury woes:

3(5)-4(2)-3
Lloris​

Dawson - Vertonghen - Caulker
Walker - Thudd - Holtby - BAE
Dempsey - Defoe/Ade - Bale


Or 433
Lloris​

Walker - Dawson - Caulker - BAE
Thudd/Carroll - Vertonghen - Holtby
Dempsey - Defoe/Ade - Bale​

 

[seanwhite1961]

Physio room has Dembele, Lennon(both muscle injury) and Parker(knock) as no return date. Parker is the most likely to be available.

Lloris
Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE
Holtby Hudd Parker
Bale Adebayor Dempsey

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

If we're missing Parker, Dembele and Lennon.

See ya.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Lloris
Walker-Dawson -Vert-BAE
Hudd-Parker/Carroll
Holtby
Bale sig
Ade

Taking into consideration injuries and what not this is prob what I would go for and aim to bring Dempsey on for Sig at some point if he is not cutting it.

 

[TH1239]

Anyone with Dempsey and Defoe in their starting XI for this game must not have been watching us the past 4 months. There is no way we will beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with those two leading our attacking options. Even though he's been dreadful, Adebayor at least can hold the ball up for a bit of time on the counter and gives us an aerial presence. Holtby plays with energy, so he needs to be included. If Lennon is out, then throw Sigurdsson on. Defoe should only be used as a late game sub, and nothing more.

What I'd like to see:

Lloris​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE​

Dembele Holtby​

Lennon Bale Sigurdsson​

Adebayor​

​

​

However, Andres has proven himself to be stubborn at times this season, so I'm certain Dempsey, Parker, and Defoe will start and play at least 75 minutes. We'll likely be trailing at that point, which means he will make the same substitutions as yesterday, hopefully to the same effect.​

 

[Pringle]

lol at the number of people who think we should go away to the most in form team in the league and play our best CB in a position where he has barely played and also those who think we should change to 3 at the back for the first time. What we should do is play our best players in their best positions.

GK - Lloris
RB - Walker
CB - Dawson
CB - Vertonghen
LB - BAE
RM - Lennon
CM - Parker
CM - Dembele
LM - Bale
AM - Dempsey
CF - Defoe/Adebayor

If Dembele is out then id play Holtby and if Lennon is out we re going down the square pegs for round holes as we have no natural replacement - id probably put Sigurdsson out wide and start Defoe and Adebayor with Dempsey dropping to the bench

 

[TEESSIDE1]

If Lennon is injured we have no natural width and with Demps, Defoe and Ade misfiring, maybe it's time to revert to wing backs?

......................................Lloris..................................
..................Caulker.....Dawson.....Vertonghen.............
Walker.............................................................Ekotto
.........................Carroll.......Huddlestone.....................
..................................Holtby.....................................
..................................Bale........................................
................................Adebayor...................................

 

[Marcus_spur]

Anyone with Dempsey and Defoe in their starting XI for this game must not have been watching us the past 4 months. There is no way we will beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with those two leading our attacking options. Even though he's been dreadful, Adebayor at least can hold the ball up for a bit of time on the counter and gives us an aerial presence. Holtby plays with energy, so he needs to be included. If Lennon is out, then throw Sigurdsson on. Defoe should only be used as a late game sub, and nothing more.

What I'd like to see:

Lloris​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE​

Dembele Holtby​

Lennon Bale Sigurdsson​

Adebayor​

​

​

However, Andres has proven himself to be stubborn at times this season, so I'm certain Dempsey, Parker, and Defoe will start and play at least 75 minutes. We'll likely be trailing at that point, which means he will make the same substitutions as yesterday, hopefully to the same effect.

I´d be careful accusing people of not watching. Two of the players you have in your XI will probably be out, in addition to one you are certain will start.

 

[Marcus_spur]

lol at the number of people who think we should go away to the most in form team in the league and play our best CB in a position where he has barely played and also those who think we should change to 3 at the back for the first time. What we should do is play our best players in their best positions.

GK - Lloris
RB - Walker
CB - Dawson
CB - Vertonghen
LB - BAE
RM - Lennon
CM - Parker
CM - Dembele
LM - Bale
AM - Dempsey
CF - Defoe/Adebayor

If Dembele is out then id play Holtby and if Lennon is out we re going down the square pegs for round holes as we have no natural replacement - id probably put Sigurdsson out wide and start Defoe and Adebayor with Dempsey dropping to the bench

Chances are three of the players in you eleven will be out. Careful with lolling. As you put it - square pegs, round holes. In that case I´d rather change the formation.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Lloris​

​

Walker Gallas Vertonghen Ekotto​

Dembele Parker Carroll​

Bale Adebayor Holtby​

​

Subs: Vigouroux, Naughton, Dawson, Bentaleb, Cabellos, Sigurdsson, Coulthirst,​

​

​

I can't believe people are putting Beffudledstone in having watched our game (and Chelsea's). He couldn't cope with Southampton's midfield, how the fuck will he do against Chelsea away ?​

​

I was tempted to put Holtby LM and Sig ALM, but I think Holtby will give us a little more discipline and work and protect Carroll/Ekotto better whilst still offering some attacking potential. If Dembele doesn't make it then Holtby to into the middle 3 and Sig into ALM.​

​

This won't happen. It will be:​

​

Walker Dawson Vert Ekotto​

Parker Hudd​

Lennon/Bale Bale/Holtby Sig​

Adebayor​

​

​

​

 

[we_all_loved_freund]

I'm not sure Lennon came off because he was injured, he certainly didn't seem to be.

I thought he had just been brought off because he had be quiet and because he was probably knackered/more susceptible to injuries in the last quater of a game having been out for a little while.

Dembele will definitely be out, I would imagine.

I haven't been impressed with Holtby when he has played and have been very impressed with Carrol. I'd therefore go for:

----------------Loris-----------------
Walker----Daws-----Verts-----BAE

---Carrol-----THudd-----Parker----

-----Lennon-----Ade------Bale-----

 

[absolute bobbins]

​

​

This won't happen. It will be:​

​

Walker Dawson Vert Ekotto​

Parker Hudd​

Lennon/Bale Bale/Holtby Sig​

Adebayor​

​

​

​

I like it, playing without a keeper might be asking for trouble though

 

[Marcus_spur]

According to physioroom, at least, Lennon and Dembele are out with muscle injuries, Parker with a knock. All of them without return date. Also Hazard should be out against us, Mikel back

 

[Snarfalicious]

--------------------- Lloris ----------------------
Walker --- Dawson ----- Vertonghen --- BAE
---------- Carroll ---------- Hudd --------------
-- Siggy ------------ Holtby -------------- Bale
------------------- Adebayor -------------------

The midfield is just going to continually to be packed. Starting Bale on the left will save us what's happened the past couple matches where we waste 45+ minutes until we figure this out.

Carroll and Hudd in midfield because I don't think Dembele will play, Parker I really don't want to see him play and Livermore hasn't played enough lately to even entertain the thought of giving him a start at the Bridge.

Carroll starting is a huge stretch. It's not that I don't think he's capable of playing at a high level, I just have a hard time believing AVB would trust him to start. I have this horrible thought of a 4-4-2 of sorts, and i'm really hoping we don't see that.

I also must admit that I have a real small amount of confidence going into this match. Lennon/Dembele are most likely out given that it took Dembele until Thursday I believe to start training last week. Lennon is probably too risky to start because he will just re-aggravate it if it is indeed a muscle problem.

So, let's just hope that finally some of these fucking luck dragons that Arsenal and Chelsea have benefited from can stop being such cold-hearted dickwads and throw us a freaking bone.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I like it, playing without a keeper might be asking for trouble though

I was going to tactically deploy Hudd's head in front of the goal. Means we could play Lennon, Bale, Holtby & Sig as attacking midfielders.

 

[TH1239]

I´d be careful accusing people of not watching. Two of the players you have in your XI will probably be out, in addition to one you are certain will start.

Fine, Lennon and Dembele are out. Start Parker and Huddlestone, and push Holtby up with Sigurdsson, Bale, and Adebayor.

 

[Nocando]

Lol and I can't believe at all the lols and I can't believes....

If anything it just highlights the diverse views, where if we're all being honest no one really knows what the right thing to do is. Hopefully AVB has a better idea.