Chelsea vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Drummond]

                Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Moreno
           Kamara Luiz
McGinn                  Zaniolo
            Diaby. Watkins

[VillaTim]

Olsen

what's the thinking here

[Ads]

Martinez

Cash
Konsa
Torres
Moreno

Ramsey
Dougie
Tielemans
McGinn

Diaby
Watkins

[Allan C]

1-1 I’m thinking. we need a convincing performance against a “big 4” side and here’s a great chance against an underperforming under pressure Chelsea.

[AV84]

1-1 I’m thinking. we need a convincing performance against a “big 4” side and here’s a great chance against an underperforming under pressure Chelsea.

A steady performance, I think, where it feels like we're in control from beginning to end, is what's necessary. We've hammered lesser sides, and made a comeback against a stubborn mid table side. Chelsea aren't what they were, but a calm and controlled win would be nice now.

[john e]

There is a reason we looked solid defensively against Everton Burnley Hibbs and Crystal Palace
It’s because it was Everton Burnley, Hibs and Palace they came to offer nothing in attack, and Palace still managed to score when they weren’t even looking to
It’s pretty simple to look solid when there is no pressure

Against everyone else where the opposition were on the front foot we folded
Chelsea haven’t been that good this season yet, but have good attacking options and will definitely look to go forward
I can’t see us not conceding our defence is that weak, so let’s hope for a tiptop performance from the midfield and forwards to try and get a result

[olaftab]

We are capable of winning this but the absolute shockers we have had in picking up 3 away defeats means we will get thrashed. So I will take a draw now.

[Bad English]

I will take, in no particular order of preference,
0-1
0-2
1-2
0-3
1-3
2-3
0-4
1-4
2-4
3-4
0-5
1-5
...

[Rudy Can't Fail]

                Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Moreno
           Kamara Luiz
McGinn                  Zaniolo
            Diaby. Watkins

Our left side would be exposed with both Moreno and Zaniolo in advanced positions, plus it would castrate Dougie from playing his best role as box to box. Ramsey, if fit, would give more defensive support to Moreno. More than anything we can't continue going gung-ho with such a poor defence and disjointed midfield. I'd go with a more conservative

         Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Moreno
 McGinn  Kamara   Luiz
      Diaby      Ramsey
            Watkins

Tempted to replace Watkins with Big Jhon but Watkins may never recover if we did so we need to keep him there for now. Probability says he'll score sooner rather than later.

[Martyn Smith]

1-1. We will score first. They will equalise in the second half and throw everything at us, but we will hold on...

[Mellin]

We're not very good away from home and I don't think we've cracked it yet. We will once the defence settles, there's plenty of quality there, but not yet. 3-1 loss.

I'd start Dendoncker next to Luiz for extra protection, given the choice.

[PaulWinch again]

We really need to get our defensive cohesion back and that includes the link between midfield and defence.

[Lastfootstamper]

Hourihane would've offered more resistance than Kamara the other evening. We need to get him* back firing, asap.

*Booby, not Conor.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Talking to a Chelsea fan at work today he's bet on villa to win 3-1. He seriously fears relegation.

They have taken 30 points from their last 34 matches.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Think I would go with:-

GK Martinez
CB Torres
CB Konsa
RB Cash
LB Digne
DM Kamara
CM Douglas
AM Ramsey
WG Bailey
WG Zaniolo
CF Watkins

Moreno may need some time to sharpen up and like Watkins to harass their defence, over Durán.