The Conte Era - Chelsea 17/18

Kick wrote:Mail are reporting that Cahill and Ivanovic are set to be dropped due to poor performances.

So our defence will probably look like:

Courtois
Azpilicueta Luiz Terry Alonso

We really should also drop Matic, and use play Fabregas or Chalobah in his place.

I'd also switch Kante to CM if Chalobah is chosen.:

Courtois
Azpilicueta Luiz Terry Alonso
Chalobah
Willian Oscar Kante Hazard
Costa

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ESPN are reporting we want to sign Ben Davies in Jan to help with our defensive issues. Although, this would probably kill Aina's career with us, or Ivanovic, if we're lucky.

Actually, I've changed my mind, we would be better off swapping straight to a 4-2-4:

The Telegraph and the Times are reporting that Conte and Abramovich have had discussions about overhauling the squad, with Cahill, Ivanovic, Matic, Oscar, and Fabregas all on the chopping block:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/09/26/roman-abramovich-ready-to-fund-major-transfers-if-chelsea-do-not/?
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/conte-demands-squad-overhaul-b5bdww6qf

Interesting to see if it's true, big changes could be coming over the next two windows.

Why does Conte like Moses over Pedro?

SMH.

Because Moses is better

Antonio

March on Chelsea

Conte getting the best out of this team like Jose couldn't do

Famous win!

Apologies for my even-more-than-usual absence lately. My computer finally gave out in the beginning of September and I've been stuck using my iPad since then as I'm too cheap to bite the bullet and buy a new one (figure I'll wait till the holiday sales in a month or two ).

In any event, suffice to say today's proceedings were nothing short of glorious. Haven't enjoyed a football match that much in quite a long time. Would hate to get carried away or put the cart before the Ibrahimovic, but it does seem Conte is slowly but surely getting us playing to our strengths and our potential and putting some of the off-the-pitch mental elements we've for far too long lacked back into the players as well. Long may it continue

It's certainly a win that will remain in our minds for years to come, up there with the 6 0 over Arsenal

The 3-4-3 really seems to be our best bet going forward. I would like it see us change eventually, as 3 at the back rarely works in Europe.

An unsurprising loss today.

We have no depth for 3-4-3, especially for Moses and Alonso.

At least it was only the Mickey Mouse cup, hopefully we can bring in reinforcements in Jan before Alonso or Moses pick up an injury.

Yea, a disappointing result yesterday but not a major surprise. We've only just finally discovered an XI that actually plays well together and works, so the fact that 7 of them were changed for yesterday's affair makes a considerable drop-off in collective quality pretty expected. Yet, even with so many changes and not playing particularly well at all, we still managed to create a boatload of chances which, if taken (as many of them painfully should have been), would have easily and comfortably won us the game against what was really their strongest team, which certainly softens the blow of the performance and result. Now just need to get back to winning ways and reclaim our momentum against Soton this weekend.

Agreed, but it does show that an injury to Moses or Alonso (or even David Luiz) and we're screwed.

Christensen is obviously the long term CB replacement, and Zouma will soon be another option there, but I really worry about losing Alonso or Moses to injury.

Honestly think we should try get Layun in Jan, 10-15m euros should be enough. He is able to back up both wings and holding his own like Moses and Alonso do.

Kick wrote:Agreed, but it does show that an injury to Moses or Alonso (or even David Luiz) and we're screwed.

That's a good point. Hopefully our lack of European football and resultant 1 game a week for the remainder of the year will see us through to January without significant problems on that front so that we can then bring in reinforcements when the window opens.

I think we'll be ok, especially without the Mickey Mouse cup to play in, too.

That is a positive from the loss.

It's certainly a benefit. I'm disappointed to have gone out; would have been nice for Conte to have had an early cup run at the very least – but I won't be shedding any tears over it. One game a week helps our league campaign immensely.

It does, and I'd always prefer to win the FA cup, anyway.

FT: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea

Very professional showing from our boys. Not a swashbuckling, exhilarating performance by any means, but very responsible, clinical, and well-executed. Even came far closer to scoring a 3rd and/or 4th with our two missed sitters than they did at any point in the game. Yet another cleansheet, Hazard's great form continues, and what a pearler from Diegod Plenty of praise to go around elsewhere as well. Very pleased with that and just the response we needed to Wednesday's defeat. On to the next!

My favourite manager in a LONG LONG LONG time.

Shed wrote:FT: Southampton 0-2 Chelsea

Very professional showing from our boys. Not a swashbuckling, exhilarating performance by any means, but very responsible, clinical, and well-executed. Even came far closer to scoring a 3rd and/or 4th with our two missed sitters than they did at any point in the game. Yet another cleansheet, Hazard's great form continues, and what a pearler from Diegod Plenty of praise to go around elsewhere as well. Very pleased with that and just the response we needed to Wednesday's defeat. On to the next!

Well said. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. We keep up with the top of the table, too. Top 4 is absolute minimum at this point.

Abramovich wrote:My favourite manager in a LONG LONG LONG time.

It was a somewhat risky appointment, but it looks like it's working out. However, I'd I'll reserve all judgement on him until the end of the season.

His passion on the touchline is just class.

Haven't really had that much beef over his team selections, unlike previous managers.

Giving Chalobah some significant game time has been very welcome too, especially this early on in the season.

I agree, but at the end of the day, results are what is most important.

If, at the end of the season, we keep everything up, I'll be over the moon.

I just hope we don't get any major injuries that will ruin the season, scary how important Moses and Alonso are right now.

I do have a feeling Baba would have thrived in this formation too.

Abramovich wrote:I just hope we don't get any major injuries that will ruin the season, scary how important Moses and Alonso are right now.

I do have a feeling Baba would have thrived in this formation too.

I completely agree, Let's hope we have an option to recall Baba in Jan, even Kenedy would be a decent option.

With Zouma, and Ivanovic coming back, Chalobah proving to be a solid back up in CM, we're mostly lacking depth at the wing back spots.

I do wonder what will happen to Oscar in Jan, though. Seems quite far down the pecking order.

Agree on putting off any definitive verdicts about him until the end of the season, but also with the satisfaction with him so far. He's been a breath of fresh air. Everything I wrote about in that thread during the Euros re what I hoped and thought he'd bring to the club seems to be materialising beautifully. He's very astute tactically, he's got us playing at a level greater than the sum of our parts, he's put the fire back in the players' bellies, and he's gotten them as well as the fans back on board with his infectious passion and emotiveness. It's quite refreshing, after we'd all grown so accustomed to the brainless obstinacy of several of his immediate predecessors (cough Mourinho cough AVB), to have a manager who tried out things in the beginning, acknowledged that it wasn't working, and not only had the willingness to change it, but also nous to do so successfully in replacing it with something that, at least so far, fits us like a glove. He's turned previously marginal players into essential components, he's taken players who've been gash for literally years and totally reinvigorated them, and he's made even our already reliable performers even better. Couldn't be happier with the trajectory things seem to be on right now.

We were the only team in Europe's top 5 leagues to not concede during October

Defensive problems, what?

He definitely pulled out of his hat the tailor made formation for everyone to flourish. It's concealing our defensive inconsistencies while also providing more creative outlets and passing options when building from the back.
Conte the genius