PBP: Premier League Matchday 24: Saturday January 20, 2017 -Brighton and Hove Albion v Chelsea FC

Brock Hannsen · Jan 19, 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion v. Chelsea
Amex Stadium
Saturday, January 20, 2018
7:30AM EST, NBCSN

Brighton LWDDL (16th place)
Chelsea WDDDD (4th place)

Last meeting: Chelsea 2-0 win on 12/26/17

Brighton GD: -12
Chelsea GD: 25

Brighton top goals: Glenn Murray (6)
Chelsea top goals: Alvaro Morata (10)*

Brighton out: Izzy Brown (ACL), Steve Sidwell (back)
Chelsea out: Morata, Pedro (suspended); Fabregas, Cahill (hamstring)

Analysis
Looks like we're travelling down to Brighton with a thin squad hot on the heels of a Cup replay we didn't need. Barkley will be in the team for the first time since signing with us after playing 70 minutes in a Cobham friendly on Wednesday. Conte may have his hand forced in terms of playing some youth due to outright exhaustion with another Cup tie staring us down four days later against Arsenal.

Will Musonda start? Will Willian be asked to start a little over 48 hours over playing over 120 minutes? Will Michy start up top (no). I think we'll see Courtois in goal with a back three of Christensen, Azpilicueta, Rudiger. On the wings, Moses and Alonso. In the midfield, Drinkwater, Kante, and Bakayoko. Attacking options will be Hazard and perhaps Musonda. On the bench we'll see Cabellero, Luiz, Kenedy, Michy, and Barkley.

Drinks
One thing I wish there was more of here in the states were craft beers from the UK and Europe. Some stores carry a few, but there's not many. Every store here is packed with ultra local crafts - which is awesome, but I would love to try something different. Anyone have any further info on something like this? I'll be chugging coffee at 730 in the AM, trying to ignore the sound of my kids commentating their Roblox sessions.

*6 of these goals came off of headers so their validity are currently being reviewed by the Chelsea Unified Newb Twitter Fan Council (******** FC)

yasik19 · Jan 19, 2018

Given how many matches we played and how many minutes our last match was, I expect another dull 0-0 draw.

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 19, 2018

yasik19 said: ↑

Given how many matches we played and how many minutes our last match was, I expect another dull 0-0 draw.
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Pessimist!

It will be at least 1-1

Yahtzee · Jan 19, 2018

DD & Kante in midfield behind Barkley who will put in an absolutely all-time performance as he begins a new era as Frank Lampard v2. Up top Musonda and Hazard will float around like two Belgian Messis as they combine with Barkley to score at least 5 goals.

I'm optimistic.

Ninjatend0 · Jan 19, 2018

Yahtzee said: ↑

DD & Kante in midfield behind Barkley who will put in an absolutely all-time performance as he begins a new era as Frank Lampard v2. Up top Musonda and Hazard will float around like two Belgian Messis as they combine with Barkley to score at least 5 goals.

I'm optimistic.
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yea i'm good with this.

Brock Hannsen · Jan 19, 2018

Ninjatend0 said: ↑

yea i'm good with this.
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Except Conte said earlier today he's thinking about bringing Barkley off the bench if the game requires it! Ha. But yeah, we have no depth.

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 19, 2018

Yahtzee said: ↑

DD & Kante in midfield behind Barkley who will put in an absolutely all-time performance as he begins a new era as Frank Lampard v2. Up top Musonda and Hazard will float around like two Belgian Messis as they combine with Barkley to score at least 5 goals.

I'm optimistic.
Click to expand...

Looking forward to seeing what Barkley can do should he get the start. He will feel he has a lot to prove and provided he doesn't try too hard and does the basics well, could find a good role.

Whilst he wouldn't be top of my list to start against the very top teams, it's in this sort of fixture we need some extra aggression/passion in and think he will work hard.

Early kick off but my jet lag should pay dividends tomorrow

Yahtzee · Jan 19, 2018

Apparently DD and Tbo also out.

Ampadu to start? David Luiz in midfield?

truefan420 · Jan 19, 2018

Luiz to the midfield I think would be much better than what we've gotten out of Bako and he'd play that role.

Yahtzee · Jan 19, 2018

truefan420 said: ↑

Luiz to the midfield I think would be much better than what we've gotten out of Bako and he'd play that role.
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Wouldn’t be too hard to achieve that smh...

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

Baka starts again

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

Hazard scores after 3 mins after a good cross from Mosses!

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 20, 2018

Quality finish from Hazard! Nice to see us push the ball forward to start the match for a change.

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

Brighton reply with a very good attack we look a bit loose in defense.

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

willian makes it 2 after excellent interplay between Hazard, Bats and Willian

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 20, 2018

That is absolutely world class. What a goal!!

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 20, 2018

It gets better on each rewatch. Sumptuous stuff.

Adding a player like Willian really makes a difference to how we can knock it about in the final third. Nice touches from bats too should give him confidence.

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

we are looking sharp for the first time in ages, decisive accurate passing at speed to other Chelsea players. However at the back we are not clearing decisively we are playing weak balls back out into on-running opposition players

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 20, 2018

"I think Chelsea will be happy with this"

No shit Sherlock, we are two up after 7 mins. Not exactly going to be angry are we? I really wish we could just mute the voices and amp up the crowd noise.

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

Kerry Dixon's Boots said: ↑

"I think Chelsea will be happy with this"

No shit Sherlock, we are two up after 7 mins. Not exactly going to be angry are we? I really wish we could just mute the voices and amp up the crowd noise.
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Over here we can mute the commentary and listen to BBC radio 5 but if Alan Green is on the mike that is even worse

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 20, 2018

Dr_Intoxicated said: ↑

we are looking sharp for the first time in ages, decisive accurate passing at speed to other Chelsea players. However at the back we are not clearing decisively we are playing weak balls back out into on-running opposition players
Click to expand...

The giveaways are annoying. Often no pressure either just sloppy play.

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

It is getting worse at the back don't panic Captain Manwaying

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Jan 20, 2018

Silly Willy. Need to be smarter than that.

Dr_Intoxicated · Jan 20, 2018

Kerry Dixon's Boots said: ↑

Silly Willy. Need to be smarter than that.
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He went on several expeditions last Wednesday, mostly to good effect but he was lucky on a couple of occasions

Yahtzee · Jan 20, 2018

I’m awake and missed two goals already the ********!