Chelsea take on West Ham today at London Stadium, 3:15PM US EST. Game will be on NBCSN in the US. We have new shirt sponsors. Timo and Ziyech join us from today, but they will not be eligible to play until next season. Chelsea are in 4th place, one point behind Leicester and now only 2 ahead of United. A win with Leicester dropping points to Everton will put us in third. West Ham are on 27 points, battling relegation. This feels like a game that will give us trouble if we play down to teams as we do.
I agree it could be a difficult game. West Ham always seem to raise their game against Chelsea and their support seem to hold Chelsea with particular ire. No fans at the game however is not necessarily a disadvantage to West Ham since they have moved stadium.
They will put everyone behind the ball, and we have had a lot of trouble breaking those kinds of teams down. Really hope Puli is ready for this. He's one of the few players we have with the skill to do it
I actually think he should rest for this. Ask Mount to do the attacking and maybe get RLC to step up. Give Pulisic a rest. Don't want him hurt. Think we might see a midfield of Kova, Jorg, and RLC. Attack of Mount, Willian, Tammy. Defense of Az, Rudiger, Christensen, Alonso.
West Ham will be fighting for their premier league status, expecting a battle. Not sure jorginho will get the room he needs so maybe a better one for barkley who is better when not given time to think. Impact subs could be crucial.
2-1... a draw would be ok but a L would be massive. United and Wolves are closing ground. We have to win today.
I have to begrudgingly begin by saying... the kit looks incredible in play. I HATE it in photos, but in the game it's stunning. I love that the socks are almost totally plain. We'll win this, eventually. This last couple of weeks is going to be really interesting for the top 6/7/8.
Also, the Sky Sports commentator just said - regarding Ziyech and Werner coming in - it'll be wondered whether there's a route for youth to come through at Chelsea. Then 20 seconds later realised his old book of Chelsea clichés is out of date.
Very much so. West ham just packing the box and restricting space. Needs a little craft around the box to make things happen.