Chelsea Vs West Ham - Mon 3rd Feb - KO 20.00
I didn't expect to still be in the seat for this game but after a great performance against Villa I am happy to be so. Chelsea have looked top four quality this season and will certainly be in the fight for one of those places come the run it. However we showed against Villa that when we play without fear and attack a team we do have the ability to take the match to them which is what I think we need to do once again. It being a Monday can only be good regarding our chances of getting Bowen and Summerville back in action and we need to hope Paquetta's injury at the end of Sundays match is not an issue. I think Mavro will be available after his suspension but I really hope Potter sticks with the defence from the Villa match. I love Mavro and never gives any less than his all, but he is not up to Premier league standard, and on Sunday Kilman had his best game for a fair few matches with Cresswell and Coufal alongside him.
Comments
Since then their only win has come against Wolves and they have dropped to 6th
Like us they have suffered a few injuries to their centre backs with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile still absent.
Levi Colwill has started 21 out of the 22 EPL games he's been available but clearly Maresca was so unimpressed with Axel Disasi or summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo that he recalled Trevor Chalobah from loan at Crystal Palace and he has started both games since his return
Romeo Lavia was injured when we played last and he's injured again now but he did manage to stay fit long enough to make 10 more appearances to bring his total to 13 after 17 months
Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended after failing a drugs test
https://www.whufc.com/news/team-news-potter-hopeful-bowen-return-chelsea
Areola
Coufal - Kilman - Cresswell
Wan-Bissaka - Álvarez - Souček - Emerson
Kudus - Paquetá
Bowen
Fabiański, Mavropanos, Scarles, Irving, Orford, Rodríguez, Soler, Guilherme, Ings
I’d not be bringing Mavro in & try & keep the same 11 as much as possible to Sunday, but Bowen needs to come back in if fit enough.
Club captain Reece James has started the last two after recovering from yet another hamstring
Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto are used in rotation to fill the third attacking midfielder spot with the occasional start handed to Joao Felix
Starting XI against City
Sanchez
James Chabolah Colwill Cucarella
Caicedo Fenandez
Madueke Palmer Sancho
Jackson
We lost 5-0 last time we visited Stamford Bridge with Jackson scoring twice and Palmer scoring once
We lost 3-0 when they visited us this season with Jackson scoring twice and Palmer scoring once
I think I see a pattern...
Fabrizio Romano says Joao Felix will definitely leave in January and Villa have been in contract
I also don’t think this is a game to fear. We may well lose. But we need the same attitude as when we played Villa. They have won one of their last 7 games; in their last 3 home games they have beaten Wolves, drawn with Bournemouth (last minute goal) & lost to Fulham.
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Foderingham (GK), Scarles, Casey, Orford, Irving, Luis Guilherme, Ings
Edit: My line-up is straight from the OS, yet has Rodrigeuz starting instead of Irving, yet Irving is said to be starting in the article. Shambles as usual.
Areola
Coufal - Kilman - Cresswell
Wan-Bissaka - Souček - Irving - Emerson
Kudus - Soler
Bowen
Paqueta and Alvarez injured, and Summerville still out is really not great news. I hope Bowen hasn't been rushed back too soon.
#lowbar
Meanwhile Curcurella 😡😖
Apparently there's something about Curcurella that makes a foul against him look more than a foul. His hair, according to the brains trust on my stream.