Chelsea v Everton. 11th Feb at 19.45.

[paulbefc]

Whats all this 'Barkley must play' nonsense ? We need 100% from everyone tonight, and Barkley dawdling ,indecisive and not tackling is the last thing we want. One great pass in a little cameo in the derby doesn't get him his starting place back, as far as I'm concerned. For this reason also, I wouldn't neccessarily start with Mirallas, but save him for the final 30 mins. Is baines fit? If not, Garbutt is a good shout, with Oviedo useful from the bench to cover a number of positions ( i think he's going to bed himself in as our utility super sub) Robles has earned another start, so
Robles: Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines/Garbutt: Besic ,Barry, McCarthy: Lennon,Naismith, Lukaku. would be my pick.

Aye, Barkley "must play" when he shows some balls and puts in a few consecutive good performances. He can do that over a series of sub appearances/european games.

 

[ianefc]

Howard starts!! WHY God WHY!!!!!

says who

 

[Steve Wigan]

You are incorrect im afraid mate. Nais isnt an on the break sort of footballer and we need a bit of purchase in the middle. Yeah three in midfield would absorb what Chelsea have to throw at us mostly, but doesnt give them any reason to be wary of going forward

Lennons pace should be used to good effect..and I bet that Lukaku and Lennon line up on the wings with Nais in the middle again. Nais for the most part against the RS played in front of the middle three, to harry, hustle and break up play, and I can see him doing the same tonight(if fit, of course)

 

[Jacob]

Was thinking of chucking in Rom as the scorer as well.. hmm.

I wont be able to resist these scorecast odds !

 

[LinekersLegs]

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

Got on the Lukaku first us 2-1 bet, 320/1 is mental we're not that dire. Obviously can't see it given our form this year but why not eh.

 

[blue61]

I'll wager he won't be so complementary after we park the bus tonight,

 

[Stonesy]

You are incorrect im afraid mate. Nais isnt an on the break sort of footballer and we need a bit of purchase in the middle. Yeah three in midfield would absorb what Chelsea have to throw at us mostly, but doesnt give them any reason to be wary of going forward

All well in theory, but in practice Barkley has been woeful for awhile. Let's continue to bring him off the bench and see if things improve - good signs against Liverpool; decent run, great pass to set Lennon up, but then immediately puts us in serious danger by letting the ball through his legs on the halfway line.

 

[Stonesy]

Got on the Lukaku first us 2-1 bet, 320/1 is mental we're not that dire. Obviously can't see it given our form this year but why not eh.

No, but he is.

 

[bluemangroup]

Lennons pace should be used to good effect..and I bet that Lukaku and Lennon line up on the wings with Nais in the middle again. Nais for the most part against the RS played in front of the middle three, to harry, hustle and break up play, and I can see him doing the same tonight(if fit, of course)

Id agree sort of but it doesnt utilise Lukaku well and this game is essentially a shot to nothing for us so why not try gettinh Barkley into form and confident?

 

[Stonesy]

Id agree sort of but it doesnt utilise Lukaku well and this game is essentially a shot to nothing for us so why not try gettinh Barkley into form and confident?

Could work. Play Barkley behind Naismith then

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

My team -

Joel
Coleman Stones Jags Baines
Besic McCarthy
Lennon Barkley Mirallas
Lukaku

The actual team -

Howard
Coleman Stones Jags Baines
Besic Barry McCarthy
McGeady Naismith Lukaku

 

[Hangleton]

Apart from the cup win on penalties the last I can remember is a 1-0 win(Rideout) in 94......

I've seen us win there. 85 I think.

 

[bluemangroup]

All well in theory, but in practice Barkley has been woeful for awhile. Let's continue to bring him off the bench and see if things improve - good signs against Liverpool; decent run, great pass to set Lennon up, but then immediately puts us in serious danger by letting the ball through his legs on the halfway line.

Its game where Barkley will actually have a bit of room to operate in for the first time on a while and thats where he excels imo. Naismith is better in games where he has to make his own space.

 

[Stonesy]

Its game where Barkley will actually have a bit of room to operate in for the first time on a while and thats where he excels imo. Naismith is better in games where he has to make his own space.

I'm not sure mate, therein lies Chelsea's quality - they don't need to commit men forward to be supremely threatening in attack. I think we will need the one-touch stuff in tight spaces as much tonight as any game. I'd be surprised if there was alot of space to counter