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I've only watched them the twice this season. What needs to happen for them to drop a heap of points? Is there a tactical ploy that needs to be exploited? Does a particular player need to get injured?

How will Chelsea be beaten or drawn with?

We did beat them. Until Kev Brown hit the bar.

And I think we are a slightly better team now. It's possible the whole season hinges on that game - unless we cock it up elsewhere.

To start, having a decent ref against them.

john@staustell wrote:We did beat them. Until Kev Brown hit the bar.

And I think we are a slightly better team now. It's possible the whole season hinges on that game - unless we cock it up elsewhere.

We beat the shit out of them until Taylor decided to take over.

We'll do them if we have a decent ref.

Chelsea haven't really had a bad run of form yet this season.

As the pressure mounts towards the run-in, I'm expecting them to implode in grand style......I hope and pray David Luiz doesn't pick up an injury as he's got loads of mistakes in him, which are just waiting to pour out.

Costa receiving a career threatening injury wouldn't go amiss either.

Lets just focus on Stoke.

west ham will beat them tonight

Mikhail Chigorin wrote:Chelsea haven't really had a bad run of form yet this season.

As the pressure mounts towards the run-in, I'm expecting them to implode in grand style......I hope and pray David Luiz doesn't pick up an injury as he's got loads of mistakes in him, which are just waiting to pour out.

Costa receiving a career threatening injury wouldn't go amiss either.

Hes been on of there best players, best thing that could happen is him getting injured as it means terry will replace him and hes not suited there.

I think people have misunderstood the OP, hes not talking about how we beat them, hes talking about how other teams beat them. I have seen them alot and they havent been overly convincing on the whole, lots of matches won by the odd goal, usually due to there rock tight defense. I think they are vulnerable down there left side, Alonso flies forward and cahill isnt a left centre back a abit of pace there could catch them out.

They are also due a bit of bad luck, some goals ruled out some pens for opposition, even a quarter of what we get will be enough to wobble them. Id like to see them go behind to see how they react.

If they win the league, i think they will be one of the most boring teams ever to win the premier league.

No European games to worry about
A clear run without fixture pile up and able to prepare and train properly will give them a big advantage. The league is theirs to lose and I can't see anyone closing the gap unless they have some bad injuries to key players.

Original Dub wrote:

john@staustell wrote:We did beat them. Until Kev Brown hit the bar.

And I think we are a slightly better team now. It's possible the whole season hinges on that game - unless we cock it up elsewhere.

We beat the shit out of them until Taylor decided to take over.

We'll do them if we have a decent ref.

But for that Taylor intervention and the Sterling penalty versus Spurs, we'd be level with them now. And referees don't tilt things, some might say. Not me. Utterly bent.

s1ty m wrote:

Original Dub wrote:

john@staustell wrote:We did beat them. Until Kev Brown hit the bar.

And I think we are a slightly better team now. It's possible the whole season hinges on that game - unless we cock it up elsewhere.

We beat the shit out of them until Taylor decided to take over.

We'll do them if we have a decent ref.

But for that Taylor intervention and the Sterling penalty versus Spurs, we'd be level with them now. And referees don't tilt things, some might say. Not me. Utterly bent.

Exactly. Scary isn't it. Two games

1. Injuries/bans to either Kanté or Matic. They are rock solid and protecting a dodgy defense.
2. Some pressure like if any team could get within touching distance like 6 points (if they draw or lose tonight and we win our game in hand).
A bit of pressure and they have the potential to implode.
Costa is like a stick of dynamite and himself and Conté may not see eye to eye.
Hazard could start sulking and is never going to be first over the top if the going gets tough.
The defense is shaky, Luis and Cahill can be error prone (particularly if Kanté or Matic were out).

it is there title to lose but the fat lady has yet to sing.

I think it is possible we could catch Chelsea. If they lose a game soon and then we beat them then it's all on. That's far from unlikely. But, are we capable of winning enough games? We have been on a good league run, but it's been a nice run of fixtures. When we play the dippers. Chelsea and Arsenal within a week, how many points will we collect and will our defence be exposed again? I'm not convinced we have solved those problems but if we have then we do have a chance of winning the league. For me, it's more about us than Chelsea.

Wonderwall wrote:No European games to worry about
A clear run without fixture pile up and able to prepare and train properly will give them a big advantage. The league is theirs to lose and I can't see anyone closing the gap unless they have some bad injuries to key players.

Pretty much sums up my feelings as well. I don't see it happening.

The battle for 2nd with Spurs seems to be the most we can hope for, but I do not think we will not give up I suspect until we are out of it and assured of top 4.

If, and this is a big if, we win 11/12 of our remaining games including the away fixture at Chelsea, then I think that will be enough to pip them for the title. I fear our participation in Europe means to win that many in the PL is unlikely. Achieveable yes, but nonetheless unlikely. We are good enough and there are plenty of signs lately that we are clicking as a unit. I remember in Wengers first title they won the last 12 games to pip the rags to the title, so it can be done.

First and foremost, we need to take care of our own fixtures and not worry about Chelsea, or Spuds/rags/dippers/arsenal for that matter. If we take care of our business then the others will drop points and what will be will be.

West Ham are so passive is that ground on an old weed farm

We really could do with them dropping points tonight. Then we would need to capitalise on Wednesday. The three tough games then would probably require seven points with three of them coming at Chelsea. Then it would be on.
Costa doing something stupid/despicable would help. He seems to get away with it though.