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Next Month - The Race For Europe

Couldn't agree more. Strongest side in both fixtures tbh. I actually think that the result last Thursday could be a blessing in disguise. Whoever plays for us will have to go out and give it a right go because we have to score and win on the night really. Whilst I would have liked a 2-0 or 3-1 type first leg I think knowing our club the way I do we would have gone out to Florence and thought it was ok to just soak everything up and then wondered why we had lost 3-0. It will be difficult to progress but if we score first then I would really fancy us.

Meanwhile Fiorentina rested 8 of the 11 that started against us at the weekend.
 
To be honest, I don't care what they did with their 11. I don't think they are that good really, their defensive display in the first half was unbelievably bad, some of the worst I have ever seen from a supposed top class side from such a prominent league. I just think that if we turn up there and play like it is purely a one off and try to win properly on the night then we will because individually and collectively we are better than Fiorentina.
 
THURS
Lloris
Walker Dier Verts Davies
Stambouli Bentelab
Townsnd Eriksen Lamela
Kane

SUN
Lloris
Walker Fazio Verts Rose
Mason Bentelab
Chadli Dembele Eriksen
Kane

so 5 changes
 
FIORENTINA XI
Lloris
Walker - Dier - Vertonghen - Davies
Stambouli - Mason
Townsend - Dembele - Chadli
Kane

CHELSEA XI
Lloris
Walker - Fazio - Vertonghen - Rose
Mason - Bentaleb
Lamela - Eriksen - Chadli
Kane
That's how I'd go. The 3 behind Kane was very hard to pick in Italy.
 
FIORENTINA XI
Lloris
Walker - Dier - Vertonghen - Davies
Stambouli - Mason
Townsend - Dembele - Chadli
Kane

CHELSEA XI
Lloris
Walker - Fazio - Vertonghen - Rose
Mason - Bentaleb
Lamela - Eriksen - Chadli
Kane
That's how I'd go. The 3 behind Kane was very hard to pick in Italy.
Think this is close to what we'll see
 
FIORENTINA XI
Lloris
Walker - Dier - Vertonghen - Davies
Stambouli - Mason
Townsend - Dembele - Chadli
Kane

CHELSEA XI
Lloris
Walker - Fazio - Vertonghen - Rose
Mason - Bentaleb
Lamela - Eriksen - Chadli
Kane
That's how I'd go. The 3 behind Kane was very hard to pick in Italy.

My thoughts regarding Dembele ... i Don't think Fiorentina are very physical so not really needed and he does appear to show up in the big games so hopefully he'll be able to impose some influence on a v good chelsea midfield.

Lamela for italy, just because he has played there and may feel more comfortable than crashing and burning in a wembley showpiece.

And i'm more confident of getting 2 games out of bentaleb than mason (who does appear to attract a knock or two).

Eriksen never looks that tired......so 2 games from him as just his freekicks/set pieces may well be the difference in either game.
 
It will be between Us, Liverpool and Man Utd for 4th I think and tbh I don't expect us to win that race. I think that we will finish 5th overall just from Liverpool. Either way 5th/6th its been a good first season for Pochettino, especially if we win Sunday.

Arsenal were always going to finish top 4 and we dont need to concern ourselves with their progress or lack of. We just need to keep building and pushing onwards over the next 2-3 season whilst we await the new ground.
Although I agree, I'd still be gutted finishing 5th and just missing out on CL. Unless it's 5th by a mile. :)
Looking back at our season, those West Brom and CP defeats are coming back to haunt us, not to mention the 2 pts dropped at Sunderland. Ugh
 
FIORENTINA XI
Lloris
Walker - Dier - Vertonghen - Davies
Stambouli - Mason
Townsend - Dembele - Chadli
Kane

CHELSEA XI
Lloris
Walker - Fazio - Vertonghen - Rose
Mason - Bentaleb
Lamela - Eriksen - Chadli
Kane
That's how I'd go. The 3 behind Kane was very hard to pick in Italy.
Walker is going to need a rest at some point. He wasn't up to par yesterday and don't know if this was due to fatigue. I'd play Dier on right and Fazio paired up with Verts in Florence. For CC final, would rather have Dembele for Lamela.
 
OK, so what do we have left (plus my predictions):


Swansea City H (Win)
Queens Park Rangers A (Win)
Manchester United A (Draw)
Leicester City H (Win)
Burnley A (Win)
Aston Villa H (Win)
Saudi Sportswashing Machine A (Draw)
Southampton A (Draw)
Emirates Marketing Project H (Loss)
Stoke City A (Win)
Hull City H (Win)
Everton A (Draw)

That would take us to 69 points. Some years that was good for 3rd and other years you didn't even get 5th. Will it be enough for 4th this year?
 
Although I agree, I'd still be gutted finishing 5th and just missing out on CL. Unless it's 5th by a mile. :)
Looking back at our season, those West Brom and CP defeats are coming back to haunt us, not to mention the 2 pts dropped at Sunderland. Ugh

I really wouldn't be if I am honest. We are a work in progress after a heavily disrupted last 2-3 seasons and I actually think that winning individual important games like Sunday are more important than us finishing 4th this year. Of course the two events aren't mutually exclusive, we could do both or neither but for me winning the cup on sunday against those chavs is more important than finishing 4th. All IMHO of course.
 
I really wouldn't be if I am honest. We are a work in progress after a heavily disrupted last 2-3 seasons and I actually think that winning individual important games like Sunday are more important than us finishing 4th this year. Of course the two events aren't mutually exclusive, we could do both or neither but for me winning the cup on sunday against those chavs is more important than finishing 4th. All IMHO of course.
Fair enough. I could probably say the same, but having to wait one more year for CL is going to be agonizing. Plus if we make CL, we can attract better players. On the other hand, if we don't make CL, we'll probably focus more on developing the home-grown talent, so that too might be a positive.
 
OK, so what do we have left (plus my predictions):


Swansea City H (Win)
Queens Park Rangers A (Win)
Manchester United A (Draw)
Leicester City H (Win)
Burnley A (Win)
Aston Villa H (Win)
Saudi Sportswashing Machine A (Draw)
Southampton A (Draw)
Emirates Marketing Project H (Loss)
Stoke City A (Win)
Hull City H (Win)
Everton A (Draw)

That would take us to 69 points. Some years that was good for 3rd and other years you didn't even get 5th. Will it be enough for 4th this year?

I'm willing to bet we will lose more than 1 game.
 
OK, so what do we have left (plus my predictions):


Swansea City H (Win)
Queens Park Rangers A (Win)
Manchester United A (Draw)
Leicester City H (Win)
Burnley A (Win)
Aston Villa H (Win)
Saudi Sportswashing Machine A (Draw)
Southampton A (Draw)
Emirates Marketing Project H (Loss)
Stoke City A (Win)
Hull City H (Win)
Everton A (Draw)

That would take us to 69 points. Some years that was good for 3rd and other years you didn't even get 5th. Will it be enough for 4th this year?


Swansea City H (Win)
Queens Park Rangers A (Win)
Manchester United A (Draw)
Leicester City H (Win)
Burnley A (Loss)
Aston Villa H (Win)
Saudi Sportswashing Machine A (Draw)
Southampton A (Loss)
Emirates Marketing Project H (Win)
Stoke City A (Loss)
Hull City H (Win)
Everton A (Draw)

I think that leaves us on 65 points. Not a disastrous season at all and gives us a solid platform by which to build on for 2015/16 which we will do with some fine tweaking.
 
Fair enough. I could probably say the same, but having to wait one more year for CL is going to be agonizing. Plus if we make CL, we can attract better players. On the other hand, if we don't make CL, we'll probably focus more on developing the home-grown talent, so that too might be a positive.

If we make CL we would be following the same model as 2010/11 mate. There will be no big marquee signings just because we qualified. Too much risk of overspending when the project of the new stadium is being forced through its final stages.
 
Swansea City H (Win)
Queens Park Rangers A (Win)
Manchester United A (Loss)
Leicester City H (Win)
Burnley A (Draw)
Aston Villa H (Win)
Saudi Sportswashing Machine A (Win)
Southampton A (Draw)
Emirates Marketing Project H (Loss)
Stoke City A (Win)
Hull City H (Win)
Everton A (Draw)
 
Swansea City H (Win)
Queens Park Rangers A (Win)
Manchester United A (Loss)
Leicester City H (Win)
Burnley A (Draw)
Aston Villa H (Win)
Saudi Sportswashing Machine A (Win)
Southampton A (Draw)
Emirates Marketing Project H (Loss)
Stoke City A (Win)
Hull City H (Win)
Everton A (Draw)
I actually think we can beat ManUre, but put them down as a draw. They're not playing that great.
 
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