The Run In

If we win our games v Arsenal, United and Lecester then that will wrap the league up

I honestly don't see us dropping points to any of Liverpool, Arsenal or Utd.

Jose will make sure we don't, and two of the games are at the Bridge.

im not too worried about united and arsenal games, but leicaster, palace, pool, west brom, and sunderland concern me.

Leicester are poor, we should beat them.

Sunderland and WBA are not all that much better so we should get wins over them too.

Palace will be a hard match. A draw will be a decent result.

What I'm really looking forward to is us winning the title with two or three games to spare and Mou still playing a full strength team and refusing to rotate players

Lads,

What do you reckon if Cesc or Matic either of them get a yellow card in the QPR game, they will be suspended for the following 2 games Man Utd and Arsenal.

If it was me I would bench both of them if not Matic at least just incase, they both need the rest anyways. It would be a potential sacrifice although we still would have a good chance of winning either way, but those following 2 games could be 6 pointers and are more valuable than beating QPR imo.

But let's see what Mou does, he could equally just decide to park the bus vs both those in-form teams and play for the draw which he would see as good point but me not so much.

Thoughts?

I see where you're coming from, and indeed I wouldn't be surprised at all to see one of them drop to the bench at the weekend (with Rankmires likely in in their place), but both I'd be very surprised at. We're talking about the guy who's played players not 100% fully back to match-fitness before just for the sake of fielding his favoured starting XI, so to think he'd now remove our entire first-choice CM when both are available just to avoid bans is a long-shot I think.

I bet you he'll bench Cesc. But Matic should get a rest, He'll be more important against the big clubs.

Honestly though, I'd park the bus vs Utd and Arsenal.

A draw is as good as a win against those two.

I think Cesc can easily avoid a card if he wants. Matics not so much. I would personally go for a Ramires-Mikel/ZOuma-Cesc [b]midfield QPR.

Anyone know when Mikel is back?

I think not having Obi has caused us to suffer a little bit, he's a very useful squad player.

I think Mikel is still out injured.

I suppose Ramires-Zouma-Cesc would be the best midfield.

Actually, the official website says he has resumed full training, so he will probably be fit to play.

Well here's our answer

If this happens then I'm genuinely speechless.

Looks like he will be playing for the draw against Man Utd and Arsenal....

Abramovich wrote:Looks like he will be playing for the draw against Man Utd and Arsenal....

Was it ever in doubt?

Costa could be out for the next 4 matches.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3033665/Diego-Costa-month-Chelsea-striker-suffers-hamstring-injury.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Shed wrote:

Abramovich wrote:Looks like he will be playing for the draw against Man Utd and Arsenal....

Was it ever in doubt?

^ this

Kick wrote:Costa could be out for the next 4 matches.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3033665/Diego-Costa-month-Chelsea-striker-suffers-hamstring-injury.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

ffs.. Jose should have let him rest

Remy is more than capable. We'll be fine, imo.

12 points to go!

Stopping Utd and Arsenal from beating us will give us the title, basically!

So, with 7 games to go, our next two games will be make or break in the title race.

I thought I'd look at possible outcomes.

Since Utd is only 1 point behind Arsenal, I'm going to include them, as well. Also, note: this is working under the assumption that both Utd and Arsenal win all games which are not against us. At the end of each Senario is the magic number needed to win the title.

Senario 1:
We win both games against Utd and Arsenal, record 6 points, move 10 points clear of Arse and 11 clear of Utd. This would mean we would only have to beat Leicester (or score 2 points from our remaining 5 games) to win the title. That is right, if we win our next 3 games, we win the title. 81 points

Senario 2:
Draw against Utd, Win over Arsenal.
In this siuation we'd need 5 points after these two games to win the title. 82 points

Senario 3:
Win over Utd, Draw against Arsenal
We'd need 6 points, or two wins, after these two games to win the title. 83 points

Senario 4:
Draw against both Utd and Arsenal
8 points to win the title from the remaining 5 games in this senario. 83 points

Senario 5:
Win against Utd, Lose to Arsenal
9 points from our last 5 games would see us win the title here. 85 points

Senario 6:
Draw against Utd, Lose to Arsenal
11 points to win the title from our last 5 games, 85 points

Senario 7:
Lose to Utd, Win over Arsenal
assuming They both keep winning outside these two fixtures, Utd would be our biggest title threats now, 8 points would be needed to win the title, here. 84 points

Senario 8:
Lose to Utd, Draw against Arsenal
Again, Utd would be our biggest title rivals here. 10 points would be needed to clinch the title. 84 points

Senario 9 AKA the worst case Senario:
Lose to both Utd and Arsenal
This would result in Arsenal being just 1 point behind us and Utd being 2 points. We still need 12 points to secure the title but that would mean 4 wins from our last 5 games. 85 points

Also, Utd play Arsenal on Matchday 37. That makes our season a lot easier, if we need it.

Forgot to bump this, 9 points to go, or 6 if we beat Arsenal!

Kick wrote:So, with 7 games to go, our next two games will be make or break in the title race.

I thought I'd look at possible outcomes.

Since Utd is only 1 point behind Arsenal, I'm going to include them, as well. Also, note: this is working under the assumption that both Utd and Arsenal win all games which are not against us. At the end of each Senario is the magic number needed to win the title.

Senario 1:
We win both games against Utd and Arsenal, record 6 points, move 10 points clear of Arse and 11 clear of Utd. This would mean we would only have to beat Leicester (or score 2 points from our remaining 5 games) to win the title. That is right, if we win our next 3 games, we win the title. 81 points

Senario 2:
Draw against Utd, Win over Arsenal.
In this siuation we'd need 5 points after these two games to win the title. 82 points

Senario 3:
Win over Utd, Draw against Arsenal
We'd need 6 points, or two wins, after these two games to win the title. 83 points

Senario 4:
Draw against both Utd and Arsenal
8 points to win the title from the remaining 5 games in this senario. 83 points

Senario 5:
Win against Utd, Lose to Arsenal
9 points from our last 5 games would see us win the title here. 85 points

Senario 6:
Draw against Utd, Lose to Arsenal
11 points to win the title from our last 5 games, 85 points

Senario 7:
Lose to Utd, Win over Arsenal
assuming They both keep winning outside these two fixtures, Utd would be our biggest title threats now, 8 points would be needed to win the title, here. 84 points

Senario 8:
Lose to Utd, Draw against Arsenal
Again, Utd would be our biggest title rivals here. 10 points would be needed to clinch the title. 84 points

Senario 9 AKA the worst case Senario:
Lose to both Utd and Arsenal
This would result in Arsenal being just 1 point behind us and Utd being 2 points. We still need 12 points to secure the title but that would mean 4 wins from our last 5 games. 85 points

Remaining possible senarios