As we head into another boring, pointless international friendly week, Chelsea are set to come up against in-form West Brom side away at the Hawthorns at the weekend. Under Chelsea legend Steve Clarke, the Baggies have had a brilliant start to the season, and currently sit a hugely impressive 5th in the table nearly 3 months into the season.

West Brom's home form has been exceptional, boasting 5 wins and just one loss, which in itself was a largely unlucky capitulation against Champions Manchester City in the dying minutes of the match. This fixture was also the one last season which ended André Villas-Boas' failed tenure at the club, which ushered into the Chelsea helm West Brom's own former manager Di Matteo, who, after leading the Baggies to automatic promotion at first ask, was sacked after a poor run of results, to the ire of many Brom fans.

This match will be a very, very tough one, and given Chelsea's complete lack of cutting edge of late, will require a focused, committed team performance to attain all 3 points. Fitness news will be updated after the international friendlies are through.

can't wait. Another must win to keep up with the manchester clubs. If we fluff this one, it will be a long road back.

We are falling behind, should be steady by January or else its too hard.

I feel like Marko Marin should be given a chance to play in this game!

Uncanny wrote:I feel like Marko Marin should be given a chance to play in this game!

Same. Possibly even Moses too. With both Man City and Juve coming up within a week after this match, we should be thinking about starting to rotate the players. The last thing we want is an Oscar Hazard Mata burnout mid-season because they never got a rest.

perhaps:

with Hazard and Mata coming on if we need them.

im not even sure who ill support in this game

in all seriousness this is long way from three easy points and we're going to have to be really good to win, especially because i dont think we'll be able to play our best XI because of the CL game coming up.

backline should be Iva-Luiz-Cahil-Cole/Bert but we will have to be careful, Long and Odenwignie have the potential to really burn is with their pace so our fullbacks probably cant be as attacking as theyd like to be. On the up side because Lukaku is unavailable itll be pretty east to predict their front three for the game

Kick wrote:perhaps:

Moses Oscar Marin

with Hazard and Mata coming on if we need them.

Other way round, lets not underestimate WBA especially away from home.

Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Romeu, Mikel; Moses, Hazard, Sturridge; Torres

Rotation

Huge gamble and a lack of respect to WBA hope it pays off.

Bring on Marin soon

Abramovich wrote:Huge gamble and a lack of respect to WBA hope it pays off.

Lack of respect how? Every team, especially one in Chelsea's position, HAS to rotate players. Or do you want him to play Hazard, Mata, Oscar and Ramires every single game twice every week? Wonder how far that'll get us.....

Wba in form and we don't start Mata our in form says it all.

Am all for rotation but it was a wrong time to do it today, simple as that. Don't try putting words into my mouth considering I been calling for more minutes for Azpil and Romeu long time ago now.

I didn't think we'd miss Ashley Cole and Terry that much but wow..how bad do we miss them

As much as Bertie looks promising, if Cole doesn't sign an extension, we could make a move for a LB in the summer

West Brom's defence

fuk fuk fuk

6 wins from 7 at Hawthornes, WBA record this season and it was probably a must win game for us .

Can only hope for a result in the CL now, doesn't rotate when he should and rotates when he shouldn't. Guess RDM has something to work on, stills early days mind.

When Mata and Oscar came on we surely did rape them, just a shame Danny failed.

Well at least United lost too

Danny and Mata combination was insane. Really hope Sturridge starts ahead of Torres against Juventus

ugh didnt watch the game! But atleast sturridge started, but mata shouldve started too, but the juventus game is bigger. Feel like manchester city are getting back up, they are still unbeated

i dont understand, all Shane Long can do is run, how did he score and assist WBAs only two goals?

fatman123 wrote:i dont understand, all Shane Long can do is run, how did he score and assist WBAs only two goals?

Ever hear of this thing called sheer luck? Cause that's all he had

ShedEnd1905 wrote:

fatman123 wrote:i dont understand, all Shane Long can do is run, how did he score and assist WBAs only two goals?

Ever hear of this thing called sheer luck? Cause that's all he had

luck is the best you guys can come up with now? i dont think i need to say anymore, ill leave you guys to wallow in your wrongness. Instead of these Shane Long posts sparadicaly appearing throughout the Chelsea section i think he should get his own thread


anyway on topic, we sucked out there, if Torres starts vs Juve this week its going to be a long hard road to qualification

fatman123 wrote:

ShedEnd1905 wrote:

fatman123 wrote:i dont understand, all Shane Long can do is run, how did he score and assist WBAs only two goals?

Ever hear of this thing called sheer luck? Cause that's all he had

luck is the best you guys can come up with now? i dont think i need to say anymore, ill leave you guys to wallow in your wrongness. Instead of these Shane Long posts sparadicaly appearing throughout the Chelsea section i think he should get his own thread


anyway on topic, we sucked out there, if Torres starts vs Juve this week its going to be a long hard road to qualification

Torres is utter garbage. I'll be absolutely stunned if he keeps his place in the side after this match. Arguably one of the worst performances I've seen him have in a Chelsea shirt.

Sturridge simply must start from now on. If he doesn't it'll be absolutely ludicrous.

Can I join the Shane Long club fatman? Scored a goal, created another, outmuscled Chelsea defenders and still had a "I'm Cool" look on his face

As for Torres.. I really really dislike him. More than ever. Maybe I look too much into things but seriously, look at how he came off the pitch. No contact with RDM. Ignored Eva coming in to help him with his bruised lip (the only noticable thing he did all match long) and then sat down grumpily as if taking him off was unfair

Sturridge did bottle a lot of chances but he did great to get into those positions. If Mata and Sturridge both start against Juve, we'd be safe. But I fear Torres was taken off to 'rest' for that game