Norwich City v Chelsea (away) Saturday 21st November.

[morty]

Chelsea vs Norwich

Premier League Fixture

Saturday 21st November 2015, Kick Off: 15:00

Stamford Bridge Capacity 41,663

 

[morty]

Does anyone know if Russel Martin is still banned or not?

 

[splutcho]

I think he's available. I still wouldn't play him, but that's another story.

 

[flashdown]

I'm expecting to see all 3 centerbacks and basically playing a 5-3-1-1 or a 5-4-1. So that of course means Martin will be in the starting 11.

Edit: This is about the only formation I'd use him in. 

 

[Suffolk Canary]

I reckon it'll be the same team and formation as Man City, but Redmond in for Jarvis.  I'd like Congo Dave to start ahead of Jerome but AN seems to prefer Jerome for the 'ugly' games. I can see his logic, he works extremely hard, just can't see us getting a lot of fun down that end of the pitch 

 

[eatonparkboy]

Last time I looked, they were a point behind us with the same goals scored and conceded. Don't see that we should be scared of them at all. Every pundit is saying they will come right. It doesn't have to be Saturday. Even if the supporters don't feel calm, I'm sure AN will tell the players that is exactly the way to play it. The onus is on them and they are under pressure. Don't give them a release valve.

 

[morty]

Whilst I see what you're saying, there is quality right through that side, I really wouldn't underestimate them. No, we shouldn't be afraid, but if we think its easy points based on their current form then we're mistaken.

As said above, I would adopt a very similar approach as to the Man City game.

A point away there would still be an extremely good result. This is another good test of how far the manager's tactical nous has developed.

 

[morty]

Anyone heard anything on the fitness of Redmond, since he withdrew for the under 21's?

 

[Mike Dent]

Looking forward to this game last visit I think to the bridge for a while

 

[Canary World]

Looking forward to as well although my enjoyment will be lessened by the fact I intend to cabbage it down to London!

 

[eatonparkboy]

Interesting fact. MOTD have headlined Chelsea on five occasions this season and they have lost the lot. Start emailing the Beeb.

 

[Suffolk Canary]

Predicted line up -  http://readnorwich.com/2015/11/19/chelsea-v-norwich-city-predicted-xi/

Anyone know if Redmond is fit?  Hopefully he pulled out of the England squad as a precaution.  Losing Redmond and Jarvis would be pretty terrible 

 

[KeiranShikari]

Unless somebody has seen him out and about I reckon we'll have to wait until tomorrow's presser to find out about Redmond. 

Yeah, expecting us to go as solid as possible. 5 at the back with wingbacks, Mulumbu, Tettey and Howson in the middle with Mbokani up top.

Half expecting Brady to play on the right again as Olsson has been looking good again recently.

 

[eatonparkboy]

SSN have just announced Redmond is fit after his thigh problem.

 

[Gorlestongirl]

The 'other' message board predictably has a 'we always end other teams losing runs thread', on which no one has yet mentioned the Swansea game.  I have now persuaded my inner 'pinkun' that this season is essentially watching a gifted and interesting young manager learn his trade at the highest level.  He hasn't got the best and most talented squad in the league, by far, but re-watching the Swansea game yesterday, it was so clear that each player had been so well drilled it was like watching a single unit, almost mechanical.  

I think Neil is up to doing a job on Chelsea, because I imagine the well-drilled unit is  the one thing Mourinho and his group of hystericals, thugs and ageing prima donnas may not fancy.  

Of course, they may come good tomorrow, and if they do, man for man they will win.  And we have the ludicrous capacity to gift goals, with the sort of errors an under13 would blush at.  But .............. 2-1 to us, is the only prediction I am constitutionally able to start with.

 

[morty]

Great stuff GG 

 

[Din]

I'd go with the same system that we played against Manchester City personally. Pack the central areas so as not to give them any time in the final 3rd, and try and hit them on the break at pace with our wingers and full backs.

Ruddy
Brady Martin Bennett Bassong Olsson
Redmond Tettey Mulumbu Howson
Mbokani

Seems like ages since the Swansea game, so I'm looking forward to this, but despite Chelsea's poor campaign I'm not overly optimistic of our chances here. It would be so typical should this be the game that Chelsea finally turn up, and tbh it wouldn't surprise me either. Gonna say a 2-1 home win. I think we'll at the very least give them a decent game though.

 

[GJP]

I'm not sure about this 5 at the back thing. I don't know if we can do enough damage going forward to get enough points from it.

We needed to tighten up at the back but there still has to be a balance.

I'll be happy to be wrong come the end of the season.

 

[ZLF]

It's probably only needed because the quality of defenders we have is poor when facing the best prem sides.    I don't think it's a week in out option.  

Chelsea play through the middle so a 541 with a narrow grafting 4 to congest the middle and break with pace would not surprise me.   We looked like scoring when breaking against citeh,  a softer out of form chelsea defence can be breached. 

Improve the back 4 in jan and 5 man defence may hopefully become redundant,  in the meantime it's tactical   horses for courses

 

[GJP]

Agreed.