First game of the season against a top 6 team – can we make it?
Manchester United, although in an existential crisis, have managed to win their last 3 games including against Liverpool. Erik Ten Hag seems to have found his playing XI who can play his aggressive pressing game and have motivated them enough to win games. Will it going to be easy for us to visit Old Trafford and grab a win? NO. Is it possible? Yes, of course.
We have our own winning streak running where we have managed 5 wins in as many games, some of which were hard fought. We have been brilliant in pressing, our new signings have improved our game by some margin and we have seen some brilliant individual performances by Odegaard, Jesus and Martinelli in attack.
We are oozing with confidence! Anyone complaining that it was against the bottom half teams should consider the fact that Liverpool dropped points against Palace, City against Villa and Liverpool again against Fulham, and we managed to beat all three of them. Premier league is a hard fought league and it doesn’t matter if you are the best team in the world if you are playing away from home against a motivated team. Anything can happen on a given day, we have avoided that till now.
Things that worries me are the injuries. Partey is out, who has been immense for us and his deputy in Elneny picked up an injury too. This leave us with a midfield of Sambi and Xhaka, it would be some challenge for a young Sambi to deliver Partey-esque level performance in the midfield.
Alex is out too, but we have a decent enough cover in Tierney at LB. He certainly improves our game overall, and our left side is lethal with him and Martinelli operating there. Tierney lacks that instinct but I believe he will do a decent job. Can he do without regular game time recently and coming after an injury? We will get to know today.
I’m sure it will be a physical game similar to Villa. Can we keep our composure and not give away an easy goal? Hopefully.
Both Ramsdale and Odegaard picked up injuries against Villa and will be accessed before the game today. This is a big blow, I’m not sure how much Matt Ryan can do what Ramsdale is doing in terms of distribution and playing from the back. I am also not sure ESR/Vieira can replicate Odegaard’s form?
But then, it’s a chance for whoever make it to playing XI to build their own legacy.
Right, that’s all for today. I am hoping for a narrow 0-1 win for us. Don’t forget to guess your playing XI and with how many goals we are winning today. See you in the comments.
Note – I have been trying to get LiR into Google News (hence the logo change at the top – apparently it’s mandatory). It’s a marathon, might take months to get into, with multiple changes to site’s layout and design to suit their criteria.
Regardless, I’m really grateful to your time at LiR and just wanted to appreciate your contributions on this small blog. Onwards and Upwards!
Also noticed Saliba is the go to person when playing out from the back and I am pleased with that. But saw nothing special from Viera possibly needs game time. Still think we blew it in the TW, on deadline day 2 DMs where signed by Pool & Chelsea but Edu & Tets couldn’t be arsedf.
Getting mugged at OT isn’t a new phenomenon so I feel less aggrieved than I maybe should.
I only hope we don’t end up regretting the lack of quality cover for TP and Arteta and his use of subs still concern me.
We’ll deal with Everton and hopefully do our bit in getting both Gerard and Lampard sacked this year. They can join Parker in the ‘old boys’ dole queue.
Marc
Arteta made 3 substitutions disrupting the game instead of addressing the devil in his midfield. Likely out off his straw hat because he was explaining for ages tactics to these 3. Likely a way they never played before, and none if the new entrants explained to those on the field.
Chaos led to the 2nd goal
Tichel given the heave-ho today. Breathtaking. This is what the club said.
Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.
It rather reminds me of that sketch in the Life of Brian where the judaens are asking what the Romans have done for them. I doubt our club’s farewell message to Arteta eventually will have such a roll of honour.
Chelsea want Potter, Poch or ZZ. I don’t suppose they’d consider a last minute swap…
Been out of circulation today as I’ve been in Spain on business.
Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on – Tuchel sacked and the Scouser’s lose 4-1 to Napoli – it was supposed to get fucked up because of and after the World Cup not from the start of the season.
If Chelsea go for Potter it will be interesting to see how he gets on – no doubt he’s a very good coach but there’s a world of difference between managing a club like Brighton and a club like Chelsea.
Hi Marc
Spain eh? … Nice one if you managed to get some downtime rather than just business (in which case those trips are tough).
Chelsea are chaotic aren’t they. I don’t think that’s all bad because it works for them sometimes but sacking TT can’t just be based on results. I read he was having a number of unwanted transfers foisted on him and he resisted.
I’ve no evidence for this whatsoever but the new owner probably thinks he can use any sporting/business acumen from the US and turn it into success in the PL. Very risky if true. In essence, they look worse now than at the end of last season which is going sone given the money they’ve spent.
I too have doubts about Potter once he comes up against established mega egos. Couldn’t happen to a nicer club. Liverpool!
Just read that Zurich won the Swiss championship last season. But they lost all of their first seven games thus term and are playing in St Gallen tonight which is forty miles from Zurich. An accomplished, confident win tonight with no injuries and some top displays from our non first teamers will be just the ticket. Looking forward to seeing Marquinhos get some minutes providing assists to Eddie Unket. I’m also hoping to be reassured by Turner. I’m really stumped for names in CM because GX and Lakonga will surely be held back for Everton. Anyone brave enough to have a guess at our first XI?
Lads – Game tonight is at 5.45pm UK time just in case you were unaware. I was going to tune in two hours later than that which would have left me crying over the Swiss fondue I’m having for me dinner! At least it’s a bit easier for those of you in India and all parts East.
OK
Here’s my stab at tonight’s team. I think KT will be in MF and Matt Smith will start. 3-4-2-1
Turner
Cedric Holdinho TT
Vieira Matt Smith GX KT
Marquinhos ESR
Eddie
I’ll be lucky if I’m half right!
Strange line up today, Marquinhos starts in midfield in 4-3-3?
Fabio Vieira in place of Odegaard and Eddie gets his start ahead of Jesus.
Fabio, Marquinhos, Turner to watch out for today. Pretty excited for mid week games, even if it’s Europa.
#COYG
KP
You were pretty close, ESR is injured again so it was a No but Marquinhos made it. Gabriel instead of Cedric, I guess Arteta wants at least one solid body in defense.
Marc
I hope you are buying beers in litres there. When I was there in London, I got my Schengen Visa sorted through france and by the time I got my passport back, there were Covid lockdowns.
Couple of my mates received theirs, a week before and went to spain.. I am not racist but I won’t forgive China for the virus 😂
I missed Amsterdam too.
Hope you are having a nice one.. cheers!
Hi
Match starting
Franco vai Foder o Tets?
Both coaches putting up a Monet pose Penseur
Turner seems a slight improvement on our Icelandic goalkeeper
☹️
Marquinhos with his first goal. Initial pass by Vieira.
All of you who are not commenting.
,… must be playing with your dingaling
Marquinhos. What a brilliant goal and the reaction was even better. I love it when young players score on their debuts.
Not a penalty for me. It was just a 50-50 challenge.
Second goal by Eddie, but a superb accurate cross from Marquinhos. De Bruyne class of accuracy
depressing paint drying watch, minus Marq’s first contribution with the first team…until we find a Xhaka replacement, to provide some cutting edge and directness to our attack, and/or bring in a steely DM, so that we can devote more men in the box, we will continue to struggle for goals against big clubs and/or those who park the proverbial bus…we’ve seen this sideways/backwards passing snorefest far too often since MA’s arrival, which has led to some rather mixed results…we should have laid a beating on this presently bottom of the table Swiss club, especially after the United affair
Turner growing into the game. Good on aerial balls
Finally 2-1, and we got slightly worse after the full first team brought back
That game was closer than it ought to have been.
TRVL
I agree. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It reminded me of too many underwhelming away euro performances under Tets, UE and chihuahua head. We looked complacent, hesitant and short of quality. Marquinhos’s goal and assist were fucking magical though. And his reaction – I loved it.
Hoopah
Fair point about Turner. I was ready to have a massive runarrsonian rant about him in the first half.
Not a penalty for me either but Utd being screwed by Var at Old Trafford, priceless. Top of Group A and the Table makes for a good weekend without football, possibly.
Watch this space here our dynamic management duo bringing in a winger in the Jan TW despite what Marquinhos showed today, instead of a much needed DM, now where have I seen this before was it not the last Jan TW? Come on Edu get it together lay the ground works now.
Killroy
Hi mate. The huge irony in all of this is that Arteta and Edu were defensive midfielders in the playing career. TP is making progress apparently and could return ahead of schedule but their stance on bolstering CM is pure stubbornness and stupidity. Last night’s game was rather fevered at times so the cupboard is bare. I suspect all games this weekend – not just Friday ones – will be suspended.
A genuine question. It’s not some veiled comment about what has happened.
Why are some mass spectator sports in the UK resuming tomorrow (e.g. Cricket, Rugby, Golf, Horse Racing (not a sport but classified as one) and football isn’t? Can anyone shed any light because it appears to be partial treatment.