Chelsea fans with a home game against Newcastle United.
A 5.30pm kick-off in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
So what is the mood like amongst Chelsea fans ahead of today’s match?
Fair to say that the midweek hammering by PSG hasn’t helped the mood.
Chelsea fans seemingly not too happy ahead of facing United…
Comments from Chelsea fans via their message boards The Shed End and CFC Net:
‘I decided to go out with the family. I am done reserving time for CFC if am home will watch it but am not changing plans anymore.
PSG was the last straw!!’
‘It’s heartbreaking but I’ve got to the point where I don’t give a f… anymore.’
‘I’m fearful that we will continue with playing out from the back ( with either keeper ). The opposition has come to expect it and we seem too stubborn to change it.’
‘Under Maresca the same team did actually keep a decent amount of clean sheets (we managed 6 in our first 13 league games this season). It was other areas where we were having issues, notably on the attacking side. I think some of the reason we are letting in more goals now is because we have reverted to the ball-playing goalkeeper approach. Maresca had seemingly abandoned that approach once he saw how our goalkeepers were with the ball at their feet.’
‘Some good points there…
And whilst it may not be common knowledge to our American friends… I would also add that most people who have ever played football know the reason the majority of GKs become GKs is because, they’re not very good with the ball at their feet.’
‘Get into these coatless, gibbering, dentists nightmares.
3-0 the Chels.’
‘Important game this one, win and we keep the pressure on 4th placed Villa and let’s remember Newcastle are 12th.
Newcastle have some good players so we need to go strong with smart tactics which we lacked against PSG.’
‘I’ve spotted a flaw.’
‘They also busted their guts -v- Barca and the squad is limited through injury.’
‘Hope you are right yet sometimes it is amazing how crocked players seem to recover against us.’
‘Maybe just maybe bench Palmer.’
‘As much as he is out of form, I think even if he was deceased he’d still make the starting eleven.’
‘The battle of absolute mid.
2-2.’
‘Interesting to see if he rests the better players for the comeback v PSG of which he speaks.’
‘If Jorgensen starts we will need to score 4 to get a point.
How many times has Sanchez saved this God awful defence this season?’
‘No matter who starts we will likely concede 1 or 2 at least. We’ve only managed 1 clean sheet this year in the Premier League and that was rather fortuitous against Brentford.’
‘Yeah it embaressing, and is another way I feel little connection to this team.
I took pride in just how strong the defences we built from Jose onwards. This lot are just incompetent.’
‘Man United play Villa. One of those has to drop points. A win against Newcastle could be significant. In a perfect world a win for us and a draw for those two would put us in 3rd. Having said that, the return of Tonali will make a huge difference to them.’
‘Full strength team for this. Absolutely no rotation at all. We need to win this game as qualifying for the CL is essential for the future of the club.
Newcastle will be fired up for this and will punish us for any more brainfarts.
Only rest players by subbing them if we have opened a substantial lead.’
‘Speaking to many NUFC fans, I think they see this as their lowest priority game. They’re 1-1 with Barcelona and could conceivably still go through, and then they have the mackems at home the following Sunday. After what happened at the Stadium of Light, they are DESPERATE to win that game.* Europe is still possible for them through the league but the vast majority don’t really think they’ll get CL. But given the fact that 7th-8th could be Europa/Conference, they’re not out of it.
The problem is they have virtually no depth, so they will struggle to rest players. They are also notably worse without Bruno Guimaraes who is still injured – and the win against Man United was a rare win without him in the team. Their away record has also been appalling this season and they really do feed off the fantastic home crowd. We of all teams know how difficult SJP is to play in.
Altogether I think these factors mean they will likely start on the front foot. They will press relentlessly, but begin to fade as the first half goes on. We need to be ready to match that energy at the beginning with clever play, not being afraid to go long if they put our defenders under pressure. We cannot and must not start Badiashile, Tosin, and I would argue Fofana who will not be able to handle it. If we try to play through their press again like we did against PSG, I can definitely see us conceding goals.
Despite their squad problems, they still have some outstanding players in Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, and Sandro Tonali. Gordon is a bit hit and miss, but still has plenty of quality. Both Gordon and Tonali are likely to be looking for moves so will be eager to impress, although they’ll be more inclined to do that in the CL.
So what does this mean? I think this is a game we really should win. Their squad is weaker than ours, they’re away, and they have a realistic albeit challenging prospect of getting through on Wednesday. I am worried about team selection and the mentality of the players more than anything.’
‘Just hope that the PSG collapse hasn’t destroyed any remaining belief and confidence in this side, but I don’t feel at all confident about this myself.’
‘Genuinely lost as what will happen today. Two of the flakiest teams in the league – one game great, the next rubbish.
Only good thing for sure is they are a worse side without Guimares and I won’t have to watch whichever referee let him get away with multiple fouls, him winge every time he gets a feather touch from one of ours and us get booked each time we dare tackle him. Good player though.’
‘Will be a slow game newcastle sitting back they will hit us on the break in second half and we will be lucky to walk away with a draw.’
‘I suspect that too.’
‘I’d be amazed if Newcastle don’t rest some players as they’ve a great chance (compared to us) midweek against Barcelona.’
‘Newcastle also have an extra recovery day.’
‘One of the leagues most polarised fixtures, surely. We typically get little to nothing at their place, they generally fare as badly at ours. And their away form is especially bad this season.
So 0-2, then!’