Team for Chelsea if Jones doesn't make it?

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equaliser

Well-known member
Will we go three at the back now Jones is out and no Ayling? Can't see who else can play wing-back now. If we go our usual system I'd go VdB to full back, Howson and Barlaser middle, and Forss, Crooks, Hackney behind Rodgers. Thought Crooks was decent when he came on today, made things happen. There's not a lot of width/penetration from wide, but it's a team that can compete in the middle. Alternatively, we could put Coburn on and drop Crooks or Forss. Or drop Barlaser and shunt Hackney back. Rodgers has to play for me though - now Jones is out.

Don't think they're that special through the middle - think both Gallagher and Fernandez overrated. But can we keep wide players the likes of Palmer/Sterling etc quiet? That's the question. Broja is also a threat - and Nkunku will be a major star if he stays free of injury for a while, so hope he's not yet fit.
 
equaliser said:
Will we go three at the back now Jones is out and no Ayling? Can't see who else can play wing-back now. If we go our usual system I'd go VdB to full back, Howson and Barlaser middle, and Forss, Crooks, Hackney behind Rodgers. Thought Crooks was decent when he came on today, made things happen. There's not a lot of width/penetration from wide, but it's a team that can compete in the middle. Alternatively, we could put Coburn on and drop Crooks or Forss. Or drop Barlaser and shunt Hackney back. Rodgers has to play for me though - now Jones is out.

Don't think they're that special through the middle - think both Gallagher and Fernandez overrated. But can we keep wide players the likes of Palmer/Sterling etc quiet? That's the question. Broja is also a threat - and Nkunku will be a major star if he stays free of injury for a while, so hope he's not yet fit.
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Forss Van Den Bergh and Howson for Jones ,Ayling and Greenwood

Assuming Jones is out and Howson is available
 
Mayor Goldie Wilson said:
If jones is out injured we will have a massive problem cos it would essentially be a flat back 5. We would have no pace in the team at all and our main out ball would be missing.
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Said this at the game...Bangura, Lath and Jones are our pace in the team.
We won't have an 'out' ball at Chelsea.
I'm a big believer in keeping the other team honest and offering a threat - can't see how we do this on Tuesday.
 
newyddion said:
Operation Ayresome?

Doesn’t sound like it tbh
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I just think we have to start Forss down the middle. That wouldn’t leave anyone for the right hand side really and Hackney has been moved wide before so he might end up rwb or rw depending on if we go with 3 or 4 at the back.

Even though we have lost pace we would have ball carriers in Hackney, Forss and Rogers.
 
It suddenly looks difficult to pick a team that carries a threat.

I would be tempted to get as much energy on the pitch as possible, to at least give them something to think about on the counter.

So, a bit left field but here goes:

3 CB - VDB, Fry, Engel
RWB - McNair
LWB - O'brien

CM - Howson, Barlaser
AM - Hackney, Rogers

CF - Crooks

The reality is that we are going to have 11 men behind the ball (deep in our half probably) so Crooks will be more of a first line of defence. I would be hopeful that he can at least be a nuisance when the ball is played up to him.

McNair at RWB is a gamble but I don't think we have much choice. At his best, both him and O'brien can travel with the ball (and deliver quality from wide) and use the ball pretty well.

Hackney and Rogers will spend most of their time shuffling across to either left or right to block passing lines into Chelsea's wide forwards.

Or we could go: 4-5-1 which is what we did second half in the first leg:

RVDB, Fry, Clarke, Engel
Crooks, Hackney, Howson, Barlaser, O'brien
Rogers

Fingers crossed Mr Carrick has a cunning plan!
 
No matter who is available the task is very difficult, Chelsea have real quality and on there day should beat us comfortably but they can also play as a team of individuals and hopefully we will turn up and give our all no matter who is available, fight, run and block everything in site then attack with Intent, purpose and quality and hope we have a little luck too, give everything we can and hope it's enough.

I do agree it looks hard to pick a team with an attacking threat, this is also down to how daunting looking at Chelsea squad is, hopefully Carrick might have one or two tricks up his sleeve.
 
We’ve looked so much better playing 3 CB and wing backs lately, but I don’t think we have anyone who can play RWB like Jones can. Hopefully Carrick has something up his sleeve, but we are down to the bones again. O’Brien looked good on the ball when he came on today and I can see him starting on Tuesday, either CM or LWB.

I think it will be…

Glover
Fry-Clarke-Engel
RVDB-Hackney-Barlaser-O’Brien
Crooks-Rogers
Forss
 
uncle_rico said:
We’ve looked so much better playing 3 CB and wing backs lately, but I don’t think we have anyone who can play RWB like Jones can. Hopefully Carrick has something up his sleeve, but we are down to the bones again. O’Brien looked good on the ball when he came on today and I can see him starting on Tuesday, either CM or LWB.

I think it will be…

Glover
Fry-Clarke-Engel
RVDB-Hackney-Barlaser-O’Brien
Crooks-Rogers
Forss
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I was considering O’Brien too but he’s played about 13 minutes or so there today and that’s it. Big ask to go and start away at Stamford bridge in such a big game after the time he’s had out. I think he will play a part again maybe as a sub.

He will be back in the team soon though as he’s a good player.
 
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