***Chelsea v City official match thread***

[Justified logic]

The full pre-match presser.

Watch on youtube.com

Will Postman Kev deliver today?

[john@staustell]

No great expectations from me on this one. However a win or draw would be a nice bonus. I fully expect us to piss all over Chelsea, dominate them and get stuffed on the break. Much like last time.

Expect to win every match after this though, including 2 in the FA Cup.

[johnny crossan]

No great expectations from me on this one. However a win or draw would be a nice bonus. I fully expect us to piss all over Chelsea, dominate them and get stuffed on the break....

I agree except for the last bit - more likely Fernandinho redded early on and then continuous free kicks awarded for dives around the box for their neanderthals to hack into the net.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

No great expectations from me on this one. However a win or draw would be a nice bonus. I fully expect us to piss all over Chelsea, dominate them and get stuffed on the break....

I agree except for the last bit - more likely Fernandinho redded early on and then continuous free kicks awarded for dives around the box for their neanderthals to hack into the net.

All I hope for is the game isn't decided by a lino/ref decision unless of course it's in our favour for a change. I think we will give a good account of ourselves and if we take enough chances we will win.

[sheblue]

Assuming officiating fairness, a level playing field, a considerable assumption. If were up for it we will win it. But we will have to be able to deal with their counter style.

[iwasthere2012]

I can't see us winning tbh.
Conte will be happy with a draw. They'll soak it up and wait for our inevitable mistakes at the back.

Unless we're more ruthless in front of goal, than we have been, I'm not confident of getting anything.

[Original Dub]

Mike Dean is reffing, so obviously Anthony Taylor wasn't available.

We outclassed them all over the pitch last time and had them penned back. Taylor allowed them to keep their 11 men, even though he absolutely knew Luiz should have walked.

I can see it being the same tonight, if the ref can just stay impartial for one game. Although, I'm a bit cynical at this stage for some reason.

[Wonderwall]

We are going to batter them! Revenge is sweet, I think we will outclass them and put away a nice tidy performance. The papaers tomorrow will be full of how infuriating it must be for guardiola that we are so inconsistent etc

[ruralblue]

We are going to batter them! Revenge is sweet, I think we will outclass them and put away a nice tidy performance. The papaers tomorrow will be full of how infuriating it must be for guardiola that we are so inconsistent etc

Batter them make them caffle and go on to win the league and Fa Cup!!!!!

1 - 3

[nottsblue]

Bad feeling about tonight. Will reserve judgement on scoreline until teams have been announced

[Justified logic]

We are going to batter them! Revenge is sweet, I think we will outclass them and put away a nice tidy performance. The papaers tomorrow will be full of how infuriating it must be for guardiola that we are so inconsistent etc

The media are all assuming a Chelsea win because of our leaky defence so, like you, I'm going for a clear City win - and the papers to be calling the downfall of the Abramovich empire and the rise of the mighty Spurs to repeat their 1961 feat.

An early goal for us as we race out of the blocks and a 1-3 final scoreline.

[City64]

Not up for this one at all , our defence is a fucking embarrassment of the highest order . If we score 4 we might get a point ! My focus is on Hull Saturday , nice 3 pm KO so lots of beer and we might actually get 3 points if we score 3 or 4 goals against them .

[dave watson's perm]

Does VK start this or does he persist with the powderpuff hipster? Is Tosin not a good shout for at least the bench?

[london blue 2]

Only question for me is how badly will sergio hurt sideshow?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Only question for me is how badly will sergio hurt sideshow?

Apparently sideshow is still getting ongoing treatment from the last time, it gave me a nice warm fuzzy feeling yesterday when I heard Conte saying that.

[Lev Bronstein]

In a funny sort of way, Chelsea could benefit from getting beat, should Spuds win then they'd only be 4 points in front, any complacency would go out of the window and they'd have to work to win the title. If the gap is too big and they just drift and dribble to the title an unsatisfactory end to the season has a habit of turning into a poor start in the next.





Now that;s how you clutch at straws

[bigblue]

Big game but I'm still down from our draw a few days ago (a win would have made this a huge game).

As usual, the result will come down to how many minutes the players want to concentrate/put effort in and if we can finish our chances.

The players and Pep definitely have something to prove so hopefully they play like it.

[CTID Hants]

Bad feeling about tonight. Will reserve judgement on scoreline until teams have been announced

You so often post what i am thinking NB! I was confident about Sunday until it showed Navas.........

I am hoping that Pep played Navas knowing that Zabba couldn't cope with two games 4 days apart and rested him against the gooners, ready for tonight.

Sagna being out for a couple of weeks really is a bummer....

[Dimples]

Hard to call because of the potential impact of the ref's influence.

Playing wise I am not worried.
We played them of the pitch at home - so why not more of the same this time round?
If we take our chances we should be ok.
If we don't we will be buried because we are very unlikely to keep a clean sheet.

Important that we get a win from a CL perspective.
1. I want the Chavs hungry when the play the Rags in a couple of weeks time.
I want the Chavs to absolutely bury the Rags, humiliate them and cement our position above them.

2. I want a minimum 4 point gap on the Rags when we play them.
The Ref will be under orders that the Rags must win.
So I expect them to be allowed kick us of the park as well as two footed lunges and elbows - they are good at this, much better than they are at football.
Early yellow cards for us (look at our record, it proves we we are a dirty team) with red cards to follow and
a few days injury time if the scores are level after 90 mins.

[Moonchesteri]

I cant see us scoring twice even Palace just did it there. 1-1 draw?

I wonder if Yaya will be back in starting lineup and i won't even try to guess the back four