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+----- Thread: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread (/showthread.php?tid=9782)
WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Ska'dForLife-WBA - 24-09-2020
![[Image: DSC-0576.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/93CyLQs/DSC-0576.jpg)
Just as the Inuit have fifty different words for snow, it's amazing that Albion fans over the last twenty years haven't evolved an entire lexicon of synonyms for the feeling of watching an underinvested-in team go toe to toe against star-studded Prem heavyweights and turn into cannon fodder. (On second thoughts, maybe we do have the words, but they're not fit to print). Despite promising signs on the attack at Everton, a red card for Kieran Gibbs left us vulnerable at the back, and five conceded goals was the result. A shoot-out defeat to Brentford in the League Cup hasn't really helped the general mood, and now we renew our hunt for a first point of the season against Chelsea on Saturday evening. When it rains, it well and truly pisses it down on us.
Our major hope for the defensive solidity we badly need in this game is Branislav Ivanovic, who'll be facing his former club if he starts. Not that there are too many familiar faces for the Serb to greet; under Frank Lampard, the Blues are swiftly changing from Chelski to Das Chelsenhoffen as they re-jig their forward line with the addition of fresh-faced Teutons Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. With Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud still on hand alongside Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, there's plenty of firepower to bring to bear, though curiously, Chelsea's three goals so far this season have actually come from defensive midfield and the back four. Having set up in two completely different formations so far, it's possible that Lampard may still be sussing out what exactly to do with this embarrassment of riches, and if so, that's something Albion have to take advantage of.
Famous fans: Over the last thirty years they've come out of the woodwork in droves, with claims (of wildly varying probability) that they've supported Chelsea since the days of the Second Division and 6k gates. Among the more likely lifelong Blues are Phil Daniels, David Baddiel and his brother Ivor, Sir Michael Caine, Michael Crawford, Graham "Suggs" McPherson, Trevor Nelson, John Major and Bill Clinton (who began supporting while studying in Britain in the 1960s, and later became famous for opening his presidential speeches with a shout of "hello, hello, Chelsea aggro"). More dubious candidates for original Shed skins include David Mellor, Busta Rhymes, Bryan Adams, Renee Zellweger, Will Ferrell, Joseph Fiennes and anyone wandering around a provincial town in a £70 replica shirt at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Baggievicar - 26-09-2020
Tumbleweed, eh?
I guess reflects expectations. It will make it all the sweeter if we win.
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Salopbaggie - 26-09-2020
Expectation is spot on BV, anything less than a 0-3 loss will be a bonus. Never mind points games start next week
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - baggietrousers - 26-09-2020
Same team (except Townsend in for Gibbs), same set up, same result ?♂️
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Stairs - 26-09-2020
I am budgeting on 0-3 ?
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Blue Baggie - 26-09-2020
Same formation, same players, same result coming up.
Why would I expect anything else.
Moore's stubbornness got him the sack.
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - WBA-Josh - 26-09-2020
Chelsea might be playing a 4222 formation. If they are then I support Bilic sticking with the 5 man defence.
I hope we can get Krovinovic over the line soon so we can go back to a 4 man defence next week.
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Blue Baggie - 26-09-2020
(26-09-2020, 17:55)WBA-Josh Wrote: Chelsea might be playing a 4222 formation. If they are then I support Bilic sticking with the 5 man defence.
I hope we can get Krovinovic over the line soon so we can go back to a 4 man defence next week.
A 3rd defeat will bring it's critic's no matter what formation Bilic plays.
To play a 5 man defence IMO you need flying full backs and know how to park the bus.
Neither have been our strong points so far.
I don't expect to win, as long as we make them fight all the way I will be a content.
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Baggie_One - 26-09-2020
I’m a bit giddy
RE: WBA vs Chelsea - Match Thread - Blue Baggie - 26-09-2020
The first 30 minutes have been kind to us in every game so far ?