Nihilist:


My speculation is that maybe someone thinks Conte has been running his mouth in the press a bit too much...

The odds went from 20/1 to 8/1 to suspended in just one day. Crazy.

No need to read much into that. You must have heard all the assurances and plans dolled out in recent weeks about rebuilding the landscapes in the club. I don't think there is anything to fret about that.

New to the group, i hail my fellow cfc fans
kinda sad i am just finding this but nothing spoil

#forzachelsea

coolluk:
New to the group, i hail my fellow cfc fans
kinda sad i am just finding this but nothing spoil

#forzachelsea

Welcome to the board.

donjazet:

Welcome to the board.

Thanx boss

Antonio Conte will get the boot before December.

Nihilist, care to wager? Chelseafan01 can you weigh in on this?

Leyqute:
Antonio Conte will get the boot before December.

Nihilist, care to wager? Chelseafan01 can you weigh in on this?

For the sake of my darling club and our position on the table, I hope this ur prophesy doesn't come to pass.....

Holy Ghost fire

Nihilist:
Paddy power suspends betting on Conte getting sacked

Dafuck?

Tell me something Nihilist, did you meet conte in the sub station and he refused to take a selfie with you? Your dislike for him is astonishing, Klopp episode comes to mind readily.

pamcode:
Tell me something Nihilist, did you meet conte in the sub station and he refused to take a selfie with you? Your dislike for him is astonishing, Klopp episode comes to mind readily.

At all.

I was actually expressing surprise in that post. I don't dislike Conte at all.

Chelseafan1:


For the sake of my darling club and our position on the table, I hope this ur prophesy doesn't come to pass.....

Holy Ghost fire

I was actually joking, that was a tongue in cheek comment.

I think Conte is a good coach and a tough guy. He won't find it easy in the EPL but he'll surely survive.

Wetin na? Why are we using Conte and Sack in the same sentence, in October?

nateevs:
Wetin na? Why are we using Conte and Sack in the same sentence, in October?

I wonder o

Thats just one of our bad belle rivals playing dirty. .

With British media, its easy to start a rumour and start something with bookies which will in turn add pressure to the club and manager and then have effect on the results. Before you know it, we will hear he has 3 games to save his Job.

Who would bet against young Tammy getting on the score-sheet tonight?

Not me!

PMB: Chelsea v Leicester City - talking points

It’s our first lunchtime kick-off of the season and our first home outing for a month. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton are more than ready…

TALKING POINTS
With the year’s penultimate pause for internationals out of the way, Antonio Conte must pit his wits against popular predecessors at Stamford Bridge over the coming weeks.

Claudio Ranieri, at the helm in SW6 from 2000 to 2004, is seeking his first away point since the same fixture last season, yet Leicester City have managed just one win in 25 visits. His team host Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

After facing his compatriot, Conte entertains Ranieri’s successor at the Bridge, José Mourinho, and Manchester United. The Italian will expect his players to deliver the passion and intensity he wants over both games.

Of course the Blues had the better of the recent League Cup tie at Leicester, coming from behind to win 4-2. Confidence must also have been boosted by the comfortable 2-0 win at Hull following a change of formation. Diego Costa made one then scored one and has now been involved in eight goals this season (six scored, two assists).

No other striker in the top five European leagues can match that. With Tammy Abraham netting yet again for loan club Bristol City in his most recent game there, the top marksmen in England’s top two tiers are Chelsea boys.
KEY STAT

Diego Costa has the best games-per-goal rate of any Chelsea player in the Premier League era.

Antonio Conte’s switch to a 3-4-3 system at Hull helped earned the Blues’ first clean sheet on the road since April.

The formation harks back to ‘old Chelsea’ in a way. Without the ball the defence becomes a compact unit, reminiscent of the 2000s teams. But with the ball the attack becomes five-pronged, harking back further.

The sight of a five-man Blues’ frontline may have reminded senior fans of the old fashioned outside-, inside-, and centre-forward roles in the 2-3-5 formation that prevailed in English football up to the 1960s. (For Victor Moses, Willian, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Marcos Alonso, think Eric Parsons, Johnny McNichol, Roy Bentley, Seamus O’Connell and Frank Blunstone.)

Leicester, meanwhile, will be looking to regain ground after a stalemate at home to Southampton last time out. At this stage of the season they are officially the worst defenders of the title since Blackburn Rovers in 1995/96, almost matching Chelsea in 2015/16 – as it pained this column to point out last season. The Foxes have the same points (eight) and wins (two) but a worse goal difference than that of Mourinho’s Blues which was -3.

It took virtually the whole of last season for opponents to refrain from underestimating and attacking Leicester hell for leather, allowing them to counter decisively. That has not been the case in 2016/17.

The Foxes have another small distinction: they are the only side with two or more penalties awarded this season not to have conceded one themselves. Maybe if we all invoke the spirit of Erland ’97 that could change.

There was sad news for the Chelsea family this week. Willian’s mother died after a long illness back home in Brazil – he had dedicated his goal at Hull to her.

And Michael Janes, grandson of one of the club’s founding directors in 1905, Edwin Hurford Janes, died suddenly on Tuesday 11 October. He was 82 and is survived by his son Jeremy Janes, daughter Tracey Sharp, and grandchildren Alice and Emily Sharp, Hugo Janes, Mathilda Heller-Janes and Isabelle Heller-Janes.

The Janeses ran many hostelries in the Stamford Bridge area including the Rising Sun (where the club was founded and Edwin Janes was landlord), the King’s Head at Fulham Broadway, and the Duke’s Head at Parson’s Green.

Michael (pictured right) had fond childhood memories of the cheerful throng at the Duke’s Head on match days – especially after a win. He was a guest of the club at matches on several occasions, loaned items such as a 1905/06 framed team photo from the Rising Sun to the club museum, but managed a bigger legacy. Like him, his surviving family are all Blues supporters.

Both families have the deepest sympathies of everyone at Chelsea FC.

The 12.30 start time at the Bridge this weekend is the Blues’ first kick off at this precise time since Birmingham away in the FA Cup in February 2012. It is not a favourite slot for fans, especially those travelling long distances. How about the Blues players?

Last season there were matches at 12.00 and 12.45. These resulted in defeats against the Liverpool teams, a draw at Spurs, a win against Arsenal and, most recently, a 4-0 victory at Villa.

There may be more to come. The 12.30 slot is one of 28 Package A picks for television companies. Saturday 5.30pm games comprise Package B, and Sunday 4pm Package D. The minimum number of selections for any club in each package is one, the maximum five.
THE BEST THAT CAN HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND…

A first home win since August, back into the top five and among the European places.

PREMIER LEAGUE TOP SCORERS

Diego Costa (Chelsea) 6

Sergio Aguero (Man City) 5

Michail Antonio (West Ham) 5

Romelu Lukaku (Everton) 5


PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
SATURDAY

Chelsea v Leicester 12.30pm - Sky Sports

Arsenal v Swansea 3pm

Bournemouth v Hull 3pm

Manchester City v Everton 3pm

Stoke v Sunderland 3pm

West Brom v Tottenham 3pm

Crystal Palace v West Ham 5.30pm - BT Sport

SUNDAY

Middlesbrough v Watford 1.30pm - Sky Sports

Southampton v Burnley 4pm - Sky Sports

MONDAY
Liverpool v Manchester United 8pm - Sky Sports

Club's official site.

HOW DIEGO COSTA BECAME CHELSEA'S BEST PLAYER - AND ALL THANKS TO CONTE

The Blues striker has found fantastic form this season and his new Stamford Bridge boss deserves a lot of credit

Since Antonio Conte has joined Chelsea, Diego Costa has been fitter, happier and controlling his rage more than ever before - and he's causing havoc for Premier League defences.

Leicester City will struggle to control the league's most in-form striker on Saturday as the Chelsea hit-man, who has been involved in eight goals in seven games so far this season, added to his record by netting for his country over the international break.

Conte fought hard to keep his striker from the clutches of Atletico Madrid in the summer, but the Chelsea boss knew he couldn't do without a player who he considers to be the best striker he has ever coached.

Costa has taken his game to another level this season to become Chelsea's most important player, surpassing the influence that Eden Hazard has. It seems a long time ago now that it was the Belgian winning the PFA Player of the Year award during Chelsea's title-winning season two years ago.

The implementation of stricter diets and pre-season double training sessions have allowed Costa to add a leaner side to his meaner side - while discipline on the training ground has ensured that he focuses on Conte's plan.

Last season, and almost a year ago to the day, Costa admitted he got fat during his summer break. Pre-season work wasn't sufficient to work off the weight he had gained before his club went on a shocking run of results that led to Jose Mourinho's exit.

Conte enters sack race as odds of exit plummet

"Maybe I got out of my diet and when I came back I was not the way I was supposed to be," Costa said. "I was a little bit overweight. That affected my game."

Costa is a jovial character around the dressing room with immense popularity among team-mates, but Conte's demanding nature has been something that's helped him hone his game as a forward.

The Blues talisman is a faster player this season and now more able to run in behind defences while Chelsea look to him on the counter attack. His improved speed means that whether teams defend high or deep, Costa can find a way to hurt you.

There are signs, too, that Conte has successfully burrowed into his striker's head as defences are getting less of a rise out of his rage with fouls and comments on the pitch.

He has still been fouled 21 times this season - more than any other Premier League player, apart from Hazard - but he's looked far less likely to explode as the season has gone on.

His goals have been worth five points to Chelsea already as they have been decisive in the games against West Ham, Swansea and Watford, while he was also the player to kill off the game against Hull City.

The £32 million striker has been hauling Chelsea up the table and keeping them in contention for European spots. He has completely filled the No.9 void left after Didier Drogba departed from the club.

Finding the talents to match those who have gone before hasn't been easy for Chelsea with John Terry still looking like the club's best centre-back, while Thibaut Courtois has yet to fully convince in Petr Cech's shadow. Frank Lampard's absence is still felt in midfield.

Since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2014, Costa has built up an impressive record, scoring 38 goals and providing 11 assists in just 58 appearances. In comparison, Drogba only managed 27 goals with 17 assists in the same length of time.

Costa is now key for club and country with Julen Lopetegui seeing sense after Vicente del Bosque left him out for Euro 2016. His reward? Elimination from the tournament by Conte's Italy.

Everything is coming together for Costa and, while Conte can take some credit for his continued development, it is Costa who has shown the drive to develop.

Only 10 years ago, Costa was on £100-per-week at Barcelona Esportiva Capela, a small club in São Paulo, having been born into relative poverty in north east Brazil. Now Conte has built his Chelsea team around him and, in the process, made him the most important player for one of the world's biggest football clubs.

http://m.goal.com/s/en/news/14312/features/2016/10/14/28405622/how-diego-costa-became-chelseas-best-player-and-all-thanks?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.ng%2F

I don't know if I would give Conte that much credit for Costa's upturn in form though.

To me I think that Costa has improved mainly because he has largely reduced that irritating thing he used to do last season where he would run away from the box to pretend he was a left winger. A good striker in the box scores goals, that's no surprise.

THE ANTONIO CONTE EFFECT: HOW N'GOLO KANTE HAS DEVELOPED AT CHELSEA

Ahead of Leicester City's trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday, the stats team at daily fantasy football game Oulala.com have analysed former Fox N'Golo Kante, revealing how the 25-year-old's game has developed since his £30 million switch to the capital in the summer.
Last season, Kante won more tackles (125) and made more interceptions (156) for Leicester City than any other player in Europe's top five leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1). The Frenchman was a phenomenon at the heart of Leicester's midfield and a vital cog to the their Premier League triumph. It was only a matter of time until a big money offer was made for the hottest property in world football.

At a new club, under a new manager, in a new formation, Kante has been faced with the challenge of a new role in midfield at Chelsea.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri regularly deployed a 4-4-2 formation for the majority of last season, with Kante sitting in the defensive-midfielder role alongside the more creative Danny Drinkwater,

Chelsea's opening seven league games have seen a mixture of formations and personal. Antonio Conte has experimented with a 4-5-1 with Kante sitting behind Nemanja Matic and Oscar, 4-2-3-1 alongside Matic in the centre of midfield and most recently a 3-4-3 against Hull City with Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso acting as wing-backs, again Kante found himself alongside Matic in the middle of the park.

Antonio Conte's alternating formations have seen Kante as either the lone defensive-midfielder or one of two central midfielders, therefore occasionally roaming further forward and in turn, having a direct influence on Kante's stats this season.
Focusing on passing and defending, we analysed Kante's stats on a per game basis in eight key areas at both Leicester last season and Chelsea this term, in an attempt to discover how the change of role under Conte has affected Kante.
The stats show that there has been a clear swing, with improvements in three areas for passing, while in four of the five defensive areas analysed, Kante's figures have taken a drop. It's clear that with the defensively-minded Matic alongside Kante in a number of games, the Frenchman has been given extra protection, resulting in Kante's passing stats to rise and his defensive numbers to drop.

This season, Kante is making almost double the amount of successful passes per game (58 to 32). He is making far more forward passes per game (41 to 24) and his overall pass completion is up significantly from 82 per cent at Leicester to 91 per cent with Chelsea.
However, the 25-year-old is winning fewer tackles (1.9 to 3.4 per game) at a reduced success rate (36% to 48%). He is also making fewer interceptions (2.3 to 4.2) and clearances (1.4 to 1. per game. While his average of 0.3 blocks per game has remained the same.

We already knew Kante was one of the world's best defensive-midfielders, however are we now seeing Antonio Conte turn him into one of the world's best all-round midfielders? Regularly compared to Claude Makelele, how long will it be until Kante is spoken in the same breath as Zinedine Zidane?

Rolling Blues - live blog

Our latest live blog brings you all the news as it happens today in the world of Chelsea, including updates on this Friday from Antonio Conte's press conference ahead of Leicester's visit to the Bridge tomorrow...

3.50pm 'I had experiences here that I would probably have never experienced anywhere else.'
Mark Schwarzer looks back on his time at Chelsea, and Leicester.

3.30pm Our Under-18s have also been busy at work today ahead of their league fixture against Reading at 10.30am tomorrow. Chelsea TV have live coverage and the game will also be shown in the concourses at Stamford Bridge, and on the big screens ahead of the first team's fixture with Leicester.

2.45pm Thibaut Courtois, has spoken to this website ahead of the Leicester game and we will carry his words tomorrow. Among the topics of conversation discussed with the Belgian keeper is Diego Costa, who tops the Premier League scoring charts.

1.20pm Ahead of N'Golo Kante playing against his former club, Conte says the midfielder has brought great will to fight but is a humble person.

1.15pm Conte says he now has four central defenders available and he must take the decision which three start and which one is on the bench.

1.10 pm Conte describes the Leicester and Man United games coming up as great challenges but wants the team to think about themselves more than the opposition.

1.05pm In his media conference, Antonio Conte reports John Terry is available for tomorrow's game. He does not want to give the team line-up though so doesn't say the captain will start.

12.50pm It has been a morning training session at Cobham, completed now.

12.30 pm Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton continue their preview of the Leicester game by running through the numbers...

12 noon Eight of our matches in December and January have been moved owing to TV scheduling:
Man City away - Saturday 3 December - 12.30pm - live on Sky Sports
West Brom home - Sunday 11 December - 12 noon - live on BT Sport
Sunderland away - Wednesday 14 December - 7.45pm - put back a day owing to WBA game being played on the Sunday
Crystal Palace away - Saturday 17 December - 12.30pm - live on Sky Sports
Tottenham away - Wednesday 4 January - 8pm - live on Sky Sports
Leicester City away - Saturday 14 January - 5.30pm - live on BT Sport
Hull City home - Sunday 22 January - 4pm - live on Sky Sports
Liverpool away - Tuesday 31 January - 8pm - live on BT Sport

11.30am A reminder that tickets for our EFL Cup fourth round tie at West Ham are on sale to season ticket holders and members on the UK away scheme today until 5pm today.

9.45am Heading to tomorrow's game at the Bridge? Then check out the latest travel news with details of tube and train closures.

8.45 am Do you want to know which Chelsea strikers have the best scoring rate in the Premier League era? Click on 'Start' below to find out and there is plenty more information in the first part of our Pre-Match Briefing.

Antonio Conte will be speaking to the media at 1pm today to preview the game against the champions. You can watch his press conference live on this website via this link, while our official Twitter feed and this rolling blog will also carry updates.

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri spoke to the media yesterday and confirmed he hopes to welcome back Danny Drinkwater after injury.

The midfielder missed England's two games with a groin problem and our former manager will check on him in training today to see if he is fit to play tomorrow. Nampalys Mendy is definitely out after a reoccurence of his ankle injury suffered in August.

Ranieri said the rest of his players had returned from international duty in good health.

'All the clubs have the same problem and now we have to see who has recovered well and then I choose,' he explained.
'With the Champions League against Copenhagen on Tuesday I must see the players and decide.'

Our development squad are also playing Leicester. They are in action at Aldershot this evening and the game is live on Chelsea TV.

PMB: Chelsea v Leicester City - the numbers

Our build-up to this Saturday's match at the Bridge continues with a selection of facts and statistics…

CHELSEA IN NUMBERS

Since Diego Costa joined in July 2014, only Sergio Aguero (55) and Harry Kane (48) have scored more Premier League goals than his 38.

Eden Hazard has made more Premier League take-ons this season than any other player (30). He is followed by Wilfred Zaha 26, Adnan Januzaj 25 and Raheem Sterling 23.

Since 2015/16, N’Golo Kante has made the most interceptions in the Premier League (170), followed by Idrissa Gueye 146 and Laurent Koscielny 142.
Only Liverpool (111) have created more chances in the top-flight this term than Chelsea (92).

The clean sheet at Hull was the second in 16 games in all competitions and third in the last 26.

Eight of the Blues last 13 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge have ended in a draw.

PREMIER LEAGUE SCORERS
Diego Costa 6, Hazard 2 (1 pen), Willian 2, Batshuayi 1, Moses 1.

LEAGUE GAMES SINCE
A home win: 1
A home draw: 3
A home defeat: 0

MILESTONES
Oscar’s next appearance will be his 200th for the club. He would become the 20th overseas Chelsea player to reach that milestone.

If selected, Oscar will make his 100th Premier League start and John Mikel Obi will make his 250th Premier League appearance.

LEICESTER IN NUMBERS

Formed 1884

Major trophies

1 Premier League championship in 2016

3 League Cups in 1964, 1997 and 2000

1 FA Charity Shield in 1971

LAST SEASON
Premier League Champions

FA Cup Third round

Capital One Cup Fourth round

Top scorer all competitions Jamie Vardy 24
Claudio Ranieri’s side have lost all three away league games this term (to Hull, Liverpool and Man United). The last reigning top-flight champions to lose their opening four away matches were Blackburn in 1995/96.

Leicester won the Premier League last term with a run-in of 12 games unbeaten (eight wins, four draws).
Their 1-1 draw at Chelsea on the final day of 2015/16 was the last point Leicester have won on their travels.
The Foxes have lost on one of their last five top-flight visits to London after losing 17 of their previous 20.

Nanager Claudio Ranieri
Days in charge: 460
Played: 54
Won: 29
Drawn: 16
Lost: 9

LEICESTER'S PAST 10 YEAR LEAGUE HISTORY
Pts Pos Division
2006/07 53 19th Championship
2007/08 52 22nd Championship
2008/09 96 1st League One
2009/10 76 5th Championship
2010/11 67 10th Championship
2011/12 66 9th Championship
2012/13 68 6th Championship
2013/14 102 1st Championship
2014/15 41 14th Premier League
2015/16 81 1st Premier League

PAST SIX GAMES

14-Sep Club Brugge (a) Champions League W 3-0
17-Sep Burnley (h) W 3-0
20-Sep Chelsea (h) EFL Cup third round L 2-4aet
24-Sep Manchester United (a) L 1-4
27-Sep Porto (h) Champions League W 1-0
02-Oct Southampton (h) D 0-0

PREMIER LEAGUE SCORERS

Slimani 2, Vardy 2, Mahrez 1 (pen), Gray 1, Morgan 1, own goal 1

LEAGUE GAMES SINCE
An away win: 5

An away draw: 3

An away defeat: 0
LEICESTER’S SUMMER MOVES
In
Luis Hernandez Sporting Gijon
Bartosz Kapustka KS Cracovia
Nampalys Mendy Nice
Ahmed Musa CSKA Moscow
Raul Uche Rubio Rayo Vallecano
Islam Slimani Sporting Lisbon
Ron-Robert Zieler Hannover 96
Out
Jack Barmby released
Michael Cain Blackpool - loan
Hamza Choudhury Burton Albion
Ritchie De Laet Aston Villa
Joe Dodoo Rangers
Callum Elder Brentford - loan
Dean Hammond Sheffield United
Gokhan Inler Besiktas
N'Golo Kante Chelsea
Paul Konchesky Gillingham
Andrej Kramaric Hoffenheim
Tom Lawrence Ipswich Town - loan
Liam Moore Reading
Mark Schwarzer released
Ryan Watson released

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Andre Marriner is refereeing his second Chelsea game in five weeks. He was the official for our victory at Swansea on 11 September.

OTHERWISE ENGAGED
There are no suspensions.

Diego Costa is on four yellow cards this season. If he is booked against Leicester he will be suspended for Manchester United’s visit next weekend.

Nihilist:
I don't know if I would give Conte that much credit for Costa's upturn in form though.

To me I think that Costa has improved mainly because he has largely reduced that irritating thing he used to do last season where he would run away from the box to pretend he was a left winger. A good striker in the box scores goals, that's no surprise.

And you dont think that is a tactical change that made him stay more in the box? I think you have something against Conte and deliberately refused to give him any credit for anything even the obvious

Some coaches prefer their striker to just knock down balls, Some prefer their strikers to pull out wide, dragging the CB's along to make room for midfielders and some just prefer the old way of stick in the box

Players most times play to coaches instruction, If Costa is doing what he wasnt last yr I will think its the coach input

Outfoxing Leicester
GUEST FAN BLOG
Another international break has come and gone, and it’s time to get back to the regular way of life as a Chelsea fan.
Some of you are probably quickly scanning the news to make sure everyone is still healthy after duty with their respective national teams.

Sadly, our Player of the Year Willian lost his mum to cancer while away, and won't be with us this weekend. I want to personally offer condolences to the player and his family as they go through these trying times, and I hope that he comes out of it even stronger than before.

The break was rather positive for some of our players. Diego Costa – who has been in red-hot form – got on the scoresheet for Spain again, while Eden Hazard and Willian scored for Belgium and Brazil, having put in good overall performances.

Football is probably the furthest thing away from Willian's mind right now, yet it's still worth noting.

Tammy Abraham , another one of our players who’s bang in form, notched a brace in Under-21 action for England. The 19-year-old forward has scored 11 goals in just 14 appearances for Bristol City, and we’re all hoping to see him perform in that manner for our senior side sometime soon.

Looking ahead to the weekend’s action, however, we have a match against Premier League champions Leicester City coming up at home on Saturday. We failed to record a win against them last season, but we have already got the better of them in this one, pulling off a marvellous 4-2 comeback win in our EFL Cup third round clash last month.

I don’t think the Foxes are anywhere near as dangerous as they were in the last campaign. Having reached the acme of domestic success back in May, helped on by us of course, things have curtailed and their powers have waned.

Jamie Vardy doesn’t look as big a threat anymore, while Riyad Mahrez seems to have simmered down.

Vardy found the back of the net on 24 occasions in league action last season, and Mahrez scored 17 goals along with 11 assists to unseat Hazard as Player of the Year. But the once dynamic duo have only scored three goals between them so far this term.

That vim from the last campaign is gone and Claudio Ranieri must be trying his best to devise another strategy. Leicester relied on counter-attacking quite heavily in the past, but with teams having made a note of that, it’s quite difficult for them to catch anyone by surprise anymore. They are being forced to play their game in one half of the pitch at a time, and it’s just not what they’re used to.

One of the biggest reasons for last season’s success came in the form of N’Golo Kante. The Frenchman was the heart of the team, and was involved in every aspect of their play.

He did the work in the middle, shielded the defence, and initiated counters. Fortunately for us, Kante is on our side now. Without him in the thick of things, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Ranieri’s men to maintain any kind of form.

Despite everything mentioned above, Leicester are still a very dangerous team, and while I don’t believe we should fear them on the pitch, we must remain wary.

Keeping our shape and staying compact in defence should do the trick. A three-man defence worked quite well in our last match, and Antonio Conte should probably stick to it.

Playing in such a formation would work well towards rendering counters ineffective, as it wouldn’t really require a high line and we would always have men at the back.

With a match-up against our old boss Mourinho to follow the Leicester game, building on our result against Hull is of major importance as we could put ourselves ahead of Manchester United by a few points if all goes according to plan.

Club's official site.

Chelsea's 3-Man Defence Is the Perfect Antidote to Leicester and Jamie Vardy.

This weekend the Premier League returns with a battle of two Italian tacticians, as Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City travel to Stamford Bridge to square off against Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. As “welcome back” fixtures go, it’s a tasty one.

Both managers will freely admit they’ve underachieved in league play up until this point. Chelsea might be just three points off the top four, but the humiliation of their 3-0 loss to Arsenal lingers, and it’s obvious the team haven’t successfully melded into Conte’s tactical template just yet. They’re ticking along, but they’re far from top gear.

Leicester have it even tougher; they’re fighting expectations on multiple fronts. Two wins from two in the UEFA Champions League is great, but they’ve been in the bottom half of the Premier League table for weeks and are yet to register even a point away from home.

With that away record hanging over Ranieri, a Leicester-N’Golo Kante reunion on the cards and the fact the hosts’ recent formation change has only been tested against a subpar Hull City side, this fixture is tough to forecast...but impossible to justify missing.

Chelsea
Chelsea played Leicester in the cup less than a month ago, but much has changed for the Blues since. Conte rolled out the three-man defensive line against Hull City for the first time in his tenure as Chelsea manager. As Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph reported ahead of the game, the Italian opted to do what no manager had done since Andre Villas-Boas to make it work: drop Branislav Ivanovic.

Cesar Azpilicueta slid inside to right-centre-back (RCB), playing alongside David Luiz and Gary Cahill, while Victor Moses filled in at right-wing-back—making his first start for the Blues in over 1,000 days—opposite summer signing Marcos Alonso.

The front three of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Willian will be split up, as the latter will miss the game for personal reasons, and the combination of Kante and Nemanja Matic has enough legs to bridge together the middle. John Terry will return to the XI, pushing Ivanovic even further from it, and also likely forcing Moses back out of it.

Leicester City

Form has differed wildly when bouncing between European and domestic games for Leicester, who are caught in the midst of varying expectations coming off the back of a title-winning season, but the structure of the team remains similar despite the key departure of Kante.

The Foxes continue to utilise a 4-4-2 formation, pairing Jamie Vardy with a strike partner and Danny Drinkwater with a revolving cast in the centre, and the defensive line looks familiar.

Despite the fact Shinji Okazaki improved Leicester’s play immeasurably when subbed on against Southampton last weekend, Islam Slimani will likely start up top. The Algerian has been distinctly better in the Champions League than in the Premier League, but when you cost £28 million, you’re afforded every chance to settle in.

Defensive configuration
The point of intrigue from Chelsea’s perspective ahead of the lineup announcements is where Terry will play. He could ostensibly play two roles—left-centre-back (LCB) or central-centre-back (CCB)—with differing fortunes; where Conte decides to play him will determine a lot.

The general consensus is that you ask your speedier centre-backs to play in the wider berths. They’re able to operate in the channels and deal with strikers easier, as they’re more mobile, they can close the distance to the wing-back (when the ball is wide) quicker, and it protects the slowest CB as he plays between two.

Undoubtedly, Terry is the slowest centre-back Chelsea have, and it makes sense at a functional level to protect him either side with quicker centre-backs. But David Luiz played CCB against Hull City and played it well, and this is where it gets complicated: Conte, traditionally has often preferred to play the playmaking centre-back in the middle.

If Conte sticks with Luiz in the centre, Terry is at risk of returning to face Jamie Vardy splitting out into the channels. It’s what the English striker does best—his strike partner holds the middle while he darts left or right to find space and receive diagonal passes—and it would, quite simply, crucify Terry no matter how talented he is from a positional standpoint.

It makes much more sense for Luiz, Cahill or even Ivanovic to play the wider positions, bookending Terry in more of a sweeper role. It would mean the playmaking duties shift to a wide CB, but Terry’s a handy passer and might just be able to give the Blues a dual threat in buildup.

More tough decisions lie in wait on the right side of defence. Azpilicueta will likely move from RCB to right-wing-back, displacing Moses, but Conte was effusive in his praise for the latter after shining against Hull, per the Daily Mail. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that both play, therefore retaining their positions, and Cahill drops out, as he’s had an iffy campaign so far.

However they line up, the introduction of Conte’s three-man line is set to be key in nullifying Leicester. Vardy and his plus-one enjoy one-versus-one advantage against any team playing a back four, but with three centre-backs in place, it’ll be two-versus-three with one spare. Essentially, one can always drop off and shadow, or push forward and engage high, still leaving two against one.

Okazaki vs. Slimani

Ranieri has largely stuck with the team and system that brought the Foxes success in 2015-16, with one key change being Kante’s exit. He bought Nampalys Mendy to replace him, but the Frenchman has been plagued by injuries and has hardly featured, forcing Daniel Amartey into a bigger role than expected.

But one area the manager has deviated in is up front; he’s done his best to move away from the Okazaki-based model the Foxes used so heavily last season, instead bulking his strike force with £28 million Slimani and £16 million Ahmed Musa—moves that effectively render Okazaki fourth choice.

Yet each time Okazaki plays, he impresses—and, crucially, Leicester play much better as a team. Slimani’s lack of mobility has been a problem; he looked cumbersome against Manchester United and failed to link the play, while Southampton's Oriol Romeu shackled him when the two sides met before the most recent international break. Musa has all but disappeared off the face of the earth in the meantime.

Meanwhile, Okazaki was the catalyst for much-improved play against Saints, and he also caused Chelsea immense problems in the cup game last month. His movement has the ability to confuse defences; he’s always taking up good positions and drawing markers to him, creating space for others, and he pops up in nifty spots, too.

If there’s anyone who can lure one of Conte’s three centre-backs out of position, therefore opening space for Vardy or Riyad Mahrez to utilise, it’s the Japan international. Slimani hasn’t been clever enough with his movement to do the same, but don’t be surprised if he starts...and Okazaki is sent on later to salvage something.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2667982-chelseas-3-man-defence-is-the-perfect-antidote-to-leicester-jamie-vardy

Match Presser Comments

Chelsea vs. Leicester City: Antonio Conte's Key Pre-Match Presser Comments

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte laughed off suggestions he could be fired from the club when he addressed the media on Friday.

Per the Sun's Lee Astley, betting on the Italian losing his job at Stamford Bridge was suspended on Thursday, leading to speculation he could be sacked.

Conte was unconcerned, however: "I’m trying to find who put the money! But it's very difficult to talk about this situation. I am focused about my work and to improve the team. I have a good relationship with the club. It was nothing. I take it with a smile."

The Blues endured a poor campaign last year, and back-to-back Premier League defeats to Liverpool and Arsenal in September showed how far they still need to come.

Conte is only looking forward, though, per Liam Twomey of ESPN FC:

Chelsea take on champions Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and the Italian also gave the latest team news, with John Terry back from injury, per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella:

If Terry does play, it seems it will be as part of a back three, according to Twomey:


Per Astley, Conte also opened up on what he wants to see from his defence against Leicester: "I love the players who show good spirit. Central defenders must be very aggressive and attack the striker and be fast to cover the space."

Meanwhile, Willian will not be playing after the death of his mother: "We knew the problem with his mum. It is very sad, but we are very close with him, and our prayers are with him and his family."

Diego Costa will be able to play, and Conte expects to see the Spain international's typically aggressive approach despite the possible consequences:


If the striker does pick up a suspension, the boss has faith in summer signing Michy Batshuayi to step up:

Lastly, Conte was highly complimentary of his Foxes counterpart and compatriot Claudio Ranieri:

I was happy but not only me, the Italian people, that Claudio won a fantastic title in the Premier League with Leicester. He had a great celebration in Italy. He is a great manager, it is always a pleasure for me to talk to him. After the Cup game we spoke. He’s a good man and overall a good manager.

The champions have endured an inconsistent start to their domestic campaign and have yet to string two positive results together.

Last season's defensive solidity has faded, so it seems unlikely they'll be able to keep the Blues out.

Chelsea have also struggled at the back, but if Terry does return, his presence and leadership will provide a healthy boost to their prospects.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2669572-chelsea-vs-leicester-city-antonio-contes-key-pre-match-presser-comments

raumdeuter:


And you dont think that is a tactical change that made him stay more in the box? I think you have something against Conte and deliberately refused to give him any credit for anything even the obvious

Some coaches prefer their striker to just knock down balls, Some prefer their strikers to pull out wide, dragging the CB's along to make room for midfielders and some just prefer the old way of stick in the box

Players most times play to coaches instruction, If Costa is doing what he wasnt last yr I will think its the coach input

But Costa was already a good striker before Conte.

Nihilist:
But Costa was already a good striker before Conte.

Yes but he wasnt effective in the previous season because like you said he was drifting wide(presumably playing to coach instruction), So if he is more effective now by staying in the box then the new coach deserves credit

I hope Conte was paying attention to Ranieri's press conference.

Ranieri hinted that he's been training Vardy-Slimani-Mahrez in isolation as a single unit.

I'm guessing that we might square up to something closer to a 433 tommorow.

Vardy or Mahrez must not be allowed to catch Cahill or Luiz in thr channels under any circumstances

raumdeuter:


Yes but he wasnt effective in the previous season because like you said he was drifting wide(presumably playing to coach instruction), So if he is more effective now by staying in the box then the new coach deserves credit

The previous season Costa had been mostly central and scored most of his goals from inside the box...at least in my recollection. I will need to look up the stats to confirm.

Costa wasn't drifting wide last season dUEFA to managers instruction. I seem to remember Jose actually criticising his movement in a press conference...and of course he got dropped in the end.

Last season was a horrific car crash, with failures all over the pitch so I don't think we can use it as a reliable reference point re Costa.

What I do remember saying was how Costa being overweight and unfit last season was leading him to drift out wide to find space because centre-back were eating him alive.

I'm not sure I can honestly credit Conte with a tactical improvement to Costa's form. At most i'll say he has maybe improved overall fitness levels for the team...then again, is that too hard?

Nihilist:
I don't know if I would give Conte that much credit for Costa's upturn in form though.

To me I think that Costa has improved mainly because he has largely reduced that irritating thing he used to do last season where he would run away from the box to pretend he was a left winger. A good striker in the box scores goals, that's no surprise.

Nihilist:


The previous season Costa had been mostly central and scored most of his goals from inside the box...at least in my recollection. I will need to look up the stats to confirm.

Costa wasn't drifting wide last season dUEFA to managers instruction. I seem to remember Jose actually criticising his movement in a press conference...and of course he got dropped in the end.

Last season was a horrific car crash, with failures all over the pitch so I don't think we can use it as a reliable reference point re Costa.

What I do remember saying was how Costa being overweight and unfit last season was leading him to drift out wide to find space because centre-back were eating him alive.

I'm not sure I can honestly credit Conte with a tactical improvement to Costa's form. At most i'll say he has maybe improved overall fitness levels for the team...then again, is that too hard?

You are contradicting your posts.

Back at the Bridge: Claudio Ranieri


Now the international break has passed, doing so somewhat painfully depending on your nationality, the normal service of entertaining domestic football can be resumed.

Whether it’s the Bundesliga, Eredivisie, La Liga or the Icelandic Third Division that you’re following, it is sure to be a good weekend of football – just like every other weekend of football.

One of the most interesting narratives is in the English Premier League, where a loveable, elderly Italian gentlemen will be returning to his former employers.

Claudio Ranieri will visit Stamford Bridge tomorrow in the early kick-off, bringing with him his Leicester City side, a sense of nostalgia, and a Premier League winners’ medal (he probably won’t literally *bring* the medal with him, although the thought of him wearing it every moment of every day is a hilarious one).

The Italian spent four years in West London starting in the year 2000, managing a colourful, exciting and internationally flavoured Chelsea team as they underwent arguably the most significant changes in their history.

It was a tricky start in England for the man who is now a favourite of the press, as he tried to overcome the language barrier and inconsistent results during his first two seasons with The Blues. Back then, the media wasn’t so charmed by Ranieri, who was yet to perfect that ‘favourite footballing uncle’ persona that he gives off today.

Accused of over-rotating his squad and making too many tactical changes, he came commonly known as ‘The Tinkerman’ by the Britsh press as they looked for reasons behind Chelsea’s failure to finish in the top four.

By 2003, though, his stock was rising – and the club’s stocks were sold.

A victory over Liverpool meant Chelsea qualified for the Champions League for the first time, at the expense of their rivals in red. A side involving future legends of the club, Frank Lampard (all-time record goalscorer) and John Terry, the most decorated player in their history, had achieved what was then, their ultimate goal.

That was until Mr Abramovich came into town, assumingly on a gigantic yacht, and purchased the club for what was pocket change for the man now worth $8.4 billion.

His first season as owner brought spending on transfers to an extent then never seen in the Premier League, as the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron, Hernan Crespo, Claude Makelele and many, many more arrived at Stamford Bridge for big fees.

This upped the pressure on ‘The Tinkerman,’ as he was instantly expected to win the title. Murmurs of the sack always loomed over Ranieri throughout that season, with press speculation about secret meetings between Abramovich and potential new managers.

His alleged meeting with Sven Goran Eriksson for one would’ve been a spectacle worth being a fly on the wall for. A fly about to drown itself in Roman’s hot tub full of money, maybe?

When Ranieri failed to deliver the title, and a certain egotistical, charismatic manager called Mourinho arrived on the scene, it was time for the Italian’s venture in London to come to an end.

The club then went on to enjoying the most glorious decade of their existence, picking up Premier League titles for the first time and a long-awaited Champions League trophy – you can forgive some for forgetting Ranieri so quickly.

However, the humble Tinkerman is something of an unsung hero at Stamford Bridge. Although he splashed some cash recklessly, bringing famous flops such as Mateja Kezman and Adrian Mutu to the club, for example, it should not be underestimated just how much good he did.

Nurturing a young John Terry into the Chelsea icon he undeniably is today and signing a young Frank Lampard from West Ham in 2001 proved to be future-defining. The signing of Claude Makelele? A stroke of genius not appreciated until the Frenchman would excel in Mourinho’s title winners of 2005 – so much so that many from this era still refer to the defensive midfield position as ‘The Makelele Role.’

Most notably, though, it was Ranieri who drove Chelsea towards not just being one of the biggest clubs in London or England, but one of the biggest in Europe, as Jose Mourinho finished off the job in exceptional style.

When he returns tomorrow lunch-time with his Leicester City heroes of last season, he will be greeted fondly by Chelsea fans and quite rightly so. He may not have brought the league title to Chelsea all those years ago, but he did bring some of the most noteworthy yet understated memories of their modern history.

At Leicester, the truly incredible Premier League winning campaign that captivated the world means that the now 64-year-old will always have a legacy on football, and deservedly so.

But the subtle legacy he left at Stamford Bridge should not be forgotten either

Petr Cech sustained a fractured skull 10 years ago in collision with Stephen Hunt... a look back at horror incident which changed the goalkeeper's life
Stephen Hunt clashed with Petr Cech during Reading's game with Chelsea
Incident came just 20 seconds into top-flight match on October 14, 2006
Hunt's boot caught Cech on the head when he went to collect the ball
Blues keeper Cech, then 24, suffered a depressed fracture of the skull
Jose Mourinho strongly critical of Hunt, Reading and Ambulance Service

Ten years ago to this day, the Premier League witnessed one of the most horrific moments in its history when Stephen Hunt clashed with Petr Cech.
The incident came just 20 seconds into Chelsea's top-flight match against Reading on October 14, 2006 - where the Blues went on to secure a 1-0 away victory.
But the injury sustained by Cech, then playing between the sticks for Chelsea, at the Madejski Stadium would become a talking point in the months and years to come.

It would also change the shot-stopper's life forever - and perhaps Hunt's, too. The winger, then a star member of the Royals' squad, was heavily criticised for the early collision.
Chasing a long ball down the left wing, Hunt's boot caught Cech on the head when he went to collect the ball.
Cech, then 24 and only two years into his Premier League career at the Stamford Bridge club, suffered a depressed fracture of the skull.

The former Czech international was rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where it was discovered he had sustained the horror injury. Cech required emergency brain surgery.
The former Blues star was transferred to the specialist neurosurgical unit at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, where two loose pieces of skull were lifted away from the brain and replaced with metal plates. Had they been pushed deeper he might have died.
The current Arsenal star was out of action for three months after undergoing surgery and has worn a protective head guard during matches ever since.
Television replays at the time show Irishman Hunt's right boot catching Cech on his head
He was rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where it was discovered he had a skull fracture
MOURINHO'S CRITICISM OF READING AND AMBULANCE SERVICE

He said: 'There are things that concern me and leave me in a very emotional situation. My goalkeeper was in the dressing room for 30 minutes waiting for an ambulance.
'The ambulance could not go in the direction of the dressing room. He could not leave the dressing room properly. He had to go in a wheelchair in the lift when he had the injury.
'He left 30 minutes after my doctor called for an urgent ambulance. If my goalkeeper dies in that dressing room or in the process it is something English football has to think about.
'This is much more important than football. I would like someone to tell me why my goalkeeper was left in this situation.'

The goalkeeper eventually made his return to action in January 2007 and would go on to add two more Premier League titles to the pair he had previously won in west London.
Hunt, capped 39 times by Republic of Ireland, remained at Reading until 2009 but is remembered by many for the incident - and he was strongly criticised for the challenge.
Cech's manager at the time, Jose Mourinho - who was forced to play John Terry in goal after substitute keeper Carlo Cudicini was also injured - was incensed after the match.

At the time, the Portuguese said: 'The Cech one, the challenge is a disgrace. He is lucky to still be alive.
'To be angry doesn't help, I'll just wait for the keepers to leave hospital and to get a report on their injuries.
'I have to wait and see what the Football Association will do about it and I'm also waiting to hear what the experts think of both incidents.
'Carlo I think was knocked out as a consequence of the way he hit the ground, but a knee coming at Petr like that, at such speed - the boy was even laughing afterwards.
'It was unbelievable and players should respect each other more than that.'
Hunt later insisted he had simply tried to win possession. He said: 'I was 100% intent on winning the ball. I hope Petr Cech is not too badly hurt and hope he makes a full recovery as soon as possible.'

Mourinho, now managing Manchester United, was also critical of Reading and the Ambulance Service for the speed with which they dealt with the stricken Cech.
He said: 'There are things that concern me and leave me in a very emotional situation. My goalkeeper was in the dressing room for 30 minutes waiting for an ambulance.
'The ambulance could not go in the direction of the dressing room. He could not leave the dressing room properly. He had to go in a wheelchair in the lift when he had the injury.
'He left 30 minutes after my doctor called for an urgent ambulance. If my goalkeeper dies in that dressing room or in the process it is something English football has to think about.
'This is much more important than football. I would like someone to tell me why my goalkeeper was left in this situation.'

Reading's response was to give a minute-by-minute record of the drama, which revealed it took five minutes for paramedics to arrive and a further seven for the ambulance to arrive after Cech's condition deteriorated.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3838113/Petr-Cech-sustained-fractured-skull-10-years-ago-collision-Stephen-Hunt-look-incident-changed-goalkeeper-s-life.html#ixzz4N5FsXxcy

donjazet:




You are contradicting your posts.

Context.

Dayo had already moved the clock back a year when I made the second post.