Pre-match report for our next game: Chelsea, Sunday, 16th December 2018

PREMIER LEAGUE; Brighton v Chelsea

Chelsea PREM record from 11/12; 6, 3, 3, 1, 10, 1, 5. Title 14/15 & 16/17, top six 11/12, podium 12/13 & 13/14, top ten 15/16.
Recent managers; Antonio Conte (2016-18), Guss Hiddink (2016), Jose Mourinho (2013-15), Rafa Benitez (2012-13), Roberto de Matteo (2012), Andre Villas Boas (2011-12)


Manager; Maurizio Sarri (2018)
Latest appointee of oligarch Roman Abramovich, who can afford to purchase the current best of what internationally is on offer, or otherwise be professionally persuaded.
18/19; P16 W10 D4 L2 F33 A13 GD+20 Pt34 Po4 = 2.12pt/gm. Wins = 62.5%, Loss = 12.5%
17/18; P38 W21 D7 L10 F62 A38 GD+24 Pt70 Po5 = 1.84pt/gm. Wins = 55.2%, Loss = 26.3% - Antonio Conte

Blues fans expectations; getting a run for their money in the title race, cup competitions and lesser European shenanigans.
Forecasts at start; title 12/1, top four 4-6, top London 11-8. Sack MS 80/1, first or sack 25/1. FA Cup 13-2, EFL Cup 7/1.
Prospects; put down an early marker to be in it to win it. Getting it done against the rest but top six clashes are open to more detailed scrutiny.

INS; Mateo Kovacic (R Madrid loan), Kepa Arrisabalaga (Bilbao 71m), Jorginho (Napoli 57m), Rob Green (Huddersfield).


CHELSEA AWAY:
17/18; P19 W10 D3 L6 F32 A22 GD+10 (Po5) = 1.73pt/gm or 47.1% of total points. Wins = 52.6%, Loss = 31.5% - Antonio Conte.
18/19; P7 W4 D1 L2 F14 A6 GD+8 (Po4) = 1.85pt/gm or 38.2% of total points. Wins = 57.1%, Loss = 28.5%
Reverse sequence; llw wdw w - a third defeat on the spin is at long odds considering the foregoing unbeaten run.

Wolves 2-1, Sarri took a couple on the chin following Blues 70% poss, 13 shots but merely 3 on target in disappointing defeat.
Spurs 3-1, Maurizio Sarri said, +I saw problems physically, mentally, technically and tactically. The defensive phase was a disaster. We have problems to solve+
Burnley 0-4, +I want Hazard in every match if possible because he gives us something different. The team was able to score seven in two matches without him+

Southampton 0-3, it was more or less done & dusted by the second goal just prior to the hour mark but Sarri could also take positives from a keeping clean sheet from against 6 of locals on target.
West Ham 0-0, visitors were all over hosts like a metropolitan plague with 72% poss, 12 shots, 6 on target and 8 corners but failing to score upset the offensive Sarri strategy.
Newcastle 1-2, an extraordinary score-line in view of it staying at nil-nil until the last quarter time-wise. Sarri was grateful for stats recording 81% poss, 10 shots and registering 2 from 3 on target.

Huddersfield 0-3, +I do not want to do another Napoli, I want to do a good Chelsea. I have to respect the characteristics of the players and adapt to the championship+


Knockouts:
17/18; FA Cup - winners. EFL Cup - semi-finalists. Champions League - last 16.
18/19; FA Cup - 3rd rnd Forest (H). EFL Cup - 5th rnd Bournemouth (H), 4th rnd Derby 3-2 (H), 3rd rnd Liverpool 1-2 (A).
Europa League; group stage - Vidi (A) 1-0 (H), Salonika 4-0 (H) 0-1 (A), Borisov 0-1 (A) 3-1 (H).

Fatmanslims


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