[Albion] Your starting 11 for Chelsea (H) FA Cup - 08/02/25, 8pm KO

[AZ Gull]

I'd like Dunk to be taken out as I think he's now a bit of a weak link and see how Webster or Cashin get on alongside Van Hecke with a view to the rest of the season. Praying Estupinan is fit too as the thought of Lamptey defending against Chelsea's wingers sends shivers down my spine - if he's not, we have to play Jack there which is also not ideal.

Real shame Rushworth is cup tied as I'd have liked to see how he got on as Verbruggen has been poor for a while. Start Gruda and O'Reilly too as they are definitely players, they just need minutes and confidence and Gruda needs to play as a 10, not on the wing. I'd rest Joao Pedro and Welbeck for this one and have them as very useful bench options.

I'm assuming Solly, Baleba, Ayari and Estupinan are not ready as I don't think they'll be risked:

------------------Verbruggen
Veltman - Van Hecke - Webster - Hinshelwood
----------------Gomez - O'Reilly
----------Minteh - Gruda - Mitoma
-------------------Georginio

Subs - Cahill, Cashin, Dunk, Lamptey, Adingra, Joao Pedro, Welbeck, 2 x u21's.

If Verbruggen starts and Cahill is on the bench it will make the last second recall of Tom McGill even more bizarre than it currently seems.

 

[Machiavelli]

Bart
Veltman JPVH Dunk Lamptey
Baleba* Hinshelwood
Minteh Joao Pedro* Mitoma
Welbeck

*If Baleba can't start, Ayari or MOR. Maybe start Rutter for Joao Pedro given how well he did in the third round.
We need to go as strong as possible: because of the quality of the opposition; to right the wrong of the Forest performance; and because we don't have many fixtures in Feb and March. A Cup run would be a good thing especially if we can actually get something close to a full squad for the remainder of the season.​

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Anyone saying Lamptey should start at left back needs to rewatch the Forest highlights.

 

[Machiavelli]

Anyone saying Lamptey should start at left back needs to rewatch the Forest highlights.

He had a shocker. Not sure there are too many other options currently, particularly given that I'd rather Hinshelwood plays in CM. Apart from last Saturday, Tariq has been playing well over the past month or two. Not sure he'll be with us next year and as delightful a person/player he's been, think it's the best for both parties.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Verbruggen
Veltman Webster Dunk Hinshelwood
Baleba Gomez
Adingra Giorginio Mitoma
Pedro

​

I assume Cashin is Cup tied, if not , him in for Dunk.
Rest Welbeck as we don't have a back up now Evan's gone

 

[AZ Gull]

Verbruggen
Veltman Webster Dunk Hinshelwood
Baleba Gonzalez
Adingra Giorginio Mitoma
Pedro

​

I assume Cashin is Cup tied, if not , him in for Dunk.
Rest Welbeck as we don't have a back up now Evan's gone

Cashin is NOT cup-tied.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Cashin is NOT cup-tied.

Cool, I'd have him in over Dunk then

 

[keaton]

Verbruggen

Veltman
Webster
Cashin
Lamptey (Estupinan not fit)

Ayari (if fit, if not Gomez)
Hinshelwood

Gruda/Adingra
Mitoma
Pedro
Welbeck

Keep it strong but give some a rest (JPVH/Dunk/Baleba/Minteh).

Can't we rest them in the league?

 

[severnside gull]

I think it has to be Verbruggen in goal. It would have been Rushworth if not cup tied but surely McGill won’t get beyond the bench.
Cucurella really impressed me the other night. He was everywhere - better going forward than defending - he will be a handful for Veltman who will need Minteh to support him.
Van Hecke and Webster in central defence with Cashin and Dunk on the bench although maybe the skipper will want to “lead from the front” after last week.
Left back is such an issue maybe a switch to 3 centre backs is worth a try but I think that if Estupinan isn’t ready we might go with March with Mitoma helping back.
Midfield depends on Baleba/Ayari fitness. Both start if ready. If not then one or two from Hinshelwood/O’Riley/Gomez in that order.
Mitoma on the left will know he owes us a performance.
Pedro & Welbeck to start ahead of Georginio?

Not feeling confident

 

[Mackenzie]

Verbruggen
Lamptey-Webster(C)-Cashin-Hinshelwood
Ayari-Baleba
Minteh-Georginio-Mitoma
Welbeck​

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I think it has to be Verbruggen in goal. It would have been Rushworth if not cup tied but surely McGill won’t get beyond the bench.
Cucurella really impressed me the other night. He was everywhere - better going forward than defending - he will be a handful for Veltman who will need Minteh to support him.
Van Hecke and Webster in central defence with Cashin and Dunk on the bench although maybe the skipper will want to “lead from the front” after last week.
Left back is such an issue maybe a switch to 3 centre backs is worth a try but I think that if Estupinan isn’t ready we might go with March with Mitoma helping back.
Midfield depends on Baleba/Ayari fitness. Both start if ready. If not then one or two from Hinshelwood/O’Riley/Gomez in that order.
Mitoma on the left will know he owes us a performance.
Pedro & Welbeck to start ahead of Georginio?

Not feeling confident

I assume it will be the Conference League squad for this game.

 

[jackalbion]

I assume it will be the Conference League squad for this game.

A lot of people saying this, but they haven’t got a game for a week, there’s no need to rest. I think they’ll go full strength, as should we .

 

[Superphil]

Surely it depends who turns up late and who’s fallen out with whom

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

If Verbruggen starts and Cahill is on the bench it will make the last second recall of Tom McGill even more bizarre than it currently seems.

I just assumed McGill was cup tied. Didn’t look it up to be fair.

 

[oldboyroy]

Save some of the squad in the race for 10th:

Rushworth
Lamtpey JPVH Dunk Webster
Gruda Hinshelwood MO'R Adingra
Gomez
Pedro

Sorry. That made me giggle 'the race for 10th'

 

[METALMICKY]

Our best available side. Who that is, i have no idea

Nor does he

 

[pigmanovich]

A lot of people saying this, but they haven’t got a game for a week, there’s no need to rest. I think they’ll go full strength, as should we .

Quite confident it has little to do with Chelsea’s actual fixture schedule and more with Maresca’s commitment to giving the B team as many minutes as possible in the other competitions. But we’ll see on Saturday!

 

[jackalbion]

Quite confident it has little to do with Chelsea’s actual fixture schedule and more with Maresca’s commitment to giving the B team as many minutes as possible in the other competitions. But we’ll see on Saturday!

Quite possibly!

 

[The Fits]

I trust the process. Whatever Fab thinks is best. But what I want is to see the other thing he bangs on about,
from minute one. Intensity.
No excuses.

 

[Hugo Rune]

—————-———Verbruggen————————
Veltman——-Van Hecke—Dunk——Hinshelwood
Minteh———Baleba——-Ayari————-Adingra
——————-———Rutter—————————-
—————————Welbeck—————————