Chelsea playing their kids...

Chelsea took a risk (albeit the title is won) by playing a couple of kids and 2nd stringers against Liverpool. In fact, only 6 of the best first XI started the game.

Zouma has had a few games already, and he's looked good enough. Loftus-Cheek got an outing as well. At least a few of them are getting a chance.

I'd have hoped that Pellegrini would do the same when we get 2nd wrapped up. We know that won't happen.

Hardly a risk when the deed is done, chap!  In fact, with three games left to play and the trophy in the bag, I'd have done the same.  Get them blooded, see what we've got in the tank.

Sadly, the only chance we'll have of playing our kids is on the last home game, as we still have to wait and see if Arsenal slip up again.  If they win their next two, we still need a win to secure second and I can't see us risking that.

The problem is, Chelsea have won the league. Nobody can catch them.

We've still got 2 games to go and are level on points with Arsenal.

If we draw against Swansea and Arsenal win, it'll go down to the last game....even if both teams win, it can go to last game depending on the goals scored next weekend.

I can see why he wouldn't play them....but the likes of QPR, when we were 4-0 up...was a perfect time to have put one of them on. Did TLMLF really need to play?

sorry Leo...you just beat me to it.

I agree lads but, if we beat Swansea, he can play whoever we want with 2nd secured. That's what we should be doing if we get to the last game.

Jose has at least played Zouma when the title was still up for grabs. Maybe that was down to necessity when Cahill's form dipped a touch,  but he still played him. When we had no strikers, Pellegrini wouldn't choose an up and coming kid and he played Jimmy up top on his own instead.

Zouma though is different to playing an academy kid. He's a first team player. That would be like us playing Boyata at CB.

Agree though, be good to get a good result at the weekend and then relax on the last day and maybe add 2 academy kids to the bench and maybe even play one or two of them.

Angelino at LB.

Barker on the left wing.

Even try Bryne in the centre of MF.

We can always have the likes of Fernandinho/Fernando/Kolorov/Clichy/Navas/Milner etc on the bench if things aren't working out....but it'll send the right message to the academy - and who knows, we may unearth another gem.

blueboy wrote:sorry Leo...you just beat me to it.

No apology necessary, chap.  I'm glad it's not just me that thinks it.

Topdawg wrote:I agree lads but, if we beat Swansea, he can play whoever we want with 2nd secured. That's what we should be doing if we get to the last game.

That's not a given, though.  Granted, Arsenal are 3 points behind us now, but they've got a game in hand.  If they win their next two, we have to beat Swansea to stay level.  And then we still need to match the points result in the last game and hope Arsenal don't overcome the goal difference.

If they lose to either the rags or Sunderland, then we should be golden provided we don't lose ourselves.

It's a rare and uncomfortable position to be in, wanting the rags to win a game.  It never sits well with me 

Topdawg wrote:I agree lads but, if we beat Swansea, he can play whoever we want with 2nd secured. That's what we should be doing if we get to the last game.

It won't be secured if Arsenal win their next 2 games Dawg....we'll go into it level on points, still needing to win to get 2nd.

Arsenal have United away at the weekend....so I guess that may determine what happens if we beat Swansea.

They then have Sunderland and WBA at home....and Sunderland will be fighting for their life.

Ok, Pellegrini will know by the middle of next week, at the latest, if we need something from our last game to finish 2nd.

blueboy wrote:....and Sunderland will be fighting for their life.

And Dick Advocaat has got them fighting as well.  I was stunned at that result at Goodison on Satdi, although they were bloody fortunate, on another day Everton would've hammered them.