I look at Chelsea as a team that almost win games before they have taken to the pitch. They like to have that air of arrogance and to bully teams on the pitch into mistakes. This is what AFCB have to stand up to if they are going to be successful on Saturday. Chelsea can be pleasurable to watch going forward but they also know every trick in the book, and AFCB mustn't get caught up in their mind games.
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Cahill and Luiz have been solid at the back but have not perhaps been tested, because the players in front of them are so good at relieving any pressure on their back four. When defenders don't have to defend they find much more time to make their passes and get into a game. Hopefully, AFCB can ask questions of them from the start.
Even at Southampton, Howe was not totally comfortable that the team played well enough in both halves of the match. At Liverpool it was hard to get enough possession to find their normal game. Now the Cherries have to battle to play the game they want against Chelsea and they are capable of it but they need big games from some key players like Wilshere and Ibe if they start. Both have been like additions or supplements to what Eddie Howe has already built at Dean Court but now we need to see them help take this team to the next level and to dominate at home against the best teams in the league.
Eddie Howe pointed towards it after the Liverpool game in no matter how much he was pleased with the point, he wants to start winning against these teams and he sees it a s a great time to have matches against Chelsea and Spurs as the side have had the kind of run that they would have wanted coming into these important games.
Possible AFCB team
Boruck (GK), A Smith (RB), Francis, (CD), Cook, (CD), Daniels (LB), Ibe(RM), Arter (CM), Wilshere (CM), Gradel (LM), King (FW), Afobe (FW)
Subs
Allsop, Cargill, B Smith, L Cook, Pugh, Stanislas, Fraser
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| Last season Chelsea bossed the game at Dean Court, but can AFCB turn that around today? |
Everywhere you look it is true that Chelsea have match winners and they have far more experience than Bournemouth's players. But teams can give them too much respect and AFCB have attackers who are growing in confidence. A key part of the game will revolve around N'Golo Kante in midfield. Can AFCB stop him from braking their attacks down and making quick turnovers that bring Hazard and Pedro into play? There might not be much AFCB can do about the genius of Hazard when he is on the ball, but if they can stop the service to him and Costa, it is possible to press Chelsea into errors.
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Even at Southampton, Howe was not totally comfortable that the team played well enough in both halves of the match. At Liverpool it was hard to get enough possession to find their normal game. Now the Cherries have to battle to play the game they want against Chelsea and they are capable of it but they need big games from some key players like Wilshere and Ibe if they start. Both have been like additions or supplements to what Eddie Howe has already built at Dean Court but now we need to see them help take this team to the next level and to dominate at home against the best teams in the league.
Eddie Howe pointed towards it after the Liverpool game in no matter how much he was pleased with the point, he wants to start winning against these teams and he sees it a s a great time to have matches against Chelsea and Spurs as the side have had the kind of run that they would have wanted coming into these important games.
Possible AFCB team
Boruck (GK), A Smith (RB), Francis, (CD), Cook, (CD), Daniels (LB), Ibe(RM), Arter (CM), Wilshere (CM), Gradel (LM), King (FW), Afobe (FW)
Subs
Allsop, Cargill, B Smith, L Cook, Pugh, Stanislas, Fraser
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