Time for Pochettino to change selections vs Bournemouth – Talk Chelsea

Chelsea are back in action this weekend after a couple of weeks ‘off’ and I have to say I am excited. I’m not ready to drop the faith after just four games and I still have a big belief in the talent we have and the manager who is leading us. I prefer to remain as optimistic as possible even though my expectations have never been too high for this season.

I’m just excited to watch Chelsea play again and some of our new talented players gel together some more (hopefully).

We have a chance to bounce back this Sunday against Bournemouth and for me, it’s a chance we simply have to take without any excuses. We keep hearing about how Pochettino and the players know we must win NOW and not tomorrow, and how they all know Chelsea needs to be challenging for silverware, so to do that we simply have to bounce back from a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Bournemouth will be a super hard place to go to in the 2pm (UK) kick off this Sunday, it always is a hard place to go. But Chelsea have the quality to control games, we have seen that. They have the quality to create chances, we have also seen that. We need some finesse and a bit of luck now, and some things to go our way.

Bournemouth have only ever won 5 games against Chelsea though, with the latter winning 13. There has been just 1 draw between the two sides.

The last game came in May with Chelsea winning 3-1. Frank Lampard was in charge and the goals came from Benoit Badiashile, Conor Gallagher, and Joao Felix.

In 2019 though, Bournemouth beat us both home and away in that season, one result being a 4-0 win. Chelsea have a completely different squad to then though, and a new manager of course.

This season though, Bournemouth are in 16th place after 4 games in and are yet to register a win. They have drawn 2 and lost 2 so far. So on paper, Chelsea simply MUST win this one.

Unfortunately I think my preferred lineup is going to be different to my predicted lineup.

I just have a feeling that Pochettino will stick with what he has been using, more of a fear than a feeling. This is my predicted Xl:

And this is my preferred Xl:

So I’ll explain my thinking below but wanted to mention injuries. I don’t think that any of our returning injured players will be risked from the start yet, but a couple could make the bench. I’ve not actually seen Reece James in training this week yet which does offer me some concern as to whether he will actually even be available yet.

Benoit Badiashile has been training well but I’d still be surprised if he is in from the start. Armando Broja is also doing well and has a very slight chance of making the bench, but I’m actually still expecting him to play an U21 game first as he’s been out so long.

And in terms of my Xl, I think Madueke is playing with confidence right now and has built some good momentum with Cole Palmer out on international duty and in our last match when they both came on. That’s why I’d start them both together. Raheem Sterling can easily go on the left and cut in on his right, and Palmer can pull the strings and provide some creativity for him, Madueke, and Nicolas Jackson.

The midfield pivot picks itself for my right now and I’d allow Enzo to be the free roamer of the two and Caicedo to sit more.

Then the back four for me again picks itself for now, at least until Badiashile and others are back.

I just think this setup gives us our very best chance of getting the needed three points and Pochettino must bite the bullet and change from his recent selections.

I am quietly confident we can get a win Sunday. I’m going for 2-0 to Chelsea. But it will be SO important to get an early goal and of course, to not go a goal down and have to chase it, because that is where we are often doomed. And team selection for me will be very important.