Predicted Chelsea XI vs Fulham: Broja starts in 4-2-3-1
Chelsea currently sits in 15th place and if some other results go certain ways, they could be lower by the time they travel across the street to take on Marco Silva’s Fulham. Mauricio Pochettino’s men have to start picking up maximum points, and regularly. Not many people that matter in the club hierarchy can stomach these results for much longer. Ben Chilwell has been confirmed out of possible selection for at least a month. Who does the head coach select for the west London derby?
Robert Sanchez (No. 1) Goalkeeper, Spain
Sanchez started the season poorly but he has become much better lately. He now boasts a 73% save rate in the league and a 59% long-ball accuracy.
Marc Cucurella (No. 3) Right back, Spain
Cucurella won 11/13 ground duels and 9/10 tackles against Brighton and Hove Albion in the EFL Cup third round this season. He played very well against Kaoru Mitoma and definitely made a case to start in the next league game.
Axel Disasi (No. 2) Centerback, France
Disasi has been great this season. He has won an outrageous 86% of his aerial duels this season. His passing and ball progression have been good.
Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centerback, Brazil
Thiago Silva shouldn’t be starting games for Chels‘ at this point, but with injuries and other factors, it would not be a surprise to see the Brazil veteran start again on Monday, and many more games after. Silva has generally been good, but he has been really poor in key moments, and while it may sound strange, those moments have been defining.
Levi Colwill (No. 26) Left back, England
Pochettino has been handed the perfect excuse to play Colwill at left back for as long as he wants. Chilwell’s injury means the CFC manager has to use Ian Maatsen as a left back now, and there’s plenty of reason to believe the former Tottenham manager still won’t play Maatsen as a left back.
Moises Caicedo (No. 25) Central midfielder, Ecuador
Caicedo hasn’t set the world alight so far, although it’s a bit difficult to set the world alight as a defensive midfielder who isn’t N’Golo Kante.
Enzo Fernandez (No. 8) Central midfielder, Argentina
Fernandez has not been good in the past three games in all competitions. He has failed to win tackles, create chances, or do anything that makes him useful. it doesn’t help that Pochettino has played him as an out-an-out attacking midfielder, but the Argentine’s movement between the lines has been abysmal.
Cole Palmer (No. 20) Central attacking midfielder, England
Palmer was Chelsea’s most influential player against Brighton. He played very well in the EFL Cup third round, creating the only goal that Chelsea scored this…month.
Axel Disasi (No. 2) Centerback, France
Disasi has been great this season. He has won an outrageous 86% of his aerial duels this season. His passing and ball progression have been good.
Thiago Silva (No. 6) Centerback, Brazil
Thiago Silva shouldn’t be starting games for Chels‘ at this point, but with injuries and other factors, it would not be a surprise to see the Brazil veteran start again on Monday, and many more games after. Silva has generally been good, but he has been really poor in key moments, and while it may sound strange, those moments have been defining.
Levi Colwill (No. 26) Left back, England
Pochettino has been handed the perfect excuse to play Colwill at left back for as long as he wants. Chilwell’s injury means the CFC manager has to use Ian Maatsen as a left back now, and there’s plenty of reason to believe the former Tottenham manager still won’t play Maatsen as a left back.
Moises Caicedo (No. 25) Central midfielder, Ecuador
Caicedo hasn’t set the world alight so far, although it’s a bit difficult to set the world alight as a defensive midfielder who isn’t N’Golo Kante.
Enzo Fernandez (No. 8) Central midfielder, Argentina
Fernandez has not been good in the past three games in all competitions. He has failed to win tackles, create chances, or do anything that makes him useful. it doesn’t help that Pochettino has played him as an out-an-out attacking midfielder, but the Argentine’s movement between the lines has been abysmal.
Cole Palmer (No. 20) Central attacking midfielder, England
Palmer was Chelsea’s most influential player against Brighton. He played very well in the EFL Cup third round, creating the only goal that Chelsea scored this…month.
Raheem Sterling (No. 7) Right winger, England
Raheem Sterling has had mixed bags this season. His dribbling was quite good at some point, but with how predictable it is, defenders have dealt with it better in recent times.
Mykhailo Mudryk (No. 10) Left winger, Spain
Mudryk was good against Brighton in midweek, creating a clear cut chance for Nicolas Jackson, who, again, missed. The Ukraine international has had a turbulent time at Chelsea so far, coming under intense scrutiny with every action and getting criticized even when he shouldn’t be. He has even been associated with the Blues’ abysmal finishing this season, despite not getting on the end of any of the big chances created by the west London side. His aim should not be to prove that he’s worth 88m, his aim should be to be a competent Premier League winger who can deliver consistently on a weekly basis.
Armando Broja (No. 19) Center forward, Albania, Chelsea
Armando Broja will get an opportunity to stake a claim for minutes against Fulham on Monday. It doesn’t look good at all that Jackson has already accumulated five yellow cards. It may be an indication that the former Villarreal striker is too involved in play. Broja looked very good against Brighton, and would be needed against a physical FFC team.