Will this game falling between Chelsea's 2 Champions League semi final ties v Madrid have an effect ?

Must be a big temptation to rest a few on Saturday.
I guess it depends on the first leg score to some extent. If Real win handsomely, Chelsea may think they have to concentrate on getting in the CL via league position so cant really relax on Saturday.
A decent result for Chelsea in Spain would leave them more optimistic and maybe likely to bring a few fresh legs at the weekend.

Chelsea have a terrifically deep squad though (best along with Man City I think) - plenty of good/experienced players to come in; well favourites to beat Fulham.

randomclaret2 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 9:26 am

Will this game falling between Chelsea's 2 Champions League semi final ties v Madrid have an effect ?

I think the London effect will play a bigger part. Having said that, Fulham are all but down

Chelsea are somewhat inconsistent and whoever is picked you don't really know what sort of a performance they'll put in. We just desperately need it to be one of their better ones and the trapdoor will be well and truly open for Fulham.

I’ve said for a while I think 33 pts will be enough. Once Fulham lose at Chelsea and fail to beat us, they’ll implode

It's not quite a local derby is it? It's almost a two mile walk between the grounds.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 10:49 am

It's not quite a local derby is it? It's almost a two mile walk between the grounds.

“walk”!. So they don’t bus them in then.

Funny too to think that Stamford Bridge, which is in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, was originally an athletics track redesigned for football. It had a vast capacity and was offered to Fulham F.C. to become their home ground, but they decided against. And so in moved newly created side Chelsea instead. Maybe a decision that Fulham FC came to regret.

I hope they catch Brighton, unlikely but that would be a laugh.

Chelsea need to get 4th spot secured so they shouldn’t be taking it lightly no matter what their result is tonight.

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 12:43 pm

I hope they catch Brighton, unlikely but that would be a laugh.

Until we are mathematically safe, I want both Fulham and West Brom to lose every game.

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 10:18 am

Chelsea are somewhat inconsistent and whoever is picked you don't really know what sort of a performance they'll put in. We just desperately need it to be one of their better ones and the trapdoor will be well and truly open for Fulham.

A bit like the Arsenal game against Fulham recently. Any neutral observer would invariably go for a home win for both fixtures but on the back of European ties it tends to make it less predictable perhaps.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 1:17 pm

A bit like the Arsenal game against Fulham recently. Any neutral observer would invariably go for a home win for both fixtures but on the back of European ties it tends to make it less predictable perhaps.

Chelsea are a far better side than Arsenal, or so I thought until I saw them trying to play against Brighton last week.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 1:20 pm

Chelsea are a far better side than Arsenal, or so I thought until I saw them trying to play against Brighton last week.

Exactly! And they weren't great (to say the least) against WBA. We really need them to have an on day rather than one of their extremely off days. They bloody turned up the day they played us!!!

'They bloody turned up the day they played us'

The Chelsea and Man City fixtures are ones where I am resigned to a defeat before the game even kicks off,recently.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 2:07 pm

'They bloody turned up the day they played us'

The Chelsea and Man City fixtures are ones where I am resigned to a defeat before the game even kicks off,recently.

And Spurs away these days.

If Chelsea beat Fulham and Wolves beat West Brom, then we'll go into the West Ham game knowing 3 points will virtually guarantee survival.

So if all goes well we could be all but safe by Monday evening, either way it's surely only a question of when we secure our PL place for next season and not if.

Must give Fulham an advantage. Whether they can take it is a different thing altogether

Chelsea should have enough strength in depth that their 'reserves' can beat Fulham. The likes of Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud should carry a goal threat v Fulham's defence.

they need to finish top 4, they will beat Fulham

FCBurnley wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 3:50 pm

Must give Fulham an advantage. Whether they can take it is a different thing altogether

Fulham's recent results don't suggest they'll be able to get anything from their short hop to SB, and I really do feel that last gasp Arsenal equaliser coupled with all the teams they're trying to catch picking up points in the interim will have broken their spirit.

They need to win 3 of their last 5, and probably nick a draw somewhere as well, and even that unlikely sequence of results will only take them to 37 points, so being realistic the only team they can feasibly catch now is Brighton, but Brighton have a couple of winnable fixtures coming up against Leeds and Wolves where they'll fancy themselves to gain points.

The tightness of that 4th place should keep them at full strength.

Loftus Cheek won't be eligible for this game, not that he's ripped up trees, so one less option for Fulham and their dapper manager.

Of no real relevance to us, but unless Chelsea feel 100% confident that they will will the Champions League this is a must-win game for them. Fulham are bottom of the current form table and Chelsea will be keen not to have a repeat of the West Brom and Brighton results. Stranger things have happened this season of course. If Fulham are to win this then they will need to score late as they are absolutely useless at holding on to leads.