Chelsea take on Manchester United tonight in the Carabao Cup, and we got Stretty News editor Dale O’Donnell onboard to help us find out a little more about the sorry state that the great club find themselves in…
1. OGS in? Even if you finish outside the CL places again? What about if you finish tenth? Where would you draw the line?
Considering the squad was lighter in midfield and up front than it was at the start of 2018/19, finishing in the top four was always going to be a struggle and I believe Ole when he talks about his long-term views for the club. But that could be him talking the talk, knowing how the board has dealt with previous managers!
If we finish 10th, we finish 10th. We can trust Solskjaer to bring in good players again, so I’d give him another summer unless we’re fishing around the bottom half of the table. We need a cup run to hold onto for his sake.
2. Man U fans must be jealously looking at how Lampard is doing this season – does it give you more faith to stick with your own project in OGS, or is it evidence that your manager just isn’t working out?
Jealous no, because we had the better same if not better when he first came in. It’s always going to be difficult sacking a club legend, but you can be left with no other choice if it’s doing more damage than good.
3. Chelsea’s loan system was criticised a lot, but we now have a flow of more experienced young players into the team, as your manager pointed out this week. Would you like to see Man U introduce something similar?
Sure, having that amount of young players to ship out on loan has its benefits, though I feel we’ve sent players out on loan and they haven’t got the game time or come back anywhere near ready for the first-team. Saying that, up until Lampard’s arrival, young players didn’t really get the chance at Chelsea. Whereas at United, we’ve always done that.
4. Every time Jose Mourinho is a pundit on a United game I want someone to ask him about what happened to Nemanja Matic. The guy was just so good for 18 months at Chelsea – has anyone ever figured out where that player went?
Matic wasn’t excellent in his last season at Chelsea and José took a punt on a player he could trust. Did OK in his first season but I always felt he was too slow. Now that his legs have gone Matic is a complete liability.
5. Chelsea’s young players have been in the news a lot this season, but which of them has impressed you most?
I haven’t watched a lot of Chelsea this season, but in the opening weeks Mason Mount really impressed. Looked a readymade Premier League player.
6. Man U are going to play some youngsters too, who should we be worried about?
The emergence of Brandon Williams in recent weeks has been amazing to watch. Mason Greenwood looks good but has struggled to lead the line when he’s played in the first team, but is still very young. If Daniel James plays expect him to be a threat in the final third.
7. What is your prediction for tonight?
Chelsea 1-2 United
