Sunday is the first time we've played QPR in the league since March 1996 (a 1-1 draw in which John Spencer got our goal), although we do have recent 1-0 victories over them in the League and FA Cup.

We're missing Essien, Hilario and Ramires through injury, and Fernando Torres is still suspended. QPR are missing DJ Campbell and Keiron Dyer through injury, but Rob Hulse, Danny Gabbidon and Matthew Connoly could return to the lineup.

Another interesting point to bear in mind for this fixture is that it is after the Manchester derby in which at least one of the teams above us will drop points. With a victory we will either jump to second or at least close the points gap.

QPR will be up for this and certainly have players who can damage the opposition on their day, but ultimately we really should have the quality to outgun them considering one of their star men is a Chelsea reject and failure.

The team might look something like this:

----------------------Cech

Bosingwa-----Luiz------Terry-----Cole

----------------------Mikel

------------Meireles-----Lampard

-----Sturridge-----Drogba----Mata

Are you sure Ramires is injured? I thought he was 50/50.

Big loss but obviously Mereiles can come in.

The other decision facing the manager is Luiz or Ivan.

I think Ramires was going to be a late decision, but I would rather we not rush him back. I read in a news article lately that Romeu would have a tough test against the likes of Joey Barton this weekend. Don't know if they know something that we don't, but I am not sure if we will see Romeu start or come off the bench to try and test that theory.

I thinknthe back four will be the usual, but I wonder if we need to rest lampard now as he has played a few in a row.

...........................Cech

Bosingwa.....Ivan.........Terry........Cole

.................Mereiles...Romeu

...........................Mata

......Sturridge....................Malouda

........................Drogba

I think Ramires was going to be a late decision, but I would rather we not rush him back. I read in a news article lately that Romeu would have a tough test against the likes of Joey Barton this weekend. Don't know if they know something that we don't, but I am not sure if we will see Romeu start or come off the bench to try and test that theory.

I thinknthe back four will be the usual, but I wonder if we need to rest lampard now as he has played a few in a row.

...........................Cech

Bosingwa.....Ivan.........Terry........Cole

.................Mereiles...Romeu

...........................Mata

......Sturridge....................Malouda

........................Drogba

What makes you think that our formation will change? It hasn't changed all year and it won't change now. That is certain. I expect the squad to be very similar to the last PL game. Ramires the only change if he is not fit.

...................Cech....................

Bos......Ivan........Terry.......Cole

....................Mikel.....................

...Raul/Ramires.......Lampard...

Sturridge.........................Mata.

................Drogba...................

It's just a hypothesis as to what we could play given that Ramires may be injured, and that Frank may be dropped due to squad rotation.

I agree, I don't think we will see much in terms of tactical change, but one of the good things about avb is that you never know.

Incidentally, if I was to put money on it I would go with your line up ahead of mine, but it is fun looking st other options. Plus I m sure we finished a game recently with my type of formation

It is QPR's cup final so whatever the line up, we will have to be weary.

What makes you think that our formation will change? It hasn't changed all year and it won't change now. That is certain. I expect the squad to be very similar to the last PL game. Ramires the only change if he is not fit.

I dont think he was saying explicitly that Meireles would be playing DM beside Romeu. We all recognize that when we suggest foirmations they are going to be fluid in the middle and up top based on how things go and that its just an approximation.

Personally, I would love to see what Mata can do with a designated role to be just behind the main striker. But based on Genk I would not change that midfield. Run out the same team, except JT for Luiz, Drogba for Torres, and Mata for Malouda.

Bench of Luiz, Anelka, Lukaku, Mikel, Josh, Flo/Kalou and Turnbull

Mata Drogs Sturridge (comment Drogs needs to step up, but at least he can be a target which neither Anelka or Sturridge a well suited for)

Frank Mikel Ramires/Meireles (comment Mikel remains ahead of Romeu at this point for my money)

Ashley Terry/Luiz Ivan Bossy (comment. Luiz is faster but Ivan is our best defender right now)

QPR have had trouble scoring, but so have we when Drogs plays up front. We will miss Ramires's speed if he is not fit but despite the importance of this and every other game its a long season and its better to have him fit.

We should be wary of QPR but these are games we have to win.

I expect the same line up as last game, if Ramires is fit. I have the feeling AVB is working on horses for courses in terms of the central defence, Luiz plays CL, Ivan plays PL. The fact that we rested 3-4 key players mid week means fatigue shouldn't be a real issue for us. 3 Points against QPR is as good as 3 points anywhere, let's win that game and move up to second spot on the ladder.

I think in recent games Mata has played a lot in the middle in some sort of No 10 role, although he starts on the wings.

He`s also popped up wide right, which makes me think he is being given quite a bit of freedom to look for space and move around the field as he likes. Now as long as the other attacking players know this and are intelligent enough to make use of this then it can be devastating.

chelsea f.c expected formation away to QPR

Cech

Bossy

Ivan

JT

Cash

Mereiles

Mikel

Frankie

Mata

Drog

Sturridge

thats what I think, I'd prefer Ramires in for Mereiles due to Mereiles full game on Wednesday.

These really are the games where the bench could be all important so on recent showing I doubt we'll see Josh but we'd all love to!

If City can hold a draw this weekend then this is our chance to leapfrog United, leaving us 1 point behind City. Very important to maintain momentum and win this to keep the pressure up. Provided we do our part it should be a good week for us. City winning is unlikely, but if it does happen we'd leapfrog. United winning isn't so great but it'd even out the overall closing distance.

I just don't trust City in the big matches after seeing them against Bayern but either way we'll profit.

As for our match, I'm hoping for a clean sheet (after the win of course) above anything. Its weird watching us concede so many goals.

if ramires is injured then our formation will be the normal one- 4-3-3 (cech)

bosing...ivan..terry...cole mikel

meireles....... lamp sturr....drog......mata

If it was me i'd go with:

Cech

Bosingwa

Luiz

Terry

Cole

Romeu

Mereiles

Lampard

Mata

Nico

Sturridge

Try and get in behind QPRs dodgy back four!

QPhaha should be a walk in the park, but its the PL so you never know.

City may not show up in other big matches, but most of the recent Manchester derby's have been very close and tense affairs. Still, you know that Rooney is going to hit a winner in the 97th minute after 3 minutes are added on.

For our game, I'd go: Cech, Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Meireles, Lampard, Mata, Sturridge, Anelka, with Romeu and Drogba hopefully seeing the pitch in the 2nd half.

Edited October 21, 201114 yr by ace

Cech

Ivan - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel

Meireles - Lampard

Anelka - Sturridge - Mata

Try out sturridge down the middle, i think he deserves it before Torres comes back next game.

Cech

Ivan - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel

Meireles - Lampard

Anelka - Sturridge - Mata

Try out sturridge down the middle, i think he deserves it before Torres comes back next game.

I think that would be a mistake. He is on great form, playing out wide. Why mess with that? AVB loves him at the right winger spot. AVB said it himself, that Sturridge is Chelsea's Hulk. I don't think we should mess with that. He can only get better and and better at that spot.

I brought Sturridge in this week for the fantasy league, its his week!!

He`s also popped up wide right, which makes me think he is being given quite a bit of freedom to look for space and move around the field as he likes.

I think that's exactly right. He said he was going to be give the freedom to roam and that's exactly how it looks. He's wherever he wants to be.

QPR have been pretty impotent at scoring, but theres always te hChelsea factor when a crap team raises its game to play us, also its a derby with apparent bad feeling towards everything Chelsea from their mob.

On the form book we should walk it no matter what team AVB plays, hope so and if any manc team slips we gain ground.

COME ON YOU BLUES

Ramires out according to Sky Sports News.

Since there's a cup game only a few days away I guess we wont see players like Josh, Romeu and Lukaku since they will probably play then.

We'll probably play:

Cech

Bosingwa - Ivan - JT - Cole

Meireles - Mikel - Lampard

Sturridge - Drogba - Mata

Maybe Luiz instead of Ivan.

If Ramires is fit to play he might do it instead of Meireles.