287 replies to this topic

[loz]

Two draws in a row, one credible, one not so, mean Arsenal and Liverpool are back on our tails and the gap between us and both Manc teams is considerable again.

Fulham just got tonked by Utd and you can guarantee that will mean they raise their game considerably against us.

Assuming he shakes off whatever minor injury he had you would expect Romeu to replace Mikel.  It looks unlikely Ivan will be fit which will mean Bosingwa will play at right back.

Other than that I would expect the line up to be pretty much as expected especially as there is a reasonable gap until we play Villa on the 31st.

[ozboy]

Certainly going to need luiz.

We are also going to need Torres

Maybe lukaku will get a run

[shedpensioner]

Can't have Lukaku anywhere near a real first team game at the moment, he is far too raw, and thats being polite!

[Ben]

I would loan Lukaka to Fulham, they will need him when Zamora goes to QPhaha.

I would go with this team.

Cech (by default, not on current form)
Bos/Paulo, Luiz, Terry, Cole
Ramires, Romeu, Lampard
Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Give Torres 30mins as well. Lampard always does well against Foolham, plus Meireles is so average.

[rahul]

We need to put out the strongest team which means no place for Lamps again. Ramires, Romeu and Meireles must start because anyone other than those three makes the midfield look pretty ordinary. If Luiz is fit then we need to go back to Ivan, Luiz, Terry and Cole in the defense. Studge and Mata are the first names on the team sheet but for the striker its a toss up between Drogs and Torres. I'd go with Torres just to give him a run out so that he has some time under his belt for the extended run in the team during ACN.

If we field that team then I have no doubt we'd spank Fulham. Any tinkering and we'd be back to Wigan all over again.

[charierre]

rahul, on 23 December 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:

We need to put out the strongest team which means no place for Lamps again. Ramires, Romeu and Meireles must start because anyone other than those three makes the midfield look pretty ordinary. If Luiz is fit then we need to go back to Ivan, Luiz, Terry and Cole in the defense. Studge and Mata are the first names on the team sheet but for the striker its a toss up between Drogs and Torres. I'd go with Torres just to give him a run out so that he has some time under his belt for the extended run in the team during ACN.

If we field that team then I have no doubt we'd spank Fulham. Any tinkering and we'd be back to Wigan all over again.

ramires is suspended , so Lamps plays I'd imagine

[Zeta Orionis]

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

---Ferreria-----Luiz-------Terry------Bertrand

----------------------Romeu

--------------Merieles

--------------------------------Lampard

Sturridge---------------------------------Mata

---------------------Torres

Subs: Turnbull, Cole, Bosingwa, McEachran, Drogba, Malouda, Lukaku


I'd give Ashley a rest in this one, he's been working his socks off in the last few games and he's not getting any younger. Plus Bertrand really needs to start at least a handful of games this season.

Also went for Paulo instead of Jose at RB, but have Jose on the bench as a replacement RB or CB if needed.

Edited by BlueSkies, 23 December 2011 - 01:06 PM.

[Mike 93]

Ben, on 23 December 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:

I would loan Lukaka to Fulham, they will need him when Zamora goes to QPhaha.

I would go with this team.

Cech (by default, not on current form)
Bos/Paulo, Luiz, Terry, Cole
Ramires, Romeu, Lampard
Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Give Torres 30mins as well. Lampard always does well against Foolham, plus Meireles is so average.

Meirles was outstanding last night. How can you call him average?

[ethicalstrategy]

I quite enjoyed Bosingwa at centre half.  He seemed to be very comfortable there.  If Luiz is fit then I would guess he'd play, but I'd have no qualms putting Bosingwa in there.  Also thought Ferreira had a very good game.

Midfield will presumably include Frank as Ramires is suspended.

Drogba will play until he goes off to the ACN.

[Nibs]

That looks a decent line-up Blueskies.

Fulham have looked shocking at times this season but we all know this is the game they'll want to win and no doubt will be up for it.

Just a thought but with Ramires out, Fulham at home, wouldn't that be an ideal opportunity to give Josh a start?

Sorry. Ridiculous I know. What was I thinking?

[Mike 93]

Nibs, on 23 December 2011 - 01:14 PM, said:

That looks a decent line-up Blueskies.

Fulham have looked shocking at times this season but we all know this is the game they'll want to win and no doubt will be up for it.

Just a thought but with Ramires out, Fulham at home, wouldn't that be an ideal opportunity to give Josh a start?

Sorry. Ridiculous I know. What was I thinking?

Also that midfield looked very slow and one dimensional against wigan.

[Zeta Orionis]

Nibs, on 23 December 2011 - 01:14 PM, said:

That looks a decent line-up Blueskies.

Fulham have looked shocking at times this season but we all know this is the game they'll want to win and no doubt will be up for it.

Just a thought but with Ramires out, Fulham at home, wouldn't that be an ideal opportunity to give Josh a start?

Sorry. Ridiculous I know. What was I thinking?

I'd love to give Josh a start, but I've long since given up including him in my lineups.

[gee]

I would start like this:

------------Cech
---Bos-Luiz-Terry-Cole
-----------Romeu
---Meireles----Lampard
-Mata----------------Malouda
---------Sturridge

Drogba's been average since his game against Valencia. Ramires is suspended. I think Sturridge deserves a proper go up front. He's in form and has played excellently so far.

Edited by gee, 23 December 2011 - 01:43 PM.

[Castiel]

Could be worth a shot Gee but I wouldn't use Mata on the right.

[Chelsea3]

Why would you want malouda anywhere near the first team.?

[rahul]

charierre, on 23 December 2011 - 12:22 PM, said:

ramires is suspended , so Lamps plays I'd imagine

Damn. I hope Lamps gives a good account of himself then. A one paced midfielder is not what we not at the moment.

[rahul]

gee, on 23 December 2011 - 01:38 PM, said:

I would start like this:

------------Cech
---Bos-Luiz-Terry-Cole
-----------Romeu
---Meireles----Lampard
-Mata----------------Malouda
---------Sturridge

Drogba's been average since his game against Valencia. Ramires is suspended. I think Sturridge deserves a proper go up front. He's in form and has played excellently so far.

A couple of points on that line up.

Sturridge scores a lot of his goals arriving at the far end by losing his full back like he did against Spurs. I am not sure how he'd fare when he has the attention of two center halves all the time. I am not for experimenting at the moment. Just stick with whats working.

I wouldn't let Malouda anywhere near the starting eleven unless I'm left with no choice but to bite the bullet. Lampard is a headache enough at the moment; him and Malouda in the same team would make me cringe.

Mata on the right would be even more of a waste than Mata on the left.

[shedpensioner]

Lamps and Raul is not a good combiination, but 1 we could be stuck with for this game!

Seeing as theirs no chance of AVB playing Josh!

Edited by shedpensioner, 23 December 2011 - 02:17 PM.

[gee]

Castiel, on 23 December 2011 - 01:46 PM, said:

Could be worth a shot Gee but I wouldn't use Mata on the right.

It's not ideal but he cuts in from the right, like he did for Lampard's goal against Arsenal.

[Castiel]

At least Luiz is back.  Maybe a 4231 to maximise Mata's creativity to compensate for the loss of Rambo's runs?

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

Ivan - Luiz - Terry - Cole

---- Romeu - Meireles ----

- Danny - Mata - Kalou -

---------- Torres ----------

I think Drogba needs a break and its useless giving Torres 5 minutes here or there.  Either Sturridge or him up front.  Kalou is the concession but he does nick goals and with Mata in the hole he'll have three possible outlets in the final third rather than just the one when he drifts inside in the 433.  If Ivan's unfit then obviously bos (maybe CB again) or Paulo in.