Everybody's favourite tournament kicks off again on Tuesday - another chance for us all to fall out with the rest of the footballing world.

Drogba and Bosingwa are not available due to the ban imposed on them last season (which may well explain why Kalou played for an hour against Stoke). So we may well see Anelka and Kalou up front with the right back position being taken by either Ivanovic or Belletti. Based on the formation we are playing, and on Ivanovic's performance against Stoke, I have to say my preference would be Belletti.

It would appear very unlikely that Joe Cole and Zhirkov will be fit enough to take a spot on the bench nd I am not sure about Deco's fitness.

My guess is we will see something like

Cech

A Cole

Terry

Carvalho

Ivanovic (though I would pick Belletti)

Essien

Ballack

Lampard

Deco (if fit - if not we will see Malouda play again)

Anelka

Kalou

Subs

Hilario

Sturridge

Belletti

Hutchinson

Malouda (assuming Deco is fit)

Mikel

Bruma

I know its very unlikely to happen but would love to see sturridge get a start.

Ivanovic (though I would pick Belletti)

possibly even ferrera, he played a full practice match last week, so he could be at least a shout for the bench

I've been convinced since I awoke this morning that it's Tuesday today - I've only just realised it's not and I won't get to see my beloved Blues till tomorrow :)

Would love to see Sturridge start ahead of Kalou but I doubt it, maybe once (if) we qualify.

Carlo said in his press conference about Porto that due to the Drogba and Bosingwa bans and the transfer and loan-recall ban, Bruma, Hutchinson and Borini are in the squad for tomorrow. Wouldn't mind seeing Hutchinson getting some minutes :)

EDIT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8254392.stm

Striker Drogba is banned for three games after his offensive comments towards the referee in the aftermath of Chelsea's exit at Stamford Bridge.

Offensive comment towards the referee? This has been hidden well...

Edited September 14, 200916 yr by Ruh Buh Juh

think with Drogba and Bosingwa out it means that we only have about 19 players to pick from who are fit. Therefore the only decision to be made is who will start, and which of the reserve keepers will miss out

Personally I think we'll go with

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

Ivanovic......Terry........Carvalho.......Ashley Cole

...................Essien.......Ballack

.........................Lampard

.........Kalou.......................Malouda

........................Anelka

Subs:

Hilario

Belletti

Mikel

Hutchinson

Bruma

Borini

Sturridge

PS. Seemingly Deco, Alex, Zhirkov, and Joey are all deemed unfit to play

Ivanovic (though I would pick Belletti)

Ivanovic did quite well last year but this year he’s been all over the place.

Subs:

Hilario

Belletti

Mikel

Hutchinson

Bruma

Borini

Sturridge

Blimey! If we get ourselves in a pickle who are we going to bring on to change the game?

Blimey! If we get ourselves in a pickle who are we going to bring on to change the game?

Sturridge or Borini I suppose, but that is all we have with the injuries we are facing right now. We've no Yuri, Joey, and Drogs is banned...so them's the options

Really hope Borini gets a chance, interested to see what he can do...

Me to, but it's doubtful, as I think we'll see Kalou and Anelka for most, and we can always bring on a midfielder and move Malouda up to secondary striker, or we could bring on Sturridge...but I think there are too many options available before we'd consider bringing on Borini.

Scott

----------------cech---------------

---pf-----carvahlo-terry----bridge

----------------maka-------------

----------lampard-----------------

-----------------gudjohnson------

--robben-----drogba------duff---

subs:

carlo

g. johnson

gallas

tiago

parker

joe cole

kezman

thats what i would like to see to be honest

Edited September 15, 200916 yr by german-blue

PS. Seemingly Deco, Alex, Zhirkov, and Joey are all deemed unfit to play

What happened to Deco? I read he had a hamstring injury but I didn't pick up where/when it happened. Guy always seems to be hurt... :D

What happened to Deco? I read he had a hamstring injury but I didn't pick up where/when it happened. Guy always seems to be hurt... :D

I think he got injured playing for Portugal.

Hello dudes, already presented myself on the hello newbie thing.

Porto fan, readying with excited for the one which is also our favourite competition.

That being said I didn't got particularly happy being drawn in the same group with you guys. Chelsea is probably the more regular team on the Champions League on the last half a dozen years and never loose points at home. Also, we have played some times recently so there isn't much novelty around these games. Probably Porto will be battling with Atletico for 2nd place and I think we're favourites on this regard.

Here goes for a good game. Last year Manchester broke the history of never an English team winning in Porto. I'll pray this year Porto breaks the history of never winning in England, though I think better chances will come in the future, you guys are on great form. Will be happy if we bring a point from there.

Edited September 15, 200916 yr by Arruda

Will be happy if we bring a point from there.

For as much as I believe in sharing I think we’ll have to pass on this one. We're on a mission from God and can’t afford delays.

Id like to see Sturridge start , good opportunity to see what he's capable of .

No channel will show the match live here...

I'm hoping for a front 2 of Kalou/Anelka for the first hour, then Sturridge given a real chance to shine for the last 30.

Setanta Ireland showing it live .

Even the local Chelsea Pub is showing some other matches, so I suppose I'll have to find a stream.

two little things ive just heard about the match. one of my mates who`s a spurs fan just texting me saying how were gonna struggle without drogba. i pointed out that drogba will be getting a nice little rest ahead of sundays match, a match against spurs. he had forgotten, the dumb sh*t. secondly while listening to talksport ( i know, i was in the shower so it was either that or local bargain bin sh*te radio) and the ginger tosser durham actually had nice things to say about us. he said to collymore about how everyone raves about arsenals and utd`s lovely football but how were playing some wonderful football and how lampards pass on saturday to drogba was one of the best passes hes ever seen. guess what collymores reply was. "i was at the liveprool v burnley game and gerrard was brilliant and if they both stay fit england will do well". what a f**king w**ker, he couldnt even bring himself to praise lampard or chelsea and went straight into dipper mode by mentioning gerrard. stupid dogging f**king retard.

Joe Cole to be on the bench................

Official lineup

1 Petr Cech

2 Branislav Ivanovic

6 Ricardo Carvalho

26 John Terry ©

3 Ashley Cole

13 Michael Ballack

5 Michael Essien

8 Frank Lampard

21 Salomon Kalou

15 Florent Malouda

39 Nicolas Anelka

Substitutes: 22 Ross Turnbull, 41 Sam Hutchinson, 43 Jeffrey Bruma, 35 Juliano Belletti, 10 Joe Cole, 45 Fabio Borini, 23 Daniel Sturridge.

Porto are expected to line up in the following 4-3-3 formation:

Helton; Fucile, Rolando, Bruno Alves ©, Pereira; Gaurin, Fernando, Raul Meireles; Mariano Gonzalez, Hulk, Rodriguez.

Substitutes: Nuno, Tomas Costa, Belluschi, Maicon, Varela, Sapunaro, Falcao.

The referee is Konrad Plautz from Austria.