Surely a case of all change for this game.

Drogba most likely out injured but was unlikely to feature anyway. I would expect to see starts for Joe Cole,Sturridge, Ivanovic, Mikel, Kalou, Hilario, Belletti and possibly Hutchinson with time off the bench for Borini.

Think there will be quite a change, which is exciting, but I'm not 100% convinced it'll be an all out change of personel.

Is there any hope of Zhirkov even making the bench? And Ferreira has been training so maybe see some of him. I'm still not sure about Alex or Deco though

Scott

i think turnbull will probably get the start over hilario. Just seen how good borinis strike rate is in the reserves 10 goals in 11 appearances and he is 18. Very impressive

I hope at least 2 youngsters start this game...Studge and Borini or maybe even Matic? Apart from that its going to be pretty much the first teamers which is ok with me.

hopefully turnbull gets the nod for this game. he always put in a decent shift for borough and only got dropped after a fall out with southgate. he was playing very well before that

he had a fantastic double save against ipswich last week as well. obviously he'll do well to push cech for a place but i don't think he/we are deserving of the stick over the transfer

I hope at least 2 youngsters start this game...Studge and Borini or maybe even Matic? Apart from that its going to be pretty much the first teamers which is ok with me.

carlo came out in an interview earlier in the season and said it would be a lot of youth players played in the carling cup

Think there will be quite a change, which is exciting, but I'm not 100% convinced it'll be an all out change of personel.

Is there any hope of Zhirkov even making the bench? And Ferreira has been training so maybe see some of him. I'm still not sure about Alex or Deco though

Scott

Ya I had wondered the same thing, I was pretty sure Ancellotti said something about Zhirkov starting in this game, maybe not...

Turnbull-A.Cole, Hutchinson, Terry, Ivanović-Malouda,Matić, Lampard, J.Cole-Studrigde, Borini

That's my squad.

2-0 for The Blues.

Come on Chelsea!

We might see a couple of the stalwarts stick around (i.e. JT and Lamps). But other than that, I'd expect a large transfusion of the youth team players who have been lurking around the bench the last few weeks, i.e. Hutchinson, Borini, Sturridge, Bruma, Turnbull, etc...

I think Ashley will be rested. Paulo might get the nod for left back or even Hutch.

I think Ashley will be rested. Paulo might get the nod for left back or even Hutch.

I don't think Ferreira will be brought in just after recovering from his injury to play on the left.

I had a dream we sold Ferreira last night to someone like Blackburn on a free transfer. It made me sad. :(

Ferreira is low, I think that we should sell him. He is after a dangerous injury and he will not play his best... Belletti is much better than him.

Ferreira is low, I think that we should sell him. He is after a dangerous injury and he will not play his best... Belletti is much better than him.

Defensively Ferreira is much better than Belletti, but if we need our right back to attack a bit as well, then Belletti is the better option. But as long as we've got Bosingwa fit to play, both of them are back up players. Well, Belletti can play in midfield as well, mind you, but he's mainly a back up player as a midfielder as well. He's not a player we absolutely need to have, but he's a good squad player to have around in case of injuries or something like that.

On the right we have Ivanovic too. He is an universal defender. He can play on the left, but it will be much worse than A. Cole... :(

90 minutes for Joe Cole is a must.

90 minutes for Joe Cole is a must.

No, not if he can't handle it. I'd say as long as it's 45 minutes or more, it's a step in the right direction and that's all we need. There's no point in rushing him.

Isn't Zhirkov due a return now as well?

if he was fit enough to be on the bench in a european game a week ago then surley he is fit enough to play 90 mins against a lower league team, unless he's injured again?

not talking about rushing him back (if that was possible after the lenght of time he's been out) just think i's the ideal match/opponent to get a full competetive game under his belt.

just by the by, I got an email from the club, almost pleading with me to buy up to 6 tickets at £19.50 each and the box office will be open until just before kick-off - I think it ain't gonna be a sell-out this week :(

As I said in the Borini thread:

---------------------Turnbull

---Ferreira---Ivanovic----JT----Hutchinson

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

-----------Lampard---------Zhirkov

-------------------Joey Cole

-----------Sturridge---------Borini

Or something along those lines.

But Kalou will probably get the nod over one of Studge/Borini, and I doubt Zhirkov is fit enough to start yet, but he should make the bench.

Hutch will definitely get a start.

Does someone who has an access to Chelsea TV hear anything about Zhirkov's condition? I'm frustrated that he hasn't featured yet.

What we'll prolly see...

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

Beletti......Branna.....JT.....Cole

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

,,,,,,,,,Essien.......Ballack

..............Lamps

...........Kalou......Studge

With substitute appearances by Joey, Paolo and possibly Borini if things go well.

Turnbull should get a game, surely that's why we signed him. Ashley Cole should get a rest, if we have another left back around. JT and Lampard will play, heart and soul of the team, and their fitness level is never in doubt. What happened to the other guy we signed for 1.5 M this season? Whoever he is, should get a game :lol:

Hope to see Sturridge and Borini up front. Turnbull is likely to get his chance. A warm welcome for Zhirkov and a warm welcome back for Joe Cole.