Cech

Ivan, Alex, Terry, Cole

Ramires

Essien, Lampard

Kakuta, Drogba, Malouda

Subs (anyone from): Anelka, Bosingwa, Mikel, Zirkov, Bruma, Kalou, Benayoun, Van Anroult, Matic, Delac

Edited July 31, 201015 yr by Ben

I like the look of that team, but what do you imagine will happen with Obi Mikel?

Never mind, I see him on your bench now! I think that's a fine team, no major overhauls and a good injection of youth

Not a chance Kakuta will be a first XI player this season. Delac is a long way away too. Carlo won't be taking too many risks, I expect the tried and tested approach. His brief is very clear and he won't want to risk a 5 million pound a year contract on untested players.

No Sturridge anywhere? Paulo?

If Ramires signs, that is one motherf**ker of a midfield!

Cech

Ivan, Alex, Terry, Cole

Ramires

Essien, Lampard

Kakuta, Drogba, Malouda

Subs (anyone from): Anelka, Bosingwa, Mikel, Zirkov, Bruma, Kalou, Benayoun, Van Anroult, Matic, Delac

I'd love to see a lot more Kakuta next year, but I don't think he'll be a first XI player anytime soon. Additionally, Delac doesn't join our squad for another year.

I'd replace Ramires with Mikel I guess since we haven't signed the guy yet, and I'd replace Kakuta with Anelka....or Kalou (fingers crossed about him finally becoming the player we want him to be this season)

Edit: haha, i run to make some breakfast before finishing this post and bjd beats me to most of what I was saying

Edited July 31, 201015 yr by ace

Assuming all are fit (and we sign Ramires) then I think we will see the following as our 'normal' starting eleven.

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

Bosingwa.....................Ivan.....JT.................A Cole

...................................Ramires..........................

..................Essien..........................Lampard.........

Anelka.........................Drogba..........................Malouda

Not a chance Kakuta will be a first XI player this season. Delac is a long way away too. Carlo won't be taking too many risks, I expect the tried and tested approach. His brief is very clear and he won't want to risk a 5 million pound a year contract on untested players.

No Sturridge anywhere? Paulo?

If Ramires signs, that is one motherf**ker of a midfield!

I'm yet to be impressed by Sturridge in a big game, but both him & Paulo make up the squad.

I think you are right, kakuta will see more playing time, but will have do be very special to stay in the team.

Mikel, has hardly set the world alight, will it ever happen for him?

If we sell Carvalho and buy David Luiz along with Ramires as some reports are suggesting, I think are starting 11 will be:

Cech

Bosingwa Luiz Terry Cole

Ramires

Essien Lampard

Anelka Drogba Malouda

Ivan will be pushing Bosingwa for his starting place as there is barely anything between the two anyway, and if Kalou is in form he could take Anelka's place.

Edited July 31, 201015 yr by Blue Steel

I really hope we don't buy Luiz - total waste of money when we have JT, Ivan, Alex and quite probably Carvalho.

I really hope we don't buy Luiz - total waste of money when we have JT, Ivan, Alex and quite probably Carvalho.

I agree. It seems we'd have to pay an astronomical fee for a player we don't really need. If we have to spend big to buy a player, I'd rather see it spent on a creative midfielder or a striker.

Cech

Ivan Alex Terry Cole

Essien Mikel Lampard

Anelka Drogba Malouda

I agree. It seems we'd have to pay an astronomical fee for a player we don't really need. If we have to spend big to buy a player, I'd rather see it spent on a creative midfielder or a striker.

Plus with high hopes for Bruma, what signal does that send out to the kids.

Yeah, think Sturridge would be a must on the bench, and Paulo wil be here too so forgot about them. I doubt Kakuta would be a starting 11, but I just liked the look of the team and the general feeling of one or two additions (no Marquee signing) and the rest made up with what we already have

I also like JT and Ivan in the middle with Bossie at RB. So if I had to choose my starting 11 I expect:

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

................Ivan...JT.............

Bosingwa........................Cole

..................Ramires

.........Essien...........Lampard

..Anelka....................Malouda

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

Subs from: Matic, Hilario, Mikel, Paulo, Yuri, Sturridge, Kakuta, Borini, etc

Yeah, think Sturridge would be a must on the bench, and Paulo wil be here too so forgot about them. I doubt Kakuta would be a starting 11, but I just liked the look of the team and the general feeling of one or two additions (no Marquee signing) and the rest made up with what we already have

I also like JT and Ivan in the middle with Bossie at RB. So if I had to choose my starting 11 I expect:

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

................Ivan...JT.............

Bosingwa........................Cole

..................Ramires

.........Essien...........Lampard

..Anelka....................Malouda

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

Subs from: Matic, Hilario, Mikel, Paulo, Yuri, Sturridge, Kakuta, Borini, etc

No Kalou? :(

I think he'll get a good amount of time again this season, depending on how Anelka holds up.

Agreed Celery. Kalou will start the season ahead of Sturridge, Kakuta and Borini in the pecking order.

Way too early to have Kakuta in the first 11. It would ruin him as he is not ready yet.

Kakuta is already 19 though. He should be getting at least some game time next season.

Way too early to have Kakuta in the first 11. It would ruin him as he is not ready yet.

Erm... Ruin him?

Agreed Celery. Kalou will start the season ahead of Sturridge, Kakuta and Borini in the pecking order.

And that's exactly the kind of statement that doesn't fill me with too much optimism for the coming season.

Edited July 31, 201015 yr by Nibs

Cech

Ivan Alex Terry Cole

Essien Mikel Lampard

Anelka Drogba Malouda

That line up with Kalou as first sub to come on -for some reason it really depresses me.

And that's exactly the kind of statement that doesn't fillme with too much optimism for thecoming season.

That is a fair point because we had a shocker last season with that being the scenario.

For me Kalou is perfectly good enough as a third choice striker however there is always the concern that Drogba and Anelka pick up injuries and then we are left with Kalou or Sturridge to lead the line. For me neither would be up to the job however you have to ask yourself how many teams have three or four strikers who are all good enough to be first team regulars.

That is a fair point because we had a shocker last season with that being the scenario.

For me Kalou is perfectly good enough as a third choice striker however there is always the concern that Drogba and Anelka pick up injuries and then we are left with Kalou or Sturridge to lead the line. For me neither would be up to the job however you have to ask yourself how many teams have three or four strikers who are all good enough to be first team regulars.

True but then how many other teams first choice strikers are 32 and 31?

We have to get some youth in there somewhere, even if it's first option on the bench (ie Sturridge or Kakuta).

I would agree with that. I think we need to go into the majority of games with Kalou and Sturridge (and kakuta when one of those two are not available) on the bench so that we can maximise the amount of playing time the potential 'future' gets. Too often we have a bench which is domainated by defensive minded players.

And that's exactly the kind of statement that doesn't fill me with too much optimism for the coming season.

How did you ever survive this last season then?!

I think that Carlo is getting some positive contributions from Kalou, the goal he had against Wigan was one of our best of the year I felt like. We can all just forget the FA Cup final miss, right?