Marseille v Chelsea (CL) 8/12/2010 KO 19:45 GMT

[Hutch]

Should be an interesting game, come what may. Having already qualified as group winners, the result is pretty much irrelevant. Except from the point of view that a win would be a confidence boost following the recent run of results.

Early team news: Anelka and Ashley Cole both rested, but JT and Drogba are expected to play, Billy Clifford and Jacopo Sala are also included in the 20 man squad along with Josh McEachran, Gael Kakuta, Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffery Bruma.

LINK (includes "Blues News" video)

[Tea Bar Boy]

Should be an interesting game, come what may. Having already qualified as group winners, the result is pretty much irrelevant. Except from the point of view that a win would be a confidence boost following the recent run of results.

Early team news: Anelka and Ashley Cole both rested, but JT and Drogba are expected to play, Billy Clifford and Jacopo Sala are also included in the 20 man squad along with Josh McEachran, Gael Kakuta, Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffery Bruma.

LINK (includes "Blues News" video)

No point putting a team out if Frank isn't fit

I hope the younger players get a run out to be honest and I bet Drogba bangs one in ..............

[sizzler85]

I was looking for someone to open this topic ...

JT and ogba are starting .. good news ... But whatever happens , this match is strictly for younger players ...

[Tea Bar Boy]

I was looking for someone to open this topic ...

ogba are starting

Is this the skinny and shrunk nephew of Drogba ???

[The Moos]

How I would love to see Frankie on the bench and perhaps making a short appearence late in the game :)

Anyway, I think we will see some youngsters in this one, just like against Zilina. But I do think that if we rest too many players we will lose this one. Marseille are good and I don't think they want to lose this one.

But since we're already sure to finish top of the group a loss wouldn't be the end of the world. Still, would be nice to have a win with us when we face our next opponent.

[Nibs]

I'm hoping something along the lines of:

.......................Turnbull

Ivan..................Bruma..............JT....................Van Aanholt

.......................Essien...................Mikel..................

..................................Josh....................................

Kakuta......................Drogba....................Sturridge

Subs; Hilario, Paulo, Ramires, Borini, Sala, Kalou

PLEASE!

[Saaladin]

I hope we see some youngsters mixed in with some vets. Drogba and Terry starting is good news.

Wouldn't mind seeing:

Ivanovic - Bruma - Terry - Van Aanholt

Mikel

Ramires McEachran

Kakuta Sturridge

Drogba

Edited December 7, 2010 by Saaladin

[Kalou Time]

My Team:

---------------- Cech (Needs a clean sheet)-------------

Ivanovic ----- Bruma ------Terry----------Van Aanholt

---------------------------Essien-----------------------------------

---------------Ramires-----------Mc Eachran------------------

Sturridge-----------------------------------------------Kakuta

--------------------------Drogba----------------------------------

I dont think Carlo will agree with me however. Its a shame we dont integrate the youth into easier league games 1 at a time instead of constantly bunching them together and then wondering why they dont look up to much. But, that seems to be how Carlo wants to approach it.

[54veteran]

A pointless exercise this one. Whatever happens, no one can take anything useful out of it. The kids aren't going to get any better without real PL experience. Unfortunately we've let things slide so that we no longer have the option to introduce them gradually. It could have been a seamless, and relatively inexpensive, transition had anyone had the brains to see this situation looming.

[Saaladin]

Anyone get the feeling that Carlo doesn't really like Kakuta? He's pretty tough on the kid and has subbed him at half in his only two starts. I think he doesn't like Kakuta's laid back approach to the game sometimes.

[Kalou Time]

We should keep in mind Marseille will probably field a weak team also since they have also guaranteed qualification

[Saaladin]

We should keep in mind Marseille will probably field a weak team also since they have also guaranteed qualification

I dunno, I think Marseille will relish the challenge to try and beat a top team before entering the knockout rounds.

[Tea Bar Boy]

Anyone get the feeling that Carlo doesn't really like Kakuta? He's pretty tough on the kid and has subbed him at half in his only two starts. I think he doesn't like Kakuta's laid back approach to the game sometimes.

Or the fact he has not committed to a new contract . If he starts the perfect shop window for him to secure a move back home if that is what he wants

[PloKoon13]

Although we run the risk of getting beaten, I think putting out a youthful team is a good idea. Both sides have already qualified in first and second, Marseille are in the midst of an extremely close battle in the league, and we really can't risk any more injury scares. The Tottenham game simply has to be the turning point of this run of form, and everyone needs to be at 100%. Hopefully Drogba and JT will be enough of a presence to drag us through the game without embarrassment. I'd like to see Bruma, Van Aanholt and Kakuta all start at the very least. I'd imagine McEachran, Turnbull and Sturridge will play a role too.

[The Moos]

Anyone get the feeling that Carlo doesn't really like Kakuta? He's pretty tough on the kid and has subbed him at half in his only two starts. I think he doesn't like Kakuta's laid back approach to the game sometimes.

I think the main reason why Kakuta hasn't played that much and has been subbed at half when he has started is because he hasn't been good.

Last game he started he was really bad. So of course Carlo took him off.

If Kakuta plays better he will get more time.

As for him not signing a new contract I would argue that we don't know what is going on at Chelsea. Maybe he has said that he will sign, but isn't in a hurry to do it. Just like JT.

If he refused to sign I'm sure he wouldn't get to play at all.

[german-blue]

Kakuta might have been sh*t when he played but its still terrible man-management imo....Its important to give youngsters self confidence, not sub them at HT because they dont impress

[Kalou Time]

Kakuta might have been sh*t when he played but its still terrible man-management imo....Its important to give youngsters self confidence, not sub them at HT because they dont impress

I dont even think he's been that bad to warrant being taken off at half time on any occasion, other bigger names performed equally as bad or worse and stayed on the full 90 minutes in those same matches. I can see why Kakuta is considering leaving

[Spiller86]

Would be surprised to see too many of the kids on show. We desperately need a win and I'd suggest that'll mean Carlo will start Kalou and Ramires amongst others. Though if Ash is out and Zhirkov is still gone, Van Aanholt should get a run which is good.

[54veteran]

If Kakuta plays better he will get more time.

Chicken and egg. If he had more time, maybe he'd be playing better. At some point you have to take a gamble. He'll flourish somewhere, but probably not with us.

[Kalou Time]

I dont buy into that 'if he played better he'd get more game time' nonsense.

McEachran & Van aanholt are examples thats not true. Sturridge was great vs zilina and has been rewarded with 5 minute cameo's since.

Its the bigger the name, the more game time at Chelsea and we all know it.

[Saaladin]

Chicken and egg. If he had more time, maybe he'd be playing better. At some point you have to take a gamble. He'll flourish somewhere, but probably not with us.

Unfortunate if true. I have to admit though, in Carlo's defense, Kakuta is a bit lazy. He joggs around a lot and is often late to make decisive runs. This could be a product of little playing time and low morale, but if he wants to impress he needs to learn from Josh and get himself involved offensively and defensively.

[scottish born chelsea blue]

this might go down wrong but id like to chuck out the 433 system totaly need a new shape and stop playing kakuta out wide keeps driffting in field so maybe lets move him infield carlos using mceachran as a defensive mid i think he is trying to make him like pirlo when i seee him play i think he should be moved up and create something not constatly chaseing the ball so this is my ideal line up

cech

bosingwa terry buma van holt

mikel

essien mceachran

kakuta

grogba sturidge

[Saaladin]

this might go down wrong but id like to chuck out the 433 system totaly need a new shape and stop playing kakuta out wide keeps driffting in field so maybe lets move him infield carlos using mceachran as a defensive mid i think he is trying to make him like pirlo when i seee him play i think he should be moved up and create something not constatly chaseing the ball so this is my ideal line up

cech

bosingwa terry buma van holt

mikel

essien mceachran

kakuta

grogba sturidge

Agree about McEachran, he should be freed up to attack more. I love the 4-3-3 formation though so I wouldn't change that. This formation would be pretty narrow and doesn't provide much width. Like this, McEachran would have a ton of defensive responsibility down the left flank.

[scottish born chelsea blue]

Agree about McEachran, he should be freed up to attack more. I love the 4-3-3 formation though so I wouldn't change that. This formation would be pretty narrow and doesn't provide much width. Like this, McEachran would have a ton of defensive responsibility down the left flank.

the width will be provided by our full backs at the momant thats were we get it any way as who ever we play up there seem to pull in to much as we dont really have recognised wing men except malouda

[Saaladin]

the width will be provided by our full backs at the momant thats were we get it any way as who ever we play up there seem to pull in to much as we dont really have recognised wing men except malouda

Right but our full backs are able to make those runs untracked because the opposition is focused on our wingers. Remove those wingers and the full backs won't see as much freedom. Plus, who will cover for Cole when he runs down the line? There is no winger to drop behind him on the overlap that means either Josh would have to hold or the wing would be exposed to counter-attacks.

It's hard to play without a winger of some sort. If you want to play with 2 strikers then you would have to move to a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2. I prefer the current set up with a couple of player swaps.