we've been playing 433 since nov10 (diamond before that) and it has worked most of the time but some games cry out for 442

torres has played as lone striker (in 451) and as 1 of a pair - he likes to run the channels, is very mobile, likes to head in crosses and often drifts wide so not sure how he will play in a 433 as he prefers to move around unrestricted?, if its 442 then who will he partner - drogs? or nico?. He plays better with a winger too and er thats also a problem

one thing for certain - if we pay £50m, he has to be a first pick doesn't he

I've feared having to deal with this problem ever since we were first linked with Torres...

Now it's finally here, its taste in the air. I think we all know what this means.

Teams are now coming to the bridge and starting 2 up front. There is no reason for us to play a holding midfield at home. In fact i think we could get rid of the holding position altogether.

When Mikel starts, let him have the freedom of the other midfielders

When Mikel starts, let him have the freedom of the other midfielders

been crying for that forever. We restrict our best passer to the odd long through ball when he could be racking up the assists if further forward

been crying for that forever. We restrict our best passer to the odd long through ball when he could be racking up the assists if further forward

I seen him score a great goal for Nigeria which wouldn't be out of place in Lampards collection, arrived late in the six yard box to power home a header!

Look at the difference in Ashley when he was allowed cross the half way line. We saw the best left back in the world return.

Lets let Mikel play football again

I can see him fit in the current 433. Torress in line with the last defender, Drogba operate on the right and Malouda unchanged. They will interchange position as the game goes on. We can play 4231 ala Liverpool to suit him, with Drogba 10-15 yards behind him.442 Diamond is another option. The Christmas tree can work as well. He is our marquee signing, we have to play to his strength, no point playing him as a wide player.

I seen him score a great goal for Nigeria which wouldn't be out of place in Lampards collection, arrived late in the six yard box to power home a header!

Look at the difference in Ashley when he was allowed cross the half way line. We saw the best left back in the world return.

Lets let Mikel play football again

Wait, are you saying Mikel......scored?

Given that we've just bought a big striker capable of replacing him, I think it is quite possible that we will see Didier leave Chelsea to go back to Marseille in the summer. In the meantime I think we'll play fairly close to the way we do now with no real right sided player. More of a 4-1-3-2 than a 4-3-3, with perhaps Ramires used a little wider in possession but tighter when we don't have the ball, similar to what he did for Benfica last season as well as Brazil under Dunga.

The future really is unwritten though, that's part of the excitement of the whole thing seeing just how he fits them in. It will also be interesting to see what happens with the threeway of Alex, Ivan and David to see just how they are rotated. Though it may be perhaps more similar to the situation when Riccy was here.

Given that we've just bought a big striker capable of replacing him, I think it is quite possible that we will see Didier leave Chelsea to go back to Marseille in the summer. In the meantime I think we'll play fairly close to the way we do now with no real right sided player. More of a 4-1-3-2 than a 4-3-3, with perhaps Ramires used a little wider in possession but tighter when we don't have the ball, similar to what he did for Benfica last season as well as Brazil under Dunga.

The future really is unwritten though, that's part of the excitement of the whole thing seeing just how he fits them in. It will also be interesting to see what happens with the threeway of Alex, Ivan and David to see just how they are rotated. Though it may be perhaps more similar to the situation when Riccy was here.

Ya I wouldn't be surprised either, coming up on 33 and his contributions diminishing, wouldn't be terribly surprised if Drogba moves this summer.

People are caught up on this age thing too much, Drogba's age didnt come into play when he bullied Bolton a week ago. Give him time he'll be back to his best.

If anything Anelka is the one likely to be sold. Next year is the final year of his contract, might have to cash in while we still can

Something along these lines is what I was talking about.

Torres literally playing on the last man to stop teams from defending too deep against us, also two strikers preventing teams from doubling up on one or the other. I reckon that might be similar to what we see against Copenhagen at the end of the month.

------Mikel/Essein

Lampard----Ramires

------Malouda

--Drogba---Torres

ANyone know how Spain lined up with Villa and Torres???

4132?

Cech

Ivan Luiz JT Cole

Mikel

Ram Ess Lamps

Drog Torres

Wow

People are caught up on this age thing too much, Drogba's age didnt come into play when he bullied Bolton a week ago. Give him time he'll be back to his best.

But the game prior to that and the once since he was poor. That's what age does to you - he can't do it every game. Now we don't have to worry as he won't be playing every game.

------Mikel/Essein

Lampard----Ramires

------Malouda

--Drogba---Torres

ANyone know how Spain lined up with Villa and Torres???

Usually Torres plays up front and Villa plays behind him in a free role like a 4-4-1-1

Usually Torres plays up front and Villa plays behind him in a free role like a 4-4-1-1

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

Ivan------Luiz-------JT-------Cole

Malouda--Ramires--Lampard--Kalou

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

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

Thoughts???

Edited February 1, 201115 yr by sdsdsdsd

The idea that Mikel is our 'best passer' is absurd.

particulary at home I would suggest his place in our starting xi is under serious threat

I don't see Torres being given the role of Lone striker with 4-5-1 formation ...I guess Carlo would prefer the current formation of 4-4-2with Drogba,Torres,Anelka being rotated as per the opponent and the changing strategies..would be interesting to see what formation is used in CL against FC Copenhagen if Torres plays.

Edited February 1, 201115 yr by Jawan

Given that we've just bought a big striker capable of replacing him, I think it is quite possible that we will see Didier leave Chelsea to go back to Marseille in the summer. In the meantime I think we'll play fairly close to the way we do now with no real right sided player. More of a 4-1-3-2 than a 4-3-3, with perhaps Ramires used a little wider in possession but tighter when we don't have the ball, similar to what he did for Benfica last season as well as Brazil under Dunga.

The future really is unwritten though, that's part of the excitement of the whole thing seeing just how he fits them in. It will also be interesting to see what happens with the threeway of Alex, Ivan and David to see just how they are rotated. Though it may be perhaps more similar to the situation when Riccy was here.

Been thinking the same really. If Torres plays well it might even be the best option for us. Get some money for Drogba and use it for a right sided winger. And play a proper 4-3-3 with Malouda and a right winger and Torres as the lone striker.

its arrived! - last night more of a diamond with anelka at the top.....................and 2 strikers ahead of him

its arrived! - last night more of a diamond with anelka at the top.....................and 2 strikers ahead of him

Not sure if last night was a diamond with to strikers up front. Carlo said that both Kalou and Anelka were set behind Drogba. It looked a little more like this

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

Bossy...Ivan....Terry.....Cole

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

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

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

.....Kalou........................

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

Its seemed Kalou did play behind Drogba, but really did go forward and Anelka played behind both of them but stayed more central. Drobga seemed to stay in the middle, but he really didn't do any moving last night. I am very interested to see what happens with Torres though.

Not sure if last night was a diamond with to strikers up front. Carlo said that both Kalou and Anelka were set behind Drogba. It looked a little more like this

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

Bossy...Ivan....Terry.....Cole

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

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

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

.....Kalou........................

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

Its seemed Kalou did play behind Drogba, but really did go forward and Anelka played behind both of them but stayed more central. Drobga seemed to stay in the middle, but he really didn't do any moving last night. I am very interested to see what happens with Torres though.

Got to disagree BC. I thought Kalou played level if not ahead of Drogba at times. He was sitting up high on the last man. Which I think was a tactic to try and combat Bramble's continued dominance of Drogba, making sure we had more than one outlet.

Got to disagree BC. I thought Kalou played level if not ahead of Drogba at times. He was sitting up high on the last man. Which I think was a tactic to try and combat Bramble's continued dominance of Drogba, making sure we had more than one outlet.

I agree with you there. I didn't mean that Kalou played behind Drogba the whole day. I am just repeating what Carlo said after the game. He said that Kalou was set behind Drobga, but you are right when you say Kalou played very far foward and usualy ahead of Drogba. It was a good thing he did because Drogba was ineffective.

I agree with you there. I didn't mean that Kalou played behind Drogba the whole day. I am just repeating what Carlo said after the game. He said that Kalou was set behind Drobga, but you are right when you say Kalou played very far foward and usualy ahead of Drogba. It was a good thing he did because Drogba was ineffective.

Agreed I'd think we'll play something similar on Sunday, but it's of course possible Torres will come in for Kalou. Not that I want to see that, Kalou deserves to start after playing well at the Stadium of Light and Goodison. I'm waiting for the replay of Liverpool vs Stoke to come on so I can get a look at how they are going to lineup. Did they start with 4-5-1 with Johnson and Aurelio outwide in midfield?