Just had to create this one already to get my mind on other things and also to look forward and hope we can bounce back from this horrible weekend we just had.

Fulham away on a monday night is never easy but im sure the boys will go out and give it 110%. Will be a shame that Kakuta wont be playing for another round though.

Will Ancelotti give 4-1-2-1-2 a go again against a 'weaker' side or will he go back to 4-3-3? Im actually hoping for the latter even though the diamond worked great against Sunderland, note that Fulham probably wont line up with a silly 5-4-1 formation.

Drop Drogba back to the bench, get Ramires back into the team and Malouda as well in my opinion.

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

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

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

------Ramires--Lampard

Anelka-----------------Malouda

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

I think that Luiz is ready for a start even though he did not play for long against the scum but seriously, Bosingwa is not the same anymore, crossing is sh*t and he hardly gets past his man anymore and Ivan is just so much better playing there.

Mikel is dropped simply because he's got me worried today everytime he had the ball and Essien is much better suited for that role at the moment. Ramires will hopefully be back fit, we dont even know yet why he was dropped out from the squad hopefully just something minor.

Should be a much easier game for Torres and hopefully we can get a debut goal, when is Benayoun, Zhirkov and Alex back anyway? will have a cracking bench when those return.

Keep the blue flag flyin' high!

Good post.

Also agree that we should play Torres as the lone striker. How about a 4-2-3-1???

----------Cech

Ivan-Luiz-Terry-Cole

--Ramires-Lampard--

Kalou---Anelka---Malouda

----------Torres

Luiz in, apart from JT, easily the best player today. Hope Ramires is back, wouldn't be sad if Essien was benched. Dare I say play young Josh? With Ramires & Lampard? Why not freshen it up in the middle - thats our week link.

I'd like to see us go with the following line up:

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

Ivan........Luiz....Terry.....Cole

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

........Ramires.....Lampard

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

...............Torres

That's Essien and Drogba and Nico and Bosingwa all benched. The only change I'd maye make is Nico on for Kalou, and have Kalou come on as the more effective impact player from the bench

I'd like to see us go with the following line up:

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

Ivan........Luiz....Terry.....Cole

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

........Ramires.....Lampard

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

...............Torres

That's Essien and Drogba and Nico and Bosingwa all benched. The only change I'd maye make is Nico on for Kalou, and have Kalou come on as the more effective impact player from the bench

Carlo would have balls of hardened molten lava if he did this...

I'd bench Anelka, Essien, Mikel and Bosingwa.

Go 4-3-3 with Torres playing as a Right wing forward, Ivanovic back to Right back, McEachran alongside Ramires and Lampard supporting Didier.

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz JT Cole

Ramires McEachran

Lampard

Torres Drogba Malouda

Despite his age Josh is probably the best passer in our team. Doesn't need 3 or 4 touches to release the ball early. Know it's risky starting a 17 year old but I can't think of a game where McEachran hasn't played well in besides Essien and co aren't exactly lighting the world up at the moment. Won't happen in a million years I know but a man can dream.

Edited February 7, 201115 yr by Gilvorak

Torres should be in the middle. There's a reason he's always played there for Liverpool and Spain.

I'd bench Anelka, Essien, Mikel and Bosingwa.

Go 4-3-3 with Torres playing as a Right wing forward, Ivanovic back to Right back, McEachran alongside Ramires and Lampard supporting Didier.

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz JT Cole

Ramires McEachran

Lampard

Torres Drogba Malouda

Despite his age Josh is probably the best passer in our team. Doesn't need 3 or 4 touches to release the ball early. Know it's risky starting a 17 year old but I can't think of a game where McEachran hasn't played well in besides Essien and co aren't exactly lighting the world up at the moment. Won't happen in a million years I know but a man can dream.

Torres right wing forward? I understand there's an issue - where to play Torres? where to play Drogba? Playing Torres at right wing forward, not the center, is throwing $50M down the toilet. Not just for him but for the team. If he was meant to help the team then right forward is wasting him. Might as well plant him on the bench and get your $ back through shirt sales.

Torres right wing forward? I understand there's an issue - where to play Torres? where to play Drogba? Playing Torres at right wing forward, not the center, is throwing $50M down the toilet. Not just for him but for the team. If he was meant to help the team then right forward is wasting him. Might as well plant him on the bench and get your $ back through shirt sales.

I'd like to see us go with the following line up:

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

Ivan........Luiz....Terry.....Cole

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

........Ramires.....Lampard

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

...............Torres

That's Essien and Drogba and Nico and Bosingwa all benched. The only change I'd maye make is Nico on for Kalou, and have Kalou come on as the more effective impact player from the bench

You know what I think? I'm not saying this is true of Ancelotti. but any manager who hasn't got the balls to bench an out-of-form big name player, but continues to select the team on name and reputation over current form and benefit to the team, hasn't got the balls to be a top manager.

Be brave Carlo.....

3-5-3

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

-----------Ivan--------Luiz-------Terry----------

Bossy-------Essien-------Ramires-------Cole

----------------------Lampard--------------------

-------Anelka----------------------Malouda-----

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

Bench: Turnbull-Ferreira-Mikel-Sala-Josh-Kalou-Drogba

Agree without a doubt that Drogba, Essien and Bosingwa should be dropped based on their recent performances. Nico though? No chance. He should be up top with Torres and Kalouda for this match IMO.

Gents it's bloody harsh to consider dropping Drogba entirely. Remember he was playing against 3 centre halves today, with not a lot of service. I think we saw the worst of the diamond today, because they played the perfect tactic to negate it. I think we'll play a similar team against Fulham, with some changes probably Ivan to RB and Luiz in, also I think Ramires will probably get a start, purely because he plays a little wider when we have the ball which gives us some extra width. Whether it's Essien or Mikel who misses out is almost immaterial after today.

http://www.skysports.com/skysportsnews/story/0,28679,19494_6735471,00.html

Dixon said: "I spoke to Ancelotti last night and he said he's going to stick with the formation and try to work at it in training to accommodate all the players he has got at his disposal.

"He's got to find a formation that suits the likes of Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka and his midfield stars and he has got to get them all playing football together.

So we are probably going to see the same attack line-up as in Pool game. Don't mind it at all tbh, problem wasn't the formation it was something else. Mindset of players? I would also give Luiz start moving Ivan to RB. He needs the minutes as does Torres. If Ramires is okay I would swap him with Mikel. Lot more pace in him.

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

Ivan---D.Luiz---JTestosterone---Ashley

---Essien-------Ramires-------Lampard

------------------Anelka

--------Drogba-------------Torres

We've got lot of pace on the bench to change the game if needed which is good IMO. Malouda, Kalou and Bossy. You can always change back to 4-3-3 during the game subbing either Torres or Drogba for Malouda or Kalou.

Got nothing against the formation, it works as we've seen against Sunderland but when a team comes and parks the buss you have to find a different solution to break them down.

We hrdly had any width and once we did get past them out wide the crosses were sh*t - If he can get it to work the fine by me but its going to be hard work and I hope he can act faster in the coming games if it doesnt work out.

Ramires will be great to have back, realy missed him yesterday.

Gents it's bloody harsh to consider dropping Drogba entirely. Remember he was playing against 3 centre halves today, with not a lot of service. I think we saw the worst of the diamond today, because they played the perfect tactic to negate it. I think we'll play a similar team against Fulham, with some changes probably Ivan to RB and Luiz in, also I think Ramires will probably get a start, purely because he plays a little wider when we have the ball which gives us some extra width. Whether it's Essien or Mikel who misses out is almost immaterial after today.

Did I write this?

My thoughts entirely and I still feel the need (I could easily be wrong) to keep Drogba in the team because I feel he is still our main hope of getting a good CL run.

If Drogba and Torres get something going ( early signs suggested they could yesterday ) then that would give us a huge chance in the two cups.

Gents it's bloody harsh to consider dropping Drogba entirely.

Because he's such an influential player to the team, I understand why you say this.

But as manager you should be strong enough to drop your top players to the bench and try another option, he is obviuosly way off form and fitness by the look of his body language.

e2a: just read Chippys post.....I would want to leave Drogba out for 1-2 games to try and ignite the fire again, before the busniess end of the season kicks in, get my thinking ? I dont see him playing himself into form, he usually comes back on fire.

But I do see both sides to the coin, but which way will work- if any- I do not know.Hmmmm time for a poll me thinks.

Edited February 7, 201115 yr by coco

Because he's such an influential player to the team, I understand why you say this.

But as manager you should be strong enough to drop your top players to the bench and try another option, he is obviuosly way off form and fitness by the look of his body language.

e2a: just read Chippys post.....I would want to leave Drogba out for 1-2 games to try and ignite the fire again, before the busniess end of the season kicks in, get my thinking ? I dont see him playing himself into form, he usually comes back on fire.

But I do see both sides to the coin, but which way will work- if any- I do not know.Hmmmm time for a poll me thinks.

Ha Ha, Didn't see this until I voted in the Poll...it is a tricky one and I too can see both sides, who'd be a Manaager at Chelsea eh? oops yeah I forgot everyone on here

It's always a tough call with Drogba. His pull behind the scenes is well acknowledged and he is a player who can disrupt equally well if left out as he can if he is in the team. I do take your point coco about dropping the big guys. But it is easier to say that than it is to do that. The only manager to take him on was Scolari and that ended badly for him not Drogba. Carlo knows that to get the best from the team he needs the best from him, and I think he figures game time is the only way to do that.

From a personal perspective I still think he's the best player in the team, even including Torres. But obviously 50m says Torres should play. To that end I don't have an issue with the diamond. We must remember that if Carragher hadn't blocked that effort Torres would have scored from a perfect Drogba assist. That was against three centre backs with Lucas screening. It didn't quite click apart from that, but it's the first match and in the future defences won't be so packed and our midfield trio won't be so horribly wasteful with the ball.

I know we are all very pissed off at the result and are looking for answers but if we stay the course with the diamond I think it will work out more often than not.

Edited February 7, 201115 yr by Spiller86

It's always a tough call with Drogba. His pull behind the scenes is well acknowledged and he is a player who can disrupt equally well if left out as he can if he is in the team. I do take your point coco about dropping the big guys. But it is easier to say that than it is to do that. The only manager to take him on was Scolari and that ended badly for him not Drogba. Carlo knows that to get the best from the team he needs the best from him, and I think he figures game time is the only way to do that.

I still think he's the best player in the team, even including Torres. But obviously 50m says Torres should play. To that end I don't have an issue with the diamond. We must remember that if Carragher hadn't blocked that effort Torres would have scored from a perfect Drogba assist. That was against three centre backs with Lucas screening. It didn't quite click apart from that, but it's the first match and in the future defences won't be so packed and our midfield trio won't be so horribly wasteful with the ball.

I know we are all very pissed off at the result and are looking for answers but if we stay the course with the diamond I think it will work out more often than not.

Love posts like this, cheers me up and thats needed now after this sh*tty weekends, can't wait for this game.

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

--------Bosingwa------------Ivan------JT-----------------Ashley-----

------------------------------------mikel------------------------------------

--------------------------ramires----------lamps--------------------------

---------Anelka-----------------Torres-------------------Malouda------

Be brave Carlo.....

3-5-3

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

-----------Ivan--------Luiz-------Terry----------

Bossy-------Essien-------Ramires-------Cole

----------------------Lampard--------------------

-------Anelka----------------------Malouda-----

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

Bench: Turnbull-Ferreira-Mikel-Sala-Josh-Kalou-Drogba

So brave it's almost illegal...

Edited February 7, 201115 yr by Saaladin

Hopefully we can get a win here and Torres can get off the mark, because Liverpool wasn't a very good game to go into with a new striker and a new system to try out. Then we can get a bit more confidence and Torres can start to feel more at home in the team.

So brave it's almost illegal...

Haha, well spotted.

Although we could probably use the extra man.

Edited February 7, 201115 yr by footballoholic

I see everyone's still mulling over the Liverpool game. Time to move on me thinks. Fulham away will be tough game. They seem to have run into some good form of late, and are always formidable at home. We'll need to improve and hopefully Ramires is back for the game.

The new formation worked against Sunderland but hit a brick wall in the shape of Liverpool's 3-6-1. I reckon Carlo will try it again, and based on his post match comments, the thinking seems to be that more work on the new formation is all that is needed.

I'd like to see Bob start, but with the diamond, we really need Bosingwa on the right. Demspey is their danger man in terms of goals, but Dembele for me is their best player who drops deep and has good skill. So Mikel to the bench and Essien at DM.

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

Bosingwa---Ivan----JT------Cole

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

---------Ramires-Lampard

---------------Anelka

----------Torres-Drogba

Torres will be playing for Spain won't he? Will need to keep an eye on it then. Not just to see if he comes through unscathed, but how he plays.