Going by our form till now, Thailand all stars will not be an easy game (they beat city couple of seasons back). Also there is a chance we'll begin to see the team start to shape up now, and the players who have impressed in training given more time as according to Malouda:

'The coach said some people will play longer this time, and I'd say that our fitness is improving all the time,'

Bit worried we still haven't seen Cech in action. Will he be back for this one?

Didn't know where to post this one. Kalou messing about. No idea what they're going on about but..

Bit worried we still haven't seen Cech in action. Will he be back for this one?

He had a training knock didn't he? Even if he's technically recovered there is no point playing the first choice keeper for a training exercise where the injury could inflame.

Was that Sauxy at the end of that video clip? What is his capacity at the club these days?

Was that Sauxy at the end of that video clip? What is his capacity at the club these days?

Club ambassador i think.

Was that Sauxy at the end of that video clip? What is his capacity at the club these days?

Yes it was. He's a club ambassador, whatever that means. I think it's got something to do with PR. I've seen him mentioned various times on the official site in connection with some of the youth projects Chelsea have been organising.

Cheers Maks. So it's 11:45 BSR, I am 8 hours behind. So 3:45 kick off for a friendly. Need to see if I can make this one

If we dont win at least 5-0 then I`m off to support City. They have won their pre-season games.

Edited July 24, 201114 yr by dkw

Looking forward to this one. Great having a game to watch at the weekend again as I missed the match during the week due to work and will have the same problem next Wednesday.

They should be that little bit sharper and hopefully we'll see a bit more of the system AVB is keen to use.

If we dont win at least 5-0 then I`m off to support City. They have won their pre-season games.

He had a training knock didn't he? Even if he's technically recovered there is no point playing the first choice keeper for a training exercise where the injury could inflame.

Hes trained this morning apparently so I would expect him to play some part later on, even if its just a run out at the end of the game.

sky or just links?

Shows what I know, Cech actually starts the game. Full team:-

Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Van Aanholt; McEachran, Mikel, Lampard; Sturridge, Torres, Anelka.

This is getting to look like a standard starting eleven. I can easily image this in a PL game.

This is getting to look like a standard starting eleven. I can easily image this in a PL game.

Swap PVA for Ash Cole and it wouldnt be far off.

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm unaware of where Ramires is. Can someone enlighten me?

Forgive my ignorance, but I'm unaware of where Ramires is. Can someone enlighten me?

He's having a break after the Copa Americ, as is David Luiz.

Edited July 24, 201114 yr by Hutch

Swap PVA for Ash Cole and it wouldnt be far off.

Yes. I would also love to see Anelka on the bench, but well, you can't get everything. :)

.TEAM NEWS: THAI PREMIER LEAGUE ALL STARS V CHELSEA

Posted on: Sun 24 Jul 2011

Petr Cech is back to for his first game of pre season and starts.

Josh McEachran is expected to play a more attacking role in midfield than the Malaysia game with John Mikel Obi also in the side. Patrick van Aanholt is given a start having played less minutes than the other outfielders in the last game.

Fernando Torres again starts but has different players either side in attack than in Kuala Lumpur.

Alex remains unavailable and Ryan Bertrand is also injured.

Chelsea will line-up in the following 4-3-3 formation:

1 Petr Cech

17 Jose Bosingwa

2 Branislav Ivanovic

26 John Terry ©

38 Patrick van Aanholt

46 Josh McEachran

12 John Mikel Obi

8 Frank Lampard

39 Nicolas Anelka

9 Fernando Torres

23 Daniel Sturridge

Subs: 40 Hilario, 22 Ross Turnbull, 61 Jamal Blackman, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 62 Nathaniel Chalobah, 63 Slobodan Rajkovic, 3 Ashley Cole, 47 Billy Clifford, 18 Yury Zhirkov, 10 Yossi Benayoun, 15 Florent Malouda, 21 Salomon Kalou, 11 Didier Drogba.

Is this game on uk television? Ie sky?

Interesting lineup. Will be very interested to see just how Josh goes in a more attacking setup. Wouldn't mind seeing Billy Clifford have a run at right back at some point either.

The front three are all guys who need big games for different reasons. Good to see Nico paired with Torres, they seem to work well together. If it is that some are being given more minutes than others then it might be our first indication of who is preferred by AVB.

Subs: 40 Hilario, 22 Ross Turnbull, 61 Jamal Blackman, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 62 Nathaniel Chalobah, 63 Slobodan Rajkovic, 3 Ashley Cole, 47 Billy Clifford, 18 Yury Zhirkov, 10 Yossi Benayoun, 15 Florent Malouda, 21 Salomon Kalou, 11 Didier Drogba.

It would be fantastic to see Jamal Blackman get a run out in the second half. I remember his debut for the reserves last season, when he was forced to step up at the last moment because of injury. In what was an awful performance, he was easily man of the match.

Is this game on uk television? Ie sky?

Nope, just on Chelsea tv

Plenty of streams here:

MyP2P

Cheers, I see josh is looking sharp in midfield already, looks like avb has us passing forward aswell !!