It finally begins for us after a positive pre-season I must say, only 1 goal conceded and that is impressive even though we didnt play the hardest of opponents most of the time!

Going up to Stoke always gives me a mixed feeling as its a tough place to go to but im sure that we will start the season with a win, not a big one though.

AVB will have a few decisions to make for this game, does he go with Torres or does he play Drogba? Perhaps he will go with both but from what we have seen in the pre-season I would assume that it will be one central striker. I would prefer to start with Torres but since Stoke City are a very physical side I could see Drogba getting this one to be fair, none the less the papers will start with slagging Torres off somehow and its important that he just ignores it!

Daniel Sturridge is suspended as we all know which is a shame since hes been very promising in pre-season and proved himself when he was away for half a season with Bolton.

The team I would play would be a 4-2-3-1 formation as I dont know if Mikel will feature this one.

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

Boss------Ivan------JT---------Cole

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

-Anelka--------Yossi--------Malouda

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

Ramires getting the more defensive role and Lampard a free one.

Prediction, 2-0 Chelsea (Malouda, Torres)

Hoping for a win and thats all, not bothered about the perfomance at all because places like Stoke are a battlefield.

Think Drogba may be better at first for the aerial presence but nando will come on and score a double :)

Probably not the line-up any of us expected (or hoped) at the end of last season we'd start this one with.

I'd much rather Drogba started this. Makes me feel a LOT safer.

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

Ivan------Alex------JT---------Cole

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

-Anelka--------Yossi--------Malouda

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

Is Modric gonna be here by then Mod?

Depending on his injury I'd say exchange Mikel for Ramires and you're spot on. Ramires has only had one game back under the new system and Mikel offers Lampard and Benayoun a little more defensive cover.

Mikel and Luiz are out for this game? if yes:

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

----------bos-------ivan---------jt-----------ashley-----

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

-------------------------Benayoun-----------------------

-----------Anelka-------Drogba----------Malouda----

Terrible line-up but should be enough for Stoke ... Going into another season with Anelka and Malouda on the wing really annoys me but we dont have a other choice have we? Just looking at the age of our attacking players Anelka,Drogba,Malouda. Lampard and Benayoun should give anyone a big headache.

Edited August 8, 201114 yr by german-blue

Not a fan of Bosingwa.

I'd rather see

GK: Cech

RB: Ivanovic

CB: Alex

CB: JT

LB: Cole

MF: Mikel

MF: Yossi

MF: Lampard

LF: Malouda

CF: Drogba

RF: Kalou

Drogba always scores and performs against Stoke so deserves the chance, looks a tad sharper than Torres as well at the moment.

Not a fan of Bosingwa.

I'd rather see

GK: Cech

RB: Ivanovic

CB: Alex

CB: JT

LB: Cole

MF: Mikel

MF: Yossi

MF: Lampard

LF: Malouda

CF: Drogba

RF: Kalou

Drogba always scores and performs against Stoke so deserves the chance, looks a tad sharper than Torres as well at the moment.

I think Mikel is injured....

I'd settle for a scrappy 1-0 win.

It's always difficult against Pulis and his gang of anti-football giants.

Drogba to start up front, as he'll deal better with the elbows and kicks off the ball that Shawcross and Huth give him. Hopefully Mikel will be fit as I wouldn't really fancy Josh in this one. He'd probably end up with neck ache anyway as Stoke lauch the ball towards Jones and bypass midfield altogether.

Probably not the line-up any of us expected (or hoped) at the end of last season we'd start this one with.

I'd much rather Drogba started this. Makes me feel a LOT safer.

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

Ivan------Alex------JT---------Cole

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

-Anelka--------Yossi--------Malouda

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

Is Modric gonna be here by then Mod?

Depending on Mikel's injury I think that's what we'll see. Alex and Ivan are monsters and should be able to face up to the giants at Stoke much better than Bosingwa and Luiz would. Also, since Stoke isn't a fast team, we don't have to worry about pace exposing the Alex/JT combo. We really just have to worry about aerial threats which is why Alex should start over Luiz (also don't forget Luiz had a nightmare of a game here last season). I also would like to see Drogba battling it out with Huth and Shawcross and bring on Torres later on once they're exhausted.

It is always a battle up there so I'd happily settle for 1 nil whatever way it comes

Noone has picked Luiz I see. He isn't injured is he? Anelka has looked sharp pre season

cech

Bossy Ivan JT AC

mikel/Ramires

Anelka Josh Lampard Malouda

Torres

Subs: Drogs, Kalou, Luiz, Benny

Noone has picked Luiz I see. He isn't injured is he?

Actually, I think he is. I seem to remember hearing something about it, but if I remember correctly it's nothing serious, though.

AVB[/color], on 6 Aug']David Luiz should get back to training soon. He got back [from playing for Brazil in the Copa America] and in the first training session he felt a slight pain in his knee.

He's still in Cobham getting treated, and won't be travelling with Brazil. Very unlikely that he'll start against Stoke or even play any part.

Edited August 9, 201114 yr by footballoholic

Its back! After what seems a long long time, the PL match thread is finally here.

I share the sentiments of those who'd take a scrappy win. In the last few seasons we've started spectacularly only to fade away by the time winter kicks in. A 6-0 opening day win would only run a chill down my spine.

Sturridge's suspension sucks! :(

Ivanovic Alex JT Cole

McEachran

Lampard

Benayoun

Malouda

Torres Drogba

Ramires isn't match fit, would be a useful sub however. Not too concerned about the midfield from a defensive perspective, since without Essien and Mikel we are never going to dominate them physically and they will try and bypass the midfield and get the ball to Etherington or Jones as quickly as possible. The ball out wide to Etherington is the more dangerous one and that's why i've chosen Ivanovic, as he will be less likely to be caught upfield or bettered by the tricky Etherington who is their best (only?) attacking outlet apart from set-pieces.

Malouda starts because he always scores at the start of the season, and likes scoring against Stoke.

Playing a defensive midfielder is risky, especially Ramires, who gets caught in possession quite easily against physical opponents. Our midfielders need to be able to keep the ball and move the ball and the trio I picked are probably the best in the club at doing that. Attacking Stoke is our best defense, allowing them to pepper us with set-pieces and crosses is a recipe for disaster.

I don't think it is certain that Mikel is out injured, is it? Haven't seen anything confirmed.

If he is then it's a toss up between Ramires and McEachran, neither are particularly strong defensively. Perhaps a 60/30 split between the pair of them.

Cech

Ivanovic - Alex - JT - Cole

Lampard - Mikel - Ramires/McEachran

Sturridge - Drogba/Torres - Malouda

Sturridge is suspended blizeH.

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

-Boz------Iva---------JT-----Ash-

------Mikel/Ram----Josh--------

-Kalou--------Yossi---------Flo--

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

Subs: Turnbull, Alex, PVA, Lamps, Mikel/Ram, Anelka, Drogba

Edited August 10, 201114 yr by zweiosterei

Update on Stoke. They've just signed Matt Upson from West Ham and he is expected to play against Chelsea. Good signing IMO for them.

Will definetly not be a stroll in the park this one.

---------Cech

Bossy--Ivan--JT--Cole

Ram---Yossi---Lamps

Nico--Drogs--Florent

-Ramires&Yossi, the same line-up we could have fielded 2-3 years ago...not that I'm complaining but..well I am. Should be strong enough to beat Stoke which is all that matters really.

Edited August 10, 201114 yr by evissy

It is striking how little changed the team is from last season. If Ramires, Luiz don't start the team is essentially the same as last season.

Sturridge is suspended blizeH.

Damn, completely forgot about this! Thought it was a rather harsh red too if I remember correctly, he jumped in a little, but it was in almost the 90th minute of the last game of the season and it wasn't overly reckless/dangerous... stupid, definitely, but a straight red it wasn't (imo)

Seems like Ivan will miss this one.. Alex or luiz has to play then but who?

It's not looking good... Kalas, Chalobah?

Maybe good for Rajkovic hearing... all our healthy players bar him are sh*te might go down well?