I can't see how Kalou can keep his place in the team after his last two performances and I was very surprised he started against West Brom.

Sturridge will be available for selection again and must be hopeful for a start given his pre-season form. Torres is certainly looking better but, through the fault of others and our style of play more than his own, still hasn't scored and it could be that Drogba starts ahead of him (although I wonder if Drogba's place on the bench is partially to do with contract negotiations stalling).

Personally I would like to see Lampard dropped and McEachran start but I doubt that will happen.

Let's play Mata, Romeu, Lukaku and Modric

I hope we win this. Unfortunately I might not be able to watch the game

Doesn't Studge still have one week left of his suspension?

Doesn't Studge still have one week left of his suspension?

Think so yeah, it was a 3 match ban for a straight red.

Think so yeah, it was a 3 match ban for a straight red.

Aargh apologies - thought it was only two. In that case Anelka will probably play on right hand side.

Aargh apologies - thought it was only two. In that case Anelka will probably play on right hand side.

If We play as badly again then the main man to benefit will be Sturridge as he will be a certain starter.

We should play

Hilario

Bosingwa

Ivanovic

Terry

A Cole

Mikel

Ramires

Lampard

Anelka

Drogba

Malouda

Think Drogba should be given his first start

If josh can't get a start at home against a newly promoted side, then I'm not sure where he's going to get one at all this season, especially if Modric and Mata come in.

If josh can't get a start at home against a newly promoted side, then I'm not sure where he's going to get one at all this season, especially if Modric and Mata come in.

This is my big worry.

Just as last season, the midfield looks predictable and is struggling to break teams down and yet the one person we currently have who can open teams up has not had a look in. I know it's early days, but I really thought AVB would have been a bit more radical with his team selection.

Norwich as home is the ideal opportunity to give Josh a start and if westart with the same three in midfield it will be extremely disappointing and I predict we will struggle to make headway yet again (of course we might have signed another player by then?!!)

Tbh I can see Josh going out on loan this year. I don't want him to, I would much rather we gave him a good crack at the first team like Arsenal did with Wilshere last season (who incidently lived in the same town as me growing up, played football with him once), but if Modric and Mata come in, plus with Lampard, Mikel, Ramires, Benayoun maybe if he stays, Essien to come back...he's not going to even get on the bench,

I think Lampard should be dropped for this game too. Even if we sign someone before the game I dont think they're going to go straight into the starting eleven which means a start for Josh. (Which is not going to happen!)

Torres must start again along with Malouda. I'd love to see if Yossi could play on the right of the front three but I think he's going so wont be involved. That leaves Anelka as the only option.

I wont be surprised if we started with the same team as last game except Malouda starting instead of Kalou.

Having said that, I still expect us to have enough quality to win easily. 3-0

i really hope josh plays, he has deserved to show what he is about from pre season, frank is not playing well and hasnt done so for for months imo. kalou should not start at all and malouda should take his place.

i look forwards to Luiz coming back as he breaks alot and cause confusion when they see sideshow bob running into their midfield.

id go

Hilario

Bos

Ivan

Terry

Cole

Josh

Mikel

Beny

Malouda

Torres

Anelka

If Luiz isn't back I can see the high defensive line costing us a goal.

We're still a more talented squad, and I still fancy us to beat them. Hopefully we get a look at a few fresh faces too!

Hilario, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex/Luiz, Cole, Ramires, McEachran (box to box), Lampard (cam), Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

Would prefer the formation we ended with against WBA.

Edited August 21, 201114 yr by Pride of London

Hope we see some new faces on the bench. Lukaku, Romeu, hopefully Mata.

Hope we see some new faces on the bench. Lukaku, Romeu, hopefully Mata.

I hope that too. Lukaku has that kind of 'karma' he could just score in his debut. He is so pumped up to wear the blue jersey that he might nick a goal. Can't wait to see him play for the first time. I bet the crowd will give him massive round of applauds.

I would go for

Cech

Bossy

Ivan

JT

PVA (let ash get a rest)

Romeu

Ramires

Lamps

Mata (if he is confirmed/registered in time)

Torres

Malouda

I would go for

Cech

Bossy

Ivan

JT

PVA (let ash get a rest)

Romeu

Ramires

Lamps

Mata (if he is confirmed/registered in time)

Torres

Malouda

Except Romeu (I'd start with Mikel again) and Ash (He's not gonna sit it out and you know it), that line up is one I'd like to see as well. Depends really whether Mata would go straight into the first team just a couple of days after joining and not really having a lot of training with the lads.

Sane team as last week except Ivan for alex and malouda for kalou. I would like to see Josh get some game time maybe in h2. Maybe instead of ramires.

Alex should be dropped following his massive mistake in the WBA game. You can't let that get unpunished IMO.

I'd go:

--------------Hilly-------------

Boss----Bran---John---Ash

Ram-----Mikel------Frankie

Nico----Fernando-------Flo

if Mata is eligible for the game introduce him the second half for Malouda. If Lukaku makes the bench and we lead the game in the latter parts give him his debut.

Is it impossible to get Torres and Drogba on the field together? I know Carlo tried it a bit late last season, and it was unsuccessful. But both seem to be healthier now, the entire team has a new attitude under AVB, etc.

I get that neither of them is a winger, but Anelka and Kalou aren't wingers either, and we put them out wide. Heck, Sturridge isn't a winger, and he'll probably be our regular RW when he's back.

Why not get Drogba and Torres out there together and have one of them play wide right -- or have them switch off between RW and ST throughout the game? At the very least, that kind of firepower would spook a newly promoted backline like Norwich's.

Please Boas, let McEachran start this one. Talents that plays alongside ten experienced professionals usually do well, like Flannagan last year for example.

Home v Norwich is about as good as it gets to give any younger players the chance, so starting Josh is a must if he has any future here. And I'd be tempted to start Romeu as well. After all, if you start them and it isn't going so well you can replace them with the experience from the bench. But if it goes well, you've won the jackpot!

I am certain they will gain more by starting and playing an hour than they ever will by being brought on with 15 minutes to go when you are already 3-0 up.

Also, it is important that Torres starts again. This is another of the easier (on paper) opportunities for him to net that all important first goal. And irrespective of goals right now he needs a run of games to settle in to the team. Drogba will be fine, if a tad sulky but whenever he does get a start he will have no problem settling back in.

--------------Hilly-------------

Ivan----Alex---JT------Ash

Ram-----Mikel------Frankie

Drog/Lukaku----Fernando------Malouda

Edited August 23, 201114 yr by Zola

GK: Hilario

DEF: Ivanovic, Alex, JT, Cole

MF: Ramires, McEachran, Lampard

FWD: Mata, Torres , Malouda.

I've Mata playing RW as I've heard he can play both wings and he would add extra attacking threat from the right side as Ivanovic is far stronger defensively than Bosingwa but he isn't as good attacking.

Edited August 23, 201114 yr by Pride of London

--------------Hilly-------------

Ivan----Alex---JT------Ash

Ram-----Mikel------Frankie

Drog/Lukaku----Fernando------Malouda

Same midfield that just struggled to create a great deal against West Brom?

Who do you think you are - Carlo?!!!