This one can't come soon enough for me now. Will be interesting to see how many changes we see to the line up. Will Drogba be fit for this one? I imagine a place on the bench and some minutes coming on for him.

We could put out an entirely different XI and still be pretty formidable, such is our squad strength right now. Under Carlo, I would have said it's impossible but with AVB, who knows.

.

Edited September 19, 201113 yr by footballoholic

I think we will see:

Ashley, Drogs and Anelka to start in place of Bertand (bench) Lukaku (bench) and Kalou (bench).

Ramires in place of Romeu/McEachran, one of whom will make the bench and the other not in the squad altogether

Surely Bertrand will start this one you'd have to think. And Kalou looks to have fallen well out of favour, but he'll be given a chance here.

Other than that, you're probably right that Drogba will start if he's fit enough. And Romeu will probably be on the bench with Josh starting.

For me it has to be:

Hilario

Paulo Luiz Alex Bertie

Romeu Mikel Josh

Lukaku Anelka Malouda

Substitutes on need basis. Drogs can come on in second half if fit.

I would like to see Lukaku , Josh , romeu , Bertrand get a start in this match . Though this is an important fixture for us to win , we will have to use this opportunity to groom our younger players and get them involved . No 2 thoughts about it !

Will be in Munich for this one, I do hope I can find somewhere to watch it!

Surely Bertrand will start this one you'd have to think. And Kalou looks to have fallen well out of favour, but he'll be given a chance here.

Other than that, you're probably right that Drogba will start if he's fit enough. And Romeu will probably be on the bench with Josh starting.

I'm not too convinced. Ferreira isn't the fastest defender out there, and its still Premier League opposition. Fulham will have the wind in their sails after the heroics against City. The CC may not be our priority, but going out in the third round is still kinda embarrassing. I'd figure AVB will want to at least have a decent working defense to fall back on. I personally, would bring Torres on as a sub around the 55-60th minute. With the goal and 2 assists, he needs game time to build on the recent form and confidence.

Torres absolutely must play in this game - for the full 90 minutes or until he's netted twice. This is no time to have him sat at home or worse still watching from the bench. Pity for Lukaku but that's life.

Torres absolutely must play in this game - for the full 90 minutes or until he's netted twice. This is no time to have him sat at home or worse still watching from the bench. Pity for Lukaku but that's life.

Ánd the Swansea game after that I'd imagine? That would be 4 games in about 10 days for him. The last thing we want is for him to pull that hamstring of his because of fatigue.

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

......................................................................................

Ivanovic...............Luiz...................Terry.....................Cole

.......................................................................................

..........................Romeu...................................................

................................................Ramires...........................

........................................................................................

............Mata.................Meireles.............................Malouda

........................................................................................

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

which would hopefully change into Romeu Anchor and Mereiles flat in midfield when we don't have the ball. Mata drifting (he showed his class again through the middle with that pass to Torres) all over the place. Sturridge is a great option and very talented, give him a right foot and he'll line up for england next to rooney soon, but for the moment I wouldn't mind Malouda.

Edited September 19, 201113 yr by Pauly

I think we will field a strong side. Fulham just stole a point from City so they are a very big threat for an attacking team like us.

Jol is a good manager and as the competition for any title is strong as ever AVB won't field a weakened side. I think we'll go:

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

Paulo------Luiz-----JT-----Ashley

Ramires----Meireles----Malouda

Sturridge------Torres--------Mata

I think Lampard didn't do enough to make this game and Kalou could also take Sturridge's place for the sake of rotation. Danny wasn't at his best against ManU. Bossy's been running his socks off the whole start of the season so maybe it is Paulo's time to play. He is reliable enough to play in this one.

Ah! Forgot it was Carling Cup! in that case!

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

......................................................................................

Boswinga...............Luiz...................Terry.....................Bertrand

.......................................................................................

..........................Romeu...................................................

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

........................................................................................

..........Sturridge.................Meireles.............................Malouda

........................................................................................

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

I like to call it, the "get a goal for Torres at all costs" line-up!

I think we will field a strong side. Fulham just stole a point from City so they are a very big threat for an attacking team like us.

Jol is a good manager and as the competition for any title is strong as ever AVB won't field a weakened side. I think we'll go:

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

Paulo------Luiz-----JT-----Ashley

Ramires----Meireles----Malouda

Sturridge------Torres--------Mata

I think Lampard didn't do enough to make this game and Kalou could also take Sturridge's place for the sake of rotation. Danny wasn't at his best against ManU. Bossy's been running his socks off the whole start of the season so maybe it is Paulo's time to play. He is reliable enough to play in this one.

Its a carling cup game dude

Ah! Forgot it was Carling Cup! in that case!

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

......................................................................................

Boswinga...............Luiz...................Terry.....................Bertrand

.......................................................................................

..........................Romeu...................................................

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

........................................................................................

..........Sturridge.................Meireles.............................Malouda

........................................................................................

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

I like to call it, the "get a goal for Torres at all costs" line-up!

If It's get a goal for Torres at all costs, you need Mata & Josh in there!

I would go:

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

......................................................................................

Ivan...............Luiz...................Terry.....................Bertrand

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

........................................................................................

..........Ramires...................................Josh.......................

........................................................................................

........Sturridge....................Torres..............................Mata...........

I think the main objectives of this game will be to make sure that McEachran, Lukaku, Romeu & Bertrand get some game time, whilst keeping Torres fit and ready for Swansea on Sat.

hehe maybe not all costs. I suppose the squad will go psycho if they don't get a few games here and there. Josh in!

We will never get the best out of Torres with 4-3-3; yesterday shows 4-2-3-1 is the only option

Considering we only have 2 days in between games,I expect at least 5-6 changes. Let's see what the younger guys can do, especially look forward to see Romeu, Lukaku, Josh together. In a way, I'm tempted to throw Torres into the game just to show yesterday wasn't a fluke, but I think 3 full games in a week maybe a bit too much. One player we can not afford to risk too much is Mata, I hate to imagine we play without him. AVB know the importance of a trophy, I have the feeling he will take this one seriously.

Ánd the Swansea game after that I'd imagine? That would be 4 games in about 10 days for him. The last thing we want is for him to pull that hamstring of his because of fatigue.

I'd rather play him Wednesday and sit him on the bench for Swansea. He had a decent but hardly exhausting game against Leverkusen and played well yesterday. I just think that this is a key time to keep him playing and get a few goals out of him. Once he's scoring and playing consistently well he can be rested.

And as for it only being the Carling Cup, it is as good a chance of trophy as any other and we'd be mad not to go all out to win it. I reckon Fulham will be a tougher game in the CC than Swansea will be PL.

Hilario

Ferreira Alex Luiz Bertrand

Romeu

Josh Lamps

Kalou Lukaku Malouda

I also think Fernando will start. It's a chance for him to get a goal and build on a promising performance. Lukaku will probably come in at some point if we're doing ok. Didier on the bench in case we need a penalty taker late on.

I'd say AVB will be continuing to look to build us into his way of playing, so I wouldn't expect major changes. I think for example Mata will play. I'd also expect Frank to play as well as it will be a different match to the one against United. Luiz will come in and I'd think JT might be rested as well. So perhaps Luiz and Alex in defence.

What's important to remember about these tournaments is that they are no good for promoting youth if you go out in the first round. You want to go deep to give yourself the maximum chance of giving the youngster's a good show. It's not sensible for Josh, Lukaku, Bertrand and Romeu to all play at the same time, go out to a determined Premier League side in the first round and then not play again until the FA Cup starts. Mr Villas Boas may also want to try and win this one to get a trophy in the bag and take the pressure off himself immediately, similar to what Jose did in 2004. There will be time for the young lads but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

My team (4-3-3): Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, McEachran, Mata, Torres, Malouda.

Subs: Turnbull, Ivan, Romeu, Meireles, Lukaku, Drogba, Kalou

That's a strong squad that should win, Josh gets a go as the show runner, with Lampard more functional. Mata starts to the right but he will go wherever.

I haven't picked Bertrand, but he will get his time. He is very much backup and Ash is probably needed in this sort of match, given I haven't picked JT who I think with his lingering injuries is probably best rested for these type of matches. Similarly I've left out Ramires. He worked his socks off Sunday and needs a rest.

I'm not taking this at all lightly and it's really important we progress.

If Josh doesn't play in this one, I'm going to be majorly pissed off.

As the Leverkusen showed us, unlike his predecessor, AVB is prepared to rest players and tinker with the line up. I imagine Josh, Romeu and Lukaku are a must start unless either is not available. Tough call on Torres. Play him and risk fatiguing him and not play and risk losing the momentum he seems to be gathering of late.

We must not take Fulham lightly although I'd expect them to field a weakened side as well.

My team would be:

Cech

Paulo-Alex-Luiz-Cole

Josh-Mikel-Lampard

Malouda-Lukaku-Anelka

Subs: Turnball, Ivan, Ramires, Sturridge, Torres, Kalou, Romeu

I think that team is strong enough to win and we have options on the bench if needs be. If the game was going well get Romeu on for more playing time.

This should be an interesting one. Hopefully some of the kids will get gametime:

-------------------Hilario

Ferreira----Luiz------Alex-----Bertrand

-------------------Romeu

-------McEachran-----Lampard

---Sturridge--------------------Malouda

---------------Lukaku/Drogba

Something like that.

I can see why we would want to give Torres some time here, but I feel Lukaku and also Drogba, for fitness reasons need the minutes more.