A feature of both our 2009/10 title-winning season under Ancelotti and this season under Villas-Boas has been rotation and a mild sense (with both its positive and negative implications) that the manager isn't quite sure what his best XI is.

My question is, if you were in charge, who would your first-choice Chelsea starting XI be?

Yes, I know this is very nerdy and I'm sure there are several problems with the format that I've chosen but I've tried to make the poll as flexible as possible in terms of formation and selection. Also I included occasional AVB picks (e.g. Meireles at DM) and untried but popular shouts on the forum (e.g. David Luiz at DM).

I hope this can encourage some healthy debate and show off the forum's handy poll tool, which I notice is something we use less on here than we used to a few years ago. There's been a lot of talk around the way about the forum having seen better days; maybe frivolous polls are the thing we've been missing.

Oh yeah, for argument's sake let's say we're playing a mid-to-top tier side.

Here's my team:

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

Ivanovic-------Luiz-------Terry------Cole

-----------------------Mikel

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

--------Anelka-----Drogba-------Mata

Here is mine:

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

Ivanovic-------Luiz-------Terry------Cole

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

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

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

Sadly I don't see Drogba getting back to top form now, so Torres wins it by default, as he has only shown a little of what he can do.

Here's mine...

I'm struggling with the keeper......

My XI is the same as the above, but I'd have Drogba instead of Torres.

Edited November 14, 201114 yr by Backbiter

THE ONE WITHOUT BOSINGWA AND MALOUDA!!!!!

Although Ramires and Anelka are by no means shoo-ins looking back on my team.

Cech

Ivanovic--Luiz--Terry--Cole

Ramires--Meireles--Lampard

Sturridge--Torres--Mata

Yes, I know Meireles isn't a true defensive mid. But if we're going to be an attack-minded team under AVB, then you need guys in the midfield who transition quickly and look to start the attack. Meireles doesn't tackle like Mikel or Romeu, but what he does do is get the ball, turn, and fire it upfield to the front line so they can attack before the defense recovers.

If Lampard and Ramires weren't so good at what they do, I'd be fine with Meireles playing on either side and having a "true" CDM in there.

If the games we've played so far this season have showed us anything, it is that Messrs Kalou, Malouda, Anelka, Bosingwa and Mikel need to stay away from the starting eleven.

Defence is pretty straight-forward, it's only whether you believe David Luiz's enthusiasm is better for the team than the tank-like Alex.

In midfield, I haven't seen anything in Romeu that would worry me if we were to play him as a starter. The boy is composed, brave and quite the passer. The second option here would be Meireles, who is a great player, but whose form is a little erratic and he isn't your typical defensive midfielder.

Attack picks itself. We can only hope Torres regains some form, because at the moment Drogba is back to his worst and Lukaku is plainly not ready.

I had half a mind to pick Ferreira as RB since I don't think he's that bad and I really want Ivan to partner JT in the middle.

Also wanted to pick Meireles, but couldn't fit him in.

I maintain that we shouldn't be playing Ramires and Lampard in the same 11. DMC, Box to Box and AMC. Ramires and Lampard perform very similar duties and neither offer a creative edge we need in midfield. Meireless or Josh should be in there along one of Lampard and Ramires and a DMC.

Where is Essien on that list?

My team for arguments sake is: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Essien, Meireles, Lampard, Sturridge, Mata, Drogba.

Where is Essien on that list?

My team for arguments sake is: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole, Essien, Meireles, Lampard, Sturridge, Mata, Drogba.

I only included the players we have available to us in the immediate future (although allowing for more short-term injuries), which is why I also didn't include any of our loanees.

Fair enough, by the time he comes back at the end of December/January. All sorts could be here and gone.

In that case add Mikel. Romeu will be good but he has played all of four matches.

I was very impressed with merieles when he has played defensive mid for us, has looked very assured and makes us far more dynamic than when we have mikel playing there. Also as much as I love Luiz to pieces and think he will be great for us in the future he still hasnt adapted completely to the English game yet so at present I think Alex is a better player.

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

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

-----------Meriles

------Ramires----Lamps

--Studge------------Mata

--------Torres

Just saw spillers post above and if essien was fit then would have him in over merirles for sure

Here's mine...

This

Still think we need to tweak the formation to suit this system we are playing now so for me

Cech

Ivan

Luiz

JT

Ash

Meireles

Romeu

Sturridge

Frank/Ramires

Mata

Torres

I agree with Castiel its very difficult to pick Frank and Ramires in the same team because they do very similar things, however on current form it would be difficult to leave either out, glad I'm not AVB!!

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - JT - Cole

Ramires - Miereles - Lampard

Sturridge - Torres - Mata

Maybe swapping Miereles for Mikel/Romeu depending on who we're up against.

I gotta say, I am surprised with some of the lineups that leave Ramires out! He has easily been one of our best, most consistant players this year and the team looks so much better when he plays. I get that there is debate about should play the DM spot, but I would never have thought there would be people that leave Ramires out of their lineups.

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - JT - Cole

Ramires - Miereles - Lampard

Sturridge - Torres - Mata

Maybe swapping Miereles for Mikel/Romeu depending on who we're up against.

Ditto, although I'd swap Miereles and Ramires over, but no biggy

Fit or not, I wouldn't have Essien in the starting XI.

At the moment it is

Cech

Ivanovic--Luiz--Terry--Cole

Ramires--Meireles--Lampard

Sturridge--Anelka--Mata

The thing is with football the strongest team can change a number of times over the season due to loss of form or injuries etc but as of right now thats the team i would put out.

I would go with;

Cech

Bran-Luiz-Terry-Cole

Meireles

Rami-Josh

Studge-Torres-Mata

Despite franks current form i would still like to see josh in there instead.

I really think we have to keep playing torres until he comes good because sadly the drogba of old is near gone and as avb said even if torres doesnt score he could set up sturrige or mata he already has 4/5 assists.After all he isnt going to get confidentience from sitting on the bench

Edited November 21, 201114 yr by maka11

Anybody who think drogba should play at the minute is off there rocker. The lad has been toilet. And as for essien? Whats the point in even mentioning him? When he was fit he still wouldn't get in the starting 11, he never recaptured his best form since his last injury and unless he did there is not a chance he would be starting over Ramires, as has been quite rightly stated, he has been our best player by far. I'd love to see studge and Nando as a 2 with mata in behind. Then a 3 of frank , rami and either Romeu or luiz holding.