You'd like to say 'more of the same please' but with the Man City game midweek, then Spurs on Saturday followed by Benfica it is pretty safe to say there will be some rotation.

I expect Torres to start with Drogba on the bench and also Lamps and Essien possibly maybe rested as well. Cahill should start as might Malouda.

yes definetely time to rotate, Leicester wont be easy but they are not the hardest team to score against, even start with Malouda, Torres, Kalou up front

Cahill bossy Bertrand mikel malouda sturridge all candidates. The man citeh game is way more important

Cech

Bossy Cahill luiz Bertrand

Mikel

Kalou mreeilres malouda

Sturridge lukaku

I wouldnt like to make sweeping changes but I think its a necessity.

I think we'd see the following team:

Cech

Bosingwa Cahill Luiz Bertrand

Mikel Meireles

Kalou Ramires Malouda

Torres

Although after looking back at that line up an electric shock passed through my body, rotation is a must keeping in mind the games coming up and since most of the real first team played 120 mins against Napoli. I'd happily play this line up and expect them to get a result in an FA Cup game against a Championship opposition.

Just dont ask me to watch the game though.

Edited March 16, 201214 yr by rahul

Can't see there being much chance of Luiz playing. He was really struggling at the end of Wednesday's game.

We have to rotate. 4th place and the CL have to be the priority.

Cech

Bosingwa Cahill Ivanovic Bertrand

Mikel

Ramires Meireles

Sturridge Torres Kalou

Cahill bossy Bertrand mikel malouda sturridge all candidates. The man citeh game is way more important

Cech

Bossy Cahill luiz Bertrand

Mikel

Kalou mreeilres malouda

Sturridge lukaku

mreeilres? Really?

What a crap kick off time.

Gosh, that is a fixture list...! Can see young Ryan starting this one with Malouda & Kalou supporting Nando up top. No Ramires please he's too precious!! Need him for all the fixtures really but I'd leave him out this one for fear of injury...!

Is there a TV that will stream it live?

It's on Fox Soccer Plus in USA 10am ET/ 7am PT

Cech

Bossy Cahill JT Cole/ Bertrand

Meireles Mikel Malouda

Studge Kalou

Torres

Lukaku needs this kinda games, pair him with Torres and play a classical 4 4 2

You'd like to say 'more of the same please' but with the Man City game midweek, then Spurs on Saturday followed by Benfica it is pretty safe to say there will be some rotation.

I expect Torres to start with Drogba on the bench and also Lamps and Essien possibly maybe rested as well. Cahill should start as might Malouda.

Good call Loz....keep Meireles out of the picture for me too....he wants out IMO.

Di Matteo has rested players for two of his three matches in charge, so I expect more of the same, especially with Citeh coming up so soon.

I think the surge of energy that players got from the manager change should just about be used up. Now begins the real test of the team's commitment and ability to apply itself consistently. Playing a Championship side could lead to a letdown.

I don't see why Meireles wouldn't start, because Lamps will be dead tired. Probably Torres starts too, since he's only been a sub lately and should be relatively fresh. Cahill, of course. Maybe Bertrand for Ash. Bossy for Iva. Mikel for a tired Essien. Malouda?

A 14:05 Kick Off ?

Whats that about ?

Cech

Bossy--Cahill--Luiz--Bertrand

Mikel--Meireles

Sturridge--Mata--Malouda

Torres

Hopefully we can put it away early and get Mata out for some rest.

This gives Drogba, Lampard, Terry, Essien, and Ramires the day off, in anticipation of the City game a few days later.

A 14:05 Kick Off ?

Whats that about ?

It's about five after two.

It's about five after two.

Thats like something out of a Laurel and Hardy sketch

Thats like something out of a Laurel and Hardy sketch

I think we'll put this one to bed early, Leicester really aren't that great, they might hold out for 15-30 minutes but even if we play a second string we should be across the line before half-time.

I would think, considering the 120' match and Man Citeh on the horizon, it'll be something like this

Bos Iva Cahill Bertrand

Mikel

RaulM Malouda

Studge Torres Kalou

Don't think we have a choice, we have to rotate, and for F's sake - it's a Champ team!

Yes, I know it'll be a struggle, it'll be painful, it'll be unknown if we'll advance until the end.

mreeilres? Really?

Thin go wrong with the iPad. Thanks for pointing out the typo.

I'm torn between wanting to rest as many players as possible and a feeling that it may backfire and complicate things. We need to win this one to avoid a replay and turn our busy schedule into even more of a nightmare.

TURNBULL - BOSINGWA, CAHILL, D.LUIZ, BERTRAND, MIKEL, MEIRELES, LAMPARD, MALOUDA, TORRES, KALOU.

SUBS: LUKAKU, ROMEU, FERREIRA, ESSIEN, STURRIDGE, IVANOVIC, CECH.

Edited March 17, 201214 yr by abramovich

I can't see Lamps playing 120 minutes on Wednesday, 90 minutes on Sunday and then another 90 minutes on Wednesday. Not at his age.

I'm torn between wanting to rest as many players as possible and a feeling that it may backfire and complicate things. We need to win this one to avoid a replay and turn our busy schedule into even more of a nightmare.

TURNBULL - BOSINGWA, CAHILL, D.LUIZ, BERTRAND, MIKEL, MEIRELES, LAMPARD, MALOUDA, TORRES, KALOU.

SUBS: LUKAKU, ROMEU, FERREIRA, ESSIEN, STURRIDGE, IVANOVIC, CECH.

I'd go similar to that, except with Romeu in for Lampard, pushing Meireles to in behind Torres where he played quite well for Liverpool. I think it'd be a worthy experiment and Lampard/Essien/Studge as subs to change things if it goes horribly wrong.

Turnbull

Bosingwa Luiz Cahill Bertrand

Mikel Romeu

Kalou - Meireles - Malouda

Torres

Should be more than strong enough (disclaimer - IN THEORY) and it rests a lot of the first XI from Wednesday's game.

2-O Blues as we start at 2

So far Lukaku is a waste of money. Will he ever start a game for us this season? He's basically a reserves player. So much for the whole 'the next Didier Drogba'....