Anyone know if this game is on TV? It's on a Wednesday but can't see it listed anywhere :/

Would be good if it is, my boss is out of town this week and therefore I'm sure I'll be able to take a "long lunch" to catch this game.

Just checked and it is on Fox Soccer out here in the US, so there will at least be streams for it!!! Great news.

Ok, so the main question is who will start. I can't help but think we'll see a lot of rotation amongst some of our more flair players. As is want with a lot of players of that ilk, they seem to fade around the hour mark. So I wonder if we'll see more rotation amongst Hazard (who I expect to start moreoften than not), Marin, Mata, Ramires, and Oscar.

Loving that Berty is getting more and more minutes, it seems as if Roberto has faith in the lad, and it's great to see him out there from the youth ranks amidst a number of international super star signings. And it's led to his call up to the first team for England. Well done Ryan.

What I'd like to see against Reading:

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

Ivan...........Cahill........Terry.......Cole

................Mikel.........Lampard

.........................Oscar

......Ramires....................Mata

........................Danny

Apparently Mata will get some rest around the international break, but I'd still only have him on the bench against Reading, especially if both Ramires and Marin are back.

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

Iva-------Cahill-----Terry------Cole

-----Ramires---Mikel/Lamps------

Hazard---------Oscar---------Bertrand

-------------------Sturridge

Bench: Torres, Mata, Meireles, Luiz, Turnbull

Ramires will provide more pace central and probably covers the same ground Lamps/Mikel does combined. Hazard didn't play whole game agains Wigan, so don't see why he shouldn't start. A rested Sturridge starting, with Mata and Torres as subs, in case we are in trouble.

Anyone know the latest on Marin?

I don't remember ever seeing any details released about his injury so no idea when he is expected back??

As things stand I'd go with:

Cech.

Paulo, Cahill, JT, Bertrand.

Essien, Lampard.

Ramires, Oscar, Hazard.

Sturridge.

That can change depending on news closer to the date, if Marin is ready I'd want to see him get some game time.

Anyone know the latest on Marin?

I don't remember ever seeing any details released about his injury so no idea when he is expected back??

http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2012/8/17/3249424/marko-marin-injury-he-gets-lots-of-them?

http://www.weaintgot...s-lots-of-them?

Cheers.

RDM not actually confirmed a return date by the looks of it, shame.

cech

ivan luiz cahill bertrand

ramires essien/mikel

sturridge oscar hazard

torres

Why are people not wanting Torres to start? Good opportunity to get some early goals in the season. Can't wait for this game, in the Matthew Harding.

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

Ivan------ Luiz ----- Cahill ----- Cole

----- Ramires --- Mikel------

Sturridge ---- Oscar ---- Hazard

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

Since our fixture list is already congested we should rotate a bit but we should certainly be showing Reading a lot more respect than some people seem to believe.

Am I missing something? Are people really giving up on torres after one decent game? Yer let's drop him when he is starting to look like turning it around and go back to square one!

Some people on here bemuse me

Give Mata the midweek off, bring him on if desperately needed. Reading looked good in their opening game, but nothing we should be fearful of, Pogrebnyak could be a man to try and keep and eye on but I don't really see any other real threat. Although Mikel's passing can be abysmally boring at times, he is very good at recycling the possession, whilst offering some sort of constant cover for the defence, something nobody else can offer in our squad at the moment (maybe bison) meaning that I think he is a must to start. Ivan is going to have to pick it up after looking quite vulnerable defensively in the last two games and although I never like the idea of rotating centre backs, I would like to see the Cahill/Luiz partnership early on in the season ie. now.

Really can't understand those who are dropping Torres already. If it's due to fitness then that is ridiculous as its the second game of the season. If it's due to form, then that is also ridiculous as he scored against city and got zero service against Wigan. He was unlucky to see his only real chance cleared off the line after doing exceptionally well to keep his balance whilst being molested by a defender. For once I actually agreed with the pundits on MOTD, they highlighted the type of runs that Torres was making. He is going more central and direct now, something that the likes of Hazard and Mata need to be looking for as soon as they get the ball. This post has turned into a bit of a Torres fanboy post but with balls being played through for him to run on to early, then we will really find out if he still is the player he was. If he is, then I have no doubt he will be in the top 5 goalscorers in England. If not, then Danny boy will have to be massive for the rest of the year. (Unless we bring in more cover)

My line up;

Cech

Ivan - Luiz - Cahill - Cole

Mikel - Lampard

Ramires (If not ill) - Oscar - Hazard

Torres

People will probably like to see Torres rested because 1) they want to keep Sturridge warm and 2) because Torres played full 90 minutes in America on Wednesday. I really don't think anyone can, will or have criticized Torres after these two matches. He deserved two penalties (or one penalty and one clear 1-on-1 situation against the keeper) and was alongside with Hazard our player with the most cutting edge going forward.

I think both starts anyway. Sturridge as a winger at home against a team we should beat in our sleep is in my opinion safe.

Am I missing something? Are people really giving up on torres after one decent game? Yer let's drop him when he is starting to look like turning it around and go back to square one!

Some people on here bemuse me

No, well I wasn't despite leaving him off my starting 11. What my thinking behind starting Danny is, we have two strikers only and need to keep them both fresh.

No, well I wasn't despite leaving him off my starting 11. What my thinking behind starting Danny is, we have two strikers only and need to keep them both fresh.

Yeah but it's not like it's months into the season where he needs a break, it will be the 2nd game of the season.

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

Ivan------ Luiz ----- Cahill ----- Cole

----- Lampard --- Mikel------

Ramires ---- Oscar ---- Hazard

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

Terry looked a bit injured so we might want to give him a break, depends on how he is. Mata does need a break and it gives Oscar his first start.

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

Ivan----------Luiz------------JT---------Cole

----------------Mikel--------Lamps----------

Sturridge----------Hazard--------Bertrand

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

Something like this could be useful in giving Mata a rest and getting Sturridge minutes. What would even be better is if we were able to take Torres off after 60+ minutes, move Danny to CF, and put Ramires on the right wing to ease him back in after his illness.

Lamps looked f**ked towards the end of the game yesterday and was miss-timing tackles for fun. I would like to see him rested or if he does start, at least not play the 90 minutes - that is what having a squad is all about.

Cech

Ivan - Luiz - Cahill - Cole

Ramires (If welll) - Lampard/Mikel

Danny- Oscar - Hazard

Torres

Mata was very sluggish & definitely needs a rest, this midweek is perfect for that. Would like to see Ramires centrally as a b2b, and either Mikel or Lampard for the other CM.

If Marin is fit I'd like to see him start on the right over Danny, but only if fully ready to go. Luiz was great yesterday except for the tackle he got the yellow for, tbf the yellow was harsh but it was still unnecessary, I feel he matured really well late last season & for games like this a Cahill-Luiz centre half pairing really needs to be utilized, they were great together last year & will obviously be the future.

I'm all in favour of giving cahill a run and would like to see Ryan used at left back freeing up a spot for sturridge or ramires.

Ryan probably has more pace than Ashley now and I'd like it to be used in his natural position.

----------Cech

Iva--Cahill---Terry--Cole

-----Mikel---Lampard

Rami---Hazard---Mata

----------Torres

I want to see a propah english cb pairing for once!

If Rami is still out then the same front 4 as v Wigan, maybe Oscar for Bertrand straight from the start?

Torres will bag a goal in this game.

I want to see a propah english cb pairing for once!

Don't know what you mean by that?

4-0 BOOM!

Don't know what you mean by that?

Cahill and Terry? Both English

Why the hell did i say I would work till 8 on Wednesday >:(