Up to The Liberty Stadium we go, might be a nice wind-down from the mayhem of the past few weeks but Swansea have some good players.

Michu in particular has me concerned, I've only seen him through highlights of matches but he looks like the real deal.

Swansea will be in high spirits after knocking out the scouse from the LC (good on them for that by the way!)

Who should start and who should sit it out?

Edited November 1, 201213 yr by Lyncath

Really think this game could have a massive impact on our season. We managed to bounce back from a bad week to get through in the League Cup but we need to put a second win ahead of our huge game at home to Shakhtar.

Think it is imperative to win. Absolutely imperative.

As for what team, very early to call but at the mo I would go with:

Cech, Azi, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Mikel, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Sturridge.

Need to get things back on track in the league straight away with three points. Also put this fixture in my weekly multi bet which is very rare as I hardly ever bet on Chelsea.

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

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

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

----mata--------oscar----------hazard

-------------Studge

Think Studge deserves a start in the league, his finishing was a bit wayward vs man u but he looked very menacing and took his goal well. Besides that our team pretty much writes itself these days

I think that we'll be quite emotionally drained heading into this one, and having just played extra time in a crazy match against the Mancs within the space of 3 days.

Torres and Ivan are back, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Lampard back for this one

Do Ivanovic/Torres even deserve to start?

Potentially, no.

Realistically, I can see Robbie staying with them both. I also think we may start with Lampard and Mikel in the middle

I think this is a crucial match, we were beaten there last season, they're on a high after winning last night and they aren't a bad side when they play well, I'm not fretting or anything, but can't afford to take it super easy and drop 6 points in a week.

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

Ivanovic-------Luiz-----Cahill-----Cole-----

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

Mata---------------Oscar-------------Hazard

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

I think that's the most realistic lineup, although I wouldn't be surprised if Mata or Oscar didn't start as this would be their 4th inside 10 or so days. Think Ivanovic & Torres will come back in and if this is the case I would like Sturridge to start against Shakhtar if Torres has another poor one. As I said it's a crucial game, get a win & we're in good shape in the league with Shakhtar to visit.

Edited November 1, 201213 yr by jc_cfc

If Lampard is fit surely Mata will be benched for this having played on Sunday and full 120 last night? Ramires on the win?

Mata looked done last night at the end but we cant afford to rest one of if not out best player against a team on a high from scudding Loserpool.

Do Ivanovic/Torres even deserve to start?

Danny took his goal well but that apart he was very poor last night and Torres is usually better. I'd play Ivan at CB rather than Luiz tbh.

Mata needs a rest, that's for sure. I don't really want him on the bench but I can't see any benefit in damaging him due to slip-ups which will dent his morale or causing him injury because of exhaustion-induced lack of concentration. I too can see Lamps starting this one - and who knows, maybe the rest and the determination to show he's still got what it takes will come good?

Will be good to (hopefully) see Cole in the team again.

One more thing. I want Luiz no-where near that pitch until he smartens up his act a bit.

One more thing. I want Luiz no-where near that pitch until he smartens up his act a bit.

As much as I agree with you on Luiz's recent form, the only alternative partnership is Ivanovic-Cahill, which is completely untested and would also involve another 90 minutes for Azpilicueta away from home.

Do Ivanovic/Torres even deserve to start?

well if torres doesnt start then id rather have cahill than sturridge as our cf. sturridge was fukking dire last night

Don't start with the Luiz talk again. I hope he starts the game. He needs to learn of course but making mistakes and still winning the game doesn't deserve a drop.

Well we cant keep having to score 3 or 4 goals to make sure we win a game.

Well we cant keep having to score 3 or 4 goals to make sure we win a game.

It's not going to happen every week, meaning we won't need to score over 3 to win, and it's also highly unlikely any Prem games will be open as last night's game, I don't see us going behind 3 times for a while either...

Edited November 1, 201213 yr by jc_cfc

It's not going to happen every week, meaning we won't need to score over 3 to win, and it's also highly unlikely any Prem games will be open as last night's game, I don't see us going behind 3 times for a while either...

If we defend like last night and Sunday then it will, players at the back have been switching off the last few games and it needs to be addressed.

I expect when Terry and Cahill are back together at the back it will become a bit more solid.

I think Torres should start, Mata should get a breather, and Marin should start if he's up for it.

Sturridge had some moments last night but overall left me missing Torres.

Also, this is the last game of JT's ban isn't it? Be good to have him back just in time for Liverpool.

Edited November 1, 201213 yr by Lyncath

I found this graph on WhoScored and found it to be interesting reading. Swansea seem quite bipolar in terms of their time-based performance; if these stats are to believed they are very much a second half team. On the other hand we seem fairly consistent over both. Building on something I did last year, I threw some graphs together to see if it led to anything of interest:

So it seems that while we are fairly consistent with our scoring, we do tend to ship goals more often in the first half (this is Premier League only, but the Super Cup final also follows this pattern). On the other hand, Swansea both score far more and concede far fewer in the second half. Swansea-Chelsea will be a meeting of two statistically deviant trends and it will be interesting to witness which (if not both) will falter in this game. From a tactical perspective it seems ideal to grab an early goal; presumably Swansea will look to dominate possession either way at home so theoretically we will be well placed to hit them on the counter, particularly if they are chasing the game. With this in mind, is it time to offer another start to Moses or see what Marko Marin is capable of? If not, we may see Lampard returned to his starting berth at centre mid and Ramires shoved out wide again as I somehow cannot see Hazard, Oscar and Mata all starting again.

If you lot think sturridge deserves to start then what about moses?

He palyed alot better than sturridge last night and didn't take shots from the tighest of angles.

plus i think if moses did score he wouldnt do one of the ridiculous dances

This is a very important game. Swansea aren't doing as well as they like and we desperately need to bounce back from our draw with United (not counting it as a loss as it shouldn't have been). Tough place to go, but with our squad I fully expect us to win. If we do, it shows the amount of quality we have

Cech

Dave, Cahill, Luiz, Cole

Mikel, Ramires

Moses, Hazard, Oscar

Sturridge

I'd probably rest Mata for this one, as he plays every game and played 120 minutes yesterday. Ramires simlarly, although he's got the stamina to probably play again.

So I'd go for something like:

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

---Ivanovic------------Cahill---------------------------Luiz-------------Cole

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

Moses--------------------------------Oscar-------------------------------Hazard

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

I'd go with the above team but with Torres in for Studge.

I am 100% sure Torres will play.

I'd probably rest Mata for this one, as he plays every game and played 120 minutes yesterday. Ramires simlarly, although he's got the stamina to probably play again.

So I'd go for something like:

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

---Ivanovic------------Cahill---------------------------Luiz-------------Cole

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

Moses--------------------------------Oscar-------------------------------Hazard

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

Realistically we should be resting Mata, but unless Mata asks for one I don't think Robbie will rest him, not after his last month or so.