With Rafa now in charge do you think he will change the formation of the team?

Don't even care any more.

Well I do care.

I'm not sure, he may try something different but he wont have much time with the players so I'd imagine we would set up as we have done in the EPL, maybe a few tweaks here and there but nothing major imo.

You dont think he will go back to 4-3-3?

We will imo set up like we did against Swansea, after that...don't know.

Rafa will play 1 - 8 - 1

I reckon Studge will see more football now for some reason, hopefully Marin too.

I reckon Studge will see more football now for some reason, hopefully Marin too.

I don't think so. Benitez is a huge Torres fan (worked with him at Liverpool) and it will take him at least ten or fifteen to realise that Torres is finished, by that time Sturridge will be gone and we'd have to sign another big money striker...

Hope I'm proven wrong

Studge is pacey and can beat a man just like Torres used to be so I'll be hoping he sees this sooner rather than later...

Surely the first thing hes going to look at is our terrible defensive record this season and look at getting us more organized in that regards.

He may switch to a 4-3-3 just to give the additional player to protect our CB's.

Surely the first thing hes going to look at is our terrible defensive record this season and look at getting us more organized in that regards.

He may switch to a 4-3-3 just to give the additional player to protect our CB's.

Yes, I would focus on our leaky defence and midfield imbabalance. We may possibly see one of Mata, Hazard or Oscar dropped/rotated to facilitate this which will also counteract fatigue for them over December, etc. Keep the opponent guessing on style of play and call back 1 or 2 loanees to keep the squad fresh, expect one of them to be Lukaku/Essien...

Edited November 22, 201213 yr by Fast Eddie

So this 4-3-3 would line up how?

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

Cesar-----Cahill-----Ivan------Cole

----Mikel----Rambo---Lampard

--Hazard-----------------------Mata

------------Torres/Studge-------

How did he play the side at Liverpool and Valencia?

Didnt he play more of a 4-4-1-1 at Liverpool?

Well I know Gerrard played just behind Torres but that's it.

He didn't have the attacking power this side does so I hope we don't go to defensive.

I doubt it, though we could see personeel changes. Such as Ramires back on the wing, and Oscar moving deeper beside Mikel. All to suit Torres. Who always ran from deep with passes coming from Gerrard and Alonso. He used structured wingers in Kuyt as well who will get back to form a second bank of four..

Further he'll do this before Sunday though is yet to be seen, since he didn't even show up to training today..

Edited November 22, 201213 yr by Damo810

Didnt he play more of a 4-4-1-1 at Liverpool?

f**king hated their style of play. People talked about Jose been boring but Liverpool was like watching paint dry.

Did he really not turn up to training today? Surely that cant be true. Who took the training today then? Please tell me it was JT! lol

Rafa is a disciple of the 4 2 3 1...expect no changes to the formation, however, he will look to play a more pressing game

Correct.

Rafa is also a connoisseur of the 4-2-3-1 formation, so no real upheaval, although he will insist on a more ‘’cautious’’ approach in how we set up.

This is the point that interests me. Roman is apparently ‘’obsessed’’ with CFC building a footballing style and one that is adventurous at all times. Does this describe Benitez’s methodology? In a word; no.

Rafa normally prefers two workman-like players (for ex. Kuyt) to play wide so that we have enough protection against teams looking to counter attack.

There’s talk of Ramires moving back out wide, although for Rafa’s sake (he needs all the luck he can get) I hope he lets this go.

Will all of Mata, Hazard and Oscar fit in to his plans, or will one have to be sacrificed?

Personally, I think he’ll go for stability over flair (a leopard never does change it’s spots) which will mean an extra bum on the bench...

Did he really not turn up to training today? Surely that cant be true. Who took the training today then? Please tell me it was JT! lol

Where did you hear that?

Well I know Gerrard played just behind Torres but that's it.

He didn't have the attacking power this side does so I hope we don't go to defensive.

He won't go defensive , his orders are to get playing expansive attacking football , otherwise he's a goner. (Hang on yes let him play defensive)

Yep, Benitez loves the 4-2-3-1!

Only difference will be a faster movement of the ball, defending & movement in units - so well organised,

He prefers 2 holding midfielders rather than one holding & the other being box-to-box.

As for Torres, not sure how he'll facilitate him with Oscar, Hazard & Mata. At Liverpool, Gerard or Xabi Alonso used to give him the 'through pass' where the majority of his goals came from. Oscar, Hazard & Mata hold onto the ball more & prefer the give-and-go ultimatley.

Where did you hear that?

I thought i saw it on here

Did he really not turn up to training today? Surely that cant be true. Who took the training today then? Please tell me it was JT! lol

Supposedly not. He did take it this afternoon though, according to the Chelsea website. Guess he only few in today then.

Torres

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