Posted March 5, 201312 yr I mean seriously guys, this game is on Thursday, it's now Tuesday. It's almost lunchtime and nobody's started a thread .. ? What's the matter with you guys, do I have to do everything around here .. ? You lot have a serious attitude problem, no wonder things aren't going well. Have you ever thought of looking at yourselves in the mirror .. ? It is now precisely 55 hours before kick-off. That gives you 55 hours to post your thoughts prior to the game. This is ridiculous.
March 5, 201312 yr Cech Azpilicueta - Cahill - Terry - Cole Mikel - Ramires Moses - Mata - Hazard Ba What I think the lineup should be. But I'm inclined to put Torres in so that Ba can have rest for the Premier League. Everyone suggesting that we should switch to 4-3-3 should take a moment to look at it. There's a reason why the 4-2-3-1 is the most popular formation in the world right now; having a pivot takes pressure from the single holding midfielder by offering direct support. The 4-3-3 requires an incredibly talented DM who can transition defence into attack in a flash all the while maintaining his defensive responsibilities; hence why us and Barca are one of the few teams in recent years to successfully pull it off, using Makelele and Busquets in this position. These kind of players, that can perform the role at this level, are extremely hard to come by. Mikel is no such player, nor is anyone else in our squad. The 4-2-3-1 splits the pivot into passer & destroyer (or box to box) roles, making it easier for both players to perform their jobs. It also makes better use of a proper number 10, which we have in abundance. No, our defensive problems at the moment lie not with the formation itself, but rather with the personnel (to an extent) and the way that the system is being executed, this largely due to the FSW's tactical incompetence. Just my two cents. Edited March 5, 201312 yr by Teritus
March 5, 201312 yr Author ^ I believe Ba is ineligible due to his involvement in the African Cup of Nations.
March 5, 201312 yr Will be interesting to see the team selection especially as we have Manchester United in the FA Cup on the Sunday. I think there could be another start for Ake on the cards and maybe a run out for Marin too. Random guess at the line up: --------------Cech Dave - Cahill - Terry - Bertrand ------------Mikel - Ake Moses ---- Oscar ------Marin -------------Torres Luiz, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Hazard, Ivanovic, Ba, Cole all to come in on Sunday.
March 5, 201312 yr Hmm, I'd forgotten that we're up against Man Utd next. In that case players like Bertrand, Oscar and Marin should get a start.
March 5, 201312 yr I wouldn't be so keen to rest players for this because of United on Sunday. I'd place this as a higher priority and Steau are clearly not to be underestimated after sorting out a fancied Ajax side. We've got FA Cups coming out of our ears and in all honesty, I'm fairly sure we'll lose at OT no matter what side is put out.
March 5, 201312 yr I wouldn't be so keen to rest players for this because of United on Sunday. I'd place this as a higher priority and Steau are clearly not to be underestimated after sorting out a fancied Ajax side. We've got FA Cups coming out of our ears and in all honesty, I'm fairly sure we'll lose at OT no matter what side is put out. Have to agree with the last part, unless United get stuffed tonight in a soul draining encounter. Either way you look at the game against City and think this one could be more of the same, except United are better in front of goal so could be a lot more punishing. With Atletico out it looks to me if Spurs, (yes Spurs) could well be on for the Europa, and it would be rather embarrassing for us if we get dumped out of a second European tournament weakly this season and they went on to win it. Full strength side lets try and get through.
March 5, 201312 yr With Man Utd coming up next; be nice to see some other the 'fringe' players taking center stage and letting the regulars have a break... Def up seeing me more of Ake (was genuinely impressed in his last game!), Bertrand, and Oscar. Dare i say it - Torres to start up front... Carefree!
March 5, 201312 yr ^ I believe Ba is ineligible due to his involvement in the African Cup of Nations. Haha an oldie.
March 5, 201312 yr Could not care less about the Europa League, I'm more concerned with finishing in the top 4 and trying to retain the FA Cup.
March 5, 201312 yr Will be interesting to see the team selection especially as we have Manchester United in the FA Cup on the Sunday. I think there could be another start for Ake on the cards and maybe a run out for Marin too. Random guess at the line up: --------------Cech Dave - Cahill - Terry - Bertrand ------------Mikel - Ake Moses ---- Oscar ------Marin -------------Torres Luiz, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Hazard, Ivanovic, Ba, Cole all to come in on Sunday. Yes, this all over ^^, but ?? whether JT will start. Roll out the bigger guns for Manure on sunday which is more important to me for numerous reasons.
March 5, 201312 yr With a big FA Cup match on Sunday in mind I hope Ake gets a start. Would also be good to see Feruz involved.
March 5, 201312 yr This Europa League is a distraction, an extra mid week game at a bad time and for what......under FSW no cups will be won, he's finished and we all know it, Chelsea just about scraped the last round against a team that had been on a lay off since December 12 Last season United & City both exited this comp at this round and concentrated on the prem, this is what Chelsea need to do
March 5, 201312 yr Tongue-in-cheek guide for Chelsea fans in Bucharest, made by a Romanian television: http://videonews.antena3.ro/video/fotbal/guide-for-chelsea-s-fans-who-arrive-in-bucharest-for-the-match-against-steaua.html Edited March 5, 201312 yr by Kekso
March 5, 201312 yr Expect a similar team to the 1 beat Boro, maybe not to the extent to playing Ferriera and Yossi. Yes it's a distraction, but I believe momentum is always important. If we lose 0:3, will anyone have any confidence in getting a result this weekend?
March 5, 201312 yr put on youth players .... they show us some sprit but benite zwill never do that in his life....
March 5, 201312 yr Yeah I didn't want to jinx anything by saying there should be a thread on this so thanks DB for starting it. I don't know what to think here. Go for this and say no to the FA Cup, say no to this and go for the FA Cup, or just go for everything? Personally, I am greedy and want to see us compete strongly in everything, so I'd expect to put out a decent team away in Bucharest, with one eye on the FA Cup and then see if we can get past Manyew. I think I'd play the following: ..................Cech Dave......Terry.Cahill..Berty ...............Ake,..Mikel Moses........Oscar......Marin ..................Torres And if we can, put Feruz on the bench.
March 5, 201312 yr Thanks goodness ba is ineligible - that should keep him fresh for the utd game on Sunday. We should defo play all the fringe players + Torres. Hopefully utd will be physically and mentally drained after loosing tonights game...lol!
March 6, 201312 yr It all depends on how we start the game. Steaua has proven to be a very uncomfortable team with an ardent desire to win against all odds. Still, one of the main things that strike me the most about this team is that they as well will not play any veritable forward. Most of their goals, it seems come from the defence or midfield with one exception: Rusescu, who has scored 21 goals or something so far. Still, he is mostly a second striker, who is not able to play up front -- a good connection between our defence and midfield should neutralize him. Anyway, I don't think they have a player that can win a game on his own, like we have on ocassions Hazard, Lampard, Oscar and especially Mata. But still, judging from the league position and from the Ajax game, they look like a very cohesive group with great mentality and team spirit and a coach everybody believes in....ahem...unlike Benitez to put it lightly. I'm looking forward to that game and to be entirely honest, I think that the true mentality of a big team is defined by how they treat every game whether in Europa League or the Champions League. Every match should be won with the best resources at hand, it might not be feasible and it's understandable (this is why we need to have a complete line-up with ideally two valuable players - preferably - fighting for the same position) but every game should be treated with the utmost respect for the opponent and for ourselves. We are Chelsea and we are meant to win every game. That's how one of the most powerful sides in Europe should and needs to act.
March 6, 201312 yr Yeah I didn't want to jinx anything by saying there should be a thread on this so thanks DB for starting it. I don't know what to think here. Go for this and say no to the FA Cup, say no to this and go for the FA Cup, or just go for everything? Personally, I am greedy and want to see us compete strongly in everything, so I'd expect to put out a decent team away in Bucharest, with one eye on the FA Cup and then see if we can get past Manyew. I think I'd play the following: ..................Cech Dave......Terry.Cahill..Berty ...............Ake,..Mikel Moses........Oscar......Marin ..................Torres And if we can, put Feruz on the bench. Well we can do that, we can also start him if we want and i would rather we did to be honest Edited March 6, 201312 yr by Scott Harris
March 6, 201312 yr Treat all the games from here with equal importance but the highest priority is the league. This should be an easier game than Manu one and clearly the squad needs to have some midfield rotation. I'd leave Ba in to keep building the understanding with the link up play. I still want to play 4;3:3 but that aint gunn a happen so ivan cahill terry bertrand mikel luiz moses hazard marin/mata ba
March 6, 201312 yr I see a draw, we'll put in a similar shift to the Sparta display and Steaua will nullify us, they've been solid at home all season.
March 6, 201312 yr I think we must consider the Man U game after Bucharest as very important... We should at all costs beat them(SB) by scoring atleast 2 goals and conceding none! Our confidence is easily knocked, so to bring a victory hand in hand with a confidence boost to Old Trafsh*t is VITAL! I beleive we can knock MU out of OUR competition. Line-up for SB... Cech Azpil - Cahill - ©JT - Berty Rami - Ake Moses - Oscar - Marin Torres Line-up for MU... Cech Ivan - Luiz - Cahill - Cole Mikel - ©Lamps Moses - Mata - Hazard Ba I know Cahill and Moses will play back to back but I think they are young and fit enough to give 100%. Squad rotation and in-game rotation is very very important, something Rafa is sadly poor at... But if he can somehow do this perfectly then I don't see how we cannot beat both in 3 days time.
March 6, 201312 yr A Mikel/Lampard midfield never works. It was sh*t against City and Man utd will rip it apart as well. Mikel should start with Ake in the Europa League so that he doesn't start against Man Utd, where it should be Lampard and Ramires in the middle.
