Well it looks like although we dropped a handful of players at the end of last season that we're also on our way to acquiring a few more.

 

So far we have André Schürrle, and it looks like soon to be Marco Van Ginkel too. Not including the return of Lukaku, De Bruyne and forgotten man Michael Essien. With strong rumours of Cavani and Rooney in the media it also looks possible we'll sign another forward too.

 

So where will all these players fit in, and who will be making way? Our squad is certainly looking stronger all round, albeit I can see some unhappy players next season if they don't get enough game time. So with who we currently have signed up, who would you play and in what formation?

 

 

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

 

Azpi---------Ivan--------------Luiz-----------Cole

 

-------------Ramires--------Lampard

 

Hazard---------------Mata---------------Schürrle

 

-----------------------Lukaku

 

I really want to put Oscar in somewhere, but I feel he's not as good as Hazard and Mata to take their places, and Schürrle is arguably a better option cutting in from the left. You could argue for him to be a deeper lying midfielder in place of Lampard or Ramires, but I'm not sure how he would perform here?

 

Sorry if this thread is a repeat, I just think with our squad we now have it's much harder to pick our best 11 than it was last season, apart from couple of players who don't have huge competition.

 

Thoughts? 

 

I would go for:

 

Cech

Azpi, Terry, Luiz, Cole

Ramires, KDB

Oscar, Mata, Hazard

Lukaku

Looking at those teams just gets me even more excited for next season, we have a strong first eleven what ever side we put out.

 

                  Cech

 

Azpi     Luiz     Ivan     Cole

 

         Oscar    Ramires

 

Hazard       Mata       KDB/Schurrle (cant decide yet)

 

                Lukaku

It's crazy how you guys don't think Oscar is one of our best players.  He was the only relevant player for the Champs league this past season and his stamina is second only to Rambo.   

 

He is the exact player Mourinho will play and start.  

C

Edited July 5, 201312 yr by naterose89

Cech.

Dave, Cahill, Terry, Cole

Oscar, Luiz

Hazard, Mata, Schurrle

Lukaku

INT: Ba, Lampard, kdb, Ramires, Moses, Ivan, Backup Keeper.

Edited July 5, 201312 yr by naterose89

Too soon to tell. There is how well the young guys and incomers go and how well everyone interplays as a team.

cech

dave cahill luiz cole

ramires oscar hazard

mata torres schurle

Oscar is out of position, but I don't want to put mikel there. I still rate Torres ahead of Lukaku (Lukaku can't even start for belgium). However I hope Lukaku moves ahead of torres this year.

Im shocked to see how many people have dropped JT from their team. He is still by far the best defender we have. Also some people putting KDB in their team without ever seeing him play a game in the premier league. He may be a total flop for all we know.

I think I'll wait until we've conducted our transfer dealings. 

C

U 2

Im shocked to see how many people have dropped JT from their team. He is still by far the best defender we have. Also some people putting KDB in their team without ever seeing him play a game in the premier league. He may be a total flop for all we know.

 

 

I agree.  Terry might be slower these days, however, he leads the line and the team better than anyone else.    

 

Cech

 

Dave-Terry-Luiz-Cole

 

Rambo-Mikel

 

Mata-Oscar-Hazard

 

Torres

 

4-3-3

 

Mikel-Rambo-Oscar

 

Andre-Torres-Hazard

I'd put Lukaku in instead of Torres. I would even have Torres on the bench to be honest

I'd put Lukaku in instead of Torres. I would even have Torres on the bench to be honest

 

I'd put Lukaku in instead of Torres. I would even have Torres on the bench to be honest

 

I still think he needs a year or 2 of grooming to become the main Cf for us.  

He wont get that by sitting on the bench for us. I think if he isnt going to get serious amounts of game time then we should send him on loan again.

He wont get that by sitting on the bench for us. I think if he isnt going to get serious amounts of game time then we should send him on loan again.

 

Swansea was a good option, however, I read that they are going to be signing Bony soon.

Lukaku would get time if he's the second choice striker.

http://lineupbuilder.com/?sk=p32g

 

What do you think?

I am not sure that, under Jose, we'll see Luiz in the middle.  I think he will play him as a defender, and very much groom/discipline him into being a little less erratic.

For me there are three main areas of debate. The striker, the central midfield and the formation which of course affects the second of them.

 

The striker. Lukaku did very well at West Brom, but it was a completely different situation to what he'll find himself in at Chelsea. He has weaknesses in terms of his touch being erratic at times and he sometimes doesn't know the best way to use his strength yet. These things will come, but that doesn't mean they're there right now. For me, this means he still has to fight for his place, much like he did when he first arrived at West Brom where he took the place away from Long after mainly being a sub in the first half of the season. Torres is Torres and talking about his strengths and weaknesses has gone on since even before the day he missed his first chance for us. Ba showed glimpses, but nothing to make him stand out and claim the shirt for himself. For me, Torres is still our first choice and it's up to Lukaku and Ba to show that they're better when they get their chances and they will. Day one, Torres starts I think, after that it's up to the players to change that.

 

The central midfield question can only be discussed in terms of the formation question. Assuming a two man midfield for now, we need one more defensive minded player alongside a more attacking central midfielder. For the defensive minded player, we have Mikel, Ake, Chalobah and possibly Essien. Similarly to the striker position, Mikel is the settled first choice here and it's up to Ake, Chalobah and even Essien to show that they're better choices. Personally I feel that Chalobah will go on loan, but nothing is agreed yet. The attacking central midfielder is a tougher one, we have Ramires, Van Ginkel, Lampard, De Bruyne and possibly Oscar. De Bruyne is very good, but played central midfield in a three man set up, so will require adjustment, as will Oscar of course, but he's a longer shot there, anyway and just a personal preference there. Lampard and Ramires are the tried and trusted options and Van Ginkel is an exciting prospect. Personally I'd go with De Bruyne alongside Mikel, but that's because I prefer a game controlling, possession based style in most games, rather than a counter-attacking style where Ramires would be the better option.

 

In terms of the formation. If we change to a 4-3-3, we have a three man midfield to play with, which gives certain advantages to certain players. It would mean that we can play both Ramires and De Bruyne in the centre with Mikel (or Ake, Chalobah or Essien if you prefer), but it means pushing Mata wide and Oscar going to the bench, or being converted to take De Bruyne's role.

 

That's how I see it all, and here's some visual representation for those of you too impatient for words.

 

Cech

 

Azpilicueta - Terry - Luiz - Cole

 

Mikel - De Bruyne

 

Oscar - Mata - Hazard

 

Torres

 

or

 

Cech

 

Azpilicueta - Terry - Luiz - Cole

 

Mikel

Ramires - De Bruyne

 

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

Torres

Edited July 6, 201312 yr by Eggy McMuffin

Cech
Azpili Terry Luiz Cole

Rambo Lampard

Hazard Mata Schrulle

Lukaku

 

Difficult to chose between Oscar/Schurrle and Ivan/Luiz . All others relatively straight forward for me . 

Why are you guys putting Terry on the right side of the defense? He's never played well there.

Edited July 7, 201312 yr by cfc88

I'm seeing a lot of Oscar on the right wing same as last season. But that simply won't work. Yes he played nice as the season progressed but he'll never realize he's full potential playing on the wing to Mata. He could change any game at any time given the central role but there's no way that he'll rock Nine-Juan-Juan's spot. So I'd like to see him tryed at that more deep lying position, just to see how he'd manage there.

--------De Bruyne----------------Oscar

Hazard--------------Mata-------------schurrle

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

Edited July 7, 201312 yr by romansoldier1981

Too soon to tell. There is how well the young guys and incomers go and how well everyone interplays as a team.

cech

dave cahill luiz cole

ramires oscar hazard

mata torres schurle

Oscar is out of position, but I don't want to put mikel there. I still rate Torres ahead of Lukaku (Lukaku can't even start for belgium). However I hope Lukaku moves ahead of torres this year.

Lukaku can't start for Belgium because they have Benteke who is an absolute belter and proven internationally.

Cech

Dave - Luiz - Terry - Cole

De Bruyne - Oscar

Hazard - Mata - Schurrle

Torres