Thought it would be a good idea to start up our first official match thread of the season when we are so close to kicking things off in the PL, it's been a very long off season, or at least felt like it and I just can't wait to see us back at the bridge with Mourinho at the helm.

 

 

Not been this excited for a new season in awhile now and im expecting us to have a great season and hopefully we can get off to a flying start v Hull City.

 

 

My prediction is a comfortable 3-0 win.

 

 

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

Ivan----------Luiz----------------Terry©----------Cole

 

 

--------------Ramires-------Van Ginkel

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Ramires and Van Ginkel have been the most impressive duo at the pivot for me in pre-season so I would not mind them starting at all, Mata, Oscar and Hazard behind Lukaku who could hopefully bag a goal or two for a boost.

 

 

My god I cannot wait, this will be a long week and we have to wait until bloody Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wohoooo! Great to see whether our squad changes before next sunday. I don't think anything happens in that front before the last day if even then.

I think the choice of starting striker is the most interesting decision there is. It can be any of the 3 to be honest. My wish and hope is on Lukaku. I'm sure it would mean the world to him.

Phew.....After Jose's appointment, it feels like 10 years without no football!!

 

Thankfully let the show begin.

 

Mata wont start the game but will play a part in the 2nd half. Same with Frank.

 

The front 4 will be looking like :

 

Oscar        De Bruyne         Hazard

 

                  Lukaku

Cech

aza ivan luiz cole

ramires De Bruyne

Oscar Mata Hazard

Torres

Not quite sure about starting both Van Ginkel and De Bruyne and I'd like to find room for Schurle.

Also not sure how fit Mata is.

Very hard to fit Mata, Hazard, Oscar, De Bruyne and Schurle into the one team despite the fact they are all internationals. Oscar played virtually every minute for Brazil when they won the confed cup and looked pretty good most of the time.

Edited August 12, 201312 yr by ozboy

I think the new guys need to be worked into the first 11 over the first few games. It is of course vital that we start the season strongly, and then continue strongly through the middle and latter parts.

Who have Hull got that will cause us a problem?

Team I want to see

 

Iva Terry Luiz Cole

Ramires Lampard

Moses Mata Hazard

Lukaku

 

Don't think Mata will start but will come on if we're struggling to break them down .

 

MVG has been very good in pre-season but ramires is ramires and lampard is a god . They both deserve to be ahead of him  . 

 

Lukaku up front but could be any of them .....

It all depends on who plays and for how long in the internationals.

 

My team would be

 

Cech

 

Ivan Luiz JT Ash

 

Oscar Rambo

 

Schurle Mata Hazard

 

Torres

cech

ivan luiz terry cole

ramires van ginkel

mata oscar hazard

lukaku

4-0 lukaku(2), mata, de bruyne.

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

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

---Ramires----Essien---

Schurrle-Oscar-Hazard

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

Leadership and experience combined with youth and enthusiasm and lots of skill.

2-0 Chelsea. Lukaku and JT.

Cech

 

Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Cole

 

Essien (Lampard sub) - Van Ginkel

 

Moses (Oscar sub) - De Bruyne - Hazard

 

Torres (Lukaku sub)

 

3-0 - Moses, Lampard, Lukaku

 

Luiz & Mata rested. And I'm probably going to be so ridiculously wrong, this lineup is so difficult to call! But what a bench we're going to have regardless!

I think considering the internationals it is tough to call. I reckon he will go with

 

                                       Cech

Ivan                     Cahil               Terry             Cole

 

                            Ramires         essien

 

De bruyne                    Oscar                    Hazard

 

                             lukaku or torres

I am of the opinion that Mata should be starting every single game that he is fit, provided he is not tired etc.

He is essential to the team and to drop him regularly would be madness.

I am of the opinion that Mata should be starting every single game that he is fit, provided he is not tired etc.

He is essential to the team and to drop him regularly would be madness.

Agreed but the problem is he isn't fit enough at the moment. He has been injured and barely played any minutes in pre season. Plus he goes away with spain and doesn't come back until saturday evening. I don't think we will be seeing mata regularly until after the first international break

Only six more sleeps!!

 

Don't care what side is picked, in Jose I trust.

 

3 points to us and good luck to Hull for the rest of the season.

 

KTBFFH

I think Mata has a knock and wont be risked for Spain and probably not for Hull starting line-up either...

For ManU game we need him back. No chance of even talk about winning without him. He is our Messi talking about making the difference...

Agreed but the problem is he isn't fit enough at the moment. He has been injured and barely played any minutes in pre season. Plus he goes away with spain and doesn't come back until saturday evening. I don't think we will be seeing mata regularly until after the first international break

mata isn't with the spain squad, personally I think he needs minutes especially considering we go to old Trafford in 2 weeks. At home to hull should be an ideal game to get him 60 mins.

I would go for:

 

Cech

 

Ivan - Luiz - Terry - Cole

 

Ramires - van Ginkel

 

KDB - Mata - Hazard

 

Lukaku

So excited! Cannot wait until Sunday!

Cech

Ivan - Luiz - JT - Cole

Ramires - Essien

Mata - Oscar - Hazard

Torres

Lukaku for Torres if Torres is having a Torres day.

Mourinho will be keen to give a warning to both Manchester clubs. So I see us smashing them.

5/6-0

_{---------------------------------------------------Cech--------------------------------------------}

 

_{Ivanovic---------------------Luiz------------------------------Terry---------------------Cole}

 

_{-------------------------------Ramires----------------Lampard------------------------------}

_---

_{Moses---------------------------------------Oscar-------------------------------Schurrle}

 

_{-----------------------------------------------Lukaku--------------------------------------------}

 

                                       

Hull is used to winning from last season so it wont be all Chelsea I suppose. I think they will show grit and attitude and go down late with JT scoring at death of first half and Lukaku finising them off in the second. 2-0.

_{---------------------------------------------------Cech--------------------------------------------}

 

_{Ivanovic---------------------Luiz------------------------------Terry---------------------Cole}

 

_{-------------------------------Ramires----------------Lampard------------------------------}

_---

_{Moses---------------------------------------Oscar-------------------------------Schurrle}

 

_{-----------------------------------------------Lukaku--------------------------------------------}

 

                                       

No hazard? This isn't a pre season friendly you know

mata isn't with the spain squad, personally I think he needs minutes especially considering we go to old Trafford in 2 weeks. At home to hull should be an ideal game to get him 60 mins.

Is he not? I thought I saw his name in the squad. Even if he isn't I don't think he will be risked sunday. Should get minutes later on in the game though. I can't see luiz playing either.

No hazard? This isn't a pre season friendly you know

 

 

  Hull are not Real Madrid.

 

  Hazard can be used if Schurrle is not producing.

  Hull are not Real Madrid.

 

  Hazard can be used if Schurrle is not producing.

 

resting players in the first competitive match of the season?! you must be out of your mind

resting players in the first competitive match of the season?! you must be out of your mind

Agreed lane. While we should beat hull anything is possible. Let's not get arrogant hull will be well up for it and well drilled. First game of the season I'll take three points anyway we get it. A few years back we struggled against hull in our first home game. Drogba popped up with the winner.