What does everyone think is our best 11 this season?

We have a big enough squad to play horses for courses, but I think we have identify a hierarchy to allow the players to perform under less pressure.

In goal petr cech is an easy choice.

Right back id still stick ivanovic away from home, but at home id play azpiliucueta, as he does have the edge on ivanovic going forward.

At centre back luiz plays nearly every game with terry. Cahill plays when either need a rest, or get injured.

Left back would be bertrand at home and cole in the tough away games. Ive been bitterly disappointed with cole this season, I think he hinders our attack and gives the ball away cheaply. He's still fairly solid defensively but not the player he once was.

Centre midfield I would drop oscar deeper and pair him up with mikel at home. I think away at teams in the top half in might be better to go with ramires and mikel, as ramires can hurt teams on the break with his pace.

Wide right would be willian. I rate him highly and I can see being a big player for us.

Centrally mata must start every game, If jose has been watching us over the last 2 seasons he would noticed just how much of a leader mata has become on the pitch. We play better when he plays.

Wide left hazard, who hasn't started the season particularly well, he's shown glimpses, but I think he performs better with mata pulling the strings, and hopefully bertrands forward runs will allow him more space, similar to the alaba/ribery combination that bayern deploy so effectively.

Schurrle and de bruyne to provide more than adequate cover and competition for the attacking positions.

Eto'o would start up top, with torres and ba battling for the odd appearance. None fill me with confidence but eto'o, showed yesterday that he at least makes the right runs, and his touch and link up play is assured. If he takes his chances he'l score a hat full this season.

at home;

Cech

Azpilicueta Luiz Terry Bertrand

Oscar Mikel

Willian Mata Hazard

Eto'o

Tricky away fixture;

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz Terry Cole

Ramires Mikel

Willian Mata Hazard

Eto'o

I don't know. So far I'd still say that Hazard/Mata/Oscar is probably our best even though Oscar wasn't great on the wing and we've seen some others play. The just had great chemistry with each other. Like you said Hazard worked better when Mata was there. But I think KDB will do really well in place of Oscar tbh.

 

Cole should be in our best XI but he's been poor so far so I'm not sure on that either -- we also haven't seen how well Berty can do. Shame Cole has been like this because he was the best LB in the world a few years ago.

 

Cech

Azpi Luiz Terry Bertrand

Ramires/Mikel 

Hazard Mata KDB

Eto'o

 

At home something like that. But regarding the full backs I'd possibly rather have one of Ivanovic/Cole in certain games.

 

Cech 

Ivan Luiz Terry Cole

Ramires/Mikel

Hazard Mata KDB

Eto'o

 

I think looking at the midfield it highlights a need for a DLP of some sorts -- or at least someone who can control a game from deep. Maybe MVG can do something similar. 

Edited September 15, 201312 yr by MANoWAR

Cech

 

Azpi  Luiz  Terry  Cole

 

  Oscar  Ramires

 

KDB  Mata  Hazard

 

         Eto'o

From what ive seen so far

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

Azpi-----Luiz---Cahill---Cole

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

Willian-------Oscar------Hazard

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

Edited September 15, 201312 yr by Mamizcar

Depends entirely on who we are playing and where we are playing them.

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

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

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

KDB--------Mata------Hazard

-------------Eto'o-------------

Edited September 15, 201312 yr by timetowaste

CECH

IVANOVIC

CAHILL

TERRY

LUIZ

OSCAR

RAMIRES

WILLIAN

MATA

HAZARD

ETO'O

Fed up with Ashley's performances past the half way line

Edited September 15, 201312 yr by Star

CECH

IVANOVIC

CAHILL

TERRY

LUIZ

OSCAR

RAMIRES

WILLIAN

MATA

HAZARD

ETO'O

Fed up with Ashley's performances past the half way line

Good job he makes up for it in his own half then

Cech

Azpi Cahill Terry Berty

Ramires Van Ginkel

KDB Mata Hazard

Lukaku   Eto'o

Cech

Azpi Luiz Ivanovic Bertrand

Van ginkel De Bruyne

Mata Oscar Hazard

Eto'o

Cech
Azpi Cahill Ivanovic Luiz

Mikel Van Ginkel

De Bruyne Oscar Hazard

Torres

I find it unbelievable that some have written Cole off based on 1 poor performance.

 

People forget that it was only a few weeks ago he was putting in a world class performance agianst Bayern.

 

I also don't know how people can choose Van Ginkel in their best 11, i mean what are you even basing that on ?

Edited September 17, 201312 yr by Scott Harris

From what ive seen so far

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

Azpi-----Luiz---Cahill---Cole

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

Willian-------Oscar------Hazard

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

 

Based on what you have seen so far ? Willian hasn't even played yet.

I find it unbelievable that some have written Cole off based on 1 poor performance.

People forget that it was only a few weeks ago he was putting in a world class performance agianst Bayern.

I also don't know how people can choose Van Ginkel in their best 11, i mean what are you even basing that on ?

Think cole been poor for 18 momths overall, I think playing with injuries has taken its toll, but he is still solid defensively. Bertrand deserves a run out and could possibly even provide more going forward.

Based on what you have seen so far ? Willian hasn't even played yet.

Yh, I know. Schurrle hasnt really impressed me bar the Bayern game.

I put Bertrand in but cole is still class just thinking of more offensively. The reason for a de bruyne van ginkle pivot is they are the best fit for a 2 man midfield. Playing a 4-3-3 like we did when mourinho was first here a trio of Mikel Ramires and lampard together would complement each other nicely.

playing a 4-2-3-1 is hard to get right as the 2 have to be both mobile and fast AND be consistent and comfortable on the ball. Ramires is everything but consistent so we could be stuffed if he's not on his game. Lampard and Mikel are both to slow to be able to cover the ground in a 2 but in a 3 with Ramires they would be covered by his energy.

There are 4 players who can play the pivot imo. Chalobah and van ginkel as the more defensive part and de bruyne and Oscar as the more attacking side.

All 4 are a fair size all are mobile and quick and they are all comfortable on the ball and look consistent. Oscar is, for me best in the number 10 role with mata on the right and hazard on the left. So although he is capable in the 2 I see him best off elsewhere. So de bruyne should fit into the attacking side of the duo. Chalobah and van ginkel is a tricky one and I would prefer to see chalobah I think van ginkel is further ahead atm. Thats why I selected the plyers I did not necessarily go for the best team on paper and stats just what I feel is the most well rounded and ballanced 11.

Luiz was superb cutting in from the left when an attacking left back for Benfica.

He has to be in our starting eleven and no way will he be a centre half to trust.

With four centre backs with experience, defending set pieces and balls in the box

against lesser opposition will see us pick up more points on the road than we could

imagine.

I am absolutely certain Luiz will become the best left back in world football given

the role.

COURTOIS (Bring him back already :) )

 

AZPILICUETA

IVANOVIC

DAVID LUIZ

COLE

 

RAMIRES

LAMPARD

 

WILLIAN

MATA

HAZARD

 

TORRES

Edited September 18, 201312 yr by HabsCFC

Its a squad game.Players showing tiredness will be rested.I will leave team selection to Jose.Really looking forward to seeing Willian and Eto,o will get sharper.Ash looks a bit tired of late ,maybe he could do with a rest.

Cech

 

Azpilicueta

Cahill

Terry

Cole

 

Luiz

Oscar

 

De Bruyne

Mata

Hazard

 

Eto'o

 

I feel that is the strongest team we could field.

I think we should try a 433 at some point.

From what I have seen so far :

Cech

Dave

Luiz

Terry

Bertrand

Mikel

Oscar

Hazard

Mata

Debruyne

Torres

Subs

Swarzer

Ivanovic

Cole

Ramires

Lampard

Willian

Schurle

No idea of our best eleven but I'd try this against Fulham, then for the next three or four games with only changes to the starting eleven being Lamps for KDB and Ivan for Dave or Mikel for Ramires depening on the opposition. I'd also bring Bertrand in for Ash on the occasion Where I had Ivan for Dave, idea being a rest for Ash and a more solid defender the other side.

 

If some consistency creeps in then maybe try a few options.

 

 

Cech

Dave

Cahill

JT

Cole

Ramires

KDB

Mata

Oscar

Eto'o

Hazard

 

Shwarzer

Luiz

Ivan

Shuurle

Mikel

Willian

Torres

                     Cech

Dave         Cahill     Terry      cole

 

             Ramires    Oscar

 

Kdb                Mata             Hazard

 

                   Torres

 

That is our strongest team in my opinion.  Get that team out there saturday and the following games after that and get some wins under our belts. Then we can think about rotating 1 or 2 each game and we can stop with the 5 or 6 different players coming in each game

Luiz was superb cutting in from the left when an attacking left back for Benfica.

He has to be in our starting eleven and no way will he be a centre half to trust.

With four centre backs with experience, defending set pieces and balls in the box

against lesser opposition will see us pick up more points on the road than we could

imagine.

I am absolutely certain Luiz will become the best left back in world football given

the role.

No he wasn't, he was average and down right poor in some games. He was moved to centre back for a reason (By Jorge Jesus no less and he knows a thing or two when it comes to finding the right roles for players) and that's because that's his best position. 

 

We shouldn't be handicapping our team to compensate for the odd set piece against lesser sides, that's what they should be doing. They should be worried about our set pieces, not the other way around. 

 

Playing Luiz at left back would be an insult to Bertrand.