This on paper is a hard game, although it is certainly doable.

Schalke have 4 key injuries, which should weaken them significantly (bizarrely all of the knee variety!)

> Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

> Kevin-Prince Boateng

> Kyriakos Papadopoulos

> Jermaine Jones

Boateng could make a recovery in time, the others I am not so sure.

As far as I know we have no major injuries apart from Cole?

Edited October 17, 201312 yr by Zola

Even if they were fit, I wouldn't lose sleep over this game.

 

Huntelaar is massively overrated.

 

Boateng gets more haircuts than goals and I've never heard of Jermaine Jones. 

 

3 points. A draw wouldn't be a disaster if it were to happen. 

Edited October 17, 201312 yr by JoeyN

^ They have 3 impressive creative talents in Meyer, Draxler & Grotezka, they could pose a problem.

^ They have 3 impressive creative talents in Meyer, Draxler & Grotezka, they could pose a problem.

 

We have Hazard, Oscar, Mata, De Bruyne, Schurrle and Willian...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Torres 

Edited October 17, 201312 yr by JoeyN

Huntelaar has now had surgery on his knee and is out till the new year, so will miss both games.

Good for us, but of course for bad for him! Hope he recovers soon, always quite rated him, we certainly could've done a lot worse.

Edited October 18, 201312 yr by bjd

Hard game, but think we've enough quality and experience to win it.

Huntelaar has now had surgery on his knee and is out till the new year, so will miss both games.

Good for us, but of course for bad for him! Hope he recovers soon, always quite rated him, we certainly could've done a lot worse.

 

He's excellent at goal-poaching, but he's always been too one-dimensional and his link-up play was never good enough for him to be a striker at a top club. He's very good at scoring goals but he doesn't bring anything else to the team. He could have been a decent stop-gap, I suppose.

He's excellent at goal-poaching, but he's always been too one-dimensional and his link-up play was never good enough for him to be a striker at a top club. He's very good at scoring goals but he doesn't bring anything else to the team. He could have been a decent stop-gap, I suppose.

For me the main thing he lacks is movement, he stands still far too much.

. 

 

3 points. A draw wouldn't be a disaster if it were to happen. 

 

Still don't think a draw would be a disaster . We are still not at a "must win" point of the compitition . However a draw would be unfavourable given our first result in the compitition and we should be going there to win .

Edited October 19, 201312 yr by gussy122

For me the main thing he lacks is movement, he stands still far too much.

 

That too, his movement's not on the same level as most top strikers. Huntelaar gets into great positions but he doesn't stretch defences by any means, nor is he adept at bringing others into play. For me he's little more than a finisher - essentially anonymous until the ball gets within a few yards of the box. His actual finishing technique is impressive but he's over-reliant on others to perform and very unlikely to score a goal out of absolutely nothing (much like what Drogba used to do).

I think we'll comfortably win this.

I think the onus should be on them to go for the win, so i'd like to see us go with quite a counter attacking line-up.

 

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

Iva - Cahill - JT - Bertrand

-------Ramires - Mikel

Schurrle - Oscar - Hazard

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

 

Alternatively Willian/Eto'o in for Schurrle/Torres. 

 

I wouldn't start with both Oscar and Mata (or De Bruyne if he still exists), would rather see us with two more direct players on the wing (2 of Hazard/Schurrle/Willian), perhaps Schurrle over Willian because he'll know this opposition well.

 

Mikel over Lampard to give us that extra protection and Bertrand if Ash is still out.

 

I expect Luiz will be dropped after that poor performance.

Edited October 19, 201312 yr by Jonty

Always kinda liked Huntelaar myself, so glad that he's out (albeit in unfortunate circumstances).

 

Schalke are not going to be an easy team to beat, but I think we have enough to win it.  Not sure who will start up front, but I'd wager both Oscar and Hazard will play.  I'd imagine Schurrle has a good shout if he is fit.

Schurrle should play this game considering he is familiar with Schalke. Probably been terrorizing Schalke fullbacks for years.

 

Anyone see Bertrand, Cahill, or Azpi getting minutes this game? Bertrand looks half a step pacier than Cole atm.

Edited October 19, 201312 yr by RickCFC

Where did you guys gonna have a drink before the game?

Ten German bombers...

 

I think there are 3 positions up for debate. Centre back does he stick with dodgy but brilliant luiz or solid cahill? Pivot does he stick with lampard or did he play him yesterday with the knowledge that mikel would play midweek? And finally striker does he go with eto after his goal and hope that's given him the confidence or does he go with torres who looked sharp before the injury but came on today and did very little?

--cech--

Azpilicueta-Cahill-JT-Bertie

Ramires-Mikel

Schurrle-Oscar-Hazard

Eto'o

I think that line up gives a good mix of possession + counter attack ability. They won't park the bus. They'll come at us and I think this line up provides extra defense with Mikel + some countering with Schurrle!

Tough game. Will be a low scoring one like these always are. I'd say 1-2 to us if everything goes well.

Draxler is a great player and with bags of potential still to be unleashed. If someone thinks this will be easy think again. We are the favourite naturally but away at Schalke arena..

I think the onus should be on them to go for the win, so i'd like to see us go with quite a counter attacking line-up.

 

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

Iva - Cahill - JT - Bertrand

-------Ramires - Mikel

Schurrle - Oscar - Hazard

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

 

Alternatively Willian/Eto'o in for Schurrle/Torres. 

 

I wouldn't start with both Oscar and Mata (or De Bruyne if he still exists), would rather see us with two more direct players on the wing (2 of Hazard/Schurrle/Willian), perhaps Schurrle over Willian because he'll know this opposition well.

 

Mikel over Lampard to give us that extra protection and Bertrand if Ash is still out.

 

I expect Luiz will be dropped after that poor performance.

 

I think this is SPOT on! Good job Jonty 

 

I would however like Azpi to start on the right, or at the very least play int he second half pending the scoreline!

 

2-1 Chels

Yes I think that's pretty close to the team that will play if Schurle is recovered

I would like to see Essien feature at some point as well. 

We need the win here to make up for the home loss to Basel.  If we assume everyone beats Steau home and away we've got a bit of work to do before we top the group.

If we win we're as good as through, if we lose we're bang in trouble.

 

That's my considered opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Must win to make up for the Basel debacle and to give us a chance of avoiding being dumped out of the CL in the group stages for the second year running.