So this is going to be a huge game for both sides. And for the first time this season I think Jose will have a bit of selection headache for the right reasons. We have two strikers who look supremely confident right now and if we were playing any other team I would love to see them paired together from the start. But that midfield City have is just too strong at the moment for us to start two strikers, in my humble opinion.

 

What did you all think of that little nick that Schurrle picked up today? Serious enough to rule him out this weekend?

 

Also I thought our back four had a pretty solid game against Schalke. Should we stick with the same back four or put in Bertrand for his attacking quality?

 

As always, come on Chelsea! And I think we will be strong enough to get the victory, so much cohesion and confidence within the group right now that I'm fairly certain we can get all three points at home, even against such a strong team like City.

I have no idea what team Jose will send out but I'm feeling confident regardless.  City have been the one side to consistently trouble us over the last few years and it needs to end.  It's mainly because of Toure, but I just don't know how we're going to deal with him.  

 

The good news is they have to go to Moscow for the CL, so lets hope the Russians give them a game to compound it.  A loss for either team will be especially demoralising as everyone else at the top has much easier games, and it won't feel nice potentially being knocked back into 8th with the also-rans like Hull and United. 

As long as we don't lose I consider it a good start to the season. We've started okay in my opinion but the important thing is to not get carried away like Gooners do.

The good news is City play in Moscow (long distance) on a poor pitch and near 24 hours after us so it gives us extra rest. City have to win as well so they can't even afford to go anything less than full throttle.

City laid down a marker by thumping United (albeit following that up with a loss at Villa), now it's our turn to do the same and make a real statement of intent by beating them.

No doubt people will be confident after this mornings result but I'm absolutley 100% without any shadow of doubt willing to accept a draw here . A win of course , would be amazing .

High pressure as is our first "big" premier league game at home. If we are title material we need to win the home "big" games and get what we can on the road.

Jose knew why we lost to them last couple of times. I believe he will make changes to counter Toure, may see a 433 for start.

...to me this has a 2 2 draw written all over it......i believe chelsea will play very well in the second half and overpower city, but, with a possible , normal for us, slow start, city will have enough nous to take advantage......unless of course...chelseas team go into this match with a different mindset

City have gotten our goat the past three times, we are Draw-Loss-Loss against them right now. I'm sure Aguero will get his obligatory goal against us like Chicharito, but I think Ramires will play well against City and he's a very important player for us this game.

 

Ramires with 6 days' rest is a big positive for us going into this battle, come on #cfc

Tough game and I think 4-3-3 might be more effective here to manage their midfield better (and when i say midfield i mean Toure!)

 

That said sticking with the trusted 4-2-3-1 and then switching to game plan B or the 'implement total confusion' plan as i like to call it might also work... I think JM will need to read this game minute by minute and be able to change the team structure and pace as it goes along... and we all know he's good at that!

 

A valid weapon in our... 'arsenal' (sorry for that!) to have the ability to morph our shape/player positioning to adapt to games!

 

Oh so looking forward to this one!!

 

KTBFFH!

I'm nervous about this one, not going to lie.

 

Main headache is going to be who to pick in the holding midfield, do you bring in Mikel or a bit of extra defensive cover or persist with Lampard and Ramires? 

 

Not sure I fancy the idea of Dave at left back for this one assuming Cole still isn't fit so would like to see Bertrand restored to the starting XI and Cahill to continue over Luiz because he was excellent last night. 

 

Got to be Torres leading the line, he's looking the most likely to score of all our strikers and his movement has generally been very good. 

 

The attacking midfield trio are going to have to work their socks off both offensively and defensively so I would stick with Schurrle over Mata if he is fit (ankle was strapped when he came off last night) although a case could be made for Willian as well as his work rate was fantastic against Cardiff. 

 

             Cech

 

Ivan - Cahill - Terry - Bertrand

 

       Ramires - Lampard

 

  Hazard - Oscar - Schurrle

 

                Torres

Should be one or two surprises from José, can't wait for this game.

 

City is always a bloody tough game for us, at least they have not got Tevez anymore!

Can't wait for this game I reckon we will win.

Tough game, but we can win it.

David silva and Aguero both on great form. Gonna be tough but I reckon we'll nick it.

2-1

Massive game this one. Whoever wins will be laying down a marker of title winning intentions and City have certainly had the better over us in recent seasons. Hoping that Mourinho can out-tactic Pellegrini and our big-game players perform better than theirs on the day. I would go for:

 

   --------------Cech

 

 

Ivan ------- Cahill ------- JT---------- Bertrand

 

----------Ramires --- Luiz

 

 

Hazard ------- Oscar ------- Schurrle

 

 

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

 

 

Subs: Schwarzer, Dave, Mikel, Lamps, Mata, Eto, KDB

Edited October 23, 201312 yr by Nibs

4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 is almost identical formations. Especially when Oscar plays the "10". He tracks back a lot and comes deep for the ball. Against Schalke he dropped very deep especially at the start of the second halfand we played with a three man midfield. I think we will se more of the same against City in an effort to shore up in defense and keep moving the ball better from the back four. I think Mourinho might play Mikel/Ramires for this one with Oscar as the 10. Gives us more flexibility and gives Ramires more freedom to make offensive runs, especially on the counter

I'd persist with Dave at left back. Can lamps play three games a week?

Do you bring mata back? For Schurle maybe

Rotating just one or two players seems to be working well. Cahill hardly put a foot wrong but Luiz offers more going forward.

Well, this is a massive game. For me, City are favourites for the title, and we are their main challengers.

 

Torres or Eto'o? It's a difficult one. Eto'o is getting better and better and scored a good goal on Saturday, a key goal too, and Torres is looking good and scoring goals, though that elusive Premiership goal hasn't come.

 

Good to have two strikers in form for a change. I won't grumble whoever plays. I suspect it will be Torres.

 

Cole? Plays if fit, obviously, if not who? I have no doubt Jose will stick with Dave, absolutely no doubt at all.

 

Going to be very very tight this one.

 

Luiz or Cahill? I have a hunch it will be Luiz but we will see ..

 

Cech, Ivan, Cole, Luiz, Terry, Ramires, Hazard, Lampard, Torres, Oscar, Schurrle.

 

Subs: Schwarzer, Dave, Cahill, Mikel, Mata, Willian, Eto'o.

Oops, I forgot to say City have to travel to Moscow tonight, which gives us an advantage, particularly as we are at home.

 

Hopefully CSKA give them a game tonight.

Hopefully CSKA give them a game tonight.

 

Pellegrini has said if it rains he wants the game abandoned and postponed. 

 

"I just saw the pitch. I think it's unbelievable that the most important cup competition in the world is allowed to be played on this pitch," Pellegrini said. "We must pray on Wednesday that it's not raining. If it's raining, it will be impossible to play on this pitch. It could be called off. I didn't believe it when I saw the pitch. For the two teams, and also for the people who will watch the game, this is the most important competition in the world and it deserves a better pitch. If it is not raining, it is not a risk for injury. It is a very good ground pitch, not a good grass pitch."

 

The cynic in me thinks he would like to avoid having to play a tough match in testing conditions away from home on the eve of such a big away fixture in the league. 

We are due a win against City, feeling quite positive about this one.

 

With their trip to Russia (and playing a day after us) one would hope we would be the fresher side and we should be full of confidence after our win last night.

 

As others have said, should they get anything but a win tonight that could also knock their confidence down a little, their away form is hardly great as it is.

 

We are the home side on Sunday, hoping for a good atmosphere much like the Monday night game a couple of years ago where it was a pulsating night where the crowd played a big role and got to see Mata embarrass Toure & Kompany all night to the extent they pretty much just had to foul him to stop him.

 

I do wish we had the Bison of old for this one as he would goe toe to toe with Toure on the physical side of things which has been the element we have struggled with in recent defeats however if the is one man I would trust to come up with something to counter thi thread it would be Jose Mourinho.

Edited October 23, 201312 yr by mclovin83

I feel so much better going in to this knowing we have Jose. He's going to be the difference I think. 

 

A 1-0 win I reckon.

I'm sure Aguero will get his obligatory goal against us

 

You mean Tevez there. Luckily he's gone. Don't think Aguero scores against us regularly at all

Nasri is the c**t we need to watch out for. 

Jose once stuck Essien on Gerrard in a very effective man marking job. Maybe we can stick someone on Toure, maybe David Luiz?

 

Far as Eto'o or Torres goes, would be just like Jose to play a right wildcard and start with Ba now wouldn't it lol.