With a host of top-quality new signings, Chelsea have thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the league during this summer transfer window. Unsurprisingly for a squad with such quality in depth, there are some questions over the starting XI which are yet to be answered.

 

The days of the old generation seem to be behind us, and although there are some remnants of that particular vintage (more now Drogba has returned), there is a force of prospective new 'untouchables' who are fighting for a place in the future champions' (fingers crossed) starting XI.

 

I would argue that there are only five players who will go into the new season as unquestionable starters in their chosen position: Cahill (RCB), Terry (LCB), Matic (DM), Hazard (LW) and Costa (CF). The other six positions are more or less up for grabs, with a host of quality candidates competing for the roles and already sparking debates which will undoubtedly continue throughout the season. Some players not mentioned will almost certainly find themselves in the starting XI but not having secured a particular role in the team; I want to know into what role you think our new signings will best fit.

 

I am interested in hearing your opinions on these debates going into the season and seeing where we land by next May, at which point we can revisit our predictions with a smug, satisfied grin or an embarrassing, deafening silence.

 

 

 

A couple of notes:

 

1) Every question will have several other possible answers or combinations, I've tried to narrow it down to the most likely.

2) Some (if not all) of these debates have been discussed at length already. Apologies if that grates, although I assume it will provide for informed debate...

3) Q4 allows for more than one answer in order to allow for those who see us playing 4-3-3.

 

4-3-3

 

Matic and Fabregas with Oscar the most attacking of the three. 

 

Hazard and Schurrle on the wings.

 

Dave and Luis as full backs to give natural width and Courtois in goal. 

Curtois in net. Azpi and Luis the fullbacks. Going with a 4-3-3 that has a midfield trio of Willian, Matic and Fabregas. Schurrle mans the right wing

Predicting this against burnley

Cech

Dave Cahill terry luis

Magic fabregas

Schurrle oscar hazard

Costa

Although yesterday when we switched to 4 3 3 we looked much more lethal

So yeah. f**k knows.

Edited July 28, 201411 yr by CFC_RFC_TID!

I know most of you won't agree but I think Fabregas at #10 would take our attacking midfield at another level...

He can score and assist sh*tloads from this position. The DLP position might limit his performance in terms of scoring goals etc.

Oscar is just too much inconsistent... at #10.. hope he'll be better this season..

 

But yeah this could only happen if we get a good quality CM like Vidal or Pogba but since that's not the case we will stick with him at DLP...

Or we can shift to 4-3-3. This formation will give him more freedom to go ahead..

 

But we could also play this against big teams

 

Courtois;

Azpi, Cahill, Terry, Luis

Ramires, Matic, Fabregas

Schurrle, Costa, Hazard

4-3-3

 

Matic and Fabregas with Oscar the most attacking of the three. 

 

Hazard and Schurrle on the wings.

 

Dave and Luis as full backs to give natural width and Courtois in goal. 

 

yep 

Surprised Ramires hasn't been mentioned!

.....I know he had a poor season, but so did Oscar!

.... Edit. Oscar had a poor last 12 games! (Sorry)

Looks like my choices agreed with the majority aside from saying that Willian should have Oscar's place in the team.

4-3-3. Ramires/oscar should rotate 

4-3-3 with ramires (maybe even wulfert) and sex in front of matic

Courtois

Dave

Gazza

J.t

Filipe

Matic

Fab

Willy

Hazard

Shirley

Diego

Subs cech. Iva.zouma Rambo. Oscar. Drogs. Lukaku

Sell- Torres,mikel,marin,Bertrand,moses

I went for the 4-2-3-1 as our 'Plan A', although I'm not sure the formation particularly matters. Either way I want our first-choice midfield to be Matic, Fabregas and Oscar with Oscar as the further forward of the three. Certainly we have enough quality in depth to be able to play a number of strategies based on our opponents of the day. A 4-3-3 with Matic, Ramires/Mikel and one of Fabregas and Oscar seems like a fine Plan B.

 

This was the XI I ended up voting for:

 

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

Azpilicueta----Cahill---Terry------Luis

----------------Matic----Fabregas

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

----------------------Costa

Ok, fess up. Who voted for Mikel??

I'm going for...

 

Courtois

Dave...Cahill...Terry...Luis

Matic...MVG

Shirley...Fab....Hazard

Costa

 

Which with morph to...

 

Courtois

Dave...Cahill...Terrry...Luis

Matic...Fab...MVG

Shirley...Costa...Hazard

 

...when needed.

 

Sorry, Oscar.  Prove to me you're worth your place.

Courtois

Azp, Terry, Cahill, Luis

Matic, Fabregas

Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard

Costa

 

I can't contain my excitement for the start of the season.

4-3-3

 

Matic and Fabregas with Oscar the most attacking of the three. 

 

Hazard and Schurrle on the wings.

 

Dave and Luis as full backs to give natural width and Courtois in goal. 

 

Like

I love 4-3-3, it brings the best, most direct football you can play really.

We are setup for 4-2-3-1 though, that much is obvious and I don't see it changing much.

Matic and Fabregras being the 2 that will be there every week in the league campaign.

If we are up against a lot of rigid systems this year that we cant break down I hope we switch to 4-3-3 more and really go for it.

I think 4-2-3-1 is our natural formation really, but we need to be competent at 4-3-3 for certain games and have that in our locker. 4-2-3-1 works well IF your striker can handle it and looking at Costa so far in pre-season, he can.

 

Courtois (PRM/CL) / Cech (FA/LC/PRM)

 

Dave - Cahill - Terry - Luis

 

Fabregas - Matic

 

Schurrle - Hazard - Willian

 

Costa

 

Subs: Cech, Ivan, Zouma, Mikel, Van Ginkel, Oscar, Drogba 

4-3-3

 

Matic and Fabregas with Oscar the most attacking of the three. 

 

Hazard and Schurrle on the wings.

 

Dave and Luis as full backs to give natural width and Courtois in goal. 

Absolutely seems best side we have at the moment

I think 4-2-3-1 is our natural formation really, but we need to be competent at 4-3-3 for certain games and have that in our locker. 4-2-3-1 works well IF your striker can handle it and looking at Costa so far in pre-season, he can.

Courtois (PRM/CL) / Cech (FA/LC/PRM)

Dave - Cahill - Terry - Luis

Fabregas - Matic

Schurrle - Hazard - Willian

Costa

Subs: Cech, Ivan, Zouma, Mikel, Van Ginkel, Oscar, Drogba

petr cech for FA cup and carling cups? that is just insulting. Everything cech has to do for courtuois this is similar to the drogba/ Costa situation. Only that he will play a smaller role this season. For example, for the first weeks of the season, he'll definitely play seeing as Courtois just reported in training

The 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 arguement is non existant, the way the team play will be a fluid mix of the 2 dependant on oppositon and available players.

 

Oscar will find his feet this season, its hard to shine in the 10 role when you have no striker infront of you with real presence. Too often him and Hazard found themselves double teamed by multiple defenders whilst they consitently ignored the sh*t out of marking Torres. Costa will be a different beast, hopefully crerating space for our 3 to work in.

 

Cech will start as first choice, or he will be sold. The window will see, I could see him moving to PSG once Mourinho is happy with Courtois, Itll be a shame but Courtois is our Gk for the next 10 years,