Well after two weeks of no football we now have two games in the space of a few days. Very excited for the kick-off to the new CL campaign, a win here would be a a statement against probably the toughest team in our group. Thoughts on the lineup, taking into account our trip to City next Sunday?

 

Not sure what Jose has in mind to start with against City, maybe the same as Swansea with Ramires in for Schurrle?

 

Far as this game goes we need to make a good start to the CL group, that draw with Juve in the first game a few years back ultimately proved crucial so 3 points are a must. 

 

So same back 5 for me, could make a change or 2 in midfield, Willian most likely to come in. Costa is on fire so we cannot leave him out, can sub him early if we get the job done.

Hopefully we'll rest a few players, possibly Remy, Felipe Luis and Willian to come into the starting line up.

Luis will almost certainly come on for which ever of the 3 Jose feels needs a rest. Mikel,Willian and Salah could well replace Matic , Oscar and Hazard respectively and we we could see Cech replace Courtois.

I think he will start Costa, his confidence is sky high and bang in form and with strikers they must play when in this mood but I think Remy will get at least 30minutes at the end.

Be great to be in complete control with 20 mins left and see the likes of zouma and baker given a some game time ahead of the Bolton game where I think both will start.

I think we should make a few changes for this one

Cech

Apzi

Cahill

Ivan

Luis

Matic

Ramires

Oscar

Schurrle

Remy

Hazard

Reason I wouldn't start Willian is I think he ends to start against City.

Edited September 14, 201411 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

Will be important to get a good start here, would like to see Willian get a start

Edited September 14, 201411 yr by Xfaxtor

Burnley

Leicester

Everton

Swansea

Schalke

 

And on a Sunday too. (that's today, as I write, not the day of the match)

We ran riot against Schalke last season if I remember correctly and that was without Costa, Remy or Fabregas.

 

I think we'll win this, not sure on the margin though.

Schalke are third from bottom in bundesliga after 3 games having score 3 and conceded 7

Still they will be no pushover. I think we have to rest costa, and hazard

I'd like to rest fab a bit also but he's needed

Courtois, Ivan, Cahill, JT, Luis, Matic, Ramires, Fabregas, Willian, Hazard, Remy.

Are we on normal TV or Sky?

I'd play Cech in the CL.

Are we on normal TV or Sky?

Sky

Don't think jt will play, he missed every group game last year, and I suspect it will be the same this year.

Would like to see cech, luis, and remy get starts. Keep costa fresh for city.

Schalke haven't started too well this season. They leak goals and I fancy us to win fairly comfortably regardless of the line up.

Don't think jt will play, he missed every group game last year, and I suspect it will be the same this year.

 

JT missed the first game against Basel only, he played all the other (5) games.

Rest JT bring in Ivanovic to cover and play Luis job done

If we are planning on selling Cech in January, then I don't think we'll see him play in the CL.  Will be interested to see who our keeper is for this game.

Can't see Jose rest many players, maybe this is the game to give Luis the full debut, and revert to 433 with the inclusion of Ramires. We lost the corresponding game last year, can't see us risk this one against a good team.

Shalke are the strongest team (besides us) in the group. It'll be interesting to see what kind of line up Jose puts out knowing we have to play City this weekend.

Hope Felipe Luis gets a first start.

Wouldnt surprise me to see no changes. Thought Oscar had a good second half, Id def play him to see if he can string to together some good performances in a row.

T-Bo, Azpi, Cahill, Ivan, Luis, Matic, Cesc, Ramires, Hazard, Oscar, Remy. 

 

Rest Costa & JT. 

 

Can see us scoring early and shutting the game off. 

 

Final score: 2-0. 

 

(Ivan & Hazard) 

 

PUT YOUR BETS ON NOW!!!!! 

Tough one.

You want to get off to a great start in the CL at home and Shalke are no mugs. I don’t think we will or should be making too many changes for this…we are winning games and on a run.

I’d like to see Luis and Cech come in…take players like Costa, Hazard and Cesc off if we have the game won…but leaving them out and going with a totally different line up could go tits up IMO.

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

Azpi---Ivan----Cahill-----Luis

--------Cesc----Matic------

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

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

How about resting Costa, Hazard and Fabregas for this one to be more fresher for game vs City.

 

I'd like this team against Schalke although we wouldn't play it but still this team is very much capable of beating Schalke at home.

 

Cech;

Azpi, Terry, Cahill, Luis

Ramires, Matic

Willian, Oscar, Schurrle

Remy

Something like this, we have to rest a few players for City but we can't go overboard, those home defeats against QPR and Basel still stick in the craw. I would like to see Willian, Cech, Luis and Remy start though. A lot of pace in this XI too, which can only work to our advantage:

 

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

Azpilicueta----Cahill----Ivanovic-----Luis

---------------Ramires------Matic

-----Willian--------Fabregas-------Hazard

-----------------------Remy