The EPL  2016/2017 season is 17 months away, it will be JM's last season under his current 4 year contract. John Terry will almost certainly be retired, Cech will surely be gone ? Drogba as well.

A new generation of players will need to step into their shoes and take up the baton.

 

From Aug 2014 (Lamps leaving) - Aug 2017, in those 3 years, all our club legends will be gone, a new era has begun.

So I thought just for a bit of fun, we could attempt to look into our crystal balls and try to predict the starting XI for the first Prem game of the 16/17 season, then we can come back in 17 months and see how we got on with our predictions. We may end up picking some players that we don't go on to purchase, .....who turns out to be the next Messi.

So just remember, it's 17 months away, the team could look very different.

In August 2017 these players will be the following ages.

Cech 34yrs 3mths
Cesc 29yrs 3mths
Costa 27/10
Oscar 24/11
Cahill 30/8
Ivanovic 32/7
Matic 28/0
Mikel 29/4
Ramires 29/5
William 28/0
Hazard 25/7
Azpil..Dave 27/0
Luis 31/0
Cuadrado 28/3

 

 

Team/Formation/Age in 2017:

 

 

                                                 Courtois 24

       Dave 27             Zouma 21       Christensen 20     Mattia De Sciglio 23

    

                                        Matic © 28      

                                                           Loftus-Cheek  20 

                                                     

                                           

                                                Pobga 23 

             

        Traore 21                                                                  Hazard 25

 

                                       Sébastien Haller 22

 

 

 

 

I've gone for a radical change in personal, only 4 of our current XI make it, so I decided a French spine in Zouma, Pobga, and my gamble Haller. 

 

Would of loved to pick Bamford, but he makes the bench.

 

No Costa, I think he may be crocked by then. Same with Cesc.

 

Oscar, Willian on the bench rotating with RLC and Traore.

 

We win the league, Jose signs new 4 yr deal, the new generation go on to conquer all, Roman is KING......Muahhhh !

 

 

 

 

So come on, give us your predictions.....................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Costa, I think he may be crocked by then.

 

What makes you say that?

I feel depressed.

Cech

 

Ivanovic

Terry

Cahill

Azpi

 

Matic

Fabregas

 

Willian

Douglas Costa

Hazard

 

Drogba

 

I could be wrong and Costa could still be in the line-up. 

What makes you say that?

 

No reason mate, maybe because his game is so physical, and with Cesc I just think younger stronger options will overtake him.

Cech

 

Ivanovic

Terry

Cahill

Azpi

 

Matic

Fabregas

 

Willian

Douglas Costa

Hazard

 

Drogba

 

I could be wrong and Costa could still be in the line-up. 

 

Have you even read the OP ? Or just a piss take ?

I feel depressed.

 

Why bother typing anything if you can't come up with better than that ? Seriously.

It's an interesting question though.

 

There are a few 'core' young(ish) players whose presence as pivotal first team members is more or less guaranteed:

Courtois

Azpilicueta

Zouma

Matic

Oscar

Hazard

Costa

 

There are a couple of current senior players who may well still be in the same condition they are now, or will at least still be good enough to be a part of the squad:

Ivanovic

Fabregas

Cahill

Mikel

Willian

Terry (he is no ordinary player to be fair)

 

And those who will likely have departed:

Cech

Luis

Ramires

Rémy

Drogba

 

We also have to bear in mind our current youngsters, some of whom could well be good enough to be stars, some of whom could be within the squad, and some of whom clearly won't make it. While I can't really imagine our policy towards integrating youngsters changing a great deal in just two years, I do think there are a few who are clearly good enough to make it into the squad at least, but the majority will likely be moved on. I have learnt the hard way not to judge too early (bloody Kakuta) but if we're just having a bit of fun, here is my best guess:

 

First XI:

None

 

Squad:

Omeruo

Bamford

Loftus-Cheek

Traoré (fingers crossed)

Chalobah (not holding out much hope)

 

Too young to judge but holding out hope:

Brown

Boga

Solanke

daSilva

 

Gone or still on loan:

Everyone else

 

So in terms of our first XI, I basically feel like we are going to be missing a left-back and some box-to-box Essien figure. There is hope of us signing Pogba as the missing midfielder (although it feels like a pipe dream saying it out loud), and if we sign Varane (another pipe dream), Ivanovic and Azpilicueta could remain where they currently play. Predicting transfers two years ahead feels a bit like taking a shot in the dark - Pogba and Rodriguez? Vidal and Varane? God knows...

 

------------------------------------Courtois

 

Azpilicueta-------------Zouma------------Ivanovic ©-----------xxxxxxxxx

 

--------------------------------------Matic

 

-----------------------xxxxxxxxxxx-------------Fabregas

 

---------------------Oscar----------------------------Hazard

 

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

Doubt Oscar will still be here

Edited March 19, 201511 yr by Chelsbear

Predicting transfers two years ahead feels a bit like taking a shot in the dark - Pogba and Rodriguez? Vidal and Varane? God knows...

 

 

Yeah it's just for a bit of fun though, thanks for taking your time to think it over.

Have you even read the OP ? Or just a piss take ?

 

First game of the 2016/17 season...need to be a bit conservative going into the first game.

 

Ok, just kidding. Costa in for Drogba, Courtois in goal.

First game of the 2016/17 season...need to be a bit conservative going into the first game.

 

Ok, just kidding. Costa in for Drogba, Courtois in goal.

 

So the same XI we're playing now, cheers for your thoughts.

So the same XI we're playing now, cheers for your thoughts.

 

Pretty much

 

Being adventurous

 

Courtois

 

Kalas 

Zouma

Varane

Azpi

 

Matic

Fabregas

Loftus-Cheek (but in all likelihood Pogba because chequebooks rock!)

 

Oscar

Hazard

 

Costa

 

We actually have a pretty good spine developing and radical changes in 2 seasons is unlikely.

 

Christensen still has a lot to do to become a first-teamer in my opinion. Traore could go either way and why Costa wouldn't be in the starting XI I don't know.

 

But knowing Jose I think my first guess may be closest of them all. I predict a 1-0 win.

I know it's just fir fun but ultimately it's pointless, who knows what players are going to burst on the scene between now and then. Also whilst I think a few youth players may come through we don't exactly have a great record with that so its hard to believe that many will come through.

and why Costa wouldn't be in the starting XI I don't know.

 

 

 

Injuries could come thick and fast playing the way he plays, or a lack of form could see him do a Torres,  or maybe another player comes in and snatches his place, or even he gets fed up after winning a couple of league titles and wants to move on, a number of things could happen,

I know it's just fir fun but ultimately it's pointless, who knows what players are going to burst on the scene between now and then. Also whilst I think a few youth players may come through we don't exactly have a great record with that so its hard to believe that many will come through.

I doubt a year ago anyone would have had Cesc in there or Zouma really.

I'd wager in a year or two we will have a few players that might just raise the same eyebrows!

I know it's just fir fun but ultimately it's pointless, who knows what players are going to burst on the scene between now and then. Also whilst I think a few youth players may come through we don't exactly have a great record with that so its hard to believe that many will come through.

 

 

But as I said we are coming to the end of an era, Lamps, JT, Cech, Drogba. That's why I think some of the youngsters may have a bit of a chance, especially Christensen, he's a class act. 

But as I said we are coming to the end of an era, Lamps, JT, Cech, Drogba. That's why I think some of the youngsters may have a bit of a chance, especially Christensen, he's a class act.

I hope you're right mate, guess time will tell

Courtois 90%

 

Azpilicueta 90%

Zouma 80%

Cahill 50%

Luis 30%

 

Matic 80%

Fabregas 70%

 

Hazard 80%

Oscar 70%

Willian 50%

 

Costa 60%

 

The trouble is its impossible to predict transfers, so there's my predicted team with the % I think that the player will make the XI.

Assuming this thread will never actually be brought back up, here is some wild speculating.

 

Summer 2015:
-------------------
Out:
Cech (PSG)
Drogba (retired)
Felipe Luis

 

In:
Green
Rodriguez
Kramaric

 

January 2016:
------------------
Out:None

In:None

 

Summer 2016:
-------------------
Out:
Remy
Mikel

 

In:
Bale
Bamford

 

Starting XI:

 

----------------------------Courtois(24)

--Azpi(26)--------Zouma(22)-------Cahill(30)------Rodriguez(24)

------------------Fabregas(29)---------Matic(28)

--Cuadrado(28)-------------Hazard(25)---------------Bale(27)

------------------------------Costa(27)

 

 

Bench: Green, Ivanovic, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Oscar, Bamford, Kramaric

 

I know that is quite an attacking line-up for a Jose team, but I never said Jose was still the manager. 

 

Only kidding folks. Jose wins the treble next season, and decides to go all out attack to the point of having one defender on the bench and no defensive mid. JT retires and Diego Costa is appointed as captain. Everyone goes crazy!

Assuming this thread will never actually be brought back up, here is some wild speculating.

 

Summer 2015:

-------------------

Out:

Cech (PSG)

Drogba (retired)

Felipe Luis

 

In:

Green

Rodriguez

Kramaric

 

January 2016:

------------------

Out:None

In:None

 

Summer 2016:

-------------------

Out:

Remy

Mikel

 

In:

Bale

Bamford

 

Starting XI:

 

----------------------------Courtois(24)

--Azpi(26)--------Zouma(22)-------Cahill(30)------Rodriguez(24)

------------------Fabregas(29)---------Matic(28)

--Cuadrado(28)-------------Hazard(25)---------------Bale(27)

------------------------------Costa(27)

 

 

Bench: Green, Ivanovic, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Oscar, Bamford, Kramaric

 

I know that is quite an attacking line-up for a Jose team, but I never said Jose was still the manager. 

 

Only kidding folks. Jose wins the treble next season, and decides to go all out attack to the point of having one defender on the bench and no defensive mid. JT retires and Diego Costa is appointed as captain. Everyone goes crazy!

 

Cheers for having a stab anyway.

 

I can see Bale going to united, that's why I thought maybe we may have a chance with Pobga.

 

And this thread will be brought back up nearer the time, if the website is still running, Iv'e been around here for 12 years, so good chance we will be still here in 17 months. Fingers crossed x

Okay. In that case, I would like to put Mikel back on the bench.

Very interesting. I picture this in my head everytime I go to a youth game.

 

So working with the following ground rules.

1) As PL stipulates 8 assoc trained players.

2) 4 of them club trained for CL

3) Atleast 8 players from england setup.

4) No more than 3 players who could go to African cup (Possibly no more than 1 from first 11)

 

Heres the team I would love to have

 

Goal: Courtois, Cech, Blackman

 

Fullbacks: Azpi, Branco, Ake, Dasilva

 

Centre backs: Varane, Zouma, Christensen, Omeruo

 

Centeral mid: Matic, Cesc, Pogba, RLC, Colkett

 

Attacking mids: Baker, Oscar

 

Wingers: Hazard, Cuadrado, Boga, Palmer

 

Centre forwards: Costa, Bamford, Solanke, Brown

 

 

To get to this squad we need to ship out Ramires, Willian, Luis, Mikel, Remy, Cahill. Only need to bring in Pogba and Varane over the next two years.

Courtois

Azpilicueta

Zouma

Varane

Luis

Matic

Pogba

Fabregas

Cuadrado

Hazard

Costa

That's the dream.

Courtois

azpi

Varane

terry

luis

matic

Rlc

pogba

messi

Aguero

hazard

Subs

Fabregas

Bamford

traore

cech

Dybala

Koke

Edited March 20, 201511 yr by enigma