Not the easiest of tests for the first game of the season, but a home match against Swansea would have been snapped up by many of us to start us off before the fixtures were released.

I don't know how Costa is going to feel. If there's a little twinge in his hamstring then it might be prudent to keep him rested until Manchester City away.

Fiorentina will allow us to see how the team might shape up come the weekend.

I think I'd opt for:

                     Courtois
Ivanovic -- Cahill -- Terry -- Azpillicueta
             Fabregas -- Matic
        Willian -- Oscar -- Hazard
                      Falcao

 

Might be nice for Falcao to get thrown straight into the mix with a decent attacking side looking to get a first win at home under our belts. Could give him some decent confidence.

Costa needs some game time before city away so if he isn't ready for swansea I can't see him playing at city. Personally I think he will play some part Wednesday ready for Saturday.

What I think. The line up will be:

Courtois

Ivan Cahill Terry Dave

Matic Fabregas

Willian Oscar hazard

Costa

Hey!  A proper match-thread for a proper match!  With the right date and KO time too!  Thanks Splishsplosh!  

Back on track with 2-0 win.

Costa to start and score.

I think we will see Costa / Remy or Falcao sharing the strikers role for a few games until Jose' is confident that Costa can play a full 90 mins without worry.   A challenging game to start with and those misses we saw on Sunday will be turned in to goals. I expect to see Oscar get the start over Ramires. Still a bit shaky in defence so I'll give Swansea one at least 3-1 to the good guys..

Back on track with 2-0 win.

Costa to start and score.

That would be ideal

I'm going to admit to nerves about this coming Saturday, now I know we never tear up trees in pre-season but this year has been particularly poor and I don't think it was long enough so the players might still be carrying a bit of rust, if Costa is out for a while we could be in trouble.

I'm going to be cautious and go for a 2-1 win as Swansea usually aren't the easiest team for us (bar last year)

I'm gonna say 3 nil. I think alot of us are forgetting how good we were last season. Probably because we grounded out results a lot in this calender year.

I'm expecting oscar to be back on form which will hopefully see us playing some of our better football.

                     Courtois
Ivanovic -- Cahill -- Terry -- Azpillicueta
             Fabregas -- Matic
        Willian -- Oscar -- Hazard
                      Falcao

 

2-1 to us but Swansea to score first.

 

Hazard x2

Yahoo, the season is back!    I'll go with the usual suspects to start, and a 2-1 victory. 

Hey!  A proper match-thread for a proper match!  With the right date and KO time too!  Thanks Splishsplosh!

I am eternally grateful!

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/08/extra-swansea-tickets-on-sale-today.html

 

We have some tickets for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League home game against Swansea City which will be going back on sale.

Tickets will be sold as follows:

From today (Tuesday 4 August) at 12.30pm, members can buy one per person.

 

 

 

Looking forward to Saturday. Meet up with people who I haven't seen for a while. We just need to decide which pub to meet at. Decisions, decisions. I think we'll win 2-0. 

Edited August 4, 20159 yr by Boyne

Need to be careful, last season Swansea kicked off at United and won there.

 

We need to take them seriously.

I'm already feeling the game, can't wait for the whistle. After a bad pre-season we have to play our best football and run for the title like we did last season. I really want to see a huge improvement and better football. Oh, I missed to PL.  COME ON CHELS!!

 

I'd like to see this starting line:

 

Courtois

 

Ivanovic

Cahill

Terry

Azpi

 

Matic

Fabregas

 

Moses

Willian

Hazard

 

Costa (If fit)

I think we will win comfortably.

Starting eleven more or less picks itself. Only question is whether Oscar or Moses starts.

Falcao to come on for Costa after 70 mins if we're a goal up or earlier if his hamstring goes.

Mikel or Ramires to come on to hang onto a 1-0 lead.

Or Falcao, Remy and Costa all on if we're a goal down and twenty minutes to go.

Let no-one call us predictable.

Jose to play exactly the same 11 as most of last year, if all fully fit despite Moses clearly earning a starting 11 line-up place.

Some are suggesting we have more strength in depth than last year? Just can't see it myself ...

A much closer match than last year. 2-1 win for me ... which would be brill.

We didn't have the best off season, however I expect the team to lift this weekend. My main concern is we won't be able to convert chances into goals, I have no doubt we will put them on the back foot for the majority of the game. They are a good team, and will play a solid defensive line against us. i expect Remy to start, no point playing Costa if he's not fit. I expect a tight 2:0

I'm really concerned about this one.

 

I think we'll lose 1-2.

 

It'll be 0-0 at the half. Monk will probably get his players to play more attacking in the 2nd half, and will tell them to get in our faces. I can see Swansea getting 2 out of nowhere, we'll try to rally back but it won't be enough. 

We will be well up for this one I'm sure, pre season isn't the best indication of how we will play as Jose has said it's just about getting minutes and building fitness. This is the real thing now I think we will see a different Chelsea, that said Swansea aren't the easiest of teams, but I'll plump for a 3-1 Chelsea.

Courtois

Ivan Cahill JT Dave

Fabregas Matic

Willian Oscar Hazard

Diego hopefully

Score prediction... who knows, I think we'll win but above all else am hoping to see a good performance to give us reason to be optimistic for the rest of the season.

Whatever happens...

COME ON THE CHELS!

Edited August 6, 20159 yr by the special one

With what i've seen during preseason, i can't exactly be confident about this game. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up a draw or even a loss.

 

My prediction: 0-0

I actually think we'll win 2-0 but it won't be easy.

Hazard (Pen) and Willian

Tough game, 2-1 Chelsea.

Let's be honest, pre-season was sh*t. 

 

No wins in 90 minutes, only 16 shots on target over 5 full matches. 

 

Looking a bit devoid of creativity in the final third. 

 

Costa's crocked and we're stuck with Torres MKII upfront. 

 

No new signings for the starting XI and Cuadrado is still here to rub salt into the wounds. 

 

BUT!

 

We are Chelsea!

 

We are the champions of England!

 

We are by far the greatest team the World has ever seen!

 

We march out onto the Stamford Bridge pitch on Saturday with the golden Premier League badges on our sleeves because we were comfortably the best team in England last season. 

 

We go into this match still managed by the greatest and most successful manager in our club's history. 

 

We go into this match still captained by the leader and legend, John Terry. 

 

Come 5.30pm on Saturday everything that has happened in the last two months means sh*t. It's what we do in the 90 minutes that matters. 

 

We start our title defence as the pride of London. 

 

Let's get behind our lads and give them the encouragement they deserve to lead us into another season of success for the club we all love so much. 

 

COME ON CHELSEA!