I know we're not as confident as last August but I'm so excited that the new season is almost underway!

Disappointing pre-season but I'm fairly confident that won't affect our start to the campaign.

Would happily take a 1-0 though.

So excited for the start of the season, I think it's going to be 2-0, Hazard pen and Terry. In all honesty the performances in pre season from everyone hasn't got me massively optimistic but the first few games will give us a indicator as to where we are.

Anyone know how swanseas preseason has been have they bought or sold any players?

I'll go for 1-0, but with a very solid performance, far cry from our pre-season hopefully.

Anyone know how swanseas preseason has been have they bought or sold any players?

 

1-1 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach

1-2 win against 1860 Munich

1-1 draw against Reading

1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest

0-0 draw against Deportivo La Coruna

 

Their biggest signing is Andre Ayew, he's the only player they have signed i really know anything about.

Play Costa, if he breaks down send him for surgery. Resting it does not seem to have worked.

Play Costa, if he breaks down send him for surgery. Resting it does not seem to have worked.

 

But what if the injury is something that can't be "fixed" by surgery? 

 

Perhaps that's why he didn't have an operation over the summer... Could be that there is no way to fix his hamstring troubles. 

If that becomes the case it may end up a career shortening injury. We would have no choice but to buy a new first choice striker and make Diego a back up.

Was it hamstrings that got Lesley King to the stage where he played only the big games?

If that becomes the case it may end up a career shortening injury. We would have no choice but to buy a new first choice striker and make Diego a back up.

Was it hamstrings that got Lesley King to the stage where he played only the big games?

 

No that was his knees, I think he suffered from chronic knee pain that had no cure. 

Lesley King, Ledley King's less famous brother

Edited August 6, 201510 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

Don't care how, just want 3 points.  

 

If we fail to win, I cant even imagine (well, I can actually) how some on here and in the press will react.  Links to strained relationships with Roman over the sale of Cech, Jose on his way out, squad not good enough etc.

 

Swansea are a tough team.  Need to maintain fortress Stamford Bridge.

IMO desperately need a goalscorer, whether its Eddie or one of the defenders to step up Saturday cus Falcao is looking like his Man U self and Remy seems to have regressed in the off season.

 

every home match is a 3 point minimum if we are to prevail again

 

think Moses deserves a start

Is costa fit for this match? I though the will. E out for a couple of weeks.

Seems to have been a long time since we've had a competitive match that was worth something, looking forward to this. Would love to see us really come out and attack, similar to that superb opener against Hull two seasons back.

 

There's a small part of me that fears we may start slow, as pre-season may indicate, but I have faith Jose & the leaders on the pitch will have everybody suitably fired up ahead. 

 

Looks like Falcao might start, and Swansea may be a good opposition for him to face - I reckon he could be our most-used striker this season (and I'm cautiously optimistic about that) fingers crossed he gets off the mark early.

 

Oscar for Ramires being the only other change I'd make to our Community Shield lineup. Hoping Moses gets the first call from the bench should we need an extra attacker, too. His pre-season form warrants that in my opinion.

 

Perhaps overconfident, but I'm predicting a solid win. 

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.

Being generous, Falcao doesn't look match fit or ready.

Being realistic he looks hopeless

Probably impossible to predict score line as I have no idea who is even going to be starting up front on Saturday. Costa didn't look particularly clinical in preseason when he played which is something to consider. Maybe we should try two up front on Saturday for 45 minutes before switching to 4-2-3-1? Thoughts?

Either way, we are balancing the books, complying with financial fair play, and we are going to get a new stadium.

Now I sound like a fan of that North London club who just bought one of the top keepers in the world.

Lol phone auto correcting me Bobby.

Ahh right the knees. Hope it does not become chronic for Diego and his hamstrings.

Lol phone auto correcting me Bobby.

Ahh right the knees. Hope it does not become chronic for Diego and his hamstrings.

Sorry mate I couldn't resist

Either way, we are balancing the books, complying with financial fair play, and we are going to get a new stadium.

Now I sound like a fan of that North London club who just bought one of the top keepers in the world.

 

 

Cant wait for the rants of how Arsenal built and bought a stadium that right way and how our new stadium is plastic and bought the wrong way etc etc

If Costa starts, I'm more confident but I fear that could be short term gains that results in a long term issue (his hamstring) and it could have us looking at either another striker panic bought in January...or unlikely we recall Bamford if he's doing well at Palace

If Costa starts, I'm more confident but I fear that could be short term gains that results in a long term issue (his hamstring) and it could have us looking at either another striker panic bought in January...or unlikely we recall Bamford if he's doing well at Palace

Doubt we'll have the option to recall him

I think if Costa's hamstrings continue to be an issue this season, we would have no choice but to sign a new top striker either in January or in the summer. 

Who needs strikers? Let's just have 95% possession and we'll get through somehow:

 

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

 

Ivanovic----------Cahill---------Terry--------Azpilicueta

 

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

 

-------------------Mikel-----------Fabregas

 

-----------------Willian---------------Oscar

----------------------------Hazard

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

I think we'll win 3-1, with a so-so performance staying 2-1 for most of the second half until we get a late goal to flatter us.