enigma Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 this is me being simplistic really, and optimistic in giving the chance to a few younger players in our set up, but i would like to see some of the following: - Hazard to play in the no10 position when oscar isn't available. hell, even give RLC a shot in the no10 role. - Traore/Oscar at LW, Hazard central, Moses/Traore RW - Matic partnered with Traore in the double pivot, with traore pushing up a little more. - Hazard - Oscar - Kenedy/Traore/moses - For certain cup games: Mikel/matic with Colkett in double pivot and a front three of moses/willian - RLC - Traore/Kenedy, then a back four of azpi/ola aina - zouma - ivanovic - baba Also, something a little different in formation such as 3-1-4-2 with baba, zouma, azpi at back, matic or mikel sat in front of them, hazard, oscar, fabregas, moses/traore and then costa/remy/falcao partnered. Like i said, it's all simplistic as it will likely never happen, but if jose is reading then... In an ideal world, what would you like to see changed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsbear Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Ivan must be dropped or at the least moved to CB. He's too much of a liability at the back and leaves so much space for attackers to hurt us. Ideally Dave will be RB, Baba at LB and Zouma Terry in the middle. (Cahill isn't quick enough to compensate for John in games like yesterday). Moses or Traore at RW if Willian is starting in the central attacking midfield role. Cuadrado should pack his bags and go back to Italy. I'd like to see Oscar dropped into midfield in place of Cesc in games where we wont dominate the ball, he will give more graft in that role. Leave Costa as is but he must improve because he doesn't look remotely dangerous so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big blue Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Without talking about which players should come in, I would play a back four of Azpi zouma Terry baba. We shouldn't need 2 defensive midfielders in there but matic has so much work to do at the moment. I actually put the blame more on ivanovic and a lack of pace, more than on Cesc, who isn't in the team to protect the frailties of the back 4. Going forward there is a lack of support and quality from both full back areas, which means we have no width, hazard is doubled up on, and there us no space for costa. I think the added pace, and fullbacks that can naturally provide width would fix alot of the problems we have at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnyitb Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Without talking about which players should come in, I would play a back four of Azpi zouma Terry baba. We shouldn't need 2 defensive midfielders in there but matic has so much work to do at the moment. I actually put the blame more on ivanovic and a lack of pace, more than on Cesc, who isn't in the team to protect the frailties of the back 4. Going forward there is a lack of support and quality from both full back areas, which means we have no width, hazard is doubled up on, and there us no space for costa. I think the added pace, and fullbacks that can naturally provide width would fix alot of the problems we have at the moment. Good post and echos my thoughts completely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 . We shouldn't need 2 defensive midfielders in there but matic has so much work to do at the moment. I actually put the blame more on ivanovic and a lack of pace, more than on Cesc, who isn't in the team to protect the frailties of the back 4. We can't afford the luxury of playing Fabergas if he can't defend. Surely he is not your typical hard working and strong Mourinho player, so when he offers next to nothing in attack, he is basically defunct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) Ivan must be dropped or at the least moved to CB. I wouldn't play him at CB either after losing the aerial duels he lost yesterday. Edited August 17, 2015 by coco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsbear Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I wouldn't play him at CB either after losing the aerial duels he lost yesterday. That's an issue yes. I just can't see Jose dropping his vice captain so if he HAD to play I'd rather it be there instead of RB. I think deep down we all know it will be Ivan at RB and Dave at LB for the foreseeable future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxy15 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 CourtoisDave Zouma Terry Rahman Fabregas/Oscar Matic Moses/Remy Willian Hazard Costa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IliyaKrostin Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 1) Zouma - he has to replace Cahill, we have problems in the defence and I'm sure in hundred percent that Zouma is the answer for that. ( I think this would be our most important change) 2) Baba Rahman - he's a new player and we all excited to see him. Ivanovic is in really poor form at the moment, I think we should move Azpi to RB and let Baba be LB temporary. ( I really hope Ivanovic will back to his old form, but at the moment he deserves to sit on the bench. This change is temporary because once Ivanovic is returning to his form, Baba will has to be a backup for Azpi this season) 3) Moses and Traore - they both great players in good form, especially Moses after his amazing pre-season. I think Jose should start use them more. Willian is still not 100% fit, Cuadrado is in a poor form as well. The right wing is empty, I expect that Moses or Traore would catch this spot until Willian will reach his form. (This change is for a short period because once Willian returns to his form, it would be hard to replace him. But they got cup games, CL games) 4) RLC - I think he really deserves to play, I'm not saying that he should turn into a starter now, but I want him to play at least 15-20 games this season. I don't know how he would match himself to the team and will find a connection to the players if he doesn't play enough. I think Jose should use him more, at the moment Oscar isn't fit and Fabregas in bad period, it's the right time for him to step up and recover them until they will be 100% fit. (Again, I'm not saying to drop Fabregas to let RLC start all the games, I only think that RLC deserves more time to play) 5) Tactics - Jose is super manager in tactics, the best in the world for me but at the moment we're not on the top of the league and we have to defend our title. I really want us to start playing creative football, attacking football. We got players like Hazard, Fabregas, Oscar, Willian. They're all creative players, intelligent players that would give us a lot more. I like our strong defensive football, but we can't use this tactic in the 2nd match of the season and lose 3-0. We have a lot of good attacking options (Costa, Remy, Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Traore, Moses, Ramires - once he starting to run forward with the ball). We can be very good attacking team and I'm sure our team is good enough to win the league again and run far in the CL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the special one Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) Tibo Azpi -- Cahill -- JT - Baba Kenedy -- Mikel -- Matic -- Hazard Oscar Diego Costa Edited August 17, 2015 by the special one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big blue Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 We can't afford the luxury of playing Fabergas if he can't defend. Surely he is not your typical hard working and strong Mourinho player, so when he offers next to nothing in attack, he is basically defunct. It's not that he can't defend though, it's he's having to defend more than he should, which is detracting from his main abilities. We shouldn't need 2 matic's in the team against 90% of the opposition we play. My post isn't in response to yesterday, it's in response to this calender year as a whole, where I don't think this squad has played to its full potential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballack & Blu Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 If we're going to persist with two holding MFs get a new body in, or push Zouma alongside Matic Cesc the best ball player behind the Striker, Hazard on the left, a proper Right sided winger/ MF, thats the miffield and uptop sorted. Now for the Back, Get stones at all costs, rahman and Dave respective full backs, then swap Cahill/ JT to suit?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peckham Blue Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 5-3-2 formation, just like the old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) It's not that he can't defend though, Did you see MOTD when Shearer highlighted the first minute of the game when Silva turned Fabergas in midfield and left him standing ? He's soft in the tackle, slow off the mark, crap in the air. But we persist with him because he creates chances, but when that dries up he offers nothing else. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33954640 Edited August 17, 2015 by coco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) I don't pretend to know more than Mourinho or other professional coaches..... But I am genuinely worried about Terry & Ivanovi? at the back. Both have been outstanding servants for the club but continue to get older and we were exposed badly for pace against City. I can't help but think a defensive reshuffle of some kind could be on the cards soon. I don't know if that means the end of some Chelsea careers, player's changing roles, or new acquisitions. But I sense the way we lined up in defence is no longer going to serve us the way it did last season. Edited August 17, 2015 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbywoodhogan Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Ivanovic can't play RB anymore, he either needs to play CB or be dropped. MF is a problem also but what do we do? This is an area I see a big problem. We lack width, we need a proper winger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zola Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Something has to change, we've become very stale and predictable, everything is so slow and mechanical. We have been pretty crap to watch since January and dont seem to be able to create chances anymore, which is ridicukous given our first 11. I would like to see a formation tweak to something a bit more attacking, 4-2-3-1 is good for protecting our centrebacks normally, but we are being killed on the wings. Finally, we need players who can compete with the starting 11. There is next to no fear factor with them and there is no sense of urgency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeta Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Dave to RB, Ivanovic to the bench. I'm also not happy with Matic at the moment. Whether it's because playing with a 2-man DM means they end up shifting respsonsibility to each other, or just he's not playing well, but so many times against City they had a free shot from the edge of the box, with Matic nowhere to be seen. Willian, although he's a tidy player and is good at keeping possession, needs to be replaced by someone who can actually score or setup a goal. Costa needs to be dropped as well. All he does is argue and pick fights. Sure if the ball drops to him in the box he'll probably score, but his build-up play and hold-up play is very poor. Watching him and Augero on the same pitch yesterday it was so plain to see how far and above him Augero is in every department. Fabregas also needs to either step it up or sit it out. I also thought benching Terry was very harsh, as it appeared to me to be Cahill who was mostly the one being caught out. So for the next game I would go something like: Courtois Azpilicueta Zouma Terry Raahman Matic Fabregas Oscar Moses Costa Hazard THat is with Matic being the sole holding midfielder, and Fabregas and Oscar playing just ahead of him. Back to the 4-3-3 that we were so successful with in Jose's first spell, not this midfield pivot nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romansoldier1981 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) Courtois Azpi Zouma Terry Rahman Cesc Matic Pedro Willian Hazard Costa Edited August 17, 2015 by romansoldier1981 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Costa Falcao Hazard Oscar Moses Matic Babba JT Zouma Dave Courtois 4-1-3-2? I just like having 2 strikers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PloKoon13 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I think there are a few issues which need ironing out. A [slight] shakeup of the first XI might help breathe some life into the team, we look stale and jaded. West Brom are probably an ideal opponent to do that against; we in theory will be allowed plenty of time on the ball, and players on the level of (for example) Victor Moses won't be found wanting as they might against European-level opposition. If Oscar is going to be out for a few weeks, I wouldn't mind seeing us return to a 4-3-3. Fabregas' total lack of contribution off the ball is becoming a genuine problem, and it means that any team with an attacking midfielder who plays between the lines is going to cause us huge trouble. In a midfield three (as opposed to pushing him forward behind the striker, where I feel he has less of an impact) this becomes less of an issue as he has two players covering him and is in a deep enough position to control the tempo on the ball. Mikel and Ramires are perfectly adequate 'third men' to play in midfield; the former for when we seek to dominate possession (and assuming we go ahead, to then sit deeper and shield the back four) and the latter when we want a more energetic, combative presence in the middle. Matic obviously is a shoo-in to start, but unlike his predecessors Essien and Makelele, doesn't quite yet possess the quality (or perhaps stamina) to cover two positions at once. There are also a few squad roles which are up for grabs - Cuadrado's awful form means that the 'impact winger' sub (previously Schurrle) is theoretically available to whichever one of himself, Moses and Traoré can make the most of their opportunities. Previously I was none too bothered about Schurrle leaving as the quality of Willian's performances was enough for us to win the league title fairly comfortably, however when we need a goal, or at least a wide man other than Hazard who can provide a genuine goal threat, it's becoming clear that we've failed miserably to replace him. Seemingly all the talk of us signing the likes of Griezmann or Bale over the summer was a mere pipe dream so we will have to make do with what we've got, but if none of them step up to the plate (assuming players like Traoré actually get a chance) we may have to look to buy in January. Hopefully whoever we do get proves to be a better signing than Cuadrado or Salah. One option I'd consider as one of the wide men in a three-man attack would be Rémy; playing Anelka on the right of a three worked well enough for us, and Mourinho himself (I think) has admitted that he feels Rémy deserves more game time. In front of a three-man midfield his lesser defensive contribution (at least compared to say Willian) would be less of an issue than it would be if he was a wide man in a 4-2-3-1. However from what I've seen he fits in far better on the left than on the right; we may have to consider switching Hazard over (although seemingly he tends to drift left naturally anyway). Obviously there are a few players who are more or less undroppable: Courtois, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Hazard and Costa. Fabregas in theory is on that list if his frailty off-the-ball can be covered for, Ivanovic too if his last two performances are a sign of rust as opposed to the beginning of a decline. I wouldn't mind seeing us give this a go against West Brom: ----------------------------Courtois Ivanovic--------Zouma---------Terry----------Azpilicueta -----------------------------Matic -------------------Mikel-------------Fabregas ---------Hazard---------------------------------Rémy -----------------------------Costa Subs: Begovic, Cahill, Ramires, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Cuadrado, Falcao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsbear Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) Ivan should be dropped just to show that if you play consistently poor then you can't keep your place. He's been awful all summer. I'd rather see Zouma at RB if Rahman is too soon because he is solid in defence unlike Brana Edited August 17, 2015 by Chelsbear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbywoodhogan Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Rahman is gonna need a few weeks to get used to the team. I don't think you can just through defenders into a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergio7 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I want Chelsea to be pitbulls that just overrun teams based on pressure and energy. I want Stones in. Drop Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic and Fabregas. Costa Hazard Traore Willian Oscar Matic Baba Stones Zouma Azpi Abundance of pace, energy and workrate with ample skill. High press, high line, don´t allow teams out of their own third. Just wish we´d have bought Sterling.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazardous Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 (edited) I think you've got to differentiate between types of games: There's no one set up that's optimal in all scenarios. Overall, I would maintain the 4-2-3-1. For away games against the top teams, I wouldn't play Fabregas--Matic in the two again. I know Fabregas' performance has been much maligned over the last 24 hours, but I do agree that it left us unnecessarily exposed against City. So I would look to play Matic -- Ramires or Mikel -- Matic, allowing Matic to take on a slightly more progressive role. In all games right now, I would drop Ivanovic. We're only two games in to the season, so he has time to recover his form and regain his place. But his first two performances have been very poor. He hasn't executed his role either in or out of possession. Now that we have a left back who is left footed, I would switch it up. So for our next game, and other games where we are looking to have a fair bit of possession, I would change our back four to Azpi - Cahill - Terry - Baba. I would also bring Oscar straight back into the starting 11, if he's fit. My major concern is that we're playing West Brom, who score so many goals from set pieces (I think ~40% of their goals last season). This is exactly the kind of game which, last season, I would have had Ivanovic straight on the team sheet. We would be throwing Baba in at the deep end. Certaintly, I would retain Costa in the starting 11, since he offers more than Remy and Falcao on defensive set plays. Edited August 17, 2015 by Hazardous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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