Thank you, was nice but I was more hoping for a "beating of Arsenal" type of gift on Saturday ahead of the actual day ;)

Oh I peaked early, story of my life.

Saturday then !

Oh I peaked early, story of my life.

Saturday then !

Well I can rely on posters like you cheering the mood here if we do end up on the wrong side of the scoreline.

Fabregas will start so those of you leaving him out of your teams will be disappointed come Saturday.

 

Would've dropped Matic for this one but Willian & Pedro's injuries have left Jose no choice. He's been woeful defensively & we play quicker without him. Either going to be Ramires out wide and Matic in place of RLC or Oscar RW while Matic comes in for Willian.

Edited September 16, 201510 yr by Gilvorak

It's going to be really tough if both Pedro and Willian are out, we are pretty much out of options on the right wing. I think Jose will go back to the usual Arsenal game plan, won't be surprised at all if Zouma is in the midfield to protect the central defenders. I think Wenger will play similar games, sit back and want us to go get them. First goal will be massive, I don't fancy our chances chasing the game. Walcott will start, are we going for risk JT against him? Fortunately their best player Sanchez is in a similar form dip as Hazard, and Ozil usually get blocked out in games like these.  I'm more optimistic about our chances after the results tonight.

Id go with

Dave......Zouma....Terry.....Baba

..............Matic

.......Oscar.......RLC

..Ramires.....Costa......Hazard

I'd go with Pedro instead of Ramires. 

I'd go with Pedro instead of Ramires. 

He's injured apparently.

Two players I really wanted to start, Willian and Pedro, are both out. Damn we've been unlucky with injuries so far.

I expect Jose to bring back Matic, Terry and Ivanovic. Costa to start upfront. Would like to see Loftus Cheek partner Matic but Jose might go with Zouma or Mikel to be extra cautious. Personally, I can't see Jose dropping Ivanovic for this one even though I think Azpi should be nailed on as our right back.

Begovic

Ivanovic

Terry

Cahill

Azpi

Matic

Loftus Cheek

Fabregas

Oscar

Hazard

Costa

Two players I really wanted to start, Willian and Pedro, are both out. Damn we've been unlucky with injuries so far.

I expect Jose to bring back Matic, Terry and Ivanovic. Costa to start upfront. Would like to see Loftus Cheek partner Matic but Jose might go with Zouma or Mikel to be extra cautious. Personally, I can't see Jose dropping Ivanovic for this one even though I think Azpi should be nailed on as our right back.

Begovic

Ivanovic

Terry

Cahill

Azpi

Matic

Loftus Cheek

Fabregas

Oscar

Hazard

Costa

Zero width. That would turn out like the game against Palace.

My idea of putting Ramires on the right is his running. On defense the 433 turns into 451 or 4141 more accurately with Matic as DM, Oscar, RLC with him in the middle and Ramires and Hazard wide. I dont think we should try to out Arsenal Arsenal. Sit back and hit them on the counter. Colqiun (wrong spelling) is rubbish if he doest have two players next to him, their CBs arent very fast. They'll bring their fullbacks forward so Ramires and Hazard will have ample room to run down the flanks. I wish Kennedy could be counted on but alas.

Everyone but Ivan, yep I said it. He can plays community shield or FA cup.

Best starting XI in my opinion vs Arsenal (with Pedro and Willian out as well as possibly Falcao):

 

                      Begovic
Azpi   Terry      Zouma     Baba

       Loftus-Cheek   Matic

Ramires          Oscar         Traore

                 Remy

 

Doubt Mourinho will drop Fabregas, Hazard and Costa though... Also afraid Ivanovic may return.

Anyone is better than Hazard on current form, so I would take Ramires over him. Much more impressed in Traore than in Kenedy and since Traore can operate anywhere in the front four I would like him to replace Hazard.

 

BTW: Anyone notice that we don't really have ANYONE to replace Hazard on the left wing as a bona fide left winger? Willian, Ramires, Pedro and even Traore mostly play on the right wing!

 

As this season goes on and with Willian and Pedro out... We sure could use Victor Moses now...

Edited September 17, 201510 yr by Jon Stakes

I Swear if Ramires starts i'm going to have a seizure

RLC is already way way better than Ramires for me. I'm tired of watching him run around and do his best to give the ball away to the opposition, He's awful,I don't know why he's still at Chelsea

Edited September 17, 201510 yr by Davak

Something like that is going to happen.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKmoVbbsdJ8

 

 

We need to start winning and they are the best team for that. The easiest.

Oscar lasting a full hour is great for us, he should be at least fit enough to do the same on Saturday, hopefully by then we have the game well under control.

With Pedro and Willian supposedly missing Ramires has to start on the right primarily to nullify Sanchez, Arsenal's most dangerous attacking threat.Surely Fabregas cannot be played in a two man defensive midfield alongside Matic, he does not have the athleticsm to press Carzola and Ozil, Loftus Cheek does and although he doesn't have the creativity that Fabregas has we need to be on top of our game when we are not in possession of the ball.Ramires has his detractors and we know what he can't do but we need mobile midfielders against Arsenal.Not sure if Terry should be brought back, reckon Walcott will start up the middle so Zouma has to be in the eleven,Cahill more mobile than Terry but his reading of the game and anticipation not as good.

Good performance last night which will have given Jose some selection questions for the Arsenal game. Even allowing for the fact that Tel-Aviv were fairly poor, I just though we looked a lot fresher and much less predictable.

 

knowing Jose, he will revert to type but maybe this is a water-shed moment and he will leave one or two of his dependable's out. Can see JT coming back in but it would be risky to partner JT and Cahill against Arsenal's pace. Would certainly keep the same full-backs as last night and leave Ivan out as again, could see Ivan having another shocker against The Ox and Walcott. No doubt Matic will be back but I would like to see RLC retained, but just can't see that happening.

 

At least the squad have given Jose something to ponder on - let's just hope he selects the right side and those picked don't let him down.

 

COME ON THE CHELS!!

I struggle to think of anything that makes me happier than beating Arsenal, even when it happens so frequently. It is the gift that just keeps on giving.

I'd go with

Begovic

Azpilicueta zouma cahill baba

Rlc matic

Oscar fabregas hazard

Costa

I think rlc has done enough to keep his place, the back 5 did okay, and I think having the speed in there will help us press.

Oscar from the right, where he has had some fantastic games for brazil and also for us under benitez.

As much as I love jt, I just don't think the team is strong enough to cover for his lack of pace at the moment.

Berg,Baba,Cahill,Terry,Dave,Matic,Cheeky,Hazard,Oacar,Remy,Costa

I would much rather see Baba in the team mainly for Dave to be up against Sanchez rather than Ivanovic but I think Mourinho will play Ivanovic at RB and Ramires on the RW to support defensively.

The Dinamo manager, Zoran Mamic, on how they stopped Arsenal: “We tried to close the middle and stop their fast passes. It is nothing new. Other teams who have beaten Arsenal play like this. We were just concentrated on not letting their quality players come to the ball.”

 

Simple, yet effective. I would like to see this from us on Saturday.

I forgot how awesome Dave is at right back. Easily the best in the league. Rahman was promising although a little nervous. That'll go away.

Some big decisions for Jose here.

 

Central Defence. Zouma must start in defence to give us the best chance to handle Arsenals attack which is packed full of pace. A case could be made for either JT or Cahill to partner him however I would bring JT back after a weeks rest. Could see Jose picking any combination of the 3 in reality though.

 

Full backs. There is of course an element of risk whatever we do here. Baba looked lively last night and I, as most have, have been calling for his introduction much sooner given Ivan's form on the right. That said, he had near enough zero defensive work to do last night so it is really hard to say how ready he is for what will be a busy and demanding game against Arsenal. For me, its worth the risk to start him. He clearly has the pace, engine and work rate which will be key however up against the calibre of players he will be up against will needless to say be a stern test for a player who has played just one game for us. I think, however,  Jose will bring Ivan back and put Dave back at LB.

 

Defensive Midfield. We can't start with Fabregas as one of the defensive 2 in midfield against Arsenal. I am fine with it in games like last night where we boss the game and control possession but Arsenal will be a completely different story and we are far too exposed with Fabregas in there. I would like to see a bold move from Jose and retain RLC in the starting 11. He has looked bright in all appearances I have seen so far with a very good display last night, albeit against poor opposition. I think Jose will start with Mikel and Matic.

 

Attacking Midfield. All depends on who is fit. Oscar has to start, I would keep Hazard and include Pedro if fit. Fabregas could be a useful impact sub around the 60 minute mark to make Arsenal a bit uneasy.

 

Striker. Costa scored and won a penalty last night and I think he is likely to cause the most problems to a team like Arsenal. Remy on as a sub for the final third if Costa isn't looking like scoring.

Some big decisions for Jose here.

 

Central Defence. Zouma must start in defence to give us the best chance to handle Arsenals attack which is packed full of pace. A case could be made for either JT or Cahill to partner him however I would bring JT back after a weeks rest. Could see Jose picking any combination of the 3 in reality though.

 

Full backs. There is of course an element of risk whatever we do here. Baba looked lively last night and I, as most have, have been calling for his introduction much sooner given Ivan's form on the right. That said, he had near enough zero defensive work to do last night so it is really hard to say how ready he is for what will be a busy and demanding game against Arsenal. For me, its worth the risk to start him. He clearly has the pace, engine and work rate which will be key however up against the calibre of players he will be up against will needless to say be a stern test for a player who has played just one game for us. I think, however,  Jose will bring Ivan back and put Dave back at LB.

 

Defensive Midfield. We can't start with Fabregas as one of the defensive 2 in midfield against Arsenal. I am fine with it in games like last night where we boss the game and control possession but Arsenal will be a completely different story and we are far too exposed with Fabregas in there. I would like to see a bold move from Jose and retain RLC in the starting 11. He has looked bright in all appearances I have seen so far with a very good display last night, albeit against poor opposition. I think Jose will start with Mikel and Matic.

 

Attacking Midfield. All depends on who is fit. Oscar has to start, I would keep Hazard and include Pedro if fit. Fabregas could be a useful impact sub around the 60 minute mark to make Arsenal a bit uneasy.

 

Striker. Costa scored and won a penalty last night and I think he is likely to cause the most problems to a team like Arsenal. Remy on as a sub for the final third if Costa isn't looking like scoring.

 

Very unpopular point of view but if we really need to counteract pacy defenders Djilobodji is a must. Honestly think he's a better defender at the moment than Zouma. I know its a big game, but I've seen Djilobodji in action and he really is criminally underrated. Naturally debuting him in such a game might be a bit too much, but the guy really is class.

I'd go with

Begovic

Azpilicueta zouma cahill baba

Rlc matic

Oscar fabregas hazard

Costa

I think rlc has done enough to keep his place, the back 5 did okay, and I think having the speed in there will help us press.

Oscar from the right, where he has had some fantastic games for brazil and also for us under benitez.

As much as I love jt, I just don't think the team is strong enough to cover for his lack of pace at the moment.

 

 

That is the team I had in mind BB but couldn't be bothered to type it!

 

There is though still the temptation to bring back JT for Cahill. Against Arsenal I think we need a leader and someone barking out instructions and bollocking anyone who slackens off. There was that one occasion last night when Tel Aviv whipped a free-kick into our box and all of our players were watching as two of there's ran in un-marked and one had a free-header. Of course that could still happen with JT in the side but I'd like to think it wouldn't and we can't afford that sort of lapse against Arsenal.