Really I like the midfield 3 of Mikel, ramires and rlc. The latter two have energy in abundance and if the point comes when rlc is worn our oscar, matic, cesc or willian can come in.

At the moment matic is one of our worst players, so giving Mikel his sitting job back in a 3 man midfield can work. It also protects our fragile defence more and we get real width from baba and Azpi.

So long as the right attacking 2 link well with Costa it will work. As I said I am not sure if kenedy and traore are the right 2. I hope they are.

I do not think predicting us to lose is particularly unfair. Porto are a good side and the usual suspects are likely to lose against them.

Newcastle are garbage and we nearly lost to them. Sheffield Wednesday did better!

Do not want Jose to go but his blindness to brana and his incipient displays is waring on us all.

Edited September 27, 201510 yr by axman2526

There are some in this forum who only want score predictions to be victories or draws at worst - never losses. Otherwise, you are seen as the devil incarnate. One wonders what is the point of a discussion forum after all. It's best that these narrow-minded people quit the forum.

Oh pessimism has been frowned on for years, nothing new there. Some people think predicting a loss equals not supporting the team.

Being a pessimist, I usually refrain from posting a prediction :-)

Edited September 27, 201510 yr by Valerie

Oh pessimism has been frowned on for years, nothing new there. Some people think predicting a loss equals not supporting the team.

Being a pessimist, I usually refrain from posting a prediction :-)

Predicting losses yet still supporting the team is a strong sign that you are a true supporter! 

433 to stop us getting overwhelmed in midfield. And Ivanovic benched.

Begovic

Azpi RB

Terry

Cahill

Rahman LB

Mikel

Ramires

Willian

Hazard

Costa

Pedro

--------------Begovic----------------

---Azpi--Zouma--Terry---Baba----

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

-------Ramires---Fabregas---------

---Pedro-------------Hazard---------

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

 

Something like that, tough game but should be well suited to our counter attacking style come on Chels get back to winning ways.

ivanovic bench? lol.. pls be realistic.. 

 

Costa should play this one now that he's unavailable for the league.. Once cesc-pedro-hazard-costa all 4 click, we would finally begin to see a meaningful attaking play, they're hardly in sync at the moment.. 

I'd play Willian over Pedro at the monent, Pedro is dangerous going forward, but he's careless too often and he missed an absolute sitter against Newcastle.

everyone could miss a sitter, cut him some slack.. 

Where's Remodez when you need him? We need info on this Porto team!

Will there be a press conference before this game, by the way?

The same team that started against maccabi should start this game to...thought that was our beat performance of the season so far...

The same team that started against maccabi should start this game to...thought that was our beat performance of the season so far...

Probably more due to the fact we were playing Maccabi, no?

I agree with your point though. If were playing in Europe then let's be consistent in playing the same starting XI where possible.

Begovic

 

Rahmaan

Terry

Zouma

Azpilicueta

 

Loftus-Cheek

Ramires

Fabregas

 

Pedro

Costa

Willian

Begovic

Rahmaan

Terry

Zouma

Azpilicueta

Loftus-Cheek

Ramires

Fabregas

Pedro

Costa

Willian

Pretty much spot on. Fab is far more effective against continental opposition and I'd want Costa to really put in a shift. Fingers crossed to see RLC too

Im actually baffled as to how people want to see Mikel in the side ahead of Matic. The problem regarding Matic is not Matic, it is the players around him. He is effectively doing the defensive job of 2 midfield players as Fabregas has been found out in the deeper role which means against any half decent opposition we will get exposed. Putting Ramires next to Matic would cure the problem of us being constantly outrun in midfield and would also mean Ivanovic actually gets some protection. This is the side I would put out on Tuesday:

 

Begovic

 

Ivanovic

Zouma

Terry (simply has to play)

Azpilicueta

 

Ramires

Matic

 

Willian

Oscar/Cesc

Hazard

 

Costa

 

People seem to forget that this is by far our toughest game of the group stage and there is no way Jose will change the side too much. 

Being a group match, Jose will play the 'best possible' team with the right mixture, I expect a draw or a narrow win. The EPL match, that's a complete different matter, unfortunately

everyone could miss a sitter, cut him some slack..

True, but I still think Willian is more effective at the moment.

Not changing the team is why we get into problems. Being too conservative is a recipe for staleness

Mikel Ramires and rlc would likely be a good midfield as would miles Ramires and Matic.

Willian is playing better than Pedro

Willian Oscar hazard

Costa

Begovic

 

Azpi

Terry

Cahill/Zouma

Ivan

 

Matic

Mikel/Loftus-Cheek

Ramires

 

Hazard

Costa

Willian

 

Strong, physical midfield to play on the counter. Stop us from getting pushed off the ball by any energetic pressing and stop trying to play pointless tight passing combinations around the box, basically bench Fabregas (not that I expect this to happen).

 

Mikel as the holding mid, with Matic and Ramires pushing forward.

Im actually baffled as to how people want to see Mikel in the side ahead of Matic. The problem regarding Matic is not Matic, it is the players around him. He is effectively doing the defensive job of 2 midfield players as Fabregas has been found out in the deeper role which means against any half decent opposition we will get exposed. Putting Ramires next to Matic would cure the problem of us being constantly outrun in midfield and would also mean Ivanovic actually gets some protection. This is the side I would put out on Tuesday:

Begovic

Ivanovic

Zouma

Terry (simply has to play)

Azpilicueta

Ramires

Matic

Willian

Oscar/Cesc

Hazard

Costa

People seem to forget that this is by far our toughest game of the group stage and there is no way Jose will change the side too much.

Agree with bringing Ramires in alongside Matic, although I think Matic deserves as much of the blame as Cesc has been getting. He's been very soft in the tackle this season and continually caught in possession. He's looked a shadow of the Matic we had in 2014.

The problem is bringing in another holding type midfielder or a workhorse like Ramires means sacrificing a massive player (as you have in your squad). Either Cesc, the man we built our team around and won a title for it. Or Oscar, our best attacker this season, who's individual form seems to dictate our team's form.

Our attacking play was at its best last season with both in the side. In fact, Cesc and Oscar were at the heart of most of it. However with us attempting this slower, controlled possession game this year, rather than the more gung-ho approach we opened last season with, I'm beginning to wonder if there's room for both in the side.

Well, it seems like Porto could be missing one of their first team players, Yacine Brahmi, for this game. Sounds pretty good for us as he is another winger who can dribble and is fast. Oh, and he plays at the left too. They still have decent replacements like Tello though....

 

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2015/9/27/9406009/yacine-brahimi-injury-update-porto-chelsea

Now we know who the real big bad wolf is at Chelsea. 

 

Ruben neves of porto looks really good.

There are rumors that want him if thats true then we will get a bargain

Ruben neves of porto looks really good.

There are rumors that want him if thats true then we will get a bargain

Funnily enough I bought him on FIFA 15 and 16. Really decent on the game. I have no idea in reality.

Ruben neves of porto looks really good.

There are rumors that want him if thats true then we will get a bargain

 

That depends on what the price is. IF we are after him, he probably won't be cheap with the way the prices have been skyrocketing recently.