this is a big problem for us at the moment, the teams who are playing the most crap always turn it on against us, couple this with the fact they know we are weak at the moment gives them even more incentive

This is a must win and we will.

What i am worried abt is if we don't win maybe jose will go , who is out there who will take over, guardiola will never come to us as there is a better project in man city. Ancelotti i dont think so.

Klopp gone to Liverpool.

I dont want jose to go but we have to be prepared.

This is a must win and we will.

What i am worried abt is if we don't win maybe jose will go , who is out there who will take over, guardiola will never come to us as there is a better project in man city. Ancelotti i dont think so.

Klopp gone to Liverpool.

I dont want jose to go but we have to be prepared.

What better project does City have than us?

I'm trying to find the link but I heard Jose disclose that Baba was not big enough and that would leave us with too many small players on set pieces. If this is the case and Jose said that then why did we spend 21 million on him ? With the International break here its hard to predict a line up for the match against Villa because who knows what players will pick up knocks, etc ...  Would like to see Loftus-Cheek in the starting XI though.

yes, he did say that....would have helped if he told our scouting team that there is s minimum height for left back.

Most unlikely 11 Jose could realistically pick without using the youth team?

Begovic

Azpilequata

Zouma

Papy

Baba

Mikel

Rlc

Oscar

Kenedy

Remy

Traore

Well this is a remarkably important game. If we can't beat the sh*tshow that is the current Villa team, at home, with Tim Sherwood in charge, then as horrible as it is to say it, the leg José is standing on will likely be swept out, and it will be hard to argue against the decision.

 

I saw Villa against Leicester. They were actually quite impressive for the first hour (going 2-0 up) before they collapsed miserably in the second half and ended up losing 3-2. [sherwood's arm-flailing followed by total dejection was really quite amusing]. They do have individual players in decent form as well - the left-back Amavi actually did a decent job of shackling Riyad Mahrez until he got booked, Micah Richards has been fairly decent, and Jack Grealish has impressed as well.

 

Obviously I'd like to see a few changes. One idea I've had is going for a back three with Ivanovic, Zouma, and JT, however Villa tend to go three up top (and all fairly mobile) so this might be the wrong game to try it. Another one I had (and something José has often reverted to in the past at most of his clubs) is a diamond, although it would probably mean dropping two of Oscar, Willian, and Hazard, and would also leave one of Ivanovic and Rahman running an entire flank, which is a truly terrifying thought. Therefore our best bet is probably sticking with the 4-2-3-1 or tweaking to a 4-3-3 (which isn't entirely dissimilar to a 4-2-3-1 with a defensively conscious player like Oscar or Willian in the middle of the attacking midfield band.

 

As much as I've defended them in the past, Ivanovic and Fabregas really can't start this game. Mourinho really can't have so little confidence in the squad to not believe that they could overcome this Villa side without two horribly off-form players. The logical consequence of this is that Terry has to start (which I probably would have gone for anyway), as well as Azpilicueta and Rahman. Zouma offers physicality against the aerial prowess of Gestede, and pace against the wide men, and Grealish too if he's picked in the middle. We may miss Cahill's experience (if we're also losing Ivanovic) but Villa's average age is roughly the same as ours so it shouldn't be the end of the world. To be honest I'd be perfectly content with either Zouma or Cahill partnering JT for this, but it's the captain I absolutely want on the pitch.

 

The midfield is a bit of a puzzle. The obvious first choice is Matic, although I'm keeping my fingers crossed that José hasn't utterly destroyed his confidence with the sub against Southampton (tactical or not) and the public criticism. Obviously I'm as big a Mikel fan as anyone but I think we need a more mobile presence in midfield, and the quicker Matic returns to form and knows he has the confidence of the manager the better. I would like to see one of Ramires and Loftus-Cheek next to him; I would opt for the latter as it may buy José some time if he is showing some intent of keeping his word and thinking long-term as opposed to flailing around randomly and self-destructing. If it doesn't work we can always bring Ramires off the bench, as we did to great effect against Newcastle, a team in similarly sh*t form to Villa.

 

Oscar and Willian have done absolutely nothing to deserve being dropped so they go straight in, and I would also bring Hazard back to the fold. As poor as he has been we are never going to be a serious attacking force again without him so we desperately need to play him into form. If he's still poor we have the options of Pedro or Kenedy. My instinct is that Costa goes straight back into the team, although without Cahill and Ivanovic I have a niggling thought that we may need Falcao's height and aerial ability from set pieces, although a quick glance at the stats suggests that Villa haven't been up to much from set pieces this season.

 

So that leaves:

 

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

 

Azpilicueta-----Zouma------Terry-----Rahman

 

----------------------RLC-----Matic

 

----------Willian--------Oscar-------Hazard

 

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

 

So that leaves:

 

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

 

Azpilicueta-----Zouma------Terry-----Rahman

 

----------------------RLC-----Matic

 

----------Willian--------Oscar-------Hazard

 

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

That's who I'd play, Mourinho to think differently I suspect though.

Oh boy, now we have to pray to win against the smallest teams.

I love jose but anything other than win and roman will sack him.

There is no top manager around now.

Oh boy, now we have to pray to win against the smallest teams.

I love jose but anything other than win and roman will sack him.

There is no top manager around now.

Then who is he replacing Mourinho with when he fires him in your scenario?

Looks like a Mikel RLC pairing for this one. Cant say Im not happy RLC will have plenty of room to operate with ol sideways pass behind him

Begovic

 

Azpi

Zouma

Terry

Baba

 

Ramires

Mikel

RLC

 

Willian

Oscar

Pedro

 

Costa

sThis would be the ideal starting team IMHO

ing ng

It would be ideal to start with 12 players yes

There have been quite a backing from players now, hopefully they mean it and already have sorted their differences and start to get the season going.. There are still 90 points more to play for..

Yep, talk is easy.

 

Would like to see the players back Mourinho on the pitch.

Ivanovic cannot start this game. At the moment taking a roasting in every game he plays in is sending his confidence in the same direction this seasons results are sending the team.

I'd like to see a lineup of

Begovic

Azpi Zouma Terry Rahman

Ramires Mikel Loftus Cheek

Willian Hazard

Costa

Mikel should not be allowed 5 yards past the half way line all game to cover for the marauding Rahman, who should be allowed freedom to get past Hazard to offer us another dimension going forward. The inclusion of Mikel should negate the problem of an exposed JT whilst allowing Rahman to get forward.

We have to be at the races from the first whistle to the last. I hope the crowd get behind the team; I'm relying on Diego to get the crowd going for this one.

An absolute must win.

Very good team, i think playing Ramires and Mikel behind will make RLC less tensed and play with more freedom. I just don't know why Jose never trusts RLC

I just don't know why Jose never trusts RLC

 

In what way doesn't he trust him? 

 

He's given him two starts in the cups already this season and is set for his third against Villa. 

 

He bought him on as a sub against Palace when we were chasing the game too. 

 

I don't think Jose ever showed that kind of faith in an academy player at the early stages of a season in any of his previous 5 fulls seasons at Chelsea. 

 

I would say he's being pretty true to his word so far in giving him chances. 

Without Matic the midfield options become a bit more interesting (unfortunately).

 

I suppose we have three options: Mikel-Ramires, Mikel-RLC, and RLC-Ramires; the former lacks penetration, the latter lacks defensive discipline, the middle might be short on mobility although ultimately may provide the best balance, and theoretically a lack of pace will be compensated for by the presence of Rahman over Ivanovic.

 

In light of this I'd probably prefer the midfield to be more reserved and conservative in their positioning, allowing the full-backs to push forward and attempt to bypass Villa's [theoretically] three-man midfield. I think Villa's full-backs are weaker down our left (Bacuna or Hutton if we're lucky) than our right (Amavi) although admittedly I don't know where to find 'chances created by area' stats. This could be an opportunity for Hazard to return to his best; Rahman may also be key in our attack.

Edited October 9, 201510 yr by PloKoon13

I suppose we have three options: Mikel-Ramires, Mikel-RLC, and RLC-Ramires;

 

My money is on RLC and Fabregas being partnered together with Ruben asked to fill in doing the holding role. 

Without Matic the midfield options become a bit more interesting (unfortunately).

 

I suppose we have three options: Mikel-Ramires, Mikel-RLC, and RLC-Ramires; the former lacks penetration, the latter lacks defensive discipline, the middle might be short on mobility although ultimately may provide the best balance, and theoretically a lack of pace will be compensated for by the presence of Rahman over Ivanovic.

 

In light of this I'd probably prefer the midfield to be more reserved and conservative in their positioning, allowing the full-backs to push forward and attempt to bypass Villa's [theoretically] three-man midfield. I think Villa's full-backs are weaker down our left (Bacuna or Hutton if we're lucky) than our right (Amavi) although admittedly I don't know where to find 'chances created by area' stats. This could be an opportunity for Hazard to return to his best; Rahman may also be key in our attack.

 

You failed to mention the most obvious combination in midfield: Fabregas + anyone else

I ruled him out in my head, although ultimately that is what I'm expecting.

I ruled him out in my head, although ultimately that is what I'm expecting.

 

Trying to preprogramme yourself with a positive attitude I see :)

I think with Matic and Ivan out of this game, that we may revert to a 4-3-3

I ruled him out in my head, although ultimately that is what I'm expecting.

How about Mikel, cesc and rlc for ya?

Rather have Oscar than Cesc but hes untouchable apparently. I miss 2014 Sept.~November Cesc Fabregas

Then who is he replacing Mourinho with when he fires him in your scenario?

 

Well, there is this wonderful gentleman called Brendan Rodgers out there. 

 

Nah....