I don't usually post my desired starting XI but I will this time because I feel very strongly about a couple of players.

           Courtois

Aina  Terry  Cahill  Azpi

      Kante  Fabregas

Willian   Hazard  Pedro

             Costa


Aina - I think has shown enough, he is still somewhat raw but he'll make as many youthful mistakes as Brana will be beaten by his man and therefor its a no brainer.  I think Conte will opt for Brana though, as he'll expect to get the best out of him.

Fabregas - As another poster alluded to, he is the only one in the team that can play an early pass and get creative from midfield.  Highly important and though he looks a little out of sorts in midfield, his stats would suggest otherwise.  Runs a lot, tackles a lot.

Pedro - This guy can have a bad game and still have 3-4 shots on goal.  He is a constant goal threat and offers something a little different to the rest.  Don't think he'll get the nod though

Make loads of noise at the bridge tonight, the new season, the new manager, the new era, we will be the champions!!!

4-1 it's only west ham, JT, Costa, own goal, hazard, job done, God I love footie

Edited August 15, 20169 yr by Zola Mio Fratello

I don't usually post my desired starting XI but I will this time because I feel very strongly about a couple of players.

           Courtois

Aina  Terry  Cahill  Azpi

      Kante  Fabregas

Willian   Hazard  Pedro

             Costa

Aina - I think has shown enough, he is still somewhat raw but he'll make as many youthful mistakes as Brana will be beaten by his man and therefor its a no brainer.  I think Conte will opt for Brana though, as he'll expect to get the best out of him.

Fabregas - As another poster alluded to, he is the only one in the team that can play an early pass and get creative from midfield.  Highly important and though he looks a little out of sorts in midfield, his stats would suggest otherwise.  Runs a lot, tackles a lot.

Pedro - This guy can have a bad game and still have 3-4 shots on goal.  He is a constant goal threat and offers something a little different to the rest.  Don't think he'll get the nod though

 

I couldn't agree more with this line up, absolutely everything i wish to see tonight. Followed up with a Chalobah cameo at some point. 

Can't wait, since the Euros i've been itching for this match. Would like to see a nice 4-3-3 lineup something along these lines

                   Courtois
Aina - Cahill - Terry - Dave
                 Kante
      Oscar -      Fabregas
Willian          -          Hazard
               Costa/ Bats

I 'd give Oscar the nod here, since he's had a good preseason and a 4-3-3 suits him better, since he can get up and down the pitch, and with him and Willian playing it would give good cover to Aina on that right hand side.

I think everyone on here wants to see Aina start. It's going to be funny watching the meltdown when Ivanovic is given the nod. 

I'm expecting

 

Courtois

 

Ivan - Cahill - Terry - Dave

 

Oscar - Kante - Matic

 

Willian - Costa - Hazard

 

 

 

Quite interested to see who makes the bench tonight... Or maybe more to the point who doesn't. 

 

Which of the wingers is going to be left out, I don't see Moses, Pedro and Cuadrado all being named on the bench. 

 

Is Remy there?

 

Is Miazga still around, will he be on the bench?

 

Does Chalobah good pre-season get him a place on the bench? 

 

My seven would be:

Begovic

Aina

Fabregas

Chalobah

Pedro

Moses

Batshuayi

I think everyone on here wants to see Aina start. It's going to be funny watching the meltdown when Ivanovic is given the nod. 

       You know the meltdown is coming when the team is announced  LOL LOL LOL

I think everyone on here wants to see Aina start. It's going to be funny watching the meltdown when Ivanovic is given the nod. 

And it will 100% be Ivanovic that starts aswell so whats the point in moaning any more. 

 

To be honest its a double edged sword who you play but I think Iva's aerial ability will definitely be used today,otherwise if Aina starts West Ham are gonna launch balls to our right back area and try and hit Carroll,even the most experience of defenders cant deal with Carroll so I'm ok for Ivanovic to start tonight regardless of how poor he is these days. The double edged sword is coming up against Payet but even with Aina there he could give him the runaround with his lack of experience. 

 

Ivanovic is also a threat from set pieces so I dont see why everyones moaning, the real issue is that we do not have fullbacks available,cant understand why we let Ake go on loan. We need a left back so Dave can play right back and we can drop Iva but I dont think its a good idea to start Aina tonight, anyway lets hope for a positive result, a win would be great but no need to panic if we get a draw or even lost, West Ham are a very good team and were starting under a new manager, get behind the team from the start, up the Chels!

Ivan - Cahill - Terry - Azpi is a scary backline going against the likes of Payet Feghouli Ayew and Carroll in the air.  I could easily see a 2-2 game.  

Edited August 15, 20169 yr by TheChelsRVA

Really reaaly feckin hope we make a statement tonight, 3/4-0

Hammers have a good side and conte has only just started in trying to make our defence solid again.

Can see a high scoring game. Maybe along the lines of yesterdays game at the emirates.

YES, a new season begins!

YES, a new season begins!

Yep, always i like the beginnings, but not always the ends...

Hopefully Conte has realised that the 4-2-4/4-4-2 he tried implementing in pre season shouldn't be used (yet). 

 

Hoping for a 4-3-3 or the classic 4-2-3-1. 

Hopefully Conte has realised that the 4-2-4/4-4-2 he tried implementing in pre season shouldn't be used (yet). 

 

Hoping for a 4-3-3 or the classic 4-2-3-1. 

 

I hope we don't see the 4-2-3-1 formation, it's horrible and doesn't work for us anymore. I personally think this team is a 4-3-3 team.

I hope we don't see the 4-2-3-1 formation, it's horrible and doesn't work for us anymore. I personally think this team is a 4-3-3 team.

 

In all honesty there isn't too much difference between the 4-3-3 or the 4-2-3-1. I just pray we don't see the 4-2-4, not worked at all thus far.

Like most I predict the Ivan-Cahill-JT-Azpi backline, but that backline did function with a proper DM, albeit a season ago.

 

Hopefully Kante and/or Matic can make it work.

Am excited and anxious at the same time.

I want to see 2-5-3. 

 

             Courtois

 

         Terry        Cahill

 

   Matic   Cante     Fabregas

 

Willian         Oscar       Hazard

 

            Costa       Michy

I want to see 2-5-3. 

 

             Courtois

 

         Terry        Cahill

 

   Matic   Cante     Fabregas

 

Willian         Oscar       Hazard

 

            Costa       Michy

 

Ambitious. I like it! Could be the next footballing revolution! 

- - - - - - - - Courtois

- - - - - - - - Terry - - - - - - - -

Dave - - - - Matic- - - - Kante- - - - Kennedy

- - - - - - - - Fabregas- - - - - - - - - - - -

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

- - - - - - - - Costa

19th century football is BACK!

- - - - - - - - Courtois

- - - - - - - - Terry - - - - - - - -

Dave - - - - Matic- - - - Kante- - - - Kennedy

- - - - - - - - Fabregas- - - - - - - - - - - -

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

- - - - - - - - Costa

19th century football is BACK!

 

LOL

 

 

 

 

 Courtois ; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry © , Azpilicueta ; Kante ; Willlian , Oscar , Matic  Hazard ; Diego Costa

Edited August 15, 20169 yr by Scott

I'm available should Chelsea need an ambitious and forward thinking manager.

Lets think positive I cant hep but think the players are itching the correct last season I see these little comments coming out from them i suspect if we click tonight West Ham may just be in the wrong place at the wrong time and get a hammering 

The Hammers become the Hammered, I sure hope so.