I liked the team we played against W.Ham. Although i am a fan of drogs his contribution this season has been most notable for its absence, and it may be disruptive to change the team.

I thought the passing of ballack and lampard was fantastic on saturday and the running of kalou provided more of a challenge to opposition than either swp or malouda have offered.

For my money Paulo did well on Saturday, perhaps not quite as much to offer in attack, although he is a good crosser, but more reliable defensively. In my mind A Cole is a much better defender than Bridge.

Perhaps my only change would be Essien for Maka, as I don't think Maka is up for two games in such a short space of time.

All in all I don't see the point of rotating a winning team. If it isn't working then by all means bring drogs on at half time and swp for joey cole or kalou.

thoughts?

Agree with a lot of what you say there, especially about kalou. I think he is a more efective player than Malouda and SWP. I think Essien might be used ahead of Maka, but to be honest, I wouldn't mind Maka staying in his position as Essien hasn't exactly been inspiring lately.

So long as we play joe Cole, and we don't play Nic out wide...I will be happy

I would keep exactly the same team, its makes no sence to change it and to be honest i think maka has been under used this season and essien has been, well pants for most of it!

We still haven't seen Anelka and Drogba played together through the middle up front. That is the way to go IMO and something Grant has to try at some point.

I would keep exactly the same team, its makes no sence to change it and to be honest i think maka has been under used this season and essien has been, well pants for most of it!

Grant is going to play Drogs, I'm pretty sure about that. He has probably already promised him this Olympiacos game. Is it sensible, maybe not. He's probably still trying to make friends with Drogs so he can't fail him.

Joey, Ballack and Lamps are the ones we should play with no questions asked. Joey has been really good the whole season and he deserves to play.

I think we will see Anelka and Drogba up front together at some point but I don't think Wednesday night is the time to do it. Grant has already made a mess of one big game by trying something new in it when he shouldn't have and this is not the time to repeat that mistake.

The team against Tottenham did not perform and didn't look like it was trying to perform. The team against West Ham was the exact opposite and on those grounds I would look to stick with it.

It's such an obvious pairing to me. If we fall behind on Wednesday night we'll be seeing it for sure then Loz. Might be too late then though!

I still can't get over the decision of Grant to stick Anelka on the wing against Tottenham and leave him there the entire game! Looked like a fish out of water.

i think we should start with the winning team but if were still level at 0-0 or one goal behind then we shoudl bring drogba in for makalele for a 4-3-3

--------------Ballack--------Lampard--------------

Joe Cole---------------------------------------Kalou

-------------Drogba---------Anelka-----------------

I'd be astonished if Drogba didn't play on wednesday. He was being rested on saturday. Same for mikel I think.

I think we will see Anelka and Drogba up front together at some point but I don't think Wednesday night is the time to do it. Grant has already made a mess of one big game by trying something new in it when he shouldn't have and this is not the time to repeat that mistake.

The team against Tottenham did not perform and didn't look like it was trying to perform. The team against West Ham was the exact opposite and on those grounds I would look to stick with it.

Exactly.

I'd be astonished if Drogba didn't play on wednesday. He was being rested on saturday. Same for mikel I think.

It's the old cliche of "horses for courses" and all that. The team that played on Saturday all did well and perhaps deserve to keep their places for the CL match. But West Ham in a league match and Olymiakos in a CL match are totally different propositions.

I would personally still keep the same starting line up but have the likes of Drogba and Essien to bring on if need be.

i would keep it the same as Saturday but Bridge for Ashley and possibly Mikel for Maka

--------------------Cech----------------------

Paulo-------Carvs------------JT---------Ashley

---------------------Mikel----------------------

--------------Ballack--------Lampard------------

Joey---------------------------------------Kalou

---------------------Drogba---------------------

Subs:

Anelka,SWP,Malouda,Alex,Beletti,Essien,Carlo.

I would be very surprised if Drogba and Essien we not playing - probably at the expense of Maka and Anelka.

I would love to see Anelka and Drogba together at some stage this season, but not in a crucial in-the-balance Champion's League tie. How about we save it for the match against Derby on the weekend.

I would keep exactly the same team, its makes no sence to change it and to be honest i think maka has been under used this season

Makelele missed a fair chunk of the season for his ear surgery, so I don't think he was necessarilly under utilised, particually given his ageing legs.

i read somewher that maka nad the management had agreed only to play him in the important games. not sure im happy about that, doesnt really give much of an incentive to mikel.

Someone should tell the management that EVERY game is important.

Being up in Scotland, I seldom manage to get to games. I am reluctant to criticise players based solely on TV viewing but am totally unimpressed by Mikel. He seems slow, cannot tackle, cannot shoot, poor in the air for his height, shows little creativity going forward and on too many occasions has let the team down by reckless challenges, leading to sending offs. He also disappointed in the African Cup of Nations. It seems to me that he only gets games because Chelsea have spent (wasted?) so much money on him.

I note in this thread that some posters want Mikel to play tomorrow. Can those of you who actually manage to attend games and see him play live, convince me that he is a "star" and worth a regular place in the team? I personally would have kept Diarra as a better replacement in the holding role for the ageing Maka.

he has some excellent qualities. he takes control of games, slows them down or speeds them up. is fantastic positionally. is an excellent passer. and remember, hes still only very young, hes still coming to terms with the position (i think he was more attacking when younger).

Being up in Scotland, I seldom manage to get to games. I am reluctant to criticise players based solely on TV viewing but am totally unimpressed by Mikel. He seems slow, cannot tackle, cannot shoot, poor in the air for his height, shows little creativity going forward and on too many occasions has let the team down by reckless challenges, leading to sending offs. He also disappointed in the African Cup of Nations. It seems to me that he only gets games because Chelsea have spent (wasted?) so much money on him.

Can those of you who actually manage to attend games and see him play live, convince me that he is a "star" and worth a regular place in the team? I personally would have kept Diarra as a better replacement in the holding role for the ageing Maka.