European champions Chelsea will start their Premier League campaign against Wigan tomorrow at the DW Stadium and we need to hit the ground running.
Branislav Ivanovic will be available for selection despite his red card against Manchester City in the Community Shield match, as cards during pre-season do not result in bans. The only player that isn’t available for selection is Marko Marin, who is struggling with a hamstring injury.
The team I’d play:
P. Cech
B. Ivanovic – G. Cahill – J. Terry (c) – A. Cole
J. Mikel – F. Lampard
Ramires – E. Hazard – R. Bertrand
F. Torres
In terms of the defence, the only question is who would you start, David Luiz or Gary Cahill? My preference is for the latter as I believe him to be the more composed defender and although Luiz is incredibly talented, but his tendency to rush out and commit himself is incredibly annoying. Luiz showed us last season that he can reign it in and concentrate on his job, he just needs to do this on a regular basis. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing him play at right-back as he’d have a lot more to offer going forward than Ivanovic, but I don’t see the manager going for it.
The midfield didn’t look great against City, especially John Obi Mikel, who gave the ball away more times in that game than he did last season. He got a hell of a lot of abuse for that performance but it’s not something he makes a habit of, when Roberto Di Matteo took charge last season Mikel only gave the ball away 15 times in total. I’m not sure what plans Di Matteo has for Oscar, who could make his debut tomorrow, but I think in the long-term he’s seen as someone that could potentially take over from Frank Lampard.
Juan Mata was completely anonymous against City and looked wrecked, I wouldn’t blame him as he was on international duty for both the European Championships and the Olympics. Give the boy a rest. Leaving him out tomorrow would also give us the opportunity to play Eden Hazard in his natural position. Also would like to see the ever improving Ryan Bertrand start on the in front of Ashley Cole, to keep the width on that side. Ramires to start on the right, but could eventually be replaced by Oscar, depending on which position the youngster will be asked to play.
Up front, Torres, the only establish centre-forward in the squad. Hope he can build on his performance against the Citizens last weekend.
This might not sound relevant but this is how I want CFC to line up in the next 3 to 4 yrs.
Courtois
Hutchinson Cahill Luiz Bertrand
Romeu Ramires
Juan Mata Oscar Eden Hazard
Romelu Lukaku
Subs: Blackman, Bruma, Kalas,van Anholt, McEachran, Sturidge, Piazon. With all these talents currently at our disposal, I think da future is bright and blue. KTBFFH!
Cech. Ivanovic………..luiz……………….cahill…………….a.cole………. . Mikel…………lampard. . . .ramirez…….harzard………..sturrigde. . ………………….torres……………………4-2-3-1
Chidi peter how can u say it’s a stupid formation when it’s untried?? Wigan nearly bet us last season using the formation so can’t be to stupid can it. And romeu is way off mikel are you sure romeu when he played last season done exactly what you want from a dm sits in front of the defense and can pass forward mikel for the last four seasons gives away dangerous free kicks and passes back to much. One more thing how much do you actually no about our players romeu was a centre back in his youth and has said he would like to go back in that position if it means he gets more time on the pitch and luiz has played on the left a few times for brazil! And all I’m saying is would be good for something different
Cech
Ivanovic – Luiz – Terry – Cole
Ramires—–Lampard
Oscar——Mata———Hazard
Torres
I prefer this selection against wiga …… CHECH. IVanovic……cahil………A.cole. . D Luis. J . Mikel…….. Ramirez…hazard…mata…. Oscar….. Torres. The formation is 3_2_3_2.RDM pls just try this it will work out.
my terms, cech…….ivanovic….david luiz…G cahill….A cole……………….mikel obi… Lampard……ramires…betrand…hazard……………………torres
Ivanovic–Cahill–Terry–Cole
Luiz—Lampard
Ramires–Hazard–Mata
Torres
If i was the one to coach this team tommorow i wil use one standing 4 nd one moving 4 that is the formation should be 4-2-3-1 leaving lampard and john terry out of this…. Cech, a.cole, luiz, cahill, ivanovic, mikel, merieles, ramires, oscar, hazard, torres. Lets build a new team for the future
well , it won’t be an easy game at the DW Stadium agains the Latics tomorrow. Yet, RDM might fancy trying out a team without Mata and Oscar. Mata is in need of some rest, since he’s badly wrecked. I would personally fancy Ivanovich and Cole as the wing backs with Captain JT and David Luiz in the heart of the defence. I think you’re right, since Mikel pulled the strings brilliantly last season and I wouldn’t mind him playing the deeper role for tomorrows game. He would be the better pick amongst the out-of-form Essien and the incosistent Raul Mireles. Super Frankie has to be there since he never gets old. Now the concern is who would you play in the front 3 behind Fernando? We have Mata, Hazard, Oscar, Ramires, Bertrand and Sturridge. Mata would be the main man in the middle anyway, but since I mentioned earlier, he should be given some rest, I would like Hazard playing in the middle, taking the number 10 role. Im sure he ll be able to provide Torres with the killer balls. Ramires can fit in the right brilliantly like last season and Bertrand or Sturridge can take the left flank since Marin is not available. Starting Oscar would be a little tacky since he just joined us last Thursday. He can be substituted in the second half to replace either Ramires or Hazard. Mata can be substituted late in the game as well and he can be brought on to replace Bertrand or Sturridge. Sturridge though deserves to play upfront, but Fernando is the man to lead the line and fire balls in to the net. I hope we go all out tomorrow, and hope for a wonderful start to the season. And yes, I agreee with your team selection and I believe it ll pay off. So it is,
Cech
Ivanovich Terry Luiz A.Cole
Obi Mikel
Lampard
Ramires Hazard Bertrand
Torres
Cech
Ivanovic luiz Terry cole
Ramires Essien
Sturridge Oscar hazard
Torres
Mata needs a rest, Essien and Ramires in the double pivot a destroyer and a box to box midfielder, I think we need studge down the right I think he tried abit harder to be a team player against city so deserves a shot. Oscar is ready to start he’s in the swing of things from the olympics and I think he’s pretty fresh. And I have a funny feeling of an assist or goal from him