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.
I’d choose 4-2-3-1 system
cech
iva-luiz-terry-cole
mikel-lampard
ramires-oscar-hazard
torres
my prediction RDM to use this system and players are 100%
I think it should be Luiz-Cahill-terry-cole
Mikel-lampard
Ramirez-hazard-Oscar/mata/Bertrand
Torres
Cech…ivano…cahill…david luiz…cole…meiralez…lampard…ramirez…hazard…mata…torres.oscar can come in z a sub for mata.
I don’t understand why you would play Ryan Bertrand when we have just signed multiple midfielders which are suited to this position (unlike last season) my team would be
—–Cech—–
-Ivan-Luiz-Terry-Cole
—Lampard-Essien—-
-Ramirez-Hazard-Oscar(replace Mata for rest)
——-Torres——
I know a lot of people would choose Mikel over Essien, but I am living in hope that the Essien that used to dominate Europe returns.
Cech
Ivanovic – Cahill – Luiz – Bertrand
Essien – Lampard
Hazard – Oscar – Ramires
Torres
cech
ivanovic luiz terry cole
meireles lampard
ramires hazard oscar
torres
this is sow fear chelsea(ec) side!
if i’m given the nod to select the team against wigan i’ll go a little bit diffrent to what everybody has been saying…i’ll give j.mata a complete rest,i’ll give mikel another opportunity and use ramires in the leftside of the mid field pavin way for sturidge on the rightwing and my line up goes thus.. cech
ivan cahil terry cole mikel lampard sturidge hazzard ramires torres
I wud prefer 4-2-3-1 so i wud play iva-terry-luiz-cole lampard-meireles ramirez-hazard-oscar torres/sturridge the striker is not that important regarding both can score
i feel chelsea should try this…….
cech
ivanovic, luiz, cahill, bertrand,
ramirez, oscar,
hazard, mata, piazon,
torres
ramarez could do great in da centre because of his speed and even piazon should be given a chance to prove himself…….ithink terry should be left out because he is not quick enough as compared to cahill or luiz and our entire game should be played around oscar and if we have to go a bit defencive it would be
cech,
ivanovic, terry cahill, cole
luiz, oscar
ramirez, mata, bertrand,
torres
iva__cahil__terry__cole essien_____lampard ramires_hazard_sturr torres i wil play essien in place of mikel cos we need an attackin team, mikel is always defence minded, oscar can come in later in place of sturridge or ramires, mata shud b rested