Date: 6th November 2012 at 7:16pm
Written by:

Tomorrow’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk has to be considered a must win for Chelsea if we’re to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League as anything less than three points will make life difficult, especially as Juventus are expected to pick up maximum points against FC Nordsjaelland in Turin.

Ashley Cole will miss the game with a hamstring injury and Frank Lampard is still out injured, whilst there’s question marks over both David Luiz and Juan Mata but hopefully they’ll be fit to take part.

The team I’d choose:

P. Cech

B. Ivanovic – G. Cahill – J. Terry (c) – R. Bertrand

Ramires – J. Mikel

Oscar – J. Mata – E. Hazard

F. Torres

I’m confident that Ryan Bertrand can step into Cole’s shoes at left-back, especially as Cole hasn’t looked himself in recent matches anyway and could probably do with a rest. It’ll be good to see John Terry back in the starting lineup as this is a night when you’ll need your leaders and we’ve shipped 10 goals without him, so I’d put him straight back into the team.

Midfield picks itself if Mata is fit. If not, I’d put Victor Moses in there and move Eden Hazard central.

If only we had a better option than Fernando Torres. We don’t, unfortunately, and although I wouldn’t mind experimenting with Hazard up top in what is described as a ‘false 9’ role, I don’t think Roberto Di Matteo will go for it. Daniel Sturridge is another option if Torres does his usual disappearing act.

Who’d be in your Chelsea XI for tomorrow night’s match? Have your say in the comments section below

 

31 responses to “Who’d be in your Chelsea XI v Shakhtar?”

  1. Mike says:

    This not a game that torres will start
    Am 100% not agree
    Di matteo should be very carefull bcause abramovic is a man with little patience…
    And u know pep guardiola is out their waiting on the door
    Di matteo has to wake up
    torres don’t need to start this game!!
    The team i do shose is……

    …………………………….CECH………………………….

    IVANOVIC…..CAHIL…….LUIZ…..BERTRAND

    ……………….MIKEL……………..RAMIRES………..

    MOSES…………………OSCAR………………MATA

    ……………………………HAZARD…………………….

    I know hazard is not a forward but give him chance in that role a trial will suprise u!!!!

  2. Mike says:

    This not a game that torres will start
    Am 100% not agree
    Di matteo should be very carefull bcause abramovic is a man with little patience…
    And u know pep guardiola is out their waiting on the door
    Di matteo has to wake up
    torres don’t need to start this game!!
    The team i do shose is……

    …………………………….CECH………………………….

    IVANOVIC…..CAHIL…….LUIZ…..BERTRAND

    ……………….MIKEL……………..RAMIRES………..

    MOSES…………………OSCAR………………MATA

    ……………………………HAZARD…………………….

    I know hazard is not a forward but give him chance in that role a trial will suprise u!!!!.

  3. mazacar says:

    @mike u r right look at suarez getting a goal for liverpool is not a well known striker he is a winger
    Just like hazard………
    Torres should be bence totally
    My squad

    Cech,ivanovic,terry,cahil,mikel,ramires,mata,moses,oscar,hazard,
    Playing torres is just like 10 against 11

    • Coo says:

      my guy!!!!
      In EPL suarez has already seven goals to his name after just 10 game while torres a striker havin just four goals….
      Having play all the ten games still yet four goals is a disgrace to him!!!!
      And am sure torres can never get back to his old form!!!

  4. Inas says:

    yes yes yes
    Let torres be bench play sum 1 else
    Moses in his position or sturidge…..
    Even hazard can do so….
    Torres dont deserve to be in our starting X1
    BENCH HIM!!!!!
    GO WITH THIS THIS

    Cech,ivanovic,cahil,luiz,bertrand,ramires,mikel.mata,oscar,moses,hazard,,

    • makelele says:

      my brother ur speech make sence di matteo should wake up,,,,,,,
      Torres is killing us

  5. Taiwomoses says:

    Give Moses a chance to strike tomorrow and i know he will convince uuu.up blue

  6. mcnumec says:

    Even if Torres plays, he should play alongside Stutrrige. My pick is
    CECH, IVANOVIC, CAHILL, TERRY, BETRAND, RAMIRES, MIKEL, OSCAR, MATA, TORRES, STUTRRIGE.

  7. Fidelis says:

    Yea Torres has not been in his fine or old liverpool form but benching him will be like adding salt to injury o. RDM knows better but should somtimes substitute him and always should learn how to make changes on time. Up Chelsea

  8. I will prefer cech,Terry,cahil,bertrand,ivanovic,mata,hazard,Mikel,Osca,ramirez and Tores bc is stll d only option we v 4 nw.

  9. Dean says:

    Ivanovic and terry at center back, would stop leaking goals but luiz is more creative and starts build up from back, as for the striker situation, id suggest bring moses in for torres and play either moses or oscar as the striker

  10. Dean says:

    I do think we could drip mikel and play luiz in his position

    • filament says:

      I don’t support dat suggestion Dean cos mike is perfect in that position