Closed Chelsea 2-3 Man City

[Pacquiao 1,834]

I would like to see

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz/Cahill - Terry - A.Cole

Mikel - Lampard

Ramires - Mata - Hazard

Torres

[The Skipper 20,593]

Silva and Balotelli are unlikely to play

Which helps us a lot.

With Mata likely to return as well we have an even better chance.

[Kinol 337]

Parking the bus in this game would be stupid imo. I expect us to have a solid defense though

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Parking the bus in this game would be stupid imo. I expect us to have a solid defense though

its certainly not stupid for us to park the bus, embarrassing yes but stupid no, our double pivot just doesn't offer us good enough protection in front of the back four and they cant control games and keep good possession, its embarrassing for the Champions of Europe to park the bus in games but at the moment its still the best way for us to play.

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

My tickets came this morning CANT WAIT

gonna be in the Holte End LOUD AND PROUDDDDDD

Yes we have the whole Holt end apparently.

Last time I was in there we were ejected and escorted up the touch line to where the Chelsea fans should have been. Happy days

[royg 96]

Would love to see this line-up:

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole

Mikel Lampard

Marin Hazard Mata

Torres

Hazard on the middle because he wasnt really playing good on the left (Brighton game) but all 3 attacking midfielders could always roam around and interchange position. Lampard and Mikel staying deep and just distribute the ball and protect the back 4.

[killer1257 3,282]

its certainly not stupid for us to park the bus, embarrassing yes but stupid no, our double pivot just doesn't offer us good enough protection in front of the back four and they cant control games and keep good possession, its embarrassing for the Champions of Europe to park the bus in games but at the moment its still the best way for us to play.

But without Drogba it will be difficult to play with that tactic.I don´t think,that Torres will start to score so soon,but if he scores,it would make me happy.

[Sheva. 5,373]

I would play 4-3-3 for this game, as long as Marin is available.

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

Ivan---Cahill---JT---Ash

Rambo--Mikel---Lampard

Marin---Torres---Hazard

I expect a couple things to be different from the game against Brighton, first off there's no Meireles to do stupid things when we have the ball.

And Ramires won't be on the wings wasting every single ball that comes his way, those crosses

The midfield is still a source of concern, but we don't really have much better options atm.

[Mathewe 65]

Would love to see this line-up:

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole

Mikel Lampard

Marin Hazard Mata

Torres

Agreed. I think this is probably our strongest lineup (currently). I'm very interested to see the interplay between Marin/Hazard/Mata also (I'm not expecting miracles but the beginning of an understanding would be very encouraging).

[Pacquiao 1,834]

But without Drogba it will be difficult to play with that tactic.I don´t think,that Torres will start to score so soon,but if he scores,it would make me happy.

Drogba isn't key to us parking the bus he was a key player as he could hold the ball up and relieve some pressure, we have Ramires who can relieve pressure when running on the break with his pace. Torres will have to improve at holding the ball up so we may have to rely alot on Ramires, Torres and Hazard to break with the ball as our way of relieving pressure on our defense and creating chances instead of just relying on our players to play long balls up to Drogba.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Would love to see this line-up:

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole

Mikel Lampard

Marin Hazard Mata

Torres

Hazard on the middle because he wasnt really playing good on the left (Brighton game) but all 3 attacking midfielders could always roam around and interchange position. Lampard and Mikel staying deep and just distribute the ball and protect the back 4.

Agreed. I think this is probably our strongest lineup (currently). I'm very interested to see the interplay between Marin/Hazard/Mata also (I'm not expecting miracles but the beginning of an understanding would be very encouraging).

are you guys mad??? it would be crazy to go into this game without Ramires!!!

[Hutcho 8,443]

TBH, i would much rather see a great performance, where we give it a good go, whilst being fairly solid at the back, and let the result be what it will be than us parking the bus, showing nothing and being "extremely lucky" to win... I personally see this as the final pre season game... Yes it is a cup, but as i have said before preparation for the wigan match is 10 times more important than the community shield imo.

[Mathewe 65]

are you guys mad??? it would be crazy to go into this game without Ramires!!!

I'm not a fan of Ramires on the right wing and I'm not sure about playing him in the double-pivot. I think he's an excellent player but 4-2-3-1 doesn't really suit him imo.

[Hutcho 8,443]

are you guys mad??? it would be crazy to go into this game without Ramires!!!

How would it be mad? We have seen him be ineffective at RW, so unless we play a 4-3-3 i think he will be on the bench for this one... Unless we actually are going to be parking the bus which would be the craziest thing...

[Marvin123 483]

Yes we have the whole Holt end apparently.

Last time I was in there we were ejected and escorted up the touch line to where the Chelsea fans should have been. Happy days

I was there for the Chelsea 4-2 win this season, in the holte end there too being really quiet of course haha

[royg 96]

are you guys mad??? it would be crazy to go into this game without Ramires!!!

Sorry to burst your bubble mate but As good as Ramires can be, he is not suitable for an attacking style of play. If we play counter attack with all the spaces in front him then he will surely be on my first 11.

[Peace. 4,352]

How would it be mad? We have seen him be ineffective at RW, so unless we play a 4-3-3 i think he will be on the bench for this one... Unless we actually are going to be parking the bus which would be the craziest thing...

I gotta be agree with him. Once you phase out Ramires from the starting line-up, which player (except defenders), with defensive abilities, remains ? Only Mikel. And there's not even need to start a "Mikel great / Mikel poor" debate to see that only one player to make the defensive duties isn't enough. Furthermore, against a team with the firepower in attack which ManCity has, you don't act like a kamikaze.

We aren't good enough when we are in possession to afford ourselves to play with only one defensive player. We will need time to be an attacking team. Hence, to ditch our defensive style of play overnight isn't a wise decision to make. If we don't want to be riped a new one, both Ramires and Mikel are needed on the pitch.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

This will come as a big surprise for a lot of people here, but I'm pretty confident we'll win by a 2 goal margin.