DYC.

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Daniel Sturridge and Franco Di Santo will lead the attack in the first pre-season friendly of 2009/10. Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi both start in a diamond midfield which has 17-year-old Josh McEachran at the front of it. Nemanja Matic will play on the left. In central defence Patrick van Aanholt will partner Alex with Jeffrey Bruma and Ryan Bertrand the full-backs. Former Chelsea reserve team player Liam Bridcutt is on the bench for Palace. He is on trial. Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Petr Cech (capt) Jeffrey Bruma Alex Patrick van Aanholt Ryan Bertrand John Mikel Obi Michael Essien Nemanja Matic Josh McEachran Franco Di Santo Daniel Sturridge Subs: Hilario, Ross Turnbull, Ben Gordon, Nathaniel Chalobah, Jack Cork, Conor Clifford, Daniel Philliskirk, Michael Woods, Kaby Djalo, Milan Lalkovic, Scott Sinclair. Palace: Speroni, Wright, Radosavcjevic, McCarthy ©, Barrett, Danns, Dorman, Lee, Ambrose, Ouasfane, Baiollo. Subs: Price, N'Diaye, Cadogan , Bridcutt, Morgan, Davis, Zaha, Scannell. The game is live on Chelsea TV DavidEU you almost had it right Not excited about the formation though.. I really dislike the diamond formation. Hopefully this is just because of the available squad and Carlo isnt trying to use his formation again. Dont understand why Van Aanholt is in centre defence while Bruma is at right back. Hutchinson is probably injured..again

Add two asissts from McEachran to that

Yeah i can agree with you on that.. but i'd still prefer to see a 4-3-3 line-up

I see where you're coming from and you're right about the fact that he deserves a chance. Since Ancelotti already said nobody's playing 90 min, he would play the second half in my formation. But i have to say that i hate that 4-4-2 (diamond) formation, I dont think it fits our squad at all.

Nahh, i dont like Di Santo that much. I dont think he's good enough for Chelsea. I'd much rather see Sturridge playing, he can grow out to be our next star striker

Di Santo as a right winger ?

Yeah you're right. I read about that yesterday. Its a damn shame he isnt going to play. Lalkovic instead of Kakuta then. Thanks for the correction

Lets hope for a great match. I haved missed seeing our boys play in that beautiful blue shirt. Hope the young players shine today. Would love to see this first eleven in the first half Cech Hutchinson - Alex - Bruma - Van Aanholt Essien - Matic McEachran Kakuta - Sturridge - Töre

No Torres for me. This guy is constantly injured, it would be a real waste of money. You could get two great players for the price on his head.

If we would let him go, we would start to look like Arsenal . Chelsea need more Englishmen, not less !

If this is true, this would really explain why Benayoun was bought. With the departure of J. Cole and the upcoming departure of Deco, we dont have a real attacking midfielder (number 10) in the squad. Benayoun is probably here for max three years and hopefully McEachran is ready to become our new number 10. (Not Kakuta as i'd rather see a player with his pace, dribbling skills and great shot on the left or right wing. Would love to see him in the Arjen Robben role, cutting in from the right) Thats how i see it anyway. Josh really has fenomenal potential and it would be dream come true seeing a Chelsea youth player growing out be one the best in game (at Chelsea of course). Seeing him in the first team already next season would be great, lets hope for the best .

You really need to start a '' I Love Kakuta '' club. You're really promoting the boy. Sad to see Joey go. I just have a really strong feeling he is going to shine at his next club

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2067357,00.html Bye Bye Juliano

Have to, really disagree. A midfield of Mikel, Lampard and Essien lacks creativity, pace and that magic that Deco or Joey brought to midfield. When opponents pressure our midfield you dont have some can beat/get past a man with the ball or a beautiful one touch pass in the open space. In the modern game you absolutely need a midfield genius, that playmaker that guides the whole team. Josh McEachran is that kind of player but he is absolutely not ready to play at the highest level of football. Kakuta is also a player like that but i'd much rather see him in a wing role with his amazing pace, skill and technique. Thats why i think a player like Modric, Van der Vaart is needed. Ancelotti also sees that since he loved to play Deco when fit.

Just hope that because of this news Stoch wants to stay now. He wanted first team football and with Joe Cole gone, we officialy dont have a real right winger except for Miroslav. So Chelsea really have to do everything to keep him and extend his contract. With Cole and Ballack gone and Deco and Belleti on their way out, our midfield looks like this: Essien Mikel Lampard Matic Cork (rumours that he is leaving) (Malouda is also a option for a role in midfield . Kakuta too but i'd rather see him play left wing.) What im trying to say is that we obviously need new midfielders. But it doesnt really look like Chelsea is moving in the transfer market and that worries me. Would love to see Modric join us. Van der Vaart, Gourcuff, Hamsik, Banega or Özil would be great options as well. A good backup for Lampard is also needed if Cork leaves. Even if he stays, im not sure if he is able to take his place if something would happen to Lamps.

What are you talking about ? You just posted his player profile link

Agree. That would be like trading a Mercedes for a Hyundai.

This news made me very sad. I really love Joey and its sad to see him leave. He is one of reasons Chelsea FC caught my attention years ago. Always thought he would finish his career with us. Hope Chelsea are sure of their decision and that this means that the club will really give the young players a chance to shine. Hope Joey doesnt join Arsenal, Man Utd or Liverpool out of respect to the club he always claimed to love. Also wanted Bally to stay for one more year but also not happening. Wish him the best of luck.

Cech Ivanovic/Bosingwa Alex Terry Cole Essien Lampard Malouda J. Cole Drogba Zhirkov Or Cech Ivanovic/Bosingwa Alex Terry Cole Essien Lampard J. Cole New Guy Drogba Malouda/Zhirkov

Great video ! Really hope he makes it. He looks like a true leader and shows real affection for the club. Clifford, Kakuta, Bruma, Sturridge, Stoch, Hutchinson, Matic and McEachran . The future looks very bright for Chelsea Football Club. :champions:

Wrong. Chelsea has the status of being one of the strongest teams in Europe at the moment. Chelsea isnt seen as Big European Club and rightfully so. Big diffrence ! We haven't won the Europa Cup I, II, CL or Uefa Cup/Europa League. If for some reason we dont even compete for a European glory in like ten, twenty years, the fact that we were one of the strongest teams will be ''forgotten''.

Are you serious ? Im seriously asking if you're serious..

Milner would be a fantastic player for the right wing position. I think this guy is a fantastic player and he is only 24. He is only gonna get better and better. Yes Villa are asking a lot of money but everyone is expensive right now. The whole transfer market is filled with crazy prices. I'd rather pay 30 mil for Milner than 50 mil for Aguero. Aguero is a great talent but we play a 4-3-3 formation. Despite what people are saying here on TC, Aguero cant play as a winger! I have followed him at Atletico and he has never played as a winger. The guy can play as a striker and second striker. We have Drogs, Nico and Sturridge for the strikers role so we dont need him. Milner also reminds me of Lamps when he plays in centre midfield (a modern version of him) and he could easily take his spot when Lamps isnt starting line-up material anymore.

Really dont need him. Great player but no.. just a stupid rumour. Ess-Lamps-Yaya lacks that magic you need when things aren't going well. A creative AM should be added to the three-man midfield. Ancelotti should give Joe Cole another chance in that AM role. When Joey came back the team wasnt in good form and we played a different system so i think he should get another chance in that role. Cole has all the right qualities for the AM role. Just think of it.. -----------Essien--------------- ----------------------Lamps---- -----J.Cole--------------------- (With Josh McEachran hopefully taking his spot in 3, 4 years ) If it doesnt work out with Joe Cole, Modric would a great buy.