The Skipper

Can't believe Oscar isn't playing.

Yeah I was a bit iffy about Walker but I rate him higher than Glen Johnson and completely forgot about Clyne. Clyne would start over both for sure.

I'm not calling anyone ridiculous as a person, just the notion that Luiz being picked over someone like Ramires being ridiculous. I still stand by that because I don't like Luiz in midfield at all. I'm not attacking anyone that wants that I just strongly disagree with it so ridiculous is the right word IMO, especially considering Luiz was really bad in midfield last time so I don't get the form argument either.Especially against Yaya Toure and Fernandinho. I don't want to see it.

You can't really tell that via just watching the tele...

Sturridge should start up front with Rooney. Surely you can't bench a guy who has alongside Rooney been the best English player offensively this season Walcott's injured for the WC anyway. My starting XI would probably be something like this (if I could bring back JT): That would be the base formation. Having 3 midfielders capable of passing, plus one who can drive with the ball (Wilshere and Lallana when he drops deeper) should allow a nice possession game, with runs off the ball from Sturridge and Rooney and link up play between them providing the threat in the final third. Rooney can also drop deeper and search for a pass which Lallana or Sturridge would get onto: When transitioning to attack on the right, the team shape would roughly change to this: Sturridge cuts in up front, Rooney comes deeper to orchestrate the attack and offer an option with Wilshere, Walker providing the overlap for the space Sturridge has left. On the left: Shaw provides the overlap for Lallana, Sturridge cuts in from the right as well and vacates a space which is covered by Gerrard, while Lallana and Luke Shaw (in the team because he and Lallana are incredible on that left side for Southampton) work their magic on the left. It would actually be a very solid team capable of some nice football. Shame the FA can't get in a decent manager to implement an idea like this though. Edit: quickly added some images to illustrate the formations a bit better. I'm bored lol.

Match preview up @, @CHOULO19.

Venue: Chelsea face Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City on Monday, February 3rd, 20:00 at the Etihad Stadium. The Match: This game (round 24) pits two heavyweight Premier League sides against each other; the best attacking team against the best defensive team in the league. City have not lost a single point at home this season in the PL, scoring 42 goals (at home alone) on the way. They are sitting 2nd in the table, 2 points off top. A win could see them regain the top spot. Chelsea are currently 3rd in the league, conceding only 20 goals so far, and a win could see them draw level on points with City. City have won their last 5 PL games; defeating Tottenham, Cardiff, Swansea, Newcastle and Crystal Palace, whilst Chelsea have won 4 out of their last 5, defeating Liverpool, Southampton, Hull, Manchester United and drawing to West Ham. Pellegrini has only defeated Mourinho once in seven which came during their time in Spain, whilst Mourinho has defeated Pellegrini 5 times. Chelsea face Man City for the 149th time in all competitions, The Blues have won 62 (41.89%), drawn 37 (25.00%) and lost 49 (33.11%) of the previous 148 matches.[1]. Chelsea are the only team this season out the top 7 to have defeated Manchester City, which occurred at home earlier in the season - but that was our first win in 6 games in all competitions against Man City. Opposition Analysis (excellently provided by @[member=hjperdeath])[2] Manchester City welcome Joses Chelsea to the Etihad, in what seems to be a game that could tilt the title towards the club that grabs all the three points. The noisy residents of Manchester banged 5 past Hugo Lloris and Tottenham, while Chelsea struggled to convert their chances into goals against medieval football. For all the hype surrounding Citys blistering form in front of goal, what should Chelsea expect? City while transitioning into attack, hold nothing back. Taking the term all guns blazing to another level. Freedom is given to a lot of players, and responsibilities, not always equally shared. The center-backs push up and Kompany orchestrates and organizes the structure. On paper it is a 4-4-2, but it looks far from it when City are in full flow. Fernandinho and Toure are the so called central midfielders. Fernandinho prefers to defend, while Toure prefers to attack. Silva and [enter name of your choice except Navas] are the wide midfielders, who function as interiores . However when City need a bit of width due to their full-back unable to do because of the oppositions strategy, Navas gives them an edge. He hugs the touchline and drags players out wide for small pockets of space to open up. City when using an interiores function a bit different as said before. Both the full-backs are to get themselves forward, with the full-back who is not directly taking part in the attack, holding himself back and being level with the last man in midfield. To explain that easier, if the ball is being played on the left, the right-back will hold himself a little back and be level with the defensive midfielder to make sure counter-attacks lose their efficiency. A screen grab from the Arsenal game. Zabaleta has positioned himself well to either receive the ball or retreat quickly in case the ball is lost. Another area to look at is the vital three man engine. The engine that keeps the team fluid and running at all times. Silva drops in the middle, and works with Toure and Fernandinho. They try to make each other available through their movement, which is exceptionally clever. One man always defends, and we all know who that is. By doing so, they also negate the problem of having no man behind the two strikers as seen on paper. To an extent its largely seen as a 4-1-3-2 . If Chelsea are to win itll be vital to shut that area down, that is the bottom line. Block passing lanes, be physical and make sure that at least one of the three is never in the game for 90 minutes. That increases our chances of getting a favourable outcome to 40% . Now if those three form the engine, one of the two strikers is the fuel. Aguero and Negredo was a blossoming partnership, with Aguero acting as the front-man and Negredo often dropping deep to collect the ball and link up play. This also helps negate another problem. City on paper would be heavily outnumbered in the attacking third when the midfield joins in. With a striker dropping deep, it could essentially change a 2v3 scenario to a 3v3 . Dzeko and Jovetic have also been used, and in that partnership, the best part is that both of them can drop deep naturally to facilitate the play. All their strikers are exceptionally good at drifting to wide areas. Versatility is key in their play. Now I dont have much to say about their defensive transition but, there seems to be this kind of idea that City are going to be really easy on the counter, and that isnt the truth. It was quite easy at the start, with Pellegrini having quite a few problems in defining a philosophy that could make ball retention easier. City also have their fair share of players tracking back, notably on the side Silva starts in, as it tends to be more open. From one of the strikers, to atleast two of the midfielders, they dont hesitate to pull themselves back and recover possession. On a tactical perspective, Monday to a football fan is going to be what cocaine is to a drug addict. Players To Watch (City): Yaya Toure & Fernandinho: The best central midfield partnership have been integral to Manchester City's attacking impetus this season. Both players are well rounded, have great technique and can dominate matches from the middle. Yaya Toure, the more offensive of the two, has the ability to break from midfield at any given time and produce great finesse in the final third, whilst Fernandinho, who isn't bad offensively either, sits deep and launches most attacks for Man City. Here are some goals from the two players: [spoiler] Fernandinho goal vs. Arsenal Yaya Toure [/spoiler] David Silva: The Spanish playmaker has been in phenomenal form this season as City's main metronome in the final third. Pellegrini's attacking philosophy has allowed David to regain the spectacular form he had in the beginning of his City career, and the midfielder will be looking to control things again from the left side of the pitch, where he has been given the freedom to cut in and produce a wonderful defence splitting pass such as this: [spoiler] [/spoiler] Kompany: The Manchester City and Belgian skipper has slowly played himself back to great form and will be looking to make things difficult for the Chelsea attack. He is always a threat on set pieces and has great leadership skills and determination to get his team out of trouble. Also known for his ball playing skills, Kompany can allow City to build from the back. It will be important to Chelsea if he has a good game or not. Here is an example of the above: [spoiler] [/spoiler] Team News[3]: James Milner could return for Manchester City, but the big blow is the hamstring injury suffered by Aguero against Tottenham mid-week which sees him out for a month. Javi Garcia (muscle) and Samir Nasri (knee) are the other players missing out for City. Chelsea have no new injury concerns for the big match, but Torres (knee) and long-term absentee Van Ginkel (knee) are set to miss out. Possible starting line ups: Potential Chelsea XI: Cech Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpilicueta Ramires Matic Willian Oscar Hazard Eto'o Potential City XI: Hart Zabaleta Kompany Demichelis Clichy Navas Toure Fernandinho Silva Dzeko Negredo Match Facts[4]: Manchester City have won 19 and lost just one of their last 21 Barclays Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium, including winning the last 11 in a row. Chelsea have kept three clean sheets in a row away from home in the Barclays Premier League. Man City have won their last 10 home matches Chelsea have lost their last four Premier League visits to the Etihad, but no team has won more games away at Man City in Premier League history than the west Londoners (10). Man City have had both teams scoring in their last five matches against top-six teams. Manchester City are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games played on a Monday (W5 D1), but their last PL defeat on a Monday came against Chelsea (1-2 in Dec 2011). Five of Chelseas last eight Premier League games on a Monday have ended in a draw, with three of these ending goalless. Chelsea have been level at half-time in their last five away matches against Man City. Alvaro Negredo has scored 16 goals in his last 13 competitive appearances at the Etihad Stadium. Chelsea had 39 shots against West Ham in midweek (incl. blocked shots); the most by any team who failed to score in the PL since 2003/04. Man City have won their last eight Premier League games in a row, longer than any run secured in the title winning season of 2011-12 (most was seven). Chelsea have won their last four home matches against top-half teams. Chelsea have won only two of their last eight Premier League games in February (L4 D2). Man City have scored first in their last five matches. Edin Dzeko will attempt to score in four successive Premier League appearances within the same season for the first time. Betting Odds: City WIN 17/20 Draw: 23/10 Chelsea WIN 7/2 TV: Depending on where you are from, you can watch the match in the following channels: United Kingdom: Sky Sports 1 HD United States: SiriusXM FC, NBC Sports Live Extra, NBCSN, Mun2, TalkSport Radio India: Star Sports HD 2 India, Star Sports 4 India Africa: SuperSport 3 If your country/continent is not listed above then you can check out the TV Schedule for the match here. There should also be many match streams that can be found online if your local sports channels are not broadcasting the game or if you happen to be busy and cannot catch the game live, follow TalkChelsea on Twitter as it would provide live match commentary on the action. [1] http://www.thechels.co.uk/4712-statistical-preview-chelsea-vs-man-city-2014-02-01/ [2] http://eplindex.com/48949/manchester-city-chelsea-preview.html [3] http://eplindex.com/48949/manchester-city-chelsea-preview.html [4] http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/8-2013/matches/695136/pre-match Click here to view article

Well, the Seahawks (the best defence) won comprehensively tonight so I'm pretty sure we're winning this comprehensively as well now.

You can't put Cech in the same bracket as Lampard and Ivanovic because Cech is still world class and is still clearly one of the best in the world.

Thanks for this mate, I'll be using certain aspects for the MDP if you don't mind.

It's ridiculous mate.

Yeah, it's ridiculous how because Rambo hasn't really played well recently that suddenly people are suddenly advocating Luiz over Ramires in midfield.Matic, Lampard, Ramires and Mikel are better midfielders than Luiz in my book.

Effective management is knowing that Terry will retire soon and that Ivanovic is 30 later this month. We're definitely going to have to spend big on a new CB soon regardless.Like I said before, I know Luiz isn't having the best of seasons but to say he automatically isn't in Mourinho's plans (when there's been many factors affecting why he isn't starting) is ridiculous IMO. You're writing him off far too soon I think.

Hardly pushing 30 is it?

Seriously? So easy for you to completely forget that he was really good defensively at the end of last season because he isn't having a good time this season. Do you think he's not progressed at all as a player (taking away this season so far)? Because that is a ridiculous notion to make IMO. I wasn't saying that - I thought you suggested that Luiz doesn't play well in the massive games which isn't true. I wasn't talking about his mentality in the smaller games. Apart from this season, his mentality in smaller games have been great, he was often one of the players that tried to step up when things weren't going our way, and it seems like you're completely forgetting that because he hasn't been the best this season. So this hasn't been Cahill's most consistent form in a Chelsea shirt?

As Jype said above, there are other players we can sell to raise funds. I know Luiz isn't having a fantastic season but to say he's dead wood isn't true. Luiz's problems has nothing to do with not fitting in Mourinho's system.

Cavani is 26.

No he isn't the same guy... You're acting like Luiz has not changed whatsoever which is simply untrue. He's not the same sort of defender anymore - that enthusiasm when he first came has pretty much been beaten out of him. He was maturing as a player up until the very end of last season and if he continued that sort of form he'd be our number 1 CB but obviously due to international duties, injuries, a lack of pre season, and Gary Cahill taking his chance he hasn't been able to play as often and has stalled. It's really that simple. Cardiff at home isn't a big game... I thought you were on about Liverpool calibre opponents. And the tale is pretty simple. Gary Cahill is in the form of his life and has had solid game after solid game for a while now, it would be extremely harsh and hypocritical of Mourinho to drop him when Luiz isn't at top form either.

Just because we sold to buy players this January window doesn't mean we have to do the same in the summer. Pretty sure we've got money set aside for the summer. We'll get rid of some unneeded squad players like Ba, Moses, Marin, Kakuta etc. which will generate funds for Luke Shaw (plus the leftover money from January) and then we'll have a set amount of money we can spend this summer on a world class striker.

People need to stop putting Luiz in midfield... It's not going to be happening anymore IMO.

The main reason youngsters have not made it here in recent years IMO is managerial instability.

Seems you have forgotten Luiz's ability completely just because he's been off form and Cahill has been in the form of his life. That's the only reason Luiz isn't playing because Cahill getting dropped would make no sense right now as he doesn't deserve it. Can we trust Luiz against a team against Liverpool? Tell me, when was the last time Luiz made a mistake in a big game? And how many mistakes has he made in big games in general... You won't find many at all.

Statistically, he's by far our best striker in the PL. Eto'o vs. Torres vs. Ba this season:

Pretty sure we'll sign Luke Shaw and a WC striker. Would be nice to bring in someone like Kroos as well.

Rightfully so though IMO, they've been really good in the past few games. Hopefully we'll bring them back down to earth though.