Stoke 0-0 Chelsea

[Steve 10,227]

Torres starting with Drogba on the bench.

[Milan 17,878]

Ivanovic on the bench, along with Hilario, Ferreira, Josh, Benayoun, Anelka and Drogs

[Guest justin_3d]

That lineup looks like the same crap as last season....

Let's hope for the best!

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

The lineup is different from how we've been playing in pre-season - very similar to last season, let's see whats changed. Where IS STURRIDGE!

[Steve 10,227]

TEAM NEWS: STOKE CITY V CHELSEA

Fernando Torres starts in a front three with Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda out wide. Didier Drogba is on the bench.

Ramires gets the nod on the right of midfield, Yossi Benayoun and Josh McEachran are among the subs.

Jose Bosingwa is at right-back, with Alex in the middle. Branislav Ivanovic is fit enough to be on the bench.

Stoke made one change from their Europa League qualifier. Rory Delap replaces Dean Whitehead.

Chelsea will line-up in the following 4-3-3 formation:

1

Petr Cech

17 Jose Bosingwa

33 Alex

26 John Terry ©

3 Ashley Cole

7 Ramires

12 John Mikel Obi

8 Frank Lampard

21 Salomon Kalou

9 Fernando Torres

15 Florent Malouda

Subs: 40

Hilario, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 2 Branislav Ivanovic, 20 Josh McEachran, 10 Yossi Benayoun, 39 Nicolas Anelka, 11 Didier Drogba.

Stoke (4-4-2): Begovic; Huth, Shawcross, Woodgate, Wilson; Pennant, Whelan, Delap, Etherington; Jones, Walters.

Subs: Sorensen, Pugh, Collins, Diao, Whitehead, Shotton, Wilksinson.

The referee is Mark Halsey.

[chelsea blue 615]

Stream

http://www.soccertvlive.net/watch/78609/1/watch-stoke-city-vs-chelsea.html

[Randall 315]

YES KALOU IS STARTING! PHEW. I was worried for a second.

So glad Drogba isn't playing, would be stupid to play with one of our most physical players and probably our best asset in defence for heading against stoke, glad we have decided to go with Torres instead.

But in all seirousness if it works I'm happy but if not the team selection is the first place I'm looking for a reason.

[Kojo 4,676]

Do Ivans on bench?... Why isn't he playing?... Bosingwa will get pushed over by Stoke.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

The lineup is different from how we've been playing in pre-season - very similar to last season, let's see whats changed. Where IS STURRIDGE!

Banned for the next three games

[Peace. 4,352]

Why not anelka instead of kalou

because that's the same shit.

[Domino- 116]

WHAT!? Ivan isn't playing??? Bosingwa will get raped by Stoke...

May play a strong game

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

Banned for the next three games

Oh yeh, remember him getting a red card for Bolton. Probably the one bad thing to come out of his loan spell.

[magicrico 175]

Iy had to be down to training and how they have performed behind the scenes. If it was based on the pre-season games this wouldn't be our team.

[Peace. 4,352]

Well, I am not confident with Bosingwa at back... Last year we have conceeded the goal because of him (for the record).

And McEachran or/and Benayoun should have been started. Our midfield is way too much 'not creative'.

[Kez 2,727]

AVB fills me with confidence, he just has that effect. Can't wait for this one! COME ON CHELS.

[Kojo 4,676]

Totally agree killamanjaro

[Melanicus 5,208]

AVB fills me with confidence, he just has that effect. Can't wait for this one! COME ON CHELS.

Me too, I'm not even nervous. Great ava bdw.

[Corlett 202]

LOL at people questioning AVB's selection.