Starting Team.

[dave30 728]

everybody was crying yesterday that we didn't buy a creative midfielder and yet nobody seems to be prepared to play josh

[nadavTKL 1,787]

I would be more than happy with us putting this team out....

That will be the best imo... but we need to see if Ramires can do this job.

Like someone else said, a midfield of Rami, Mikel and Raul is to negative.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Josh/frank........rambo

Meireles

Josh to be brought through this season more and more, giving some more longevity to franks career

[wisey11zola25 142]

1) ..........................Cech..........

Bran...........Luiz.................JT.......Ash

.............................Josh.......................

..........Ramires.....................Meireles...

..Sturridge................................Mata..

............................Nando.....................

2)..........................Cech................

Bos.........Luiz.......................JT......Ash

..................Ramires....Josh........

...Meireles............Lamps..........Mata

............................Nando....................

3).........................Cech....................

Bran.........Luiz...................JT.....Ash

............................Rami............

............Meireles..............Josh.........

............................Mata....................

...................Lukaku......................

.................................Torres............

Last night i wasnt too happy aout 'deadline day deals' for us, but as mentioned on here we got taught a lesson last year for not having a 'squad' but just an 'XI'

Defensive Choice's- Bos,Bran,Bertrand,Luiz,Alex,JT,Cole,Ferreira----PVA to return at end of year, Bruma to return in 2 years (unlikely though)

Midfield Choice's- Rami,Josh,Romeu,Lamps,Meireles,Mikel,Essien(when fit)----Benayoun to return (unlikely he will)

Attacking Choice's- Drog,Nando,Nico,Kalou,Malouda,Mata,Lukaku,Danny--------Kakuta to return in Jan

We all wanted AVB to build a chelsea squad and we cant argue that there are signs of that happening now! we've even got the likes of Davilas,Piazon etc. to return for future squad positions.

If we play a game like this in each transfer window...Lukaku,Romeu young talent that should quickly challenge for starting places, Mata the big signing witha bright future but for realistic money, and Meireles an experienced proven midfielder that has learnt the prem game quickly, i would have that over one 40mil signing each time that may not adapt to our squad...

Bring on the AVB era. Give him time! and all these people saying about other clubs signing loads of players that will start...they need time to gel as a squad, we have a core already and have brought players to fit the jigsaw and slot in to a squad that knows how to play (even if our opening fixtures didnt show great performances)

while Mertesacker etc. take a month or 2 to gel at the scum...we'll have our shape sorted and be fighting with a squad of players that can all battle for first team places! Healthy competition for places will make the older players work harder to keep their place while the young flair get their chance...genuinely excited if all goes to plan...feeling positive today!

[lecter 84]

2)..........................Cech................

Bos.........Luiz.......................JT......Ash

..................Ramires....Josh........

...Meireles............Lamps..........Mata

............................Nando....................

This is something that can work wonders for us. Meireles sure seems a good signing to me. He can be instrumental in phasing out Lamps from the starting XI, with all due respect to the man. I hope Studge fits well into that right slot. My team sheet would be a lil different in the following way.

..........................Cech................

Bos.........Luiz.......................JT......Ash

..................Ramires....Josh........

...Sturridge............Meireles..........Mata

............................Nando....................

Subs: Hilario, Drogba, Ivan, RB, Lamps, Malouda

We all wanted AVB to build a chelsea squad and we cant argue that there are signs of that happening now! we've even got the likes of Davilas,Piazon etc. to return for future squad positions.

I am somehow not extremely optimistic about these young signings. We always had been promised players 'for the future' like Borini, Rajkovic, Bruma etc. etc., in the end never making into the first team. I do understand that there are people who argue that they have just not been good enough for us. Similarly I am just being cautious about these players too. I do not doubt the abilities of these youngsters but am somehow left confused by the standard of the youth the management at Chelsea expects for injection into the squad. I hope they turn out really awesome and fill our squad with freshness in the coming years.

[Wilson 358]

I would be more than happy with us putting this team out....

This.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Since we didn't bring in a creative midfielder, how about this?

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

Bos--Iva--Terry--Cole

--Meireles----Mikel--

Ramires-----------Mata

---Sturridge---Torres---

Let Mata run around the pitch and do whatever he wants in terms of positioning.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

What I am hoping for is that AVB will have the guts and wisdom to bench Lampard and Malouda some. I also think the wining concept will be that when drogba steps in it should be with lukaku+anyone but torres. Anelka and Kalou should also not be given much playtime at all, now and then to give them a(nother) chance to perform and if not just leave them on the bench. Something like this maybe: (just lookin at it makes me drool)

----Lukaku---Torres---Sturridge

---Mata-------Meireles---Ramires

--Cole--Terry--Luiz--Bosingwa

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

or possibly:

---------Torres-------

Lukaku-------Sturridge

Mata----------Meireles

---------Mikel----------

--Cole---Terry---Luiz--Bos

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

EDIT: I still cant believe some people include Lampard in a starting team. Get real will you? PLEASE

[Kojo 4,676]

I honestly can't say what's going to be our starting line up... i think it's going to be very rotational this season.

[sweetLew 0]

Lots of options, hopefully AVB fosters the competition. Of course, he seems to favor the 4-3-3, but I think the following 4-4-2 could do well to break down a team that is parking the bus against us:

Torres Lukaku

Mata Ramires Meireles Sturridge

Cole JT Luiz Boswinga

[Henrique 9,133]

everybody was crying yesterday that we didn't buy a creative midfielder and yet nobody seems to be prepared to play josh

Josh, Josh, Josh.

Wake up, Josh wont play more than 50 minutes in the whole season.

[Ollie 4,400]

I think he'll play a bit otherwise surely he'd of gone on loan. We must be keeping him for a reason.

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Josh, Josh, Josh.

Wake up, Josh wont play more than 50 minutes in the whole season.

50 minutes the whole season! Of course he will, in fact I fully expect to see him starting some games this season

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Josh will get 10 starts and about 20 substitute appearances.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is either deluded or thinks they support Arsenal.

At a club that demands silverware, you can't play a youngster every match, as good as he may be.

I have great faith in Josh but even I don't think he is fully ready yet - he needs to go on loan for the second half of the season, like Sturridge did.

[DYC. 7,542]

No way can we use Miereles and Ramires in the same team. It will have to be:

Mikel

Ramires/Miereles - Lampard

Otherwise, it's simply too negative. If ever there was a time for Lampard to step up..

I think you've got wrong impression of Meireles. Overall he's pretty balanced but he's definitely more offensive-minded than defensive-minded. Not like Ramires at all, unless AVB gives him a defensive role which I doubt and hope won't happen.

Since we didn't bring in a creative midfielder, how about this?

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

Bos--Iva--Terry--Cole

--Meireles----Mikel--

Ramires-----------Mata

---Sturridge---Torres---

Let Mata run around the pitch and do whatever he wants in terms of positioning.

My thoughts exactly, though I'd play like that in (most) away games, especially against stubborn teams who will mostly defend and try to hit us on the break, and a serious option against Utd and Spurs (because they also play 4-4-2).

[jmarlow 458]

I really want to see Drogba and Torres start together in the same team as Mata and Meireles, as I feel that partnership will have much better chance of working with those two playing behind them. If it still can't work with two quality creative players behind them then Drogba and Torres should never start together again. I would like to see something like this

.......................................Cech.......................................

........Bosingwa.......Luiz............Terry..............A.Cole....

........................................Mikel.......................................

...................Meireles.........................Lampard.................

........................................Mata.........................................

....................Drogba.............................Torres...................

or

...........................................Cech.......................................

.....Bosingwa.............Luiz................Terry...............A.Cole.

.............Ramires............Meireles............Lampard................

..........................................Mata...........................................

........................Drogba.........................Torres.......................

if this still can't work then we have to play 4-3-3 with Mata and Sturridge out wide and Torres through the middle and Meireles in a three man midfield, so it will be either Mikel or Ramires being dropped out the team.

[Naked Mole Rat 437]

-----------------------Torres------------------------

Mata--------------------------------------Sturridge

------------Meireles----------Mikel----------------

----------------------Ramires-----------------------

Cole-------Terry--------------Luiz------Bosingwa

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

I'd like to see Mikel play in a more advanced position and someone speedy take on his role. Mikel's just too slow if we are to play high. Also, Mikel passes and shoots the ball very well, and was impressive during preseason when he played higher up the pitch, so I say why not give it a go.

[jmarlow 458]

Since we didn't bring in a creative midfielder, how about this?

What??? we bought in Juan Mata who is one of the best creative midfielders in the country! and also Raul Meireles who is a box to box midfielder who can also create chances! we now have more than enough creativity in the team to feed the strikers! Im baffled by that comment!