Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Chelsea

[MGuerreiro 252]

4-2-3-1 would be very interesting. But I am concerned as who is suppose to play on the right wing. I'm not sure Sturridge could cope with playing right next to Lampard and not in a semi forward role. I am howewer hoping he will start and prove me wrong.

Hoping for this:

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

Bosingwa - Luiz - Alex - Cole

--------Meireles - Romeu------

---Sturridge-Lampard-Mata--

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

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Ivanovic-Luiz-Terry-Cole

McEachran-Romeu

Sturridge-Meireles-Mata

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

Looks good, but I'd rather us play with a goalkeeper to be honest.

not to be seen to be in the avb haters squad because I'm not but I think that criticism of avb is understandable, especially when it comes to team selection/substitutes from time to time. We should be careful when sticking by our manager to remember that although he is taking imo an unfair amount of criticism he has still made errors, the most glaring of which was not having an overhaul in the summer imo. To say the players have let avb down is fair enough but it can't be used as the only reason why we have under performed so far. Again this is not an anti avb rant, simply a realisation that there are problems on the coaching and playing side. I believe avb will turn us around. KTBFFH

Fair point, I would concur that AVB has proved himself to be tactically naive at times, but it is absolutely down to the players as far as I am concerned. AVB will learn from his mistakes; he is still a young man and let us not forget that Ancelotti - and even Mourinho - made wrong decisions tactically and failed to correctly prepare for matches in the early (and later) days of their respective regimes. My point is that it seems to be the same set of players who let Ancelotti down are once again making things difficult for Andre. We have an extremely temperamental squad. Bar Mata and Sturridge, this is the exact same squad that both imploded this time last season and then put together an incredible run of results between February and April. Unfortunately the players we have seem to be either too inconsistent or too lackadaisical to perform to the highest standards.

[Shane 2,275]

Cech

Bosingwa - Ivanovic - Terry - Cole

Luiz - Merileles

Sturridge - McEachran - Mata

Torres

Please AVB!

[wisey11zola25 142]

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

Ivanovic.....Alex.....................Terry.........Cole

........................Luiz..........Romeu.................

Sturridge.............McEachran...........Mata.....

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

It won't happen but that would be a dream for me!

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Fair point, I would concur that AVB has proved himself to be tactically naive at times, but it is absolutely down to the players as far as I am concerned. AVB will learn from his mistakes; he is still a young man and let us not forget that Ancelotti - and even Mourinho - made wrong decisions tactically and failed to correctly prepare for matches in the early (and later) days of their respective regimes. My point is that it seems to be the same set of players who let Ancelotti down are once again making things difficult for Andre. We have an extremely temperamental squad. Bar Mata and Sturridge, this is the exact same squad that both imploded this time last season and then put together an incredible run of results between February and April. Unfortunately the players we have seem to be either too inconsistent or too lackadaisical to perform to the highest standards.

I agree, I would certainly prefer to change a lot of the squad before the manager. It's really hard to say and conceive but I think most of us can see that our stalwarts of the club are now at an end and its time for a shake up in personnel and of attitude.

[Laylabelle 9,351]

Looks good, but I'd rather us play with a goalkeeper to be honest.

Fair point, I would concur that AVB has proved himself to be tactically naive at times, but it is absolutely down to the players as far as I am concerned.

Agree mean selection is down to him but when you look at it on paper in theory there generally is a team of 11 who you'd expect to go out there and get a result but hasnt been the case.He can only do so much..off the field soon as its on, other then subs wise its down to those 11 to make it work! But not being the case for whatever reason..tactis not always spot on but its hardly his fault is the defence decide to go walk abouts and mis read each other signals completly or miss chances and all...

But hopfully tonight we can get a decent result otherwise join City and Utd going into the last game very eeeeeeeeeeek

[manpe 10,861]

lackadaisical

[OT] You're like Oxford dictionary... I always must seek out a new word in almost every post you make [/OT]

[Kieran. 6,317]

Starting Lineup: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Bos; Ramires, Meireles, Lampard; Mata, Drogba, Sturridge

Bench: Turnbull, Alex, Mikel, Malouda, McEachran, Torres

[termninja 5,290]

Shit! Bosingwa is playing as a LEFT BACK! Ash not even on the bench. From CTV.

Cech

Ivanovic Luiz Terry Bosingwa

Meireles

Ramires Lampard

Sturridge Drogba Mata

Fuck it AVB the hell you doin' mate!? If we lose, the press will lynch him.

[Kieran. 6,317]

I actually had a feeling Bos would play LB...really weird.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Drogba??

[Severinb 309]

Why drogba FFS

Why drogba FFS

[Kieran. 6,317]

OK, I could understand not starting Torres for Liverpool, but I don't get this one.

[francozola 2,040]

lol Bosingwa as a RB is bad enough. He's going to be a disaster on the left.

Surprised Torres isn't starting

[BLionheart 516]

Cole had to be dropped , good move by AVB but Drogba showed nothing more than torres in his last games ... Torres should have started.

IMO One of Bosingwa's best games in a blue shirt was in the LB position and against Messi.

Edited November 23, 2011 by BLionheart

[Tortilla9 390]

I admit to some confusion which is especially easy today given I'm doped up on cold meds. I don't think either DD or Torres have set the world on fire this season but what is AVB doing with Torres?

[Kieran. 6,317]

I don't think Bos on the left will be a disaster. It will give Cole some well needed rest.

[Dylan_91 90]

Bos-Ivanovic-Terry-Luiz

Are you sure its not this? Makes more sense