Closed Chelsea 2-3 Man City

[Nando 106]

It will be an open game. Both teams aren't fully prepared and I expect lots of chances, lots of goals and offensive play for 90 minutes. The better attack wins it, so I hope we'll be collected in front. Adding to that a solid display from the back 4 (it's finally time to see that) we're fully capable of winnig the cup. Otherwise we are just losing a friendly, no biggie

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

Mata is back in training today so he will get 5 days training with the team and is already match fit so im pretty sure Mata will start the game and probably play the full 90 minutes.

Wasn't RDM going to give Mata a long break? I remember hearing he'd be given a break until early September?

[LeonDavis23 371]

so am i right in saying that its straight to pens after 90mins if they're level

if so i predict 1-1 and cech being the hero in the shootout

[LeonDavis23 371]

mata, romeu or sturridge eligible to play? Maybe even oscar coming off the bench 'IF' we see brazil lose tonight

[cchuka 99]

Sunday cant come sooon enough.

A fitting EPL introduction for Hazard & Marin

I better not see MRLSH in the starting XI

[xPetrCechx 13,586]

We had all the transfer window to buy a quality players and to play an attacking football.

WHY we need to park the bus again?! it's the manager fault or the players?! RDM only know how to park the bus?!

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

I'll call it now. If RDM parks the bus against City, he won't be our manager start of next season.

[vion_vion 0]

Let's not be demoralized by the pre season results. We are the European Champions and toiled a lot to grab the holy grail. Players of such caliber know when to step up the peddle. I beg to disagree with some of us here that we will be swept away by ManCity. Other than Hazard and Marin, there is NOT much change in the squad guys! Its the same! And I dont see Hazard or Marin making an impact right away. They need time and if Hazard can replicate the form shown by Mata in the first season, we are on for a festival.

We will see the familiar back line of Ivan\Luiz\Terry\Cole with 2 men wall of Mikel and Lampard. Hazard and Marin\Ramires will fill up the wings while Torres starts up front with Mata being the crux. I doubt whether RDM will try something different. Remember that he is now a full time employee and needs to prove his permanent appointment contrary to the temporary post(where he was under lesser pressure).

Its going to be a tight affair and I feel we will edge out by a goal or so.

[HRiver 1,512]

I don't want to see us park the bus again. That worked last season, won't work again. My biggest worry for this season is whether RDM will be able to stop the rest of the top clubs without parking the bus.

[gary gordon 1,777]

Got a feeling we will win this.. Don't ask me why though

[chelsea blue 615]

Talking about parking the bus

Travel advice for Villa park

http://www.avfc.co.uk/staticFiles/74/b7/0,,10265~178036,00.pdf

[Peace. 4,352]

I strongly believe that to park the bus in this game is the best tactic to adopt. I am not really fond of this style of play, but I don't think we have much of a choice.



Admittedly, the Community Shield isn't the biggest silverware we will be competing for this season. But, a silverware is a silverware, and winning one is a good way to start the season. Furthermore, we play this game against Manchester City, the team which is dubbed the best one in England. Thus, if we manage to defeat the best team in the Kingdom and win this trophy, it can boost our confidence after the poor pre-season we had. We can also build a good dynamic around this success, a winning dynamic.

Furthermore, last season we were arguably one the most negative, unproductive, toothless and boring teams in Europe. We can't turn out the be a team playing a sexy football in a matter of days, despite the fact we bought some technically gifted talent (Oscar, Hazard, Marin). It will be a long process. It will take time to play a beautiful football. And I deeply believe that to ditch overnight our defensive approach of the game isn't a wise thing to do. Indeed, to make our transformation of playing style, it isn't as simple as to tell to defensive players to play an offensive football. At some extend, André Villas-Boas tried to do it last year... No need to recall the major failure it was.

We also gotta keep in mind we don't have what it takes to play our way regardless of our opponents. As Cap stated, there are certain teams against which we shouldn't adopt an attacking approach. It's suicidal to think we can suddenly play an attacking football against a team with the firepower that Manchester City has in attack. It's still too early. We aren't used to play this way, and neither our new attacking-minded players are settled in the team. As a start, we should only play the offensive football against average sides.

It is a big utopia to think that, because we have purchased some talented attacking players, we should right away play in a Barcelona-esq fashion. No. The fact we bought these kind of players doesn't mean we have to play right now a sexy style of football. It does mean that our aim is to go from an defensive football to an attacking football. That's a subtle difference. We can't change our playing style by leaps and bounce ; that doesn't work like this in reality, each and every change needs time. And to my honest opinion, it's better to gradually adopt an attacking style, because this way, we will establish solid basis for the years to come.

There's also a psychological factor we need to think about. What will happen, if for our first competitive game, we try to play an attacking football and get trashed 3-0 ? Do you think it will do any good to the squad's moral ? No, not at all. As the saying goes "once bitten twice shy" : we might lose our faith toward the sexy football and thus be recalcitrant to adopt anew an attacking approach of the game.



Of course, to park the bus is an embarrassing thing to do. But come on ! We won one the biggest trophy in Football by parking the bus. The whole world has seen us doing so. It doesn't make that much of a difference to park the bus in this more or less petty trophy. We are already famous for our 9-0-1. One more game won't make a difference.

[Hutcho 8,443]

I gotta be agree with him. Once you phase out Ramires from the starting line-up, which player (except defenders), with defensive abilities, remains ? Only Mikel. And there's not even need to start a "Mikel great / Mikel poor" debate to see that only one player to make the defensive duties isn't enough. Furthermore, against a team with the firepower in attack which ManCity has, you don't act like a kamikaze.

We aren't good enough when we are in possession to afford ourselves to play with only one defensive player. We will need time to be an attacking team. Hence, to ditch our defensive style of play overnight isn't a wise decision to make. If we don't want to be riped a new one, both Ramires and Mikel are needed on the pitch.

How is putting Ramires at RW gonna be of great help defensively unless he doesn't play his position correctly, yes he has great stamina, but really shouldn't be at RW, and not playing with Ramires at RW isn't acting like a kamikaze, it simply means that we have someone who is more adept to playing there... Unless you mean playing Ramires in the double pivot which is a different debate. Also i don't see your point of "Phasing out Ramires" as we have a long season he will have a role to play, we also have Romeu, who is at least our second best defensive midfielder... Also our defensive style of play which isn't that defensive, except we used that tactic in the champs, wouldn't be different except no Ramires at RW, which is not gonna go from being solid to being ripped a new one... Also there i see little reason to park the bus against man city, we have had a bad pre-season, which they have had aswell, they have got a more settled squad, but as i have sad in earlier posts, for me this is our last pre-season game and i would treat it like that....

[Hutcho 8,443]

how much do you want to bet that Ramires starts? your either mad or know nothing about Chelsea if you think Ramires wont start on Sunday! he is so important to our team and gives us that extra man in midfield and is dangerous on the break! your are crazy to even consider leaving Ramires out of the team!

Ok mate, your telling me i know nothing about chelsea... Ok whatever, you clearly don't know how to have a reasonable debate. As i said imo, he is extremely important to us in a 4-3-3 in his cm role, however that role does not exist, RW/Ram is not Defensive midfield.... Playing any player there gives us an extra player in midfield, its simple maths as it gives us 5 people there... If you have seen ramires in pre season and last season, he is not his best at RW, now if we are going into this game with a highly defensive strategy then Ramires will probably play, however IMO as i have said we shouldn't do that and if we are playing a 4-2-3-1 we should have Ramires on the bench... Also Lampard should be able to sit in a lot more with better players who can create stuff ahead of him which he hasn't had in pre season as the likes of Lukaku, Meireles and Ramires have not been able to create much in attack causing him to have to play a more advanced role... If we have a team with Hazard, MATA, maybe Marin, and torres, then we will have more creativity and lampard will have less need to move out of his position...

[The Rising Sun 714]

Ramires as a DM works, because while the guy isnt too big, he is fast, makes alot of effort, chases down people and throws down tackles fearlessly.

However, as a RW, it will be a failure in tactics that us chelsea fans have talked about over the past many seasons. i.e. playing players out of position.

He is NOT a RW. Simple as that, and as a RW he will not offer enough defensively to discard the effectiveness a REAL RW will have while going forward.

If we have an effective RW, that itself will reduce the amount of defending we will have to do, this nulling the argument that Ramires as a RW will defensively sort us out.

What is his position anyways? I like him as a DM, but a RW?

No.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Ramires as a DM works, because while the guy isnt too big, he is fast, makes alot of effort, chases down people and throws down tackles fearlessly.

However, as a RW, it will be a failure in tactics that us chelsea fans have talked about over the past many seasons. i.e. playing players out of position.

He is NOT a RW. Simple as that, and as a RW he will not offer enough defensively to discard the effectiveness a REAL RW will have while going forward.

If we have an effective RW, that itself will reduce the amount of defending we will have to do, this nulling the argument that Ramires as a RW will defensively sort us out.

What is his position anyways? I like him as a DM, but a RW?

No.

I agree, i think DM is still a bit too deep for him, which is why if mikel is solid then it could work though he can't really venture forward much from there as it will leave it open... He definately shouldn't be at RW, and i would rather see someone like marin or hazard there...

[xPetrCechx 13,586]

Azpi + Moses/Schurrle/Hulk + Lewandowski/Cavani....

[The Rising Sun 714]

Azpi + Moses/Schurrle/Hulk + Lewandowski/Cavani....

Scott Sinclair for 12-15 mill?

[Kinol 337]

Everything can happen in this game. Every team can make 6 substitutions in a CS game so I expect to see some changes from both teams. That means that we will see some stronger and some weaker sides form both teams. We have to take advantage of this if we want to win.

[xPetrCechx 13,586]

Scott Sinclair for 12-15 mill?

We Sold him 2 Years ago... i think that he will not come back.