Closed Chelsea 2-3 Man City

[Hutcho 8,443]

First off, I didn't mention where he should play... And even if I did say he should be playing as a Right Winger, I don't understand why you question his eventual contribution in defensive duties. Drogba, despite being our striker, was one of our best defenders in our encounters against Barcelona and Munich. Actually, it doesn't matter where a player is played : wherever he plays, if he has defensive abilities, then he will bring a defensive value to the team (unless if he counts how many spectator there is in the stands).

Once again, I did not say that to not play Ramires as a winger was suicidal. I only said that to not include two defensive-minded midfielders in our team would be suicidal. Because as I said, if Ramires doesn't play this game, the only remaining midfielder with some defensive abilities is Mikel. It's just an impossible mission to ask him to do the defensive job all on his own.

When I said "phase out", I was only speaking of this game. Since I am not an english speaker, I don't know if it was the best suited term to use. But never mind. You tell there's also Romeu. But I don't know what business it has with Ramires ? Romeu is a DM. If he plays, then that means Mikel doesn't. So that doesn't solve the defensive problem in midfield.

Manchester City might had a bad pre-season. Honestly, I don't know their results, and I couldn't care less. However, this strictly means nothing, nothing at all. Each game is a different one. Otherwise, we would never ever beat Barcelona and Munich last year...

And you say that Ramires not playing on the wing means a player more adept is playing there. But, it doesn't mean that the player more suited to play there will bring a better defensive impact than what Ramires does ! I can't see one of our wingers/CAM being better in defensive duties than Ramires. Though, don't get me wrong, I am not pleading for Ramires as a right winger. I'd frankly rather in midfield, hence I want us to revert to 4-3-3, in order to keep a balance between attack and defense...

I am saying that if we have someone who is better in that position then it should help out the team more than Ramires being there... I personally cannot see us reverting back to a 4-3-3 which is why i said what i did, i also think that lampard will play in the double pivot with mikel... What i think and RDM does are two completely different things obviously, and i was simply saying it wasn't mad to think that ramires who was one of our best players last season could be left out, as i think its fair to say a 4-2-3-1 doesn't suit him... I agree he is very useful if we want to play defensively, though i am arguing that it is something we should not do... Drogba was amazing defensively, as he was dominant in the air, however the biggest help was that he was our out ball and had the stength to hold it up... We do not have that anymore, and torres, while sometimes tracks back, will not be able to perform that role anywhere nearly as efficiently....

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

i dont know what to say, what should we look for?? i dont see oscar hazard mata marin understanding each other in their first game of the season, i just dont. all i we can hope for is firstly no damn injuries last thing we need is panic buy! im not even sure whose gona be available and all so lets just experiment with something. weather its a formation or a tactic idc, i just hopes it works!

[HRiver 1,512]

If RDM is planning to park the bus, then:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Essien

Mata - Lampard - Hazard

Torres

If he does not intend to park the bus:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Lampard

Mata - Hazard - Malouda

Torres

I don't really care even if we lose, as long as it's not a humiliating defeat. Which I don't think that will happen. I can see City winning either 1-0, or 2-1.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

Yeah cant see it being a mega big scoreline..hope not anyway! We lost 3-1 to Man U and soon got over that and ones of those goals was scored with Little Shits face.Just hope they play like they care rather then seeing it as an outing or something annoyinh

[Santiago. 1,500]

If RDM is planning to park the bus, then:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Essien

Mata - Lampard - Hazard

Torres

If he does not intend to park the bus:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Lampard

Mata - Hazard - Malouda

Torres

I don't really care even if we lose, as long as it's not a humiliating defeat. Which I don't think that will happen. I can see City winning either 1-0, or 2-1.

What's the deal with Marin? still injured?

[Hutcho 8,443]

If RDM is planning to park the bus, then:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Essien

Mata - Lampard - Hazard

Torres

If he does not intend to park the bus:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Lampard

Mata - Hazard - Malouda

Torres

I don't really care even if we lose, as long as it's not a humiliating defeat. Which I don't think that will happen. I can see City winning either 1-0, or 2-1.

If we were actually parking the bus he would probably play:

Cech

Ivan Cahill Terry Cole

Mikel Lampard

Ramires Hazard Mata

Torres

Not what i would do if i was parking the bus but that is what i would imagine RDM would do...

[HRiver 1,512]

What's the deal with Marin? still injured?

I have no idea. I thought he still is.

[DDA 9,985]

Parking the bus looks good when u when, but when you lose it looks much worse.

When you when you when... when u loseeh you loseeh.. baddabingbaddboom!

[Kinol 337]

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel - Lampard

Mata - Hazard - Malouda

Torres

I don't really care even if we lose, as long as it's not a humiliating defeat. Which I don't think that will happen. I can see City winning either 1-0, or 2-1.

Replace Malouda with Marin (if available) and you got a good line up there

[Kez 2,727]

I've got my tickets. Who's going?

[chealsist 23]

Parking the bus would make guys like Mata, Marin, Hazard, and Torres ineffective as possibly they could look. Good luck defending with those players too. I would just play Ramires and Malouda on the wings, Essien, Mikel, and Lampard in midfield if that is the case.

Parking the bus looks good when u win, but when you lose it looks much worse.

Agree totally mate. If we parking the bus our attack could be almost ineffective and we just can score from counter attack.

[November33rd 84]

Why do you people keep putting Hazard in the hole instead of Mata? What the hell is wrong with you? Either some of you are delusional or you have forgotten that Mata was the best player on the team last year while playing in the hole and Hazard is a new player who hasn't even had time to adapt to the EPL yet. And yet some of you think Hazard is going to unseat Mata at his position and force him out wide.

[RhonddaBlue88 14]

Will be there! Shouting loud and proud from the holte end:) can't seeing us winning the game to be honest although city haven't strengthend they will still be be too strong and powerfull for us see a 2-1 or 3-1 city but hopefully we could nick it on the day!

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Firstly this match is by no means unimportant. If we are to challenge for the title, City will be our biggest rivals. Beating them would just send a strong message to English Football. Additionally it would maintain RDMs perfect record in finals, boost our confidence and could accelerate the development of the squad in its new structure.

Parking the bus as against barca and bayern is simply not possible as we lack a striker who can effectively play as left back AND score decisive goals. without Bertrand or Kalou we are also missing a relatively fast winger who can counter AND defend. Nonetheless trying to force our non-existent attack play on City is equally futile...

Silva has never really performed against us, but I have also never been excited about Nasri. At any rate, we probably have to cede the midfiel to City anyway. With an Essien in decent form, we completely dominated City in 2011 at the Bridge and comprehensively beat them, This time, Yaya and de jong will absolutely bully Ramires or mata off the ball fi deployed there.

Richards, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Clichy like to attack excessively. That is where were we will catch them, when their fullbcks are off position we have to win the ball deep in midfield and lamps can send out his inch-perfect diagonals for ramires to run after, storm forward and play a simple flat cross to the striker or finishing himself. Rambo mihgt be a CM esp a RCM, perfect for a diamond or 4-3-3 but in a defensive, counter oriented 4-2-3-1 he is the perfect weapon for the RW, as he tracks the fullback back, deep in our half and then is in the position to sprint forward when we got the ball back, can't think how often we scored because he was able to overturn the fullback.

The problem is, we don't have s.o. like him for the other flank.

Don't get me wrong, I strongly advise against using him regularly wide out there instead of signing a proper RW, but for the next game we need him there

To control Agüero (who I still feel should be here instead of Torres), we need our fastest and most mobile defender.

In this particular game, I'd also rather have Malouda or even Benayoun ahead of Marin from beginning. Marin is a good player, but anyone can skin a MLS-defender. In games as these, experience is more important.

At last, Lamps and Mikel are an automatic choice for the double pivot. Mikel and Lampard are most comfortable when they seldom have to move more than 10m in a faster tempo. ACtually, Mikel and Lamps conduct themselves to footballs as Cats do to water. They don't really like to stay in contact with the ball longer or even move with it even though they are able to do so, but they like to have it for a few touches once in a while, but swiftly get rid of it. Playing rather defensively will surely enable them to get the space in front of the box clean and lamps to build up play from the deep or start the counter

[Mustafa 885]

I've got my tickets. Who's going?

I am! I hope we do well

[OneMoSalah 8,889]

If Yaya Toure bitch slaps Mata or any of our players in this game I will fucking kill him. (Not the guys massive he will probably squash me )

[1chelsea 864]

looking forward to team improvement not much

[BluesChick 1,260]

hoping for a good result and better play on our behalf. and I am hoping to actually be able to see the darn game! so many of them end up being in the middle of the night for me.

[Fulham Broadway 17,365]

I've got my tickets. Who's going?

Yup Altogether now -''We're in the middle. we're in the middle we're in the middle of the Holte !''

[Melanicus 5,208]

If Yaya Toure bitch slaps Mata or any of our players in this game I will fucking kill him. (Not the guys massive he will probably squash me )