Thoughts so far?

[dumps 284]

Thread for the tactical thinkers now!

Okay, so we are 6 games in to the premier league, a couple of games in to the Champions League and we've started in the League cup. It's still very early days, but we have now got a taster of our team, what we are capable off and RDM's approach to games. It is still early days

What I want to know:

1. What is your best starting 11? (if you want to give more than one, i.e. one for vs a strong team and one vs and weaker team, go for it!)

2. List What you see as our priority this season e.g. Champions league over premier league? (you can list the competitions in order if you want!)

3. What would you like to see changed/introduced in the near future?

4. What is your view on our new signings, our sold players, and our loaned players? - how have they affected us?

5. how far you think we will/should go in each cup/competition?

6. we havent properly seen Marin or Sturridge this season due to injuries - where do you see their role in the squad when they return?

if there is anything else you would like to add or bring up go for it.

Try to stick to the topics and please do not argue, everyone is entitled to their opinion, so keep it critical!

CHELSEA!

[Rambo 1,729]

1. Lineup vs. Arsenal

2. Premier League

3. Introduce a new striker.

4. Solid so far, would like to see more game time from Oscar.

5. Champions League - Semi Finals, Premier League - 2nd, FA Cup - Winners, Capitol One Cup - Winners

6. Marin will be a squad player, hopefully Sturridge gets a chance at the striker position.

If we can get a consistent goal scoring threat up front, we can win the league.

[Kieran. 6,317]

1.

Cech

Azpi Luiz Terry Cole

Mikel

Ramires

Oscar

Hazard Mata

Torres

I would love to see this tried out...

Cech

Azpi Cahill Terry Cole

David Luiz Ramires

Hazard Oscar Mata

Torres

2. Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup, Carling Cup

3. Azpilicueta for Ivanovic, Sturridge for Torres more often, trying out Oscar and David Luiz in the double pivot...

4. I love the new signings but I wished we signed a proper CM who could play in the double pivot. Very excited about McEachran, Chalobah, De Bruyne.

5. Premier League: 2nd, Champions League: Winners, FA Cup: semis, Club World Cup: Winners, Carling Cup: Winners

6. Unfortunately, I have no idea what to say about Marin. Seems like he got injured again because he wasn't even on the bench last game. I hope he can a viable squad option. As for Sturridge, he's our only backup striker so he will get minutes.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

1. Lineup vs. Arsenal

2. Premier League

3. Maybe get a new CDM in january, but im open to see more of Mikel when he's playing with Ramires, till now he's doing well so im not too sure about that. As on the strikers thing... depends on Torres and Sturridge production in the coming months. I think Sturridge could surprise us.

5. I think we can win the Premier League, and im optimistic- right now i think we'll win it. CL... hard to say, depends on the draw, but we can get as far as anyone imo.

6. Hope Sturridge will get chances as a striker, and for Marin- think he will be an important squad player, looking forword to see him.

[Spike 12,049]

1.

Torres

Hazard - Oscar - Mata

Mikel - Ramires

Cole - Terry - Cahill - Ivan

Cech

Hazard - Torres - Mata

Mikel - Ramires - Romeu

Cole - Terry - Cahill - Ivan

Cech

2. I'd like to see the FA Cup won and the Premier League. Club Word Cup would be a bonus.

3. Youth

4. Perfect so far, but I'd hate to see the team play with abudant injuries and suspensions.

5. Win FA, Semi League Cup, Semi Champions League, Winner CWC

6. Marin on the left or right wing and Danny at CF.

[dumps 284]

Cech

Ivanovic --- Luiz --- Terry --- Cole

Mikel --- Ramires

Mata --- Oscar --- Hazard

Torres

Thats my line up. would happily fit Cahill in for JT. I like how oscar runs back, almost making it a 4-3-3 at times. also if either mata or hazard are playing behind hte striker, i like how they switch around and share the position fluently during games.

My priorities:

1. Premier League

2. Champions League

3. Club WC

4. FA cup

5. League Cup

I would like to see Sturridge get some game time on his return, i would love to see more of Azpi, i think this weekend against norwich he should start, he wont, but he should. The formation is starting to settle and the roles of the players is looking good, i like seeing oscar behind the striker and dropping deep. I would like to see a bit more rotation, i love the depth we have at the squad and the quality of the depth and i think we should use it!

Our signings have been superb, and this squad will be amazing in a few years time, especially if we continue to add some more quality young players. I've no complaints about the players that were sold, would have liked to have seen Malouda go as well, The only loaned player i regret loaning is Essien IMO. i feel we could have used him here and needed him. he may not have played much but i think he is still a quality player and can play that holding midfield role very well.

I honestly see us as title contenders. we have the squad for it, theres no doubt about that. for the champions league I would love to see us go all the way, though depending on the draw, i can see us getting to the semis, would be amazing if we got to the final again - I think in a couple of years time we will be be a huge threat and favourites for the Champions league. FA cup we can and should win. I would like to see us win the league cup, but to consistently play a 'B' team in it. even if we got to the final, i think we should play our players that arent considered key players - should be a cup for them!

I agree wiht the others, Marin will most likely be a squad player. Id like to see sturridge come back, get some minutes, and really contend for the stiker position with Torres and hoepfully getting a lot of game time there in the future and then hopeuflly singing a new contract!

As we are at the moment, i think we have a lot of potential, and once some of the new signings properly settle in and begin to communicate with others, we are going to be a very strong team. it will be interesting to see what happens around January and i think that could be an important part of our season If we buy/dont buy anyone.

[Hutcho 8,443]

1. Agree on the lineup being arsenal being the best one i think atm. Gets the best out of Rambo and our 3 AM's work great together in there.

2. Premier league has to be top priority this year atm. That is our bread and butter, and we need to be solid in the league. If we get into the later stages of the champions league then that would take a bit more focus but for now Premier league has to be the priority after the start we have had.

3. Would like to see another Striker, doesn't have to be a high profile (Falcao), but another one to give us some options as you see the problem we have now. Studge is injured, so torres is our only real option. Would also like to see Sturridge introduced when he gets a chance.

4. Very happy with our signings especially the big 2 in oscar and hazard who have both looked impressive.Also Lukaku getting game time and scoring for west brom is good to see. We haven't lost any players that are key for this season i don't think.

5. Premier league definately top 3. Semi's in the champions league. Semi's/finals in league cup and Fa cup.

6. Marin will have a similar role to moses i think in being an impact sub, who can add some fresh legs and pace as well as more width when needed as that is the one thing we do at times lack in our 4-2-3-1 with Oscar, mata and Hazard being the 3. Danny could have a big role, as if torres is not firing he is currently our only option as a replacement.

Main thoughts are that: We can create a lot of chances this season and if we can convert them then we will be a huge threat to the manchster clubs this season. Also our defence looks a lot more solid than it has done last season which is a good sign especially when considering the likes of united and city who havent had strong looking defences; with city not keeping a clean sheet yet this season as far as i am aware.

[Strike 7,217]

best starting eleven imo

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Luiz Cole

Mikel Ramires

Hazard Mata Marin

Sturridge

hope to see this lineup atleast once this season

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

1-I don't think we have a best starting XI. I think it depends on the side we're playing and the game we're trying to play. For example, the side we played against Arsenal would be terrible against a team that has natrual width and a target man up front but is great against sides that try to use the middle of the pitch..

2-Premier league just ahead of CL. Then FA Cup, then league cup, then the club WC

3-I would like to see our attack seem more planned and less "hey guys, go out there and try to score". We seem to have excellent defensive gameplans and almost non-existent offensive ones.

4-New signings look good so far, but it's early.

5-CL-quarter finals, 3rd place Premier league, FA Cup win, League cup out next round,

6-Marin as a squad player, Sturridge as a CF who plays his way into extra playing time.

[blueblood22 50]

1. first lineup :

Cech

Azpi Luiz Terry ryan

Ramires Romeu

Hazard Oscar Mata

Sturridge

second lineup not exactly against weaker team just need to rotate:

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Luiz Cole

Mikel lampard

moses piazon Marin

Torres

Possible that Ferreira will play in the right and iva will be in the center and luiz will get rest but i really don't believe in the ability of Ferreira

i really do believe we have 21 great players (as i said i don't believe in Ferreira) and thay should all get a chance and this both 11 are great

2.Premier league has to be top priority as said here before

3.the change that i want is to give more chance to some players like Romeu Azpi and Sturridge and Generally i would Rotate more between the players, yes we need 11 players that play together more and know each other perfect and this is the first lineup that i said but still there are a lot of games that i do believe the second line up can win, so try to Rotate and make all the players happy this is the hardest job of the manager

4. IMO we all happy with our new signings this season thay all young and have a lot of talent

about our loaned players i'm happy with some of our fine younsters really get a big chance and Succeed don't need to Note names, what most suprising imo is Essien opening in the 11 of real madrid we all talk a lot on the pivot player this season and you must say as Essien playes in real if he got the chance in chelsea this season he could be great imo he is allready 30 so sell him in the end of the season. i'm happy if the young players got the chance because he is out but until now we don't really saw it, it's not like Romeu have 5 appearances...

i'm really happey with all the players we sold I thought that Malouda and Ferreira should be sold as well but i understand it didn't work out with Malouda at least

5. I think we doing well until now

6. my main hope is that Sturridge will get in to the 11 and the blonde girl will get out

of course as for Romeu Azpi and ryan as well rayn for the LB Position

and for marin i believe he will be a sub player...

great topic imo

[Reddish-Blue 2,347]

1. Strongest Lineup

Cech

Ivan -- Cahill - Luiz -- Cole

Mikel - Ramires

Hazard -- Oscar -- Mata

Torres

Against weaker teams, Sturridge at CF, Azpi at RB.

2. Season's expectations

Win the Premier League & FA Cup. Would love to see Chelsea beat Uefalona in the UCL again!

3. What would you like to see changed/introduced in the near future?

More youngsters in the first team.

4. What is your view on our new signings, our sold players, and our loaned players? - how have they affected us?

Should of kept Meireles as midfield depth. Good to see McEachran getting games at Boro.

6. we havent properly seen Marin or Sturridge this season due to injuries - where do you see their role in the squad when they return?

Sturridge should be rotating with Torres as soon as he's fit. Marin should be useful in terms of resting Mata, Hazard in less important fixtures.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

1.

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole

Ramires Mikel

Hazard Oscar Mata

Torres

2. It is incredibly difficult, almost impossible to win the Champions League twice in a row. Personally I think rectifying our 6th place finish in the league is priority. We need to cement a top 3 finish and push for the title.

3. I would RDM to instruct Hazard, Oscar and Mata to create width. They can roam around and have their turn as the number 10 but when its not their turn they should try to stay outside as much as possible. Also I hope the team keeps up the pressing game we saw against Arsenal.

4. The players we've bought are exciting players and potential world beaters (Hazard, Oscar). We have a young, hungry and very skillful side which is great.

5.

-Carling Cup- Semi Final

-FA Cup- Win

-Champions League- Semi Final

6. Sturridge'a role is pretty clear. 2nd choice. He needs to take any oppurtunity he gets. Same with Marin. I think Marin will be a squad player for this season at least.

[Henrique 9,133]

Best starting XI the obvious choice:

Cech

Ivanovic --- Luiz --- Terry --- Cole

Mikel --- Ramires

Mata --- Oscar --- Hazard

Torres/Sturridge

[DoubleO 192]

OT, but how on earth can someone drop Terry from the best possible starting XI? In my opinion, JT is still easily the best CB we have + he's our captain.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

1) Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole

Ramires Mikel

Hazard Oscar Mata

Torres

2) PL > CL > FA > Capital one cup

3) Oscar integrated into the pivot.=> Moses or Marin on the wings and Hazard and Mata interchanging.

High pressing.

Trying to play a bit more from our own strenght instead of always adapting to the opposition.

4) The new signings have been great but i think their still adapting so we haven't seen the best of them yet. The fact that Drogba is gone + the players that were bought have forced us to start playing more from back. Although i feel it would work better if we played Oscar in the double pivot.

5) Hard to say really. As far as we can. Hoping to challenge for the PL title. CL will depend on the draw. FA and Capital one : with our busy schedule i wouldn't mind getting knocked out quickly.

6) Marin i'm guessing will be mostly used as squad rotation. Sturridge Well that will depend greatly on Torres and how he performs but i would like for him to get more time on the pitch.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Thread for the tactical thinkers now!

Okay, so we are 6 games in to the premier league, a couple of games in to the Champions League and we've started in the League cup. It's still very early days, but we have now got a taster of our team, what we are capable off and RDM's approach to games. It is still early days

What I want to know:

1. What is your best starting 11? (if you want to give more than one, i.e. one for vs a strong team and one vs and weaker team, go for it!)

2. List What you see as our priority this season e.g. Champions league over premier league? (you can list the competitions in order if you want!)

3. What would you like to see changed/introduced in the near future?

4. What is your view on our new signings, our sold players, and our loaned players? - how have they affected us?

5. how far you think we will/should go in each cup/competition?

6. we havent properly seen Marin or Sturridge this season due to injuries - where do you see their role in the squad when they return?

if there is anything else you would like to add or bring up go for it.

Try to stick to the topics and please do not argue, everyone is entitled to their opinion, so keep it critical!

CHELSEA!

1) Best Line-up:

I don’t think there is only one best line-up. The nature of the opponent forces some tactics on you.

- A Back five of Cech, Iva, Luiz, JT and Cole is pretty much the only constant in our best line-ups

-Mikel has, imo, one of the best and our most consistent player since March, I don’t think anyone is taking his place anytime soon. Who will partner him is probably our biggest problem now. Lamps can do a good job there, we’ve seen so last season in all the big matches; but in the end he is still playing in unfamiliar territory, and if his concentrations levels are not 100% we’ve seen that he can end up out of position quite a lot during the match. Ramires, despite having two good matches in the double pivot, is yet to convince me there. What he showed in those two matches is what I already know: He has pace & stamina and can defend. However, what is yet to be put to the test is his ability to play in the pivot under pressure; that is to keep the ball under pressure and make passes in tight spaces. I honestly to think he has the attributes to do so. What I think is the best player to pair Mikel in the double pivot is Romeu, however, RDM will probably rotate Lamps and Rambo.

-Oscar, Mata, Hazard (or the three maestros as I like to call them) have been brilliant together, but they are not for every game imo. They make our build-up play faster and are hard to defend against; but the trio give us no width at all especially with Cole getting older and having to pick his runs while Iva never effective offensively to begin with. There is also the issue of the defensive work-rate of the trio, but I will not go into it now. I think the three maestros are best played against teams that play open football like Arsenal, while against teams that park the bus we are better off with Ryan or Moses instead of Oscar.

-This leaves the conundrum that won’t go away: Torres. He’s thankfully getting goals this season but, bar the Arsenal game, I don’t think his performances have been anywhere near astounding especially the matches against QPR and Juve. In all honesty I am not convinced yet that he will not go on another 3-4months goal drought again. But, at the time at least, Danny doesn’t seem to be in Robbie’s calculations so I guess Torres gets the starting spot.

Cech

Ivanovic-Luiz-Terry-Cole

Lamps/Rambo-Mikel

Oscar/Moses-Hazard-Mata/Bertrand

Torres

2) Priorities:

- Naturally our number one priority is a top four finish in the league. Anything less would be an absolute disaster.

- Our second priority I would say is the CL. Despite winning it last season you get the feeling that there is a desire around the camp to be the first team in history to retain it. Several players have already said so to the media. It is a very long shot, but you never know.

- Winning the PL: Nearly impossible for a team in the PL to go from 6th to 1st in one season, but we are already exceeding expectations in the league. I think the next few matches which include some really tough tests will be crucial. If we are still top of the league by December, then and only then, can we say that we are genuine title contenders.

- World cup: It’s a chance that doesn’t come twice for most players, if we win that we can say that we have won everything there is to win.

-FA cup: It has become our competition in the last few years. It is always a great feeling winning it. Though can’t see us winning at Wembley without DD

-Carling cup: Always worth it to have a good run in the Carling because it gives us a chance to play our youngsters.

3) Changes:

- As I alluded to above, I would very much like Romeu to at least be tried next to Mikel in the double pivot. I have no idea if he killed Robbie’s dog or slept with his wife or something. I mean what does he have to do? Despite playing extremely well every time he’s on the pitch, the man just seems to disappear for months.

- Another thing that is well overdue is giving Danny a proper chance at the lone striker role. Granted that he has been very unlucky to get injured in before the matches he is most likely to have started in. But the one time he played there (for 10 mins vs QPR) he looked very lively and dangerous. He was our top scorer last season from out wide, he deserves a chance. Besides, it’s not like our current option up top is firing on all cylinders.

- I would also like to see us play 4-3-3 every now and then. I think we have the players for it and it might speed up our passing and provide a bit more width. I’m not saying we should drop the 4-2-3-1, but we should mix it up a bit in order to become a little less predictable to the opponents.

4) Ins and Outs:

I think this needs a thread a lone to discuss the effects of all the players who arrived and left in the summer, but I will go over a few major points:

- Drogba: The only player that we will truly miss from those who left in the summer, I’d even argue that we missed him already in games like Juve and QPR. There will never be another Didier Drogba, we all know that. His departure did not only affect the striker position but the whole team. Our playing style without Drogba can never be the same without him.

- I think it is fair to say that we won’t miss ex-players except maybe in squad depth.

- Hazrd: Already being called the signing of the season which really says it all. His presence has encouraged RDM to change our style of playing and play a passing game.

- Oscar: Has great potential and has started the season extremely well. I still think he is getting over-hyped by most of us Chelsea fans. That could be very dangerous to his development.

- Marin and Cesar are yet to really get involved to affect the team.

Loanees:

Still early days but I think this will be the best set of loans we managed to find for our players. (I hope I didn’t jinx it) The most notable loans imo are:

-De Bruyne: Definitely our best export so far. He has done extremely well in a tough Bundes Liga and is becoming Bremen’s best player. His loan there is proving two things I was already certain of. The first is that he has what it takes to make it here at Chelsea and the second is that his best position in at Central Midfielder.

-McEachran: Doing consistently well in an inconsistent Boro team; this says a lot about Josh’s character btw. I’m just glad he is getting the minutes at last.

-Hutch: Started very well with Forest and made the starting position his. A worrying knee injury is keeping out of the side currently, though. I just hope it is nothing too serious.

5) Predictions:

-PL: 2nd or 3rd place. We still need a bit more chemistry to win the title imo.

-CL: Quarter Finals. Although it would be legendry to win it.

-World cup: Win, hopefully.

-FA cup: Quarter finals.

- Carling (or whatever its name now is): Semi final

6) Marin: A really tough one. He was brilliant in preseason, but his injury record is worrying. He has the abilities and mentality but I don’t see him as a starter imho. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how he fares when he’s fit for a couple of months in a row.

Sturidge: He’s been excellent every time he was on the pitch this season but was very unfortunate to get injured when he did; he could have gotten at least a couple of starts against Wolves and Norsjelland if he was fit. But I believe he has the determination and skills to make it here and I still think that when he is given the chance he will make that striker position his own.

[communicate 2,703]

Thread for the tactical thinkers now!

Okay, so we are 6 games in to the premier league, a couple of games in to the Champions League and we've started in the League cup. It's still very early days, but we have now got a taster of our team, what we are capable off and RDM's approach to games. It is still early days

What I want to know:

1. What is your best starting 11? (if you want to give more than one, i.e. one for vs a strong team and one vs and weaker team, go for it!)

2. List What you see as our priority this season e.g. Champions league over premier league? (you can list the competitions in order if you want!)

3. What would you like to see changed/introduced in the near future?

4. What is your view on our new signings, our sold players, and our loaned players? - how have they affected us?

5. how far you think we will/should go in each cup/competition?

6. we havent properly seen Marin or Sturridge this season due to injuries - where do you see their role in the squad when they return?

if there is anything else you would like to add or bring up go for it.

Try to stick to the topics and please do not argue, everyone is entitled to their opinion, so keep it critical!

CHELSEA!

1. Lineup against arsenal - Playing either moses/marin on the wing is also fine for me

2. EPL

3. I just want us to create more chances ( I don't count game against norwich)

4. Just Fantastic

5. EPL - 1/2nd or bust . UCL: Depend on the draw, Carling: Final, a very good competition to play our young player

6. Stud: Backup for torres, Marin: backup for hazard

[Jase 43,479]

http://plainsofalmeria.co.uk/2012/10/08/round-pegs-round-holes/

A well written article on our season so far. Worth a read.