Closed Leeds United v Chelsea

[Ankit 3,176]

Yes, the flight was delayed. Instead of returning to England immediately after the CWC, they departed Japan on Monday at 11am. With the difference in time zone and all(9 hours difference between UK & Japan), they arrived back in England yesterday in the afternoon.

Oh ok. So it won't be that bad as i first thought they would be arriving on Tuesday and would have just one day to take on Leeds.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Not very confident about this one.Our lack of squad depth is showing right now.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I reckon Rafa will be under pressure after loosing the WC and will go with his best XI for this one, which with our current injuries and suspensions would still be a patched up side. Probably this:

Cech

Azpi - Iva - Luiz - Cole

Oscar - Lampard

Moses - Mata - Hazard

Torres

[Wfisheruk 20]

I'm worried about some players being tired from the long journey home!! Rafa didn't really rotate in those two matches either so I wouldn't be surprised if we see afew changes for this game..

[AndersonBLUE 819]

It's not like it's easy jet, this is first class all the way we're talking about. They should be fine once out on the pitch and in front of thousands of scum.

[Jype 6,398]

Running out of players for this match with all the injuries and suspensions.

How about Bertrand as a makeshift DM? If memory serves he pretty much played there in the Community Shield against City with Lampard moving higher up the pitch. The idea of Lampard and Oscar together in the double pivot is not something I'm looking forward to seeing and Leeds will run all over them if Benitez decides to go with it...

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Whether tiredness/fatigue will come into play we'll have to wait and see. I reckon we'll see a few changes, nothing major though as Benitez will want to make up for what happened on Sunday.

The thought of both Lampard and Oscar in the midfield actually makes me scared - Neither of them work hard enough. Maybe we could put Luiz in there and play Ferreira at CB or something. I suppose blondie will be starting, although I've just heard Benitez say Sturridge has been training, so I think he might be available, but probably won't start. We could lineup something like:

Cech

Azpilicueta - Ivanovic - Ferreira - Cole

Luiz - Lampard

Moses/Marin - Oscar/Mata - Hazard/Bertrand

Torres/Sturridge

[gary gordon 1,777]

Reckon it will go to pens and we'll win. couldn't care less really.

[Severinb 309]

Rafa just said danny is fine yess!

Let him play rafa!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Looks like Danny is fit. I hope he starts, can't tolerate seeing ladyboy in our attack again.

[Strike 6,958]

I reckon Rafa will be under pressure after loosing the WC and will go with his best XI for this one, which with our current injuries and suspensions would still be a patched up side. Probably this:

Cech

Azpi - Iva - Luiz - Cole

Oscar - Lampard

Moses - Mata - Hazard

Torres

Nah he was saying he had already drawn up the starting eleven last Friday which i think means that those who missed out on the CWC final are being penned down to start this one. Oscar, Marin, Mikel, Azpilicueta etc.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Not sure what the value in playing Sturridge is when he seems to be leaving.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Nah he was saying he had already drawn up the starting eleven last Friday which i think means that those who missed out on the CWC final are being penned down to start this one. Oscar, Marin, Mikel, Azpilicueta etc.

Mikel is still banned. Oscar has to start, he and Lampard are our only available options at CM. Azpi will start as well since Iva and Luiz are our only available CBs. Marin could start, though I think Rafa will be under too much pressure to win this to bench hazard or Moses.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Not sure what the value in playing Sturridge is when he seems to be leaving.

I guessthe value would be not having to endure another Torres performance.

[Strike 6,958]

Mikel is still banned. Oscar has to start, he and Lampard are our only available options at CM. Azpi will start as well since Iva and Luiz are our only available CBs. Marin could start, though I think Rafa will be under too much pressure to win this to bench hazard or Moses.

cahill? what's wrong with cahill?

[The only place to be 11,313]

I guessthe value would be not having to endure another Torres performance.

Torres will almost certainly still start the rest of the games in 2012. Playing a Championship side might be a good idea to get his eye in whilst not risking another injury to a player we're looking to offload in about two weeks.

Let's be honest, Torres doesn't seem to have a problem scoring against shit teams in recent weeks.

[Strike 6,958]

oh even Cahill is suspended,

There goes the Luiz to pivot experiment out of the window. it's Oscar and Lampard in the pivot #worried

[CHOULO19 24,332]

cahill? what's wrong with cahill?

Red card against Corinthians.

Torres will almost certainly still start the rest of the games in 2012. Playing a Championship side might be a good idea to get his eye in whilst not risking another injury to a player we're looking to offload in about two weeks.

Let's be honest, Torres doesn't seem to have a problem scoring against shit teams in recent weeks.

Hmm, good point.