Closed Chelsea v Man City

[CHOULO19 24,332]

What about Luiz? He is 1 yellow away from missing the next 2 games. After this weekend, the cards get scrapped.

Anyone think he will not play him because of this?

He's our best defender atm, and with Cahil still out, I think we're going to have to risk it and ask him to be careful.

[bushman 2,043]

He's our best defender atm, and with Cahil still out, I think we're going to have to risk it and ask him to be careful.

Asking him to be careful ? Pretty hard to ask him that.

[NishC300 1,865]

Is this on Sky or ITV?

ITV

[Hutcho 8,443]

Would much rather it be Luiz and Mikel than rambo in mikel in midfield, but its gonna be rambo and mikel and our passing is gonna be a worry. Mata will have to drop in more, but hopefully can link up well with hazard and we can run the game.

[Magic Lamps 11,452]

at the the etihad earlier this season, we totally lost the midfield battle due to frank starting, im afraid it HAS to be mikel and Ramires

We lost the midfield battle cos we only have 2cms on the field against City's 4 (Nasri and Milner are mids no wingers). City is one of the teams we should line up with a 3 man midfield.

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

Cesar---Luiz----iva----anyone whos fit

-------------Mikel--------------

-------Ramy-----Lamps-----

Mata-------------------Hazard-

------------Ba/nando----------

big worry is also who plays left back. Paulo will have problems, even with Milner.

[bababoom 4,478]

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

Cesar---Luiz----iva----anyone whos fit

-------------Mikel--------------

-------Ramy-----Lamps-----

Mata-------------------Hazard-

------------Ba/nando----------

If this is the formation i would much rather Oscar start than Lamps, we need players with a lot of energy and pace who can press constantly throughout the game.

[Leif 6,006]

If we play 4-3-3 we win. If we play 4-2-3-1 we lose. It's just such a strong feeling I have, backed up by a dream I've had.

[NishC300 1,865]

Would much rather it be Luiz and Mikel than rambo in mikel in midfield, but its gonna be rambo and mikel and our passing is gonna be a worry. Mata will have to drop in more, but hopefully can link up well with hazard and we can run the game.

Yes but since City unlike UTD will have attack and have more possession we'll need Ramires' pace for the counter attacks. It didn't work at the Bridge since UTD were happy to give us possession but didn't want the ball to go to Mata,Hazard,Oscar because of their ability on the ball. That's why our only goal came when Mata dropped deep.

We need Ramires, Mikel pivot IMO with Ivanovic-Luiz partnership. Unfortunately Cahill will have to sit this one out despite his performance in the previous tie at the Ethiad.

I have a question though would a Ramires-Luiz pivot be good? With Cahill and Ivanovic at CB?

[yuvala 2,167]

Somehow we always play the "less good team" when we are against City, meaning we let them have the control and we try to surprise them with fast counter attacks or somethin, we always lose.

And against United its like all of a sudden we are not the same team.

[NishC300 1,865]

Oscar and Hazard will have to come and help in the midfield since City don't really have any genuine 'wingers'/

[NishC300 1,865]

Many of you don't remember that it was us last season who gave City their first defeat!

[Magic Lamps 11,452]

If this is the formation i would much rather Oscar start than Lamps, we need players with a lot of energy and pace who can press constantly throughout the game.

so why Oscar then?

In order to win the midfield battle we have to be up to it physically and playing midgets in midfield won't help that cause. Lamps at least has enough strength to hold up Barry or Yaya not to get robbed every time. Our maestros esp Mata and Oscar are so fuckin useless against City. we need strength, pace and simple, direct play. Lamps's long balls, Ba's holdup, Ramires stamina&pace and maybe Hazards trickery will do

[Strike 6,969]

Petr Cech on The FA Cup preview show: “When you go to Wembley with Drogba, you know you’ve scored. Someone else will have to do it for us this time.”

[bababoom 4,478]

so why Oscar then?

In order to win the midfield battle we have to be up to it physically and playing midgets in midfield won't help that cause. Lamps at least has enough strength to hold up Barry or Yaya not to get robbed every time. Our maestros esp Mata and Oscar are so fuckin useless against City. we need strength, pace and simple, direct play. Lamps's long balls, Ba's holdup, Ramires stamina&pace and maybe Hazards trickery will do

Oscar is 5'11.

You don't need brute force to press the team into making mistake, we did it against arsenal, twice, Spurs and United. Yaya and Barry aren't technically great, they will give away the ball if put under pressure.. look at the Madrid vs City match, Yaya was terrible, why? because he was constantly hassled.

[Jase 43,479]

[Jase 43,479]

Mata singles out 'complete midfielder' Toure ahead of crunch FA Cup semi-final clash

Mata is just being too nice there......

[Magic Lamps 11,452]

Oscar is 5'11.

You don't need brute force to press the team into making mistake, we did it against arsenal, twice, Spurs and United. Yaya and Barry aren't technically great, they will give away the ball if put under pressure.. look at the Madrid vs City match, Yaya was terrible, why? because he was constantly hassled.

But there is a minimum of strength required when u want to rob s.o. like Yaya Toure. Height is secondary. Oscar looks like 60kg and he is an outstanding weakling. There is no way he can be defensively efficient against Barry, Rodwell or Toure

[Hutcho 8,443]

Yes but since City unlike UTD will have attack and have more possession we'll need Ramires' pace for the counter attacks. It didn't work at the Bridge since UTD were happy to give us possession but didn't want the ball to go to Mata,Hazard,Oscar because of their ability on the ball. That's why our only goal came when Mata dropped deep.

We need Ramires, Mikel pivot IMO with Ivanovic-Luiz partnership. Unfortunately Cahill will have to sit this one out despite his performance in the previous tie at the Ethiad.

I have a question though would a Ramires-Luiz pivot be good? With Cahill and Ivanovic at CB?

Might work. We are probably gonna get over run in midfield whichever pairing we pick, because we don't have a Yaya Toure type player. Which is why David luiz could be the closest thing we could have to that.

Or even play a 4-3-3 with Oscar in there as well to give ourselves an extra man, though i don't like having to play Mata out of position.