Closed Swindon v Chelsea

[Liquidator 5,176]

Near Wiltshire so some distance in some direction from London..

81 miles East of London..haha my geography is crap thought it was near Birmingham...

West isn't it?

[zolayes 14,489]

West isn't it?

half way to Wales

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Schwarzer

Azpi Luiz Kalas Bertrand

Van Ginkel Essien

Mata De Bruyne Willian

Eto'o

Would be surprised if Mata wasn't on the wing.

Eto'o needs goals, but could quite easily see Ba or Torres playing this one.

Azpi, Bertrand, Van Ginkel, Essien and Schwarzer need domestic starts. Kalas might get a shot although who knows?

Yea, there is no point in playing Mata in the #10 role just so that he is comfortable there. He wants him to adapt to the winger role now that Oscar is the preferred man in the hole.

It would be ridiculous to play him in the centre and lose his place again in the team to Oscar for the Spurs game.

A solid performance from Mata guarantees a 'Mata- Oscar- LW' combination against Spurs. Wouldn't be surprised if we get to see the MaZaCar amigos starting next week against Spuds.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Starting players like Luiz, Mata, or Willian in a match like this accomplishes nothing. If they all play great, what does that prove?

The same way Everton game was much tougher than Fulham's, this one will be far less challenging esp for the defenders. If we are going to play the youngsters, at least some of them, this is the match to do it.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

I'll be happy to see the boys who haven't played - for a reason or another - the full ninety minutes, regardless of the result.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Starting players like Luiz, Mata, or Willian in a match like this accomplishes nothing. If they all play great, what does that prove?

The same way Everton game was much tougher than Fulham's, this one will be far less challenging esp for the defenders. If we are going to play the youngsters, at least some of them, this is the match to do it.

It gives them a chance to put into practice what they've been working on in training. It also gives them the chance to show their character and prove to the boss that they can react correctly to adversity, and step up to the challenge he's thrown down.

[robsblubot 3,595]

It gives them a chance to put into practice what they've been working on in training. It also gives them the chance to show their character and prove to the boss that they can react correctly to adversity, and step up to the challenge he's thrown down.

There won't be any.

Is it fair to start player X against City away from home and then start player Y against say a Crystal Palace and measure their performance equally? Especially when talking about a defensive player? One had no pressure, the other was being tested at all times against world class strikers.

[mtowle182 79]

I see all these lineups with Mata in the middle but since he wants Juan to adapt to a play style where him and Oscar can still exist maybe he won't start in the middle. Who knows.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I see all these lineups with Mata in the middle but since he wants Juan to adapt to a play style where him and Oscar can still exist maybe he won't start in the middle. Who knows.

The whole point of playing him is for him to adapt on the wings. It's ridiculous for him to start in the hole and lose his place again to Oscar as he is the preferred #10 man for Jose.

i reckon KDB will play in the hole with Mata on the right and Will.i on the left. But who knows, its Mourinho

P.S. that's one motherfucker of a sig. :heart: 182

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Match Preview Here by @Strike

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Why With Holland?

We always have the assistant do the PCs for the first couple of rounds of the league cup. It's a tradition.

Ake???

The lineup for the U21 game against Everton today should give us an idea about who that youngster who will join the team tomorrow might be.

[Waterfall 893]

And it could be Lewis Baker! Was hoping for Christensen but I guess Kalas is ahead of him

[Hannah 200]

And it could be Lewis Baker! Was hoping for Christensen but I guess Kalas is ahead of him

Yes, Baker isn't involved tonight so it could be him.

[Jusek 2,031]

And it could be Lewis Baker! Was hoping for Christensen but I guess Kalas is ahead of him

That would be great! Baker deserves a chance with the first team.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Well Baker has certainly earned this chance if he is the one with the first team tomorrow.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Lewis Baker, absent from the U21 team tonight, joined the first team group for training this afternoon.

[Styles 9,790]

Pleased for Baker and hope for his sake it isn't just a token gesture and an actual appreciation of his undoubted talent. He must be buzzing!

[Barbara 15,149]

Starting players like Luiz, Mata, or Willian in a match like this accomplishes nothing. If they all play great, what does that prove?

The same way Everton game was much tougher than Fulham's, this one will be far less challenging esp for the defenders. If we are going to play the youngsters, at least some of them, this is the match to do it.

not necessarily. The weaker the opposition, the more Mourinho will demand from the players to execute the tasks he assigned to them and the more he'll expect them to shine. I agree they're absolutely the weakest side we'll face this season and they'll lie deep with 11 + the crowd making it harder for Mourinho to assess the backs performance, but such things as movement, positioning and coverage can still be evaluated.

Also about the Holland thing, Mourinho did mention in one of his interviews on Saturday that his assistant coach led the training session that morning - so I suppose Holland trained the team (or most of the team) that is likely to start the match tomorrow.

[polo 18]

^{why not use Mata for this one? he doesn't play in BPL then if he's injured,who cares}

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Pleased for Baker and hope for his sake it isn't just a token gesture and an actual appreciation of his undoubted talent. He must be buzzing!

Not sure he'll actually play, though. Jose would want to give playing to all of Essien, MVG and Frank in the two pivot places. So his inclusion might just be to recognize his progress by having him on the bench and not to actually play him.