Closed Chelsea v Man City

[The_Flash 1,144]

Cech

Iva - Cahill - JT - Azpi

Luiz - Ramires

Schurrle* - Oscar - Hazard

Torres**

[Blue Armour 4,439]

Now that both our strikers are doing well, the team selection for Saturday's match is really gonna show who Mourinho trusts the most to lead the line, especially in big matches like these....and i really hope its Torres.

This run of form might be the big diversion in Torres' flopped Chelsea career.

I don't really think so...As long as all 3 forwards are in some good form, he will continue to rotate based on the opposition, and hence the tactics.

I do think Torres is likely to start most of the matches (including the coming match), but I'm sure we will see Eto'O and Ba get their starts as well.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Cech

Ivan Luiz Terry Cole

Ramires Lampard

Willian Oscar Hazard

Eto'o

[The_Flash 1,144]

They were showing some old highlights of different times against City, Luiz scored a beauty, would be wonderful if he played and got a goal on Sunday

[Strike 7,489]

I think Willian will start indeed, but at the expense of Schurrle who's ankle still seems to be bothering him.

yeah I knew that was coming when I said Willian and Schurrle, but think Willian should after not playing against Schalke.

I'm not a fan of this much rotation. In some cases like using Azpi, Bertrand more often or to manage injuries, rotation is good but when the front 4 are changing for every game, it's hard to develop chemistry/fluidity in attack. We haven't really kicked into gear in terms of creating chances.

I haven't looked it up but I sense atleast 2 of the front 4 are changing every game. The striker has been Torres (Spurs), Eto'o (Steaua), then Demba vs Norwich, Eto'o vs Cardiff and then Torres vs Schalke.

[couris 232]

Torres got injured for Steaua

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

if Jose persists on Lampard (which I think he will) then the ideal line-up for this game will be this:

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

Azpilicueta-----Luiz------Terry------Bertrand

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

-----------Lampard----------Ramires-------------

Schurrle------------Oscar-------------------Hazard

this line-up will dominate the midfield....we can score goals without a striker as we've been doing for most of the games.....if until 60-th minute we still don't score, take off Lamps for Torres and shift Oscar to Lamps' position.....if Schurrle underperforms, take him off for either Mata or Willian....we'll be fine.

I know that Jose won't play this line-up but still...

ummm no.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Top of the table is so tight right now.

We can potentially end this Premier League match week in 1st or 7th I believe.

I'm just hoping we don't look like we did the last time we played this lot. They dominated us at times and passed rings around us in and around our box like we were a bottom table side. We saw how much they raised their game against United and they almost certainly will against us, so I hope Jose has our boys fired up.

We also saw them get torn apart by Bayern. We're a good side we will give them a worry for sure... They aren't nearly as sharp on the road as they are at home.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

He did not do nothing that is what Ba and Etoo have been doing, all three are faulty weak but Torres at the minute looks the most likely to score out of the three

keeping a tally of how many times you point this out.... its up in the 20's this season. mostly wrong too

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I'm just amped. not in the least bit bothered by who we will face and what they've done in the past against us, every year teams arrive at fixtures anew. On our day we are EASILY one of the best European football have to offer, we have probably the best trainer the game has seen (I'm sure Torres will attest to that soon) and we are starting to play some brilliant football.

I don't think I'm being too cavalier when I say we should look to take all three points, we're at home and as of now City's road record hasn't been scintillating. Yes they will have Kompany back which will give Jose something to consider when you think about who should start up top, but also we have the players in the side to play football with them. I for one think playing Eto'o as a false 9 is the way to go, he will definitely attract the attention of their CB's but his movement could pull them into areas where they don't want to be which could open up gaps for the others to exploit. Its hard not to play Torres after such a brilliant display on Tuesday but if we compare the goals he scored against Schalke and replace Schalke for City does he actually get those chances? I find it hard to believe. Eto'o's goal(s?) vs Cardiff seem more conducive to the conditions we will face City under; tight spaces and ingenuity. Also, I really don't think Torres fairs well against the likes of Kompany or any ball winning CB's for that matter, his strengths lie elsewhere.

Pat Nevin brought up an interesting point about who should play LB and I think I agree with him. If Ashley Cole is out I would go with Azpilicueta mainly because Silva likes to come inside and Cesar being naturally right footed could neutralize the effectiveness of Silva's play.

I really like David Luiz but its hard to argue with the results we're getting with Cahill and Terry. That tandem provides us with the best plate from which to build, Luiz might be an asset in the midfield for this one.

So the squad is set for me, I really don't care which of our attacking mids play on the right but Hazard(current form is scary) and Oscar are automatic. If we play Mata I'd like to see him on the flank and as far away from Yaya as possible.

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

--------------- Ivanovic - Cahill - Terry - Azpilicueta(Cole)

----------------------- Lampard - Ramires

HeHatesTottenham -------- Oscar ------ Hazard

------------------------------- Eto'o

Let's get 3pts and really start to solidify why we're one of the best teams in Europe.

[JamesGodfrey 87]

I can see this obviously being a very hard game but still think its a game that we will win.

Citys away form this season has been poor, i dont think pellegrini or whatever his name is knows his best 11 yet.

Were in good form of late and our strikers are starting to score.

Cech

Iva-cahill-JT-bertrand/cole

Ramires-luiz/lamps

Willian-oscar-hazard

Torres

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[Sidzeret 2,257]

Kevin de Bruyne.....Hope he'll atleast be on the sub bench and get some sort of gametime.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

Kevin de Bruyne.....Hope he'll atleast be on the sub bench and get some sort of gametime.

He wont play as he will start against Arsenal on Tuesday

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I'm not a fan of this much rotation. In some cases like using Azpi, Bertrand more often or to manage injuries, rotation is good but when the front 4 are changing for every game, it's hard to develop chemistry/fluidity in attack. We haven't really kicked into gear in terms of creating chances.

I haven't looked it up but I sense atleast 2 of the front 4 are changing every game. The striker has been Torres (Spurs), Eto'o (Steaua), then Demba vs Norwich, Eto'o vs Cardiff and then Torres vs Schalke.

Tbh, I don't mind the rotation in the front four. We have a lot of attacking players and a lot of games, you'll need all of them in form. As for the chemistry, I think Jose is trying to build a system where anyone of our players can come in or go out of the side with minimal effect.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Eventually we will sell Kevin I think, he is slowly drifting away from Jose. Order atm is like this Hazard=Oscar>Schurrle>Mata>Willian>Kevin. And as good as he is, we simply have too many better players so don't think many tears will be shed. You can't keep every top players in your squad. Same in defence, eventually Ivan/Dave will leave or accept the bench role. It won't be rotation forever, maybe for 1 season but then preference will have to be made for stability.

[FabHazard 655]

i actually like the idea of playing azpi as cdm..if not now atleast we should try this in upcoming matches..

my line up:

iva-luiz-terry-bertrand

azpi-ramires

Mata-oscar-hazard

Torres

[TimHoward 1]

City are beatable especially without Kompany fit. Lampard and Ramirez won't work against them, Jose will know this

[Pacquiao 1,834]

City are beatable especially without Company fit. Lampard and Ramirez won't work against them, Jose will know this

Kompany is fit.

[TimHoward 1]

Read they may not risk him

[Jase 43,479]

Mourinho confirms everyone, except for Van Ginkel obviously, is fit and available for this City game including Cole and Schurrle.