Starting XI for Next Season

[Jase 43,479]

Striker schedule:

Costa - Premier League

Torres - Champions League

Lukaku - FA & C1 Cup

Drogba - Arsenal home & away.

[emoji23]

Putting Torres on CL duty is not even funny.

[LAM09 6,751]

Putting Torres for CL duty is not even funny.

He probably won't be here to fulfil his duty, but he has done ok in Europe compared to his PL record.

[Jase 43,479]

He probably won't be here to fulfil his duty, but he has done ok in Europe compared to his PL record.

Just because of his goalscoring record? He may score more in Europe than he does in the league but his performances are still awful. Hardly offers much unless the chances are laid on a silver platter to him.

[LAM09 6,751]

Just because of his goalscoring record? He may score more in Europe than he does in the league but his performances are still awful. Hardly offers much unless the chances are laid on a silver platter to him.

He has scored some vital goals IMO. He has done better than our recent CF's in Europe, and secondly; the post was a comedic one!

[Jase 43,479]

He has scored some vital goals IMO. He has done better than our recent CF's in Europe, and secondly; the post was a comedic one!

Only in terms of goals. Other than that, nothing else.

And yes, I know the post was meant to be a joke but nothing is funny when you include Torres.

[LAM09 6,751]

Only in terms of goals. Other than that, nothing else.

And yes, I know the post was meant to be a joke but nothing is funny when you include Torres.

Ok. Won't do it again. [emoji12]

[Jase 43,479]

Ok. Won't do it again. [emoji12]

Good lad. Here's a reward..

[LAM09 6,751]

Good lad. Here's a reward..

LOL!

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

I wouldn't have Torres start at all unless there is an injury. Costa is our #1 and Lukaku should get all starts he doesn't get. Torres has been a poor (in terms of performance only) player for years now and having a good game against Schalke the CL doesn't make him a European specialist,

[boshman 1,073]

Courtois

Azpi Cahill JT Luis

Matic Fabregas

Schurlle Willian Hazard

Costa

If we start with this team we will tear shit up!!

[Hutcho 8,443]

3 big selection issues i am not sure how he will go.

Cech or Courtois

Azpi or Ivan

Willian or Schurrle or both.

The rest i imagine barring injury should be fairly set in.

?

? Cahill JT Luis

Fab Matic

? Oscar Hazard

Costa

[Myself 793]

Hey guys, this is my first post on this forums, I quite like it.

Anyway, in my opinion, with this lineup Chelsea would wreak havoc both domestically and in Europe, I will explain my reasoning and show the team below.

http://lineupbuilder.com/2014/custom/?sk=3jy5j

The goalkeeper spot isn't exactly black in white, but I am leaning towards Courtois. He'll adjust to the Premier League quickly (he should, at least) and he is, frankly, better than Cech. If you all remember the 3-1 game against PSG, the 1st and 2nd (he could have done better for the 3rd as well) goals, they were stoppable. Even though the first goal placed near perfectly, if Cech's wingspan was just as big as Courtois', he'd have saved it. The second goal really was avoidable, but Cech didn't have control of his box and didn't go out to claim the ball, instead he stayed on his line and just let David Luiz do what he did.

That's not to say I wouldn't mind Cech in net, I just prefer Courtois.

The defence should stay relatively the same, except we MUST give Luis and at times Dave (he's underrated in this department) attacking responsibilities. It just helps tremendously breaking down tight defences, and now we have someone to cross to in the box, instead of crossing to Torres and god damn Eto'o (the man who would rather sell peanuts in his village than play for us). Ivanvovic will be 2nd/3rd choice CB and 2nd choice RB, in my honest opinion, Ivanvoic is a bit over rated when playing at RB. He's not bad by any means, but he isn't exactly class. He can still do a job, just not as significant a one as last year. I saw a chart where the goals we conceded last year originated from, and the amount of crosses the opposition had on Ivanovic's side was just crazy (fun fact, not one goal was scored from the left).

And the good bit, the midfield. I really wasn't sure who deserved to start, but that should sort itself out within two months really. Matic is one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe, and by far the best one in England, he'll be playing the same role as last year, the destroyer. He's fucking great as passing too, man he's perfect (I am secretly married to him btw, and to Cesar, and Andre, and sometimes I'm married to Gary Cahill). Fabregas would have the Pirlo role, sending long balls to Schurrle, Costa, and at the same time dictating the pace of the game, and occasionally making those marauding runs forward that we would see at Arsenal (has he lost a lot of pace and quickness since then?). And either Oscar, Willian, Ramires, or Marco van Ginkel would operate as the box to box that Lampard is renowned for being.

I would like Schurrle and Hazard to switch flanks often just like how Willian and Hazard did last season, with the guy on the left making those menacing cut-ins and taking the shot, whilst the guy on the right will float around and create from the right, linking up with Azpilicueta (assuming its a game against the likes of West Brom) and then crossing either low and hard or aerial crosses.

sorry if there were any spelling / grammar errors, it's 1:06 in the morning and i'm quite tired.

ps; damn, re-reading this post, i should change my username to 'Captain Obvious'

[stroey 2,525]

Courtois

Azpi Cahill JT Luis

Matic Fabregas

Schurlle Willian Hazard

Costa

If we start with this team we will tear shit up!!

Best thinkable line up

[Shakez 755]

Courtois
Dave Cahill Terry Luis
Matic Fabregas
Willian Oscar Hazard
Costa

Allow it!

[DANILA 290]

Courtois

Dave Cahill Terry Luis

Matic Fabregas

Willian Oscar Hazard

Costa

Allow it!

After the WC, if Schurrle keeps up his form, I think he's a better player than Willian. Just my opinion

[Polo7 3,496]

Courtois

Azpi Cahill Terry Luis

Matic

Willian Cesc Hazard

Drogba Costa

[DANILA 290]

With our roster, I really think the 4-1-4-1 will be extremely suitable, to start off the match with at least. Similar to 2012-2014 Bayern, our biggest strength is in midfield. Why not position Matic as our holding/def MF while having Cesc hazard schurrle/willian and oscar in the 4 AM positions, and of course costa as our lone striker.

If we get down a goal or are struggling to score, than we can switch to a 3-5-2 or similar?

[Stats 7,056]

Always baffles me as to why a lot of people put Matic on the right hand side of the double pivot with Fabregas on the left. Fabregas is right footed and Matic is left footed. They aren't wingers where they need to play on the other side to cut in. That is not their job. Matic will play as the left CM and Fabregas as the right CM. Got it?