Starting XI for Next Season

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

http://lineupbuilder.com/2014/custom/?sk=3w0b

[Barbara 15,149]

If Ramires is in the pivot let alone a starter next season I will bash my fucking head in.

I'm holding onto hope based on two things. 1) Cesc is indeed playing in the pivot (I hope today wasn't only a test, but the real idea Mourinho wants to play with). 2) When mentioning key players for the team that are still missing, Mourinho didn't mention Ramires (official site):

‘It’s still important for us to have all our players back. We don’t have Schurrle, Oscar, Willian or Hazard and they are the four players we build the game around. At the same time they need a holiday, but the players who are here on this training camp are working very hard.’

Of course, he could have mentioned only the AMs because they're more important than a pivot player. But I'm very hopeful that isn't the case and with Cesc's arrival and even van Ginkel rise, Ramires is regarded with a secondary role in the squad.

btw, that's my fave lineup too. I don't think they'll start against Burnley as the Brazilians and Schurrle will arrive a week prior to our debut, but for the season, that's our best imo

[AustinBlue 0]

The lineup should vary a ton with injuries and such throughout the season, but I definitely feel that Hazard and Oscar will be starting day one. Schurrle and Willian had good WCs, but that form doesn't always transfer to the club...

Just too many attacking options (Which is definitely not a bad thing)

[Muzchap 8,966]

I'm holding onto hope based on two things. 1) Cesc is indeed playing in the pivot (I hope today wasn't only a test, but the real idea Mourinho wants to play with). 2) When mentioning key players for the team that are still missing, Mourinho didn't mention Ramires (official site):

Of course, he could have mentioned only the AMs because they're more important than a pivot player. But I'm very hopeful that isn't the case and with Cesc's arrival and even van Ginkel rise, Ramires is regarded with a secondary role in the squad.

btw, that's my fave lineup too. I don't think they'll start against Burnley as the Brazilians and Schurrle will arrive a week prior to our debut, but for the season, that's our best imo

Lineup looks good and Wllian can always drop to the right and Shirley left if Hazard needs to come off (injury etc)

Do you really think Mou will play Azpi over Iva?

[MichaelDance 552]

I hope Drogba will be in the first team again. Someone needs to show our new members how to do it lol nah but he's my fav, oh and Cech as goalie.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Lineup looks good and Wllian can always drop to the right and Shirley left if Hazard needs to come off (injury etc)

Do you really think Mou will play Azpi over Iva?

I don't see why not. A few days ago, Jose said, "I can play Azpilicueta right back and Ivanovic centre back because of Filipe." There will be rotation, of course, but I expect that Azpi will play over Iva most of the time.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Everyone debating over Cech or Courtois obviously doesn't know José that well.... he'll probably play Schwarzer against Burnley just to take the piss

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Imo only certain positions are

Courtois

RB CB Cahill/Terry Luis

Matic Fabregas CM

RW Costa Hazard

Ivan and Dave will rotate a lot now, especially with Luis likely to play 99 out of 100 games at LB. Same with CB, imo only either Terry or Cahill will play all the time, the other spot will be used for Ivan/Zouma, I am thinking Terry because of his age, he might be rested sometime against teams like Leicester.

CM will be either Ramires or Oscar, imo Oscar against weaker teams and Ramires when we need to play counter attack(away to City, MU, Liverpool...etc) actually Ramires will likely to play virtually every single big game he is available for because of his usefulness to Jose. RW will be between Schurrle and Willian, after the WC honestly we cannot be sure who will get that spot. Schurrle only really lost out to Willian last season because he went to Arsenal Xmas party apparently, even then he was used a lot more later on in the season.

The rests are definite starters that will play 98% of all games.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Better than Oscar, not better than Willian.

Willian isn't even that good, he got pace, a bit of skill and very hard working and that is most important factor for Jose though. However on technical terms he is no where near Schurrle.

[MichaelDance 552]

Everyone debating over Cech or Courtois obviously doesn't know José that well.... he'll probably play Schwarzer against Burnley just to take the piss

Probably will lol, not even sure why we still have Mark lol.

[stroey 2,525]

Willian isn't even that good, he got pace, a bit of skill and very hard working and that is most important factor for Jose though. However on technical terms he is no where near Schurrle.

Willian is very underrated here and Oscar very overrated. Willian had a very good first season and will be better next year.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Willian is very underrated here and Oscar very overrated. Willian had a very good first season and will be better next year.

Oscar is only overrated by some, and even then they are only pointing at his 'potential', no one said he is already one of the best CAM in the world or anything. I never said he had a bad 1st season, just simply saying he is not as good as Schurrle technically and probably never will be, it is something you cannot practice but comes naturally.

No one is underrating Willian here imo, he is rightly praised and pointed out correct weaknesses. No doubt he will likely be better, just that so will Schurrle