Closed Man City v Chelsea

[Jase 43,479]

Manchester City v Chelsea
PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION AND LIVE CHAT



2014/15 Premier League Match 5
21st September, Sunday, 2014
Etihad Stadium
16:00 Kick Off (UK time)

[Tomo 21,733]

Hopefully this is another game we are "getting thrashed" according to this forum.

I enjoyed those games last season.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Same starting XI as Shalcke, except Costa for Drogba.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Huge game.

Hopefully we defend a LOT better.

I'd play:

Courtois

Ivanovic Terry Cahill Luis

Matic Ramires

Hazard Fabregas Willian

Costa

- Picked Willian due to his work rate, Fabregas higher up due to his ability to unlock defences but also due to him being caught out of position if he played deeper. Could also switch to 4-3-3 if need be.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Bus parking football back after the shit today for me, boring 0-0/1-1 draw with both teams having shit CL today.

[Madmax 9,219]

Bus parking football

I remember people saying the same thing last season.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Going by the RAWK-esque meltdown on here tonight I expect Courtois to be dropped forever, Drogba to be executed, Mourinho to be sacked and City to win 18-0.

[jmarlow 458]

I'd start with this.

Courtois

Azpilicueta - Ivanovic - Terry - Luis

Ramires - Matic

Fabregas

Willian - Costa - Hazard

[Jase 43,479]

Honestly, do not know what to expect here. Part of me wants us to take City head-on because they haven't exactly been very convincing this season, especially if we do win, we'll open up an 8-point gap on them. But another part wants us to be a tad more cautious (and no, I don't mean we should go there and just park the bus) simply because with the way we're playing right now, we are too open defensively and not working well yet as a unit in that regard.

Speaking about that, we definitely have to go with 4-3-3 with Matic, Fabregas and Ramires in the middle. If we go with the 4-2-3-1 and the pivot of Matic and Fabregas, I fear we might get slaughtered in that midfield area. Need legs, energy, discpline and solidity in that area. Otherwise, there will be plenty of holes for the likes of Silva, Toure and Nasri to exploit, which won't be pretty at all.

[Laylabelle 9,359]

Bigg game.go for it,take chances n don't defend in a crap way

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

There is a chance Fernando wont be fit for City, he missed the Bayern game tonight, which is a bit of a relief as hes really been quite an astute signing and gives them more balance. No Drogba from the start please. Costa is a must.

Courtois

Branna - Cahill - JT - Luis

Rami - Matic

Willian - Cesc - Hazard

Costa

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

Likely 11

Courtois

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpi

Ramires Matic

Willian Fabregas Hazard

Costa

I actually think jose played a very similar team today to start on chemistry and going from there for Sunday.

Take away points from tonight;

Cahill needs to regain his form, that is to make less mistakes when he is the one in position to be proactive rather than cover for other defenders

The midfield needs to be a bloody midfield. Actually stay solid and defend boys.

Ivanovic has been a great attacker, but with the lack of midfield I would consider dropping him to CB and have Azpi RB

Courtois

Azpi Ivanovic Terry Luis

Willian Ramires Matic Hazard

Fabregas

Costa

We are going for points not style. Not every game needs to be an expansive piece of art, sometimes you just go for points.

Or you could be Arsenal

[thehappyone 140]

Hey guys I have some great news I will be able to watch this game on tv it will be my first game this season.

[thekid9 418]

Not Drogba.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Mourinho might actually be thinking of starting Oscar since he didn't start vs Schalke. Perhaps on the right in a 4-3-3 as an inverted winger like in the 2nd half vs Swansea. Willian still makes more sense due to his pace, technique and slightly better work ethic but he's much more likely to fuck up counters and such due to poor decision making.

[didierforever 7,349]

Courtois

Iva gc jt azpi

Rambo matic cesc

Oscar costa hazard

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I prefer Oscar over Willian for this. Unleashed our strongest players in this match, whatever the result after that, I will accept.

[bethos1 802]

I really hope Luis plays against them, imo best defender against Schalke.