The Tactics Thread

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Not a big fan of Mikel and Essien playing together in the midfield.

Me neither, but when you've got Nani bombing down the right and Rooney linking up with Berbatov it helps to overcrowd the midfield. Cut off the supply instead of the target.

[steve5221 91]

If Mikel does play he has to watch a few of his tackles early doors......don't get booked in the first 10 minutes....

[DYC. 7,542]

I don't want to play with 3 centre-backs, thats what I mean by stooping to scumpool level. We already play like that on defence cause Mikel drops deep and plays like a 3rd centre-back.

Mikel dropping deep is good enough as far defense is concerned.

Well I guess we disagree then. I would love to see us play 3-5-2 once as I think it solves our winger problem and our reliance on our fullbacks for width (without leaving too much space at the back). And like I said, Mikel isn't good enough defensively. And we have three great CB's too and more importantly, one who is excellent in building up from the back.

@steve5221

Don't agree with the 3-5-2 being a 'smash and grab' tactic, you should be able to dominate a game (you're playing with five midfielders, five and half with Anelka's tendency to drop deep).

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Essien and Mikel have to play this game to cancel out United's midfield. Ramires should play wide right in a 4-3-3 for this game as far as I'm concerned...

Cech

Bosingwa - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel

Essien - Lampard

Ramires - Torres - Anelka

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

Spot on, but if Essien's on top form would play him instead of Ramires

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Carlo discussing 'pressing' tactics

At Milan there were three times of pressing - to wait for the opposition to come into our half and win the ball and do counter-attack, to press in the middle of the pitch and to press immediately when the opposition goalkeeper passed the ball from the back.

The best shape to have good pressure all over the pitch is 4-4-2. If you play with the diamond it is more difficult to close the width of the pitch.

http://www.chelseafc...2302771,00.html

[blueblood22 50]

I think the best will be 4-4-2 like this

Cech

Ivan, Luiz, Terry, Cole

Kalou, Essien , Lampard Malouda

Drogba Torres

with an option to change ramirez in essien out because ramirez is in great form and maybe zhirkov in malouda out because he is playing really bad recently and i bellive in zhirkov

[spuz 143]

Malouda said; "The best shape to have good pressure all over the pitch is 4-4-2. If you play with the diamond it is more difficult to close the width of the pitch"

Malouda for manager?

[Madmax 9,219]

Emenalo said :

'As a result we've gone to 4-4-2 which gives a balanced defensive core, but we have quality players who can do different things and we are able to manipulate it a little bit, with Ramires on the right and Florent Malouda or Yury Zhirkov on the left, so we can create width on one side and a certain level of compactness from the right, meaning we don't get overrun even if we send people forward and it can become a central three in midfield when we are defending.

Explains why we've seen the narrow 4-4-2, especially on the right. There's obviously not much trust in Essien's defensive abilities.

'The 4-3-3 allows you to play better football because there are so many possibilities to it in terms of build-up,' he explained. 'You can move the ball around and control possession more, it is a little more sophisticated, especially in England where teams often tend to play a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 against us.

'I anticipate it coming back but it is good for us to have this variety, and I can also anticipate a possible 4-2-3-1 in the future, or even because of the forwards we have at Chelsea a 4-2-1-3.

Interesting, very interesting...

[eldo 868]

I don't know if this should be posted here.

22 - Chelsea have scored more goals than any other Premier League team from set pieces. Practice.

[Madmax 9,219]

I don't know if this should be posted here.

22 - Chelsea have scored more goals than any other Premier League team from set pieces. Practice.

We are a rich man's Stoke

[Milan 17,955]

I don't know if this should be posted here.

22 - Chelsea have scored more goals than any other Premier League team from set pieces. Practice.

Can't believe lol. Considering the not so distant past where we were discussing our awful stats from corners. It used to be a loss of the possession then.

[eldo 868]

Can't believe lol. Considering the not so distant past where we were discussing our awful stats from corners. It used to be a loss of the possession then.

I guess we were all desperate.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Anyone else feel there's something wrong with the speed of our build-up play?

I feel that its:

1. Too slow in the middle of the pitch

2. And too fast in the final third.

Because of 1. the opposition defense always gets into position with enough time to spare, ready to prepare for any of the attacks. Because of 2. we don't spend enough time carving a good opportunity. As we saw in the Portsmouth game, the mindless crosses from Jose and Kalou were easily swatted away by the Pompey defense. This also leads to other problems. Because the players have only recently returned, team chemistry is at an all time low. Which is why after quick exchanges between two players, the third player involved in the play often ends up losing the ball.

I feel the team needs to take it slow in the first few games of pre-season and gradually build up speed to improve team chemistry.

What d'you guys think?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I'll let you know after four more friendlies