So who starts for Chelsea?

Not a fan, but a mat eof mine is a big fan - he sees the starting 11 as follows

Cech
Ivanovic
Alex
Terry
Cole

Lampard
Ramires
Malouda

Torres
Drogba
Sturridge


Anyone agree disagree?

Personally I thought Luiz would be in, but cant argue with the rest

Anelka would be my pick ahead of Drogba -- Torres will have to be the central striker and I don't see Drog on the wing for long, certainly not over Anelka who is very effective there.

That is assuming that they go with a 4-3-3 and not a variant of the diamond or plain 4-4-2.

Luiz ahead of Alex for me though, and Malouda out whenever they bring someone like Modric in.

Well I assume we're talking fully fit squad, but I'll leave out Essien since he'll be out for six months.

Cech

Luiz
Terry
Alex
Cole

Mikel
Lampard
Ramires

Malouda
Torres
Drogba


Although I can't see it working myself.

JDandfries wrote:Not a fan, but a mat eof mine is a big fan - he sees the starting 11 as follows

Cech
Ivanovic
Alex
Terry
Cole

Lampard
Ramires
Malouda

Torres
Drogba
Sturridge


Anyone agree disagree?

Personally I thought Luiz would be in, but cant argue with the rest

You best hope thats there starting team for the sake of our bet

I'd personally go with:

Cech

Luiz Alex Terry A.Cole

Ramires Mikel Lampard

Sturridge Drogba Malouda


Now i know Luiz ain't a right back, but I think he'd play well there, Alex is too good to leave out IMO.
Not happy with Mikel starting in midfield but thats the best we got CDM until Essien gets back.
Sturridge has been on fire in pre season playing off the right and I think he definately warrants his place in the starting 11 at the moment.
Drogba ahead of Torres for that central striker role all day at the moment, Torres is awful!
It's then between Malouda, Kalou and Anelka for that left wing position, and as Malouda is the most natural there, i've gone with him.

Thoughts?

Malouda should always start, he scores all the time.

I just can't see Roman letting Villa-Boas leave Torres out. He cost £50 million pounds! And let's be honest he isn't going to get any better rotting on the bench, I can see at least until Christmas Chelsea struggling to try and fit Drogba and Torres together and I think Chelsea would get rid of Drogba before Torres because he's much older and didn't cost a bomb.

I'm going for (assuming they're all fit for the beginning of the season, exept Essien):

Cech
Ivanovic Luiz Terry Cole
Mikel Lampard
Anelka Benayoun Malouda
Torres

That is how I think they'll line up. Personally, I'd like to see Danny Sturridge on the right wing, giving him the ability to cut in, and (hopefully) Modric behind Torres instead of Yossi.

Unfortunately for Sturridge, with Lukaku coming in, he'll fall further down the pecking order.

i would pick the best paid players

God bless you!

Nobody thinks Bosingwa will start at RB? Now there is a portugese boss at the helm. Has Bosingwa seen any footie there in pre season?

smartestgooner wrote:Nobody thinks Bosingwa will start at RB? Now there is a portugese boss at the helm. Has Bosingwa seen any footie there in pre season?

It would mean dropping one of Ivanovic, Alex or Luiz most likely, can't see that happening.

Chelsea fans: Should i be replacing Luiz with Alex in my fantasy football team?

he wont start this weekend will he?

i thought he would be a certainty based on his performances last season but i guess if he was injured and now fit Alex keeps his place until he does something wrong? Thanks

invincibleILeak (CL-6WF) wrote:

smartestgooner wrote:Nobody thinks Bosingwa will start at RB? Now there is a portugese boss at the helm. Has Bosingwa seen any footie there in pre season?

It would mean dropping one of Ivanovic, Alex or Luiz most likely, can't see that happening.

Done it for the openner. Be interesting to see if he sticks with unibrow

Alsie wrote:Chelsea fans: Should i be replacing Luiz with Alex in my fantasy football team?

he wont start this weekend will he?

i thought he would be a certainty based on his performances last season but i guess if he was injured and now fit Alex keeps his place until he does something wrong? Thanks

I've told all my fellow Chelsea fans to drop any Chelsea defenders they have because Cech is injured for 4 weeks and they won't be getting their clean sheet bonus with Hilario or Turnbull in goal.

My 3 Chelsea players in fantasy are Ramires, Torres and when available tomorrow Lukaku.

Also in fantasy I'd drop Mikel if I had him, the club have allowed him time off because of the situation with his Dad.

My preffered starting line up is

Cech

Bosingwa Brani JT Cole

Ramires Mikel Lampard

Torres Drogba Malouda

Although I imagine Lukaku and Modric will be in strong contention by next week. I can see Lukaku starting on Saturday.

It appears a deal to bring Juan Mata is very close now, is he the possible replacement for Lampard this season?

Quite frankly Mata, Drogba, Torres, Malouda, Lampard and Sturridge would scare the crap out of most defences.

I can't understand why they are going to sign Mata, unless they are going to sell one of, or maybe even two of, Drogba, Anelka or Kalou. They'll have far too many forwards.

invincibleILeak (CL-6WF) wrote:I can't understand why they are going to sign Mata, unless they are going to sell one of, or maybe even two of, Drogba, Anelka or Kalou. They'll have far too many forwards.

I think Mata signing spells the end for Anelka. And with Lukaku and possibly Modric coming in we could see Lampard and Drogba go next summer.

I think Mata is instead of Modric. Tbh Courtois, Lukaku, Mata and Romeu are all good young players. Good transfer policy by Chelsea this summer, but I think they probably still will get another player.

Cech

Cole
David Luiz
Terry (c)
Ivanovic

McEachran
Ramires
Lampard

Malouda
Torres
Sturridge/Mata

Agree with Churchill.

Chelsea will sign portos centre midfielder and possibly right back as well.

Mata is more of a winger/striker than playmaker like Modric though, isn't he?

You mean Moutinho? He's definitely leaving because I think they've already replaced him at Porto.

Expecting Drogba and Anelka to leave at the end of this season. Fowards for next year will look like Torres, Sturidge, Lukaku, Mata, Malouda and Kalou.

Gregers, why does McEachran start ahead of Mikel?

Chelsea needs new players badly. Same old plays despite a new coach who's dissapointingly scared to play the younger players except in pre season matches. Same old players mean same old results and it's going to get worse as they age further and the season goes longer. Actually there was not a need for a new coach but new players.

Old players deemed still useful like Lampard, Drogba, Anelka Malouda should only be used as substitutes. There are too many slow, bulky players in the team.