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The Chelsea F.C. Thread IV

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Reply 4820

MarkII

Original post by jam277

Welcome to the chelsea thread, and don't worry we're worried too, it should be a cracker though.

Cheers

I've been up since 5 this morning and really struggling to stay awake already.

It's going to be good to see what formation Jose starts with. Hoping he plays a Hazard-De Bruyne-Mata- Lukaku front four.

Got a feeling that whoever starts up front will be his first choice this season provided we don't get Rooney. Just gotta hope it's not Ba :colondollar:

Reply 4821

doobucks

Original post by MarkII

Cheers

Or torres. I think that we haven't seen the best of ba. But I guess torres will suit a counter attacking style(which we seem to have implemented better than last season)

Lukaku seems to be a more complete forward than torres due to his aerial ability and ability to play with his back to goal, while he played on the counter with albion I don't think he'll struggle to adapt to a possession game where he has to spend a lot of time in camped areas.

I agree with your formation. I haven't looked at KDB too much defensively, he's obviously a great passer and that but will he be able to track the runs of isco/ronaldo and double up on them effectively?

I'm not so sure, on the other hand if we use moses or schurlle we may lack the attacking threat we need in compensation for work rate.

Reply 4822

MarkII

Fair point. But I'd like to see us go all out with this one attacking wise. Yes, it's Real Madrid but we haven't really got too much to lose unless we get absolutely destroyed (which obviously won't happen). I'm excited about the possibilty of Lukaku being the new Drogba, and De Bruyne is such a quality finisher!

Come on you blues!

Original post by MarkII

Tbf I get why attacking real madrid is a good idea in a friendly. I guess we should just use our strongest 11 if we can regardless of tactics. I think we'll play on the counter though. Real struggled to break down teams with deep lines anyway.

I'm pretty excited about lukaku, shame we didn't keep sturridge as it would have made our striker situation much more desirable.

Reply 4825

manty

Original post by jam277

I just hope Lukaku, can work on his first touch and finishing, then we have a really great player, he has the power and pace alongside aerial ability to be a real handful!

Reply 4826

doobucks

Original post by manty

I just hope Lukaku, can work on his first touch and finishing, then we have a really great player, he has the power and pace alongside aerial ability to be a real handful!

I would say he needs to improve on his first touch, but I think his finishing is pretty beasty already. I guess the guy needs to adapt to our style of play though. Would like him to dribble his way past the opposition though, I don't think he'll be able to do that as of yet but if he had an aguero like balance it would put the cherry on the cake for him.

Reply 4827

manty

is the game at 1.45 guys?! yawn

Reply 4828

billybo_h

Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole, Lampard, MvG, Ramires, Hazard, Oscar, Lukaku

Looking like a 4-3-3 then - very solid midfield three. Would have like De Bruyne to start, but then again, I do think Oscar should star every game as well.

Reply 4829

Nickini

Original post by mhsc

Yeah that's weird. They must be using another way of defining assist or something, because the official premier league website says he got 17 which ties in exactly with what I had remembered from last season. I usually keep quite a close eye on the top goal scorer and top assist charts during the season.

Original post by DaveSmith99

Maybe the PL counts winning a penalty/an assist of the bar/post or whatever as an assist and those sites don't or something similar.

I was looking into Bale's PL assist tally for last season and the PL site, whoscored and transfermarkt all gave different values so I think it's fair to say they all have different criteria. Transfermarkt seemed the most generous of the three and whoscored the least, in Spurs 3-2 victory at OT for instance transfermarkt gave Bale 2 assists, PL site gave him 1 and credited the other to Vertonghen whilst whoscored credited no one.

Reply 4830

MarkII

Lampard and Van Ginkel to start. Will be interesting to see how Van Ginkel does without The Bison next to him.

Reply 4831

manty

oscar and not KDB, lampard in and not essien, does anyone know why mata hasnt travelled?

Who's playing?

Original post by manty

oscar and not KDB, lampard in and not essien, does anyone know why mata hasnt travelled?

Anyone got starting line-ups?

Reply 4834

cleveradam

Very bad comments from Jose on Cristiano Ronaldo. Why would he say that Ronaldo is trash indirectly is pretty bad considering he scored 200 goals faster than games played and he wasn't the reason why Real failed last season. Sometimes Jose is idiotic with his comments even if it is mind games with other teams.

Reply 4835

Spatial_Void

Chelsea starting XI (4-3-3):
Petr Cech; Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole; Marco Van Ginkel, Frank Lampard, Ramires; Eden Hazard, Oscar; Romelu Lukaku.

Real Madrid starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Iker Casillas; Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Sami Khedira, Luka Modric; Isco, Mesui Özil, Cristiano Ronaldo; Karim Benzema.

Reply 4836

manty

Original post by Kenan and Kel

Anyone got starting line-ups?

Cech
Brana-Cahill-Terry-Cole

Lampard-Van Ginkel-Ramires

Oscar-Lukaku-Hazard

I think from what i saw*

Reply 4837

The Assassin

Oh for ****s sake. 4-3-3 now? This cannot end well.

EDIT: WHY IS OSCAR ON THE FLANKS?

Reply 4838

doobucks

Jose saying that when he faces real in the CL we'll be ready and they're not a worry for us atm since they're not in the prem.
I think he's not expecting a win or he's being modest.
I think we'll be fired up for the equation.