Sort of understand where you're coming from Stan, but have to say I also thing Fabregas should play. It's no coincidence that our patchy form is down to his loss of form. But like all great players, he will come good, and it just might be against PSG, it's his kind of game. Also not too worried about Barca or Bayern. We have given Barca a very torrid time last few meetings and beaten them more often than not. We also rolled Bayern at their place and bloody nearly did it again last time. They are the teams to beat, but we might just be the team to beat them !
GM CP, hope today /tomorrow is going to be good for us and Fab regains his energy after the 7 days break. (thanks to prioritizing cup over the greater cause) Agree - Can't go by West Ham which was his worst performance. That was 2 huge matches in 3 days. Night!
It's on ESPN here at 6.30am, quite civilised compared to some 2.30 am starts for the PL !! I'll be on the sofa with my coffee as opposed to you lucky buggers with your beers and wine !!
Courtois Ivan Cahill Terry Dave Ramires Matic Willian Fabregas Hazard Costa I'm pretty certain on 10 of those. He may go for Oscar or Cuadrado in for Ramires and push Fabregas back though.
I don't recall Ramires playing at 10 before, he's certainly played wide right and central mid under Jose. Don't think his passing is good enough for 10.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/...-after-incident-before-champions-league-match Anyone else seen this. Club has offered tickets to the victim in France the other week and the guy has responded saying Chelsea 'can't buy him'. Think that's a really poor response actually. These idiots were not the club's fault and the club are just trying to make a decent gesture. He doesn't have to go but to say Chelsea are trying to buy him is ridiculous. He almost comes across as someone trying to milk his 15 minutes of fame a bit here. Could be lost in translation perhaps though,
I never said Rambo was #10. He will be all over the wide areas. Running up and down protecting Ivan, just like Will. When I said - Fab playing behind Rambo, I didn't mean in the middle. I meant next line of formation.
There will be an element of inter changing but we will generally set up to have two wide players protecting the full backs and a number 10 who, when we don't have the ball, will pressurise their defenders and drop into midfield to make a 5. This role will be either Fabregas, Willian or Oscar. Ramires will be either centre mid or wide right. That's why in the team I suggested it is unlikely Ramires would be swapped with Fabregas.
Disturbing stat from Opta about Fab. Goals+Assists 1st, 2nd Half of seasons for past 6 seasons. 86,33 Just to give perspective, league winners total Goals scored for the last few seasons. 53,40 50,36 54,48 39,39 45,58 (Chelsea odd season under Carlo) thanks to http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2009-2010/custom-table
**** him then. Wasn't the club who racially abused him, it was a bunch of pork swords who support us. The club didn't have to do ****, but they offered a goodwill gesture as they felt at least a small bit of responsibility, to slap away their hand is poor ****ing form indeed.
11 today. Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Ramires, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa. Rambo higher (wide) up the pitch than Fab. Fab is partnering Matic. That is what I meant. If I were, would have selected others instead of Cahill & Fab. Going to be very difficult today.
