Sorry this is a mobile link but it should be watchable. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DjP9KVWA91U Very interesting points raised and points that I am sure Jose will not have ignored. I think everything points to the playing of a 4-3-3. Fabregas - Matic - Ramires for me looks like the starting midfield. I don't know though. It is clear to me that Fab does not have the discipline to play CDM - at least not yet.
I think we will all see the change made for City. I expect Schurrle and Oscar to drop out of the team for Willian and Ramires, giving Fabregas the most advanced role.
The beauty of chelseas squad now is that there is no BEST team. We have so many options we can mix it up against anybody. Tjats how jose likes it too. Fabregas doesn't need to defend because we xan bring in ramieres to support. In fact he doesn't need to be in the team at all. it should now depend on the teams we face as we have the tools to do so.
I kind of agree with you, or I think I do! On what Iv'e seen so far, and leaving out most of the back 4, the players who have already developed an instinctive blending are Fab, Matic, Ivan, Ramires, Costa, Hazard and Oscar. Those who have not yet blended are Oscar ,Schurrle and Salah( who has not had much of a chance yet). This suggests at this stage Oscar and Schurrle shouldn't play together, and Mikel and Ramires shouldn't play together. That said, things get too confusing if you dig much deeper. So I kind of agree, we do have so much choice it is not easy to name the "best " team, but as the season goes on and players get more opportunities, more understandings will develop and we will have a seriously good squad. All our players are better than good, we have only 2 weaknesses that I can find. CD is one. Ivan can of course switch there, and Luis come in and Azpi swap "sides". Or we can start to play a youngster, or both. The other is cover for Fab. So much revolves around him already we will struggle without a similar type of interchangeable player if Fab is injured. Team for City? That's anyones guess.
I prefer 4-3-3. I noticed a couple of times in the first half against Swansea that Fabregas defending wasn't what it should be as a deep midfielder. They got in behind him too easily at least twice. We got better when Rami came on though and it frees Cesc up a little bit. I imagine Ramires and Willian will both play at City.
Thought Neville was incredibly harsh with his analysis. Fabregas laid on 2 assists ffs! I understand players have defensive duties if they're playing in the pivot, however that isn't really why we bought Fabregas. Although - I'd stick Ramires next to him with Matic holding against City.
Agreed. I expect we will set up similarly to City away last year where we played 2 holding type mids in Matic and Luiz. This year I expect it to be Matic and Ramires, Fabregas at 10, Hazard and maybe Willian wide. No reason to really change the winning formula from our away games last year where we got very good results v the top sides.
We're definitely going to play on the counter at the Etihad, with a better striker up top to hold the ball up. We get the first goal and I expect us to shut up shop. Take a 1-0 win right now.
Ideally we would have another quality CM to play alongide Matic, and rotate with RAmbo when Fab pushes up. City have Ferdaninho and Toure and invested in another Ferdy this season. Do we need a regista Modric-type CM for when we push Fabregas up. Or a Pogba/Vidal box to box player?.
I think Pogba would be a perfect addition and it would allow Fabregas to play the no 10 role without get scrutinised for lack of defending
I'm feeling a little nervous about Sunday and really want to see the victory. I know everyone will be looking for us to crash & burn (Costa a flat-track bully, Fabregas scared, JT too slow....blah blah blah), but a win away to City would send out a great warning to the rest. My starting lineup/guess: Courtois Ivan / Cahill / JT / Dave Matic / Rambo Hazard / Fab / Schurle Costa
It's fear mate. Win would be great but win lose or draw we'll probably still be top and championships are never won in September.
I don't think Neville was overly harsh - I think he did his job and instead of jumping on the praise bandwagon he accepted that and pointed out a flaw other pundits ignored. From a team and manager that take pride in solidity, exceptions will always be more obvious.
Oh no I completely agree, but it is never a bad thing to try and iron out the faults even if the results go your way.
