Yes I know it's early but I'm totally hacked off by all this International crap! Let's get back to business and think about how we are going to stuff the Blues. Assuming all return fit from their various travels what's our best starting 11? Do we go with the side that started against Liverpool or do we need to be a bit more defensively minded. We have to stop Hazard and Mata, easier said than done I know but I would start with Davis in midfield and keep Gaston on the bench. Don't know if Jos is fit but in any case I'd go back to Maya and Fonte at the centre. Rest of the defence and midfield picks itself. Up front I think we have to stick with Jrod and Rickie so it's a choice between Adam and Punch or maybe Guly for the third spot. Boruc Clyne Maya Fonte Shaw Morgan, Cork Davis Lallana Jrod Rickie Subs KD, Gaston, Forren, Guly, Puncheon, What do we all think?
---------Boruc----------- Clyne--Yosh--Fonte-Shaw -----Cork-----Morgan---- Ramirez---Rickie---Lallana --------Rodriguez-------- Although the formation actually means nothing, as the front four will move around all the time, creating havoc. Bring on Punch, Davis, and Guly after 60 minutes.
I wasn't aware you needed an excuse to jump the gun, Lambie. The team does rather pick itself...though I hope Jos recovers in time to be in contention. Puncheon seems to have slipped off the radar since signing his new contract...however, would go for Davis for Chelsea game. Although we'd all love points off Chelsea, taking 4 points off Liverpool and Norwich have kept us on course. Wouldn't want to go into this game on the back of a defeat.
Boruc Clyne - Fonte - Yoshida - Shaw Cork - Morgan Ramirez - Lambert - Lallana Rodriguez Subs: K.Davis, Forren, Fox, S.Davis, Puncheon, Mayuka, Guly Given we're at home I'd start Ramirez and sub him for Davis on the hour. The front four will probably be interchanging throughout the match and at the moment the defence and midfield pick themselves.
4-2-3-1 for me. Boruc, Clyne Fonte Maya Shaw, Morgan Cork, Ramirez on the right Lallana on the left, with Rickie behind Jay Rod. Press high up the pitch forcing them to go long, up to Torres or Ba, and let our CB's win the ball that way, keeping the ball in their half.
-------------Boruc -Clyne-Yoshida-Hoovield-Shaw-- ---------Cork--Morgan -Rodriguez-Ramirez-Lallana -------------Lambert- If Hoovield isn't fully fit then Fonte RCB and Yoshida LCB. If Ramirez is knackered from 70 minutes for Uruguay and flying back then Davis in for Ramirez.
Considering Chelsea don't really have a proper holding midfielder, it could be the right kind of game for Ramirez to get some space and do his thing. If he's not fit, I think Lambert could have a similar effect in that position. Either way, I think it's got to be all about exploiting that weakness and providing Rodriguez with some good balls through the defense. I like Davis, but I think selecting him for the AMC role would be a bit negative considering he's not a playmaker at all.
This. Rickie behind Jay if Gaston is not ready. Jay did well at picking open spots against them in the cup, and had he had a little bit of a better supply accuracy-wise, he could've had more than one. Lovely finish that one though.
Pochettino plays on the front foot and likes the 3 advanced midfields behind the striker and in front of the 2 CDMs to press very high and hard. He also likes those 3 men running beyond Lambert when he has the ball. Lambert isn't capable of it so he has to play the striker role in 4-2-3-1. It's why he's not been picking Puncheon as well. So he isn't going to play Lambert at CAM unless he completely changes game plan. But that wouldn't make sense considering the current game plan worked against City and Liverpool.
In my opinion there's no one in our squad who is less capable of that than Gaston Ramirez. I think he's great but that's the worst part of his game. Lambert's spend half of his career playing behind a striker.
You think Lambert would be more suited to high pressing game than Ramirez? Disagree with that. Lambert would be out of gas completely at half time.
I don't consider fitness an issue. I think all of our players are capable of playing our pressing game for 90 minutes without getting knackered. Considering Ramirez played midweek, it's a concern for him if anything. Lambert may not be quick or a good tackler, but he does have muscle and height, which are very important attributes for a midfielder.
Did you notice that Mauricio dodged the bullet when asked if Torres was worth fifty Rickie Lamberts? He said that he was sure that Torres would prove his purchase price in time. Made me think there may be some sense in MP pretending total ignorance of the English language...he gets more time to think and can't be caught out by misunderstandings.
Chuckled a bit when the reporter mistakenly asked if Torres was worth 50 million Rickie Lamberts and persisted, to the bewildered concern of the interpretor and Mauricio, who was obviously questioning his own understanding. They got it sorted in the end. Jack Cork said he preferred Rickie.
I would ride the team from our last two excursions but with Fonte in for Hooiveld. And if Ramirez's little leggies are a weary then throw I'd throw in Puncheon. I really like Davis as a sub because he can help you in different ways, can come on to thicken the central midfield or can come in as one of the attacking mifield trio, so unfortunately for him he wouldn't get a starting berth.
Obviously at 1 million, Lambert is better value than Fernando Torres. This was the question lost in the confusion. Interesting point...ignoring age difference and our great love for Rickie...would you swap Rickie for Torres?
I would trade him for the 2009 Fernando Torres. The 2013 models are no comparison, Torres is a shadow of his former self, he really needs a change in scenery, Rickie is at the apex of his career.
