Any one got any idea who will be starting at the Bridge this season, i know of some short term injuries at the moment but what will be the bread and butter 11 this year?

This is the thread for discussion on the Chelsea Starting XI, opinions, banter, general chat etc.

Cech
Bosingwa(I think he will take his place back from ivanovic)
A cole(if he stays if not zirkov)
Terry
Alex/ivan/carvalho(really don't know who's best as 2nd cb)
Mikel(possibly this ramires I hear of)
Essien(needs to be on the field as he's class both at attacking with force and defending)
Lampard
Malouda(if a marquee signing does come like, aguero/kaka could be used sparingly)
Drogba
Anelka(with rotating kalou/sturridge)

But also take into account that chelsea really want to start using some youth players so could be a few surprises

i'll take stab at

CECH

IVANOVIC ALEX TERRY A COLE

MIKEL

LAMPARD ESSIEN

ANELKA MALOUDA

DROGBA

with bosingwa when fit challenging for right back which may at times shift ivanovic to centre back. carvalho will get some gametime at cb if he stays and at home mikel may get left out for someone more attack-minded like kalou or benayoun

would imagine that cech, terry, a cole, essien, lamps, malouda and drog start when fit every time

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 881118.stm

BBC reckon Ramires is currently being medicalled (new verb c. murf enterprises 2010).

They also reckon he is a right sided midfielder. So is he an attacky type midfielder and, if so, is that Anelka's spot he's after??????

We're assuming he'll take the DM role allowing Essien to push forward with Frank.

So....

Cech
Back 4
Ramires
Anelka(R) Essien Lampard Malouda(L)
Drogba

??

Not a bad looking line-up, some good quality back-up and a few younger players that may well get a chance to prove themselves this season.

Get in an extra centre back (Luiz?) and a reserve keeper and you'll be half way to the title

Any more inside suggestions as to who will be first choince right back? Bosingwa or Ivanovic? Looks like Bosingwa's fitness may prevent the Charity Shield from providing a good yard stick.

Fot that reason I'm avoiding both. Alex too as Bos returning could mean Ivanovic plays centrally.

I thought he said Bos would not be ready for the start of the season?

Ferriera has picked up a facial injury, SSN. I would think Ivan will start at RB, if Alex is fit, and CB, if he is not with Ferri at RB?

I don't intend having to transfer out defenders after a couple of weeks because Bosingwa has ousted them!

The joy of FPL

I wouldn't want forced transfer in that game either (but I might be more willing to risk an Ivanovic!)

He is a tad expensive, it is Alex/Bos/Ferri that are the cheapies

Cheap for a reason then. The guys pricing the games aren't muppets.

Depends if you are considering PpG, or PpM. The latter favours TFF, and the former FPL, IMHO.

Not that I have considered it for my TFF return, as adding def points and stripping out MoM's is too much effort

Agreed Murf. Too much uncertainty at the minute. If Ivanovic was to go in my side it would have to be as the one (or maybe one of two) real gamble in there.

For the record, here's the "best XI" from the Racing Post. No major suprises in a 4-3-3 formation:

Cech
Ivanovic Carvahlo Terry Cole
Essein Mikel Lampard
Anleka Drogba Malouda

Goals a-plenty again from that lot but Mikel looks the week link there to me; maybe they will miss Ballack more than they might expect?

Carvahlo to join Real Madrid so Ivanovic to move into CB and Bosingwa as RB?

Or Ivanovic stays put at RB (or Bos comes in) with Alex or a new signing (Luiz?) at CB?

Anyone else think Chelsea's new third kit looks ridiculous?

Guardian going with

Cech
Ferreira Alex Terry Cole
Mikel
Essien Lampard
Anelka Malouda
Drogba

No Ivanovic ?

Cech
Ivan Alex Terry Cole
Mikel
Essien Malouda
Anelka Kalou
Drogba

Hi,

Just wanted your opinions on whether you think Ivanovic will start regularly this year. I chose him ahead of Joe Cole in a 3-5-2 formation as I thought JC would probably edge him for points over the course of the year. Chelsea's next fixtures plus JC's ban followed by JC's returning game away at Old Trafford would suggest this would be the time to make the change (I already have Alex).

Thanks

BBC: Chelsea have taken the unusual step of naming their side to face MSK Zilina on Wednesday, just the 24 hours before they have to. The Blues will line up like this: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Zhirkov, Essien, Benayoun, Mikel, Sturridge, Malouda, Anelka - notable because it confirms captain Terry has shaken off a rib injury.

(also note no Lampard as they said earlier after yet earlier saying he should be OK. Drogba banned.)

Do you think Alex will be likely to play this weekend in starting 11?

Bosingwa played for the reserves this afternoon.

He went off early (not actually subbed as they'd already used 3).

CFC describe this as "the scheduled removal of Boswinga"
LFC mention "Bosingwa limping off injured"

hmmmm.....



Note - the Andy Gray pronunciation variation on the Bosingwa spelling is CFC's website's not mine!

Chelsea are in talks to quit their 105-year old home at Stamford Bridge and build a 60,000-seater stadium on the site of the soon-to-be-demolished Earls Court exhibition centre.

From today's Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010 ... arls-court