Team for Chelsea 2nd leg

[Vermilion]

All our great recent results have come playing 4231, I don't see much case for going to 442.

Agree with that, at least start that way & see how the game go's.

[homer1]

I would like to see Crouch up top to give them something else to think about as they have struggled to cope with him in the past, thing is though Rafa tends to go with Pennant on the wing to provide crosses when Crouch plays but despite an excellent performance on Saturday, you couldn't drop Kuyt for Wednesday based on 1) recent form & 2) his work rate which will be badly needed

[hamshanks]

-------------------------Reina----------------------------
Carra---------Hyypia------------Skrtel------------Riise
Pennant-------------Masch---------Alonso-------------Babel
--------------------------Gerrard------------------------
------------------------------Torres------------------

Yeah, I know I've left Kuyt out but I don't think he's very good.
Crouch and Nemeth on the bench

[SB]

Pepe
Carra Skrtel Hyppia Arbeloa
Xabi Masch
Pennant Gerrard Kuyt
Torres

Subs: Charles,Crouch,Babel,Benayoun,Finnan,Lucas and Insua.

I would not have that jogger Riise near the squad.

Wouldn't mind seeing that side run out and as mentioned by someone else, Babel to come on late on to run them ragged.

Pennant's recent form is hard to ignore IMO

[Skillz]

In fact, i'll do a Mourinho and name their team for you

Cech, Ferreira, A.Cole, Terry, Carvalho, J.Cole, Kalou, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Drogba

In a minor shock, I actually agree with that. However I disagree with your selection for us.

IMO Rafa will want to start the game with his usual 4-2-3-1 (although I think Sami will play and Carra RB and Arbeloa LB) and try to start the game with a lot of intensity. He will want us to be able to quell their attack and be able to attack ourselves in the right moments.

If we haven't got the goal by half time, he will make changes either at half time or by 60 minutes and that will involve Crouch and pennant probably.

I am really looking forward to seeing how Rafa plays this because every other time we have gone to SB under Rafa scoring has not been imperative.

EDIT: I think Rafa might play Riise on the left of the 3, give him a chance to redeem himself, then bring on Babel after 50-60 minutes to run at them, where he has proven more effective. Riise should be up for it and it gives him a chance to score.

[Craig_H]

Well i hope i'm wrong, but if we go 4231, watch torres yet again be taken out of the game by both CBs on him all the way through.

[El Jefecito]

Well i hope i'm wrong, but if we go 4231, watch torres yet again be taken out of the game by both CBs on him all the way through.

It'll put the onus on the 3 to get him some service for a change. Formations aside we need SG to turn up. His performance more than any formation will go a large way to deciding the outcome

[Craig_H]

It'll put the onus on the 3 to get him some service for a change. Formations aside we need SG to turn up. His performance more than any formation will go a large way to deciding the outcome

I agree with you, SG has to influence the game. Crucially for me, he has to get with Torres and not leave Nando isolated. That's what's normally happened against the other big 4 and Nando's usually ineffective against them, for this reason.

[tomasjj]

I am tempted to say that Babel should start to make the chavs occupied as well.
I cannot see Rafa starting Crouch.

[Skillz]

I agree with you, SG has to influence the game. Crucially for me, he has to get with Torres and not leave Nando isolated. That's what's normally happened against the other big 4 and Nando's usually ineffective against them, for this reason.

I think Rafa will be the biggest influence in this match if we are succesfull. This is a new scenario for Rafa IMO. He has to score.

We will

[Craig_H]

I think Rafa will be the biggest influence in this match if we are succesfull. This is a new scenario for Rafa IMO. He has to score.

We will

Rafa can only do so much though, he can get the tactics right as he did for the 1st leg, but the lads have to put the ball into the net. We should've scored 3 in the 1st leg.

[rage]

the same formation of 4231 for me to start with. Of course its up for debate who our full backs are out of carra, arbeloa, finnan and riise (not one of them a strong enough full back imo thus why we have to strengthen there but thats another discussion)

Most significant for me is for Gerrard to:

a - not go missing.
b - to not drop too deep thus leaving torres isolated.

A combination of both the above took place against Man Utd in the league and arguably for parts of the last game against Chelsea when they seemed to have the flow of the game.

The only other change I'd consider is starting with yossi and having babel come on with 30 mins to go

[Skillz]

Rafa can only do so much though, he can get the tactics right as he did for the 1st leg, but the lads have to put the ball into the net. We should've scored 3 in the 1st leg.

You are right but we didn't. Now we HAVE to score away.

This represents a shift in Rafa's mindset, IMO. Every other time he has played here a 0-0 was a good result and he got them in the CL. He had the better of Jose every year in the CL so these results were excellent.

This week Rafa goes to the bridge hunting a goal

[homer1]

I am tempted to say that Babel should start to make the chavs occupied as well.
I cannot see Rafa starting Crouch.

Problem is Babel didn't keep them occupied in the first half last week and that was at Anfield. I would seriously consider starting Yossi on the left as he would retain possession better & Babel could cause big problems against tiring defenders in the last 20 minutes

[Kenneth]

Problem is Babel didn't keep them occupied in the first half last week and that was at Anfield. I would seriously consider starting Yossi on the left as he would retain possession better & Babel could cause big problems against tiring defenders in the last 20 minutes

That's not certain, based on recent performances.