Team for Chelsea 2nd leg

[Craig_H]

Problem with 442 is that the 3 Chelsea players in Central Midfield will dominate us. Its a tough call but i think we will have to start with 4231 and save Crouchy for later in 2nd half

Why do you think they'd dominate us? We could get the ball wide and use the extra space left by their narrow formation.

Torres will get isolated if he plays up on his own.

I think it's no coincidence that Torres has (unless i'm mistaken) failed to score against Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea when he's played in the 4231 formation...

[-V-]

I think they would dominate us because they would have more players in the centre of the park LOL. 3 vs 2. You dont keep possession in wide areas for very long.

IF we play Gerrard in the middle with Mascher then Gerrard might bomb forward and Leave Mascher even more isolated.

IF we play Gerrard left then he could struggle to have influence. Been thinking about this for a few days now and its a tough call. Its true that Torres and Crouch together are more of a threat but it might be better to play it tight at the start to stop Chelsea dominating from the beginning like they did yesterday

[Craig_H]

As i say, against top defenders, Torres struggles without a strike partner. Both CBs double up on him if needed and he's hustled out of it.

Furthermore, i'd rather we went and scored in the 1st half than tried to keep it 0-0 and hope to pinch one in the last 20 mins...

[-V-]

I agree we would love an early goal. But can we afford to play an open game with 442 and risk being dominated in midfield?

No doubt Crouch is an added threat going forward but i think it will leave us vulnerable. We did well last week against them with the 4231 and that was without having to worry about Essien.

Essien is on hot form at the moment and we need to control him. If Chelsea play Mikel, Essien and Ballack then we will need 3 central players or else we will be in trouble. I think we can play 4231 and get a goal in the first half just like we did last week

[Craig_H]

I hope so, but at home is a different story. Babel, Kuyt and Gerrard really push on at home, at SB it'll be different, especially with Kuyt.

I hope i'm wrong, but Torres is our biggest goal threat and playing him on his own will nullify that. I fear Terry and Carvalho will outnumber him, out muscle him and generally have him in their pockets.

For the record, i dont think they'll play Mikel, Essien and Ballack. Lampard will play with Ballack and Essien will operate in the holding role, which will minimize his attacking threat. Hopefully Ballack and Lampard will trip over each other too

[Craig_H]

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

[Marky]

Is Lampard definetely playing?

[-V-]

Yeah that seems straight-forward enough but that means that Essien will then occupy Gerrard if he plays Central midfield. Which leaves Ballack and Lampard vs Mascherano

Gerrard wont be able to influence the game well enough through the middle with Essien man-marking him and it will be 2 vs 1 behind him

So do you then play Gerrard left-mid instead like we did against Arsenal? Even if you do it wont be the same because Arsenal play 2 in the centre and not 3 like Chelsea

Thats Rafa's decision to make, im sure he's already made the decision too. Its a gamble if he goes 442 but i'll support it either way. The tie is 50/50. Chelsea look favourites from the outset but i still believe that we will knock them out

[Craig_H]

Yeah that seems straight-forward enough but that means that Essien will then occupy Gerrard if he plays Central midfield. Which leaves Ballack and Lampard vs Mascherano

Gerrard wont be able to influence the game well enough through the middle with Essien man-marking him and it will be 2 vs 1 behind him

So do you then play Gerrard left-mid instead like we did against Arsenal? Even if you do it wont be the same because Arsenal play 2 in the centre and not 3 like Chelsea

Thats Rafa's decision to make, im sure he's already made the decision too. Its a gamble if he goes 442 but i'll support it either way. The tie is 50/50. Chelsea look favourites from the outset but i still believe that we will knock them out

I dont think Essien would man mark SG, nor would i expect him to be 'on gerrard' for most of the game. Essien's job will be to act as a protective force for when Gerrard (or anyone else) is attacking the back four. I dont think Essien will do much work in the centre of midfield, he'll be there to break up stuff that happens beyond the midfield, as it approaches Chelsea's box. So i dont think it'd be Ballack and Lampard against Mascherano. Essien would also be required to do a job in front of the fullbacks, because their formation doesnt include wide midfielders, and i wouldnt expect Joe Cole or Malouda to track back much.

I just think 4231 nullifies out biggest attacking threat and makes it easy for Carvalho and Terry. 2 strikers occupy 2 defenders constantly and this opens up space for Gerrard to bomb on into and exploit - this is where they'd use Essien most.

Both Torres and Crouch will need a partner, in order to flourish in this game. Torres, because it means he doesnt have 2 CBs on him and he's then got an opportunity to get one-on-one with either Terry or Carvalho and skin him, without the worry of the other one emerging onto the scene. Crouch, because he needs a team mate near him, so that the second balls he produces are actually utilised.

In addition, i think Babel and Kuyt will be crucial, because as i said, without any wide midfielders in Chelsea's system, the wide areas will be there to exploit and we will have to make the most of that, because central areas will be congested.

[Craig_H]

Is Lampard definetely playing?

It's not been confirmed officially either way. But he'll play

[-V-]

Lampard is back in training and i seriously doubt he will miss the biggest game of his career. He thinks he is 90 minutes away from the Champions league final so he will play. That is if Avram Grant picks him. Yesterdays 3some did very well

Part of me does hope that Rafa goes for it with 442 and takes the game to Chelsea. We'll see what happens. Either way heres hoping our players play out of their skin and do the business

[Fiddy]

Biggest question for me is RB - Finnan didn't exactly cover himself in glory against the Brummies did he?!

[Craig_H]

Nobody gave a **** in that game though. I'd rather have Finnan and Arbeloa against chelsea, than JAR.

[wiw]

See what you're saying Syd, but I'm not sure 4-4-2 suits Kuyt or Babel with neither being very effective in deep positions, or they're more effective higher up at least. With Gerrard in Crouch's place we have more protection in midfield, with Crouch there its pretty much a front four, which would leave gaps unless we really try and squeaze them in which would be risky with Drogba and the pace they have, especially at their place.

I don't know...either way it will be tight I suppose. Who knows

[fowlen]

I'd bring Babel on with 20 mins to go.

Agreed.
Start with Benayoun and bring on babel for last 30 odd mins!