Chelsea (h) build up

[The Birdman]

Go on then, I'll go first.

This would be my team -
Mignolet
Johnson Toure Lovren Moreno
Gerrard Can
Henderson Sterling Lallana
Balotelli.

[BobTheCharmer]

----------------Mignolet

Manquillo----Skrtel----Toure---Moreno

---------------Gerrard----Can-------

Henderson-----Lallana
----------------Coutinho-------------------
-------------Balotelli-------------------------

[captainfog]

Johnson??

Thought we played better last night without Gerrard. I'd keep it that way.

[The Birdman]

Johnson??

Thought we played better last night without Gerrard. I'd keep it that way.

I think Johnson is more equipped to handle Hazard, he's also more disciplined whereas Manquillio will bomb on and leave space for Chelsea to counter into.

I think Rodgers will go with

Mingolet
Johnson Skrtel Toure Moreno
Henderson Gerrard Allen
Sterling Balotelli Coutinho (or maybe Lallana)

[elrichio86]

Toure, Lucas and Can all deserve to start based on last night performance.

I'd go:

Mignolet

Manquillo
Skrtel
Toure
Moreno

Lucas
Henderson
Can
Gerrard

Borini
Balotelli

Using the diamond, with Gerrard further forwards than he has been recently. Pack the midfield and then bring Sterling and Coutinho on later in the game once things are getting stretched.

Its highly unlikely to happen though I'm expecting Lovren and Johnson to replace Manquillo and Toure, for Gerrard to be in his usual place in front of the back four, and for Balotelli to be up front on his own again.

[DannyMan2006]

Mignolet
Johnson
Toure
Lovren
Moreno
Gerrard
Henderson
Can
Lallana
Sterling
Balotelli

In a 433 for me. If it's 4231 I'd put Gerrard in the hole, same team. Wouldn't play the diamond for reasons I've droned on about for weeks and weeks, at least not until Danny is back.

I don't think the above will be too different to the team selected either. Skrtel will obviously play, not sure who he partners though.

[SB]

What's the point in giving fringe players an opportunity but drop them again even though they do better than the player they've replaced. Eg Can & Lucas & Toure.

[The Birdman]

What's the point in giving fringe players an opportunity but drop them again even though they do better than the player they've replaced. Eg Can & Lucas & Toure.

Just because the fringe players worked well away to Madrid doesn't make them the right players home to Chelsea.
It puts pressure on the 'regular' starters and what I think we'll see is a mixture of 80% the team Rodgers had in mind for Chelsea with maybe 2 or 3 keeping their place after Madrid.

For example Toure may play when Rodgers planned to bring back Lovren.
Can or Lucas may play with Gerrard at the expense of 1 of Hendo or Allen (Allen probably seeing as Hendo missed last night)

Not a chance that Hendo, Gerrard and Sterling don't start imo.

[captainfog]

I'm amazed people keep picking Johnson! He has zero discipline or positional sense, is incapable of stopping crosses and offers little going forward. The sooner he's ****ed off the better.

[captainfog]

We'll almost certainly play one up front and we'll almost certainly create **** all.

[Kenneth]

Yep, he's dross. I'd rather see super kolo at RB.

[The Birdman]

Also, fwiw Chelsea are very strong from set pieces with Terry, Cahill, Ivanovich, Matic, Costa
That's why I think one of Can or Lucas will play with Gerrard at the expense of Allen and it also means that Balotelli plays ahead of Borini.

Johnson falls into that same category, fresh and better in the air than Manquillo.

[ronanm]

Would be great to beat them to avenge that balls up last season. I don't want to see any pals act between BR and Jose either

[Chris]

Manquillo and Moreno have to be the full backs. Was a tough night for Manquillo last night but then the Bernabeu, Marcelo, Ronaldo and co running at you is usually a tough night! Think he handled it pretty well considering and is best equipped to smother Hazard. I'd get as many high energy players on the pitch as possible, they are playing much better football this season but there are some there like Fabregas who can disappear when the game goes mental tempo wise, he's also leaving gaps defensively though whether we can take advantage of it is another matter.

If theres ever a game where the first goal is huge it's this one!

[BigChief]

I'm amazed people keep picking Johnson! He has zero discipline or positional sense, is incapable of stopping crosses and offers little going forward. The sooner he's ****ed off the better.

Birdman says Johnson's more reliable positionally as Manquillo goes bombing forward. I didn't know what to say...I still don't. Everything's just turned purple.

Same back 5 as against Real. Loads of days to recover. I fear Gerrard will start in front of the back 5 so we'll have a much slower passing game than we saw against Real. Plus Chelsea will have more possession when Gerrard's ambitious passes don't come off.

Saying all that though, form book is out of the window. Chelsea got ridiculously lucky last time and karma dictates Gerrard will have the last laugh.