Two points. 1) It's great it's on FSC+, I didn't want to watch it anyways.... 2) No. He'll manage to muck it up starting by starting Torres.
He's got no choice - this is our schedule for this month: Jan 16 19:45 GMT Chelsea v Southampton Jan 20 13:30 GMT Chelsea v Arsenal Jan 23 19:45 GMT Swansea City v Chelsea Jan 27 12:00 GMT Southend/Brentford v Chelsea Jan 30 20:00 GMT Reading v Chelsea Feb 2 15:00 GMT Newcastle United v Chelsea 4 days after this is Arsenal - we don't get a proper week's break until Newcastle away! Hazard and Mata will be shattered as I don't see anyone who can step in for them - but if they are to be rested for Southampton, a possible lineup could be: Cech Azpi Terry Ivan RB Luiz Ramires Oscar Piazon Marin Torres Nah - I don't see it - Mata and/or Hazard can't be rested - we really don't have anyone who can step in for them. If Moses was still around, we might be ok - but he's in South Africa - we're gonna see some tired legs in the next month.
It will be nice to finally play that game in hand to give us a better sense of how well we can compete with City for 2nd place. While I'm not particularly high on confidence, I can't imagine anything other than 3 points from this fixture. Of course, that's what I expected against QPR. But surely we won't drop the ball like that again... (or will we, Rafa?)
at least we have two of those players, some teams don't even have one. we do look like we lack a little composure when mata isn't out there though. he's far and away the most important player to the attack this season. links everything together. hazard will only get better though. that being said, with the personnel we have, we should be able to edge out wins without them. we just need to get better at doing it.
I hate to root against our players, but I really hope Nigeria go crashing out (sorry, okocha!). The final/third-place playoff is the weekend of the 9th. Would be much better to see the Super Eagles crash out of the group (Jan. 29). Don't claim to know much about the CAF, but I can't see Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopa doing it. I just can't wait to see Mikel back in the side. So what are we talking about in here? Burkina Faso or Southampton?
So a home game against a "weak" team. My guess is a scoreless draw with JT in goal and Paulo leading the line because well Rafa is.....Rafa.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/...-Lampard-fears-Chelsea-have-lowered-standards He speaks like the manager should. Can't imagine CFC without him. Rafa must start: Ba, Oscar for Hazard and/or Mata. Lamps should rest for the Arsenal game.
Rafa's probably going to start a stronger line-up with Mata and Hazard. The last time he rotated the squad against "weaker" opposition, we lost and he got kicked in the ass by the fans and media for leaving out Mata, et al. I'm not one to give the FSW a pass, but if he does choose a starting XI without the likes of Mata and Hazard and we go on to lose, I'm only going to blame him if the substitutions do not come promptly... which knowing him, will probably happen. That said: win, damnit.
have to balance that with knowing arsenal is coming up at the weekend though too. which is why i'm afraid we'll see torres start, and mata on the bench.
Why rest players for the Arsenal game and end up losing both? I say we play our best 11 and if we're 4 nil up at 60 minutes, then take off Hazard, Mata, and another to rest them. Win one game at a time. We could still lose to Arsenal with a full and well rested squad. So,why risk dropping guaranteed points. I would go for: Czech Azzi Cahill Ivanovich Cole Ramires Lampard Hazard Mata Oscar Ba
This sounds like sense to me, I think you should always play the best team available, whats the point of 'resting' players just in-case they feel tired for the next game! You cant go through life worrying about what 'might' happen.
When you play 60 odd games a season, you absolutely dont play your full lineup every match, that's ludicrous.
Isnt it Jose Mourinios philosophy to always play his best team? It has never done his teams much harm
You don't rotate every time and you shouldn't put out the same XI every time. Those are both very extreme philosophies. You need to find a medium.
Teams will always need 'tweaking' due to loss of form or injuries etc but you should always pick the best 11 players available, if a player is 'tired' and there is a replacement who will give more for the team for that particular match then OK swap em over - but why oh why drop a player because he 'may' get tired or 'may' pick up an injury?