US Coverage on FSC at 3:00 p.m. I suspect we will see some squad rotation and personally I hope with the small chance we have for automatic CL qualification that we see from fresh faces and changes. As much as I complain about not having the right opportunity to blood these youngsters in- these next two games are those.
Which one of the youngsters are you thinking of. Don't consider Bertrand a youngster anymore. He's been seeing quite some pitch time as of late.
I disagree. As long as we still have a realistic chance of getting a CL spot, we should go for it and play our strongest team. Tottenham, Arsenal and Newcastle all have tough final games whereas we will probably be facing an already relegated Blackburn. Should also still have plenty of rest for the CL final.
I should probably list Ryan as "inexperienced" but he still only has 5 League appearances under his belt this season and I think that two more would be helpful for him. Plus why risk injuring a defense already short on options. Romeu for Mikel- again like Ryan he has played this season but a few more games would not hurt. Lukaku on somewhere, anywhere, for almost anyone and then I think it would be a nice touch to get Hutch and Chalobah some minutes with possibly a couple more youngsters getting a few minutes as subs
We'll probably see the first two you've mentioned in the next two league games, don't think Lukaka or anyone of our reserve team players will be part of our match day squad. Where has Lukaka been these last couple of months. Was he even on the bench after Di Matteo had taken over?
Arsenal have West Brom at home where they only need one point to finish above us. Spurs have Fulham at home and based on this result they may not have to worry about us for their final fixture. Newcastle have Everton away and again based on this result may not have worry about their final fixture. I just dont see the sense in risking injury or further playing some of the lads into the ground on the very slim chance that we might be able to get a win (not a draw as that does very little but a win) at Liverpool where we have a had a shit record recently. I would rather keep the team as healthy as possible going into one of the most important matches for the club.
@ Miguel- quote feature not working atm Lukaku has been with the ressies but it would not suprise me to see him get a run out. I think Robbie "gets it"- his use of Hutch vs QPR proved that- and I would be suprised to see a youngster or two get a debut over the next two fixtures.
Arsenal are actually away to a West Brom which are on good form and Arsenal have been stumbling recently. Its not that unlikely that WBA could get a win. Also highly doubt that Newcastle will be able to get a win at Everton and Tottenham's form has been dodgy lately. Again, Fulham are also on good form. Besides, Liverpool's home record has hardly been stellar. I know a win at Anfield so soon after the FA Cup will still be a tough ask but couldn't we go for this one, and if we fail here, then we rest players for Blackburn? I believe we still have a reasonable chance of sneaking 4th place if we can win both games. Not very probably, but worth going for. Still would like to see Lukaku at least as a sub though..
just let me know how you feel when we lose key players to injury and you see Lukaku in the CL Final and as for the good form of West Brom since beating us they have lost to Utd, Newcastle, Everton, and City drawn Wigan, Villa and Bolton beat Blackburn, QPR, and Liverpool not sure that is "good form"
I'm on the fence about who to play this game. I think everyone who is suspended for the CL final should play, so that's 4 people right there + Cech. Up front, Torres barely played so let him play against his old club. Then play Malouda, Romeu, Bertrand, Ferreira, and Essien.
makes sense to me I am not advoating that we send the FA Youth Cup Final team out there and at this stage I think JT, Ivan, Ram and possibly Meirieles (ugh) should play the remaining fixtures as yas points out they will not be able to play in the Final. That is a core of three and a quarter good players to build a side around. I would just prefer if we made wise decisions regarding some of the more key players who are going to feature in the Final- Cech, Ash, Bos , Mikel, Lampard, Mata, and Drogba/Torres
I guess Ross can play.....stupid ********s Sp@rs should have just won and let this headache go to bed.
Luiz appears to be fit. I wonder if he makes an appearance to get back up to playing speed. If so, maybe we see: Cech Ivan--Terry-Luiz--Bertrand Ramires--Meireles--Essien--Malouda Sturridge--Torres Ugh. Aside from Ramires, that midfield is full of heavy touches.
CechIvanovic Hutchinson Terry BertrandMikel MeirelesRamires Lampard MaloudaTorres If things aren't going bad, sub Mata for Lampard, Essien for Mikel, Lukaku for Torres. We CAN'T risk any available defender. We lose one defender to injury, and it could be over in Munich before it even starts.
I would reintroduce David Luiz around the 60 minute mark. And play Bosingwa as he will most likely be the RB for the Final. The rest sounds good, bring on Drogba to partner Torres and see if it can work out. I just hope Cahill is fit for the Final. Or we might see Cole, David Luiz, Bosingwa, Essien/Ferreira as a back line.
what is up with Mikel, pleazze tell me it is not from that Kalou celebration slide? Didn't Kalou take someone key out at practice before a big match 2-4 years ago?
Alright, f**k it. Cech, Cole, David Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Mikel, Romeu, Essien, Lampard, Mata, Kalou, Malouda, Sturridge, Drogba, and Torres to the bunker. Now!
TurnbullIvanovic Hutchinson Terry BertrandEssien----------RomeuLampardRamires---------------------MaloudaSturridgeHilarioLuizFerreiraMataKalouSturridgeLukakuTorres Leave Drogba, Bosingwa, Lukaku, Cahill, Cole at home.I'm a little worried about Essien getting injured. he seems to have glass legs, and we might need him in the final.