Ahead of Chelsea FC’s Sunday meeting with West Brom, here’s how they may line-up
Following developments, I’ve been forced to change the Chelsea FC team from what was originally published. Check it out!
We are now two games into the 2015/16 Premier League season, and Chelsea FC have only garnered one point. This has represented the club’s worst start to a campaign since 1998 when they fell to Coventry City on opening day before drawing with Newcastle United.
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If it’s any comfort, the Blues would also draw their next fixture with Arsenal before remaining unbeaten for the next 19 league games. They would finish the season in third place, although just four points off champions Manchester United.
Having said that, Chelsea were aiming for the Champions League heading into the season and have barely showed signs of being able to qualify for next year’s edition.
The Blues disappointed during pre-season and then drew the opening game of this league campaign with Swansea City. Last Sunday against Manchester City they showed little improvement and fell 3-0.
In addition to this, there has been the Eva Carneiro debacle, John Terry being substituted by Jose Mourinho for the first time, and Victor Moses going missing.
Nevertheless, if anyone wants more reassurance, POL writer Zahir Gilani rightly pointed out that the Blues only took four points from Swansea at home, Man City away, and WBA away last season. So don’t worry, the title is still ours.
With all that in mind, let’s prognosticate Chelsea’s starting line-up for Sunday’s showdown with West Bromwich Albion.
Next: Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois is Chelsea’s number
thirteen
one and thus should regain his starting spot this Sunday.
Courtois, of course, missed the Manchester City fixture due to his dismissal against Swansea the week prior. He took out Bafetimbi Gomis in a one-on-one situation, giving away a penalty and being sent off by Michael Oliver in the process.
The Blues subsequently appealed his red card but were rejected, as expected.
Some people may think that this is unfair on Asmir Begovic, and they do have a point. The Bosnian replaced Courtois in the Swansea game and the subsequent City match. More importantly, he performed admirably. Sergio Aguero should have scored about three or four inside the first half-hour at The Etihad, but Begovic repeatedly pulled out an impressive save to keep the Blues in the game.
Mourinho may have said that the result was unfair, but this writer says that it could have easily been 5-0 or 6-0 instead.
The injustice arises when you bear in mind that Courtois was forced to miss a fixture due to his mistake, not due to an injury or another factor that he does not have control over. With Begovic performing to such a high standard, it would be apt punishment to make the Belgian sit out this Sunday.
Unfortunately, the boss is in Courtois’ corner so that is unlikely to happen. Having said that, Jose is in such bizarre form that it won’t surprise me if Begovic does in fact get the start.
Next: Full-Backs
Cesar Azpilicueta and Abdul Baba Rahman
Ok fine. This may be borne more out of hope than realism. Branislav Ivanovic has arguably been Chelsea’s worst player so far this season. He was poor throughout pre-season (and the Community Shield) and has declined since the proper football began.
Ivanovic was ripped to shreds by Jefferson Montero in Gameweek 1, and Raheem Sterling tried his best to do the same last Sunday. In what seemed like an attempt to appease the fans following the loss, the club FINALLY announced the arrival of Abdul Baba Rahman.
The highly-rated left-back began training yesterday, and if Jose Mourinho has his wits about him, he will hand him the start at The Hawthorns. Such a move would then free up the always-solid Azpilicueta to shift across into his natural right-back position.
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Dave has technically been playing out of position on the left-flank for the last couple of seasons, and even held off Filipe Luis in a contest for the spot. However, with Ivanovic rapidly fading, the veteran needs to be phased out of the team and Azpilicueta should switch over to the right.
Mourinho is a ruthless manager, and despite naming the Serbian as the club’s vice-captain, he will hopefully do the best thing for the team at this moment and clear a place on the bench for him.
Next: Centre-Backs
Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma
John Terry started and completed every single Premier League fixture last season. While a few still harboured belief that he would repeat the feat, the Englishman would have to defy life to do so.
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Two games in and life has already won.
Jose Mourinho substituted the club captain for the first time in his two spells at Chelsea on Sunday. Furthermore, it wasn’t an 80th minute change to soak up applause, it was at half-time with tactical adjustments needed.
Following the game, the boss rightly pointed out that he is the person who has probably shown the most faith in Terry, but having made such a resounding statement at The Etihad, it would be surprising to see the veteran start.
However, with controversy comes opportunity (or something) and it is Kurt Zouma’s chance to take control of the rocket and drive it to the moon. The youngster is evidently one of Mourinho’s favourites and with a lack of depth at the back, he will be needed to put in some shift this season.
This should begin on Sunday when he takes his place alongside Gary Cahill in the heart of a very uncertain Chelsea defence.
*fingers crossed*
Next: Centre-Midfield
Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas
Nemanja Matic has been largely unremarkable in the first two games. Unfortunately, at this point ‘unremarkable’ is still better than half of his teammates. The midfield machine has done little wrong, but has done little right either. My colleague Joshua Sutter said that he has been ‘let down by his teammates surrounding him’ in his player ratings and I would agree with that sentiment.
Cesc Fabregas, compared to what we expect from the player, has been terrible. His passing range is not quite there yet and nor is his vision. To be fair, he has been hampered by an order to play in a more attacking midfield/number 10 role during periods of the two league games so far, but nevertheless his performances have been subpar.
Having said that, he will likely retain his initial starting role next to Matic based on the fact that there simply is no-one really challenging him for the job. John Obi Mikel could fill in, but this would be an overwhelmingly negative move for a meeting with WBA. With regard to Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mourinho may not want two inexperienced players covering each other should he pick Zouma.
Next: Wings
Eden Hazard and Pedro
Eden Hazard, despite his indifferent performances thus far, is still the most talented and creative player in the Blues squad. Yes, he has showed little of that since his pre-season goal against Barcelona, but the Belgian still possesses the ability to change the game in a blink of an eye.
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Willian, meanwhile, has been one of Chelsea’s best players in this campaign. That may not be saying much on the face of it, but he has genuinely been quite good. He has not been afraid to receive the ball and take on defenders and has carried the brightest spark for the Blues going forward so far.
However, with Chelsea swooping for Pedro, the Spaniard may take Willian’s place on Sunday afternoon. Often new players are given some time to properly bed into the team before being handed the start, but Pedro was already training with the squad yesterday. Furthermore, being reunited with an ex-teammate in Cesc Fabregas, and an international teammate in Cesar Azpilicueta, Pedro shouldn’t find it hard to slot in.
With regard to the others, I would love to see Victor Moses start, but I know that just won’t happen. The Nigerian was left out of the matchday squad for the City game under mysterious/unexplained circumstances while his attempt at clearing up his absence was not exactly convincing.
Ramires could be in with a shout after starting last Sunday, but again it would seem a bit too negative for such a fixture.
Juan Cuadrado sucks. Don’t even think about it.
Next: Attacking Midfield And Striker
Willian and Diego Costa
Oscar was originally picked alongside Diego Costa, but Jose Mourinho said in his pre-match presser that the Brazilian is still carrying a knock and is a doubt for the game. Hence, after I shunted Willian out of the wing in order to clear space for Pedro, Willian may well get the nod up the middle instead. He has shown in the past that he is useful in such a role, and his form so far this year warrants keeping him in the starting line-up.
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This is merited too. He performed well against Swansea the week previous putting in a range of decent deliveries and finding the net with a free-kick. His celebration may have indicated some sort of dissent but nothing has exactly blown up from it since so let’s pretend nothing ever happened.
Diego Costa is Chelsea’s striker and frankly needs to step up his game. He terrifyingly sat out a chunk of pre-season with his hamstring issue, but has played the first two games of the proper campaign and importantly has shown little irritation with it.
Loic Remy has appeared to have declined from last year while Radamel Falcao still looks like the Manchester version.
Diego, we need you.
How do you think the Blues will line-up? Let us know in the comments below!
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