Having won the Champions League and announced Roberto di Matteo as their new manager, Chelsea have set about transforming the side that finished 6th in the Premier League last season. The club beat Man City and United to Hazard, arguably the most sought after player in Europe, as well as securing the less high profile signing of Marko Marin. Chelsea have further been linked with Brazilian play-maker Oscar, who has undergone a medical with the club, Porto forward Hulk and several leading right-backs. All of this indicates that an exciting new dawn could be on the horizon for Chelsea.
End of an era
Chelsea have used this transfer window to move on several big name players, thus far; Drogba, Kalou and Bosingwa all leaving with several other players, most notably Malouda, Benayoun and Essien also heavily linked with moves away from the club. This in itself signifies how Chelsea may look to change. Without Drogba Chelsea will have to adapt their playing style away from the power house performances we are used to seeing from them and accommodate Torres in their new look formation. With some of these older players leaving an influx of younger, exciting players is likely to take place.
The new look side
In this regard Chelsea will probably finally move away from the 4-3-3 that they have used so religiously since Jose Mourinho was in charge of the club. RDM did change things to an extent using a slightly different 4-4-1-1 with Mata behind the striker and Kalou and Ramires as the wide midfielders. The main emphasis so far has been on bringing in attacking midfielders which indicates that Chelsea will play in a variation of a 4-2-3-1. The three fluid attacking players, most likely, Oscar (if signed), Mata and Hazard, who would slot in behind Fernando Torres. The side could line up like this:
Of course the three in behind Torres is fluid so the positions are not fixed, we could also see Hulk play on the right of the front three if Chelsea sign him. Hulk would also provide cover for the centre-forward position if Torres is injured or at times short of form. Currently only Lukaku and Sturridge are back-up to Torres and neither of them were tried out there last season in any remotely high-profile games and thus are not adequate to cover for injuries or form issues. Lukaku is likely to move out on loan whilst Sturridge has been linked with moves away from Chelsea.
The three attacking midfielders marks a stark contrast to Chelsea’s reputation as a methodical and somewhat boring side. All three of these players have a great deal of technical ability as well as an eye for goal which could make Chelsea an incredibly exciting team to watch. These three can move fluidly behind Torres, with little defensive regard whilst Ramires and Lampard hold their positions in behind. Some people are questioning how quickly Hazard can hit the ground running but this is a player who scored 20 league goals as well as getting 16 assists from a deep position last season.
With all three of them operating relatively centrally it will be the job of the full-backs to provide overlapping runs and stretch the play. As a result of this we have seen Chelsea linked with a number of more natural right backs than Ivanovic such as Maicon and more recently Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille. Ivanovic is of course a very good right back but he is more naturally defence than what may be required in a 4-2-3-1 if Chelsea operate in this style next season.
We’d thus anticipate that Lampard and Ramires would sit in front of the back four and play a more disciplined role. Ramires spent large parts of last season as a right winger out of necessary but with the signings of more natural forward players we’ll likely see the best of him playing more centrally. Lampard played a holding role for RDM alongside Mikel very successfully in the second half of the season and with his good range of passing and tactical awareness there is no reason why he cannot continue to play this role. He started off the friendly against PSG playing in this role alongside Obi Mikel. He still remains a goal scoring threat from set-pieces and open play having scored 11 goals in 26 starts last season despite appearing in a more defensive position as well as sporadically under AVB.
Conclusion
Chelsea could, if all goes to plan, become one of the must watch sides of next season with an array of attacking talent on display. The 4-2-3-1 is likely to be the formation of choice for Chelsea having used a variant of this in their two pre-season games. The role of Lampard will be one to watch as Chelsea may want to bring in a new, more naturally defensive midfielder as both Lampard and Ramires are more inclined to get forward. If Chelsea do bring in a midfielder they’d need to shift at least two, Meireles and Essien probably. The side currently have 7 central midfielders competing for two positions. McEachran may well be loaned out, as might Romeu (which would be a shame as he was good when featured last season). The club also need to move on Benayoun who surely has no role to play next season.
Much will depend on how the new signings settle as well as how Torres adapts to the new formation. Torres’ form is not back to its best but he does look quite sharp having taken home the European Championships Golden Boot award despite only starting two games. The risk of his form not picking up might make Chelsea move for Hulk who could operate behind a forward or as the focal points for attacks. A number of younger players may as stated by loaned out. Including McEachran, De Bruyne as well as Lukaku may have better chances of first team football elsewhere.
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That’s one formation but I think it more likely we’ll try Oscar in the pivot as deep play maker next to Mikel as DM and Mata in the hole behind Torres with Ramires right and Hazard left. Mata and Hazard can swap about during play. Luckily with Oscar he can fill a number of options; so we’ll try him out all over but I feel it’s that deep play maker role he’ll eventually make his own. Of course he’ll be rotated with Lamps and Ramires there next season as Ramires gets rotated also for the right wing attack. Hazard/Mata rotated with Marin for left wing attack; Mikel rotated with Romeu as DM and Torres rotated with Sturridge and whoever may come in at CF.
exactly what i was thinking i dont really see ramiresa as dm he can be to rash in a tackle there but on the wing he is gd enough goin forward and back to a very good job there to add extra solidity to the team
You should put Marko Marin in instead of Oscar and put Oscar in for ramires
Hmmm I think Marin will be more of a squad player. Ramires was one of the best players last year, I’m sure he’ll be a starter, perhaps Oscar and Ramires deep,with Hulk (if signed) as one of the front three
Ya amit u r right about the ramires…he should be starting line up for sure…bcz he was brillint last sesion..but hulk i dont think the brazilin is good enough player he didnot prove himself in champion leauge so far and against english opositions he look bad ….so falcao will be the better option he prove himself in bigger occasions..and. one think for sure so many signing this yr.chelsea must let off few more player like malouda .meriles .banayoun or could be ession to.then only these young pplayers get chance to prov there worth…i think they were more hungrier then the old onece.its thime to change the playing style and players.one playr they should buy is right bck…..for sure.
I Prefer a combination of Ramires and Oscar rather the slow though precise Lampard
Maybe, I hope Lamps still has a role to play though, great professional and will always endeavour to put in a team performance.
Nyc formation bt I tink I’ll prefer mata on d left and hazard cmin frm d right wing wit oscar playin d central midfield role just behind d center foward (torres), mikel nd lamps or ramires nd lamps will fit for d defensive midfield role dependin on d team we are playing. Marin nd sturridge can always come as substitute. Eachran, romeu nd essien shldnt be loaned cos we still have oda domestic leagues such as FA nd carlings cup, they cn feature in such matches
You totally forgot about Mikel Obi the only in form DM in the team. Lampard will play from the bench a lot this season and I see Mikel and Ramirez standing in fromt of the defense line. Mikel has a good long pass and in their pre season match with seatle sounders his transition from defence to attack linking hazard was very fast. So he doesn’t need to push forward with the ball. Therefore he will be able to shield the defense line perfectly.
Dis is my opinion, if chelsea play a 4-2-3-1 formation, d most probable formation is cech cole david terry ivanovic mikel lampard hazard marin ramires torres. Rememba olympic will b on @ d start of next season so take note
What’re we doing in that mid-field without John Mikel Obi?
We all know that Ramirez is a very good player, but Mikel is better. We already have attacking talents in the mid-field so there’s no need for him.
I think what we should be talking about will be a holding mid-fielder
Hell of a formation!!!!!i love that
hmm,i cnt wait 2 watch ds combinations .chelsea 4life.
Essien should not be cast out. He was merely slowed down by injury. He needs more playing time to be fully back.
We have just signed thorgan why?,look we have more talent in our academy i respect hulk,moses but thats a waste of money considering what we have e.g piazon,kakuta,sturridge,chalobah,feruz,etc…the more players u have the harder it is to manage coz reality is you cant play them all
essien, malouda, mereles, should be sold so dat our young player should see chance to play.
Yaaa u r right…..one more banayoun he should be sold to..we have wonderfull talent like hazard marin debryun piazion stauridge mac or may be oscor to….so i think they r more energatic referesh and hungrear to prove himself….so give them chance and make space to sold those slow legs they done there job to win champions leauge for us and
we respect that..but time to change the game style and pace which we r lacking in past few yr….time to blast with those young talentsss i hope di.matio not think about himself and play with old legs….i hope think about the chelsea and its future other wise talent like borini will depart and jone someother clubes.
hey fellow chelseafc team fans…mikel is no way near essien when it comes to da central defensive midfield role…jux pray RDM gives him da play time to prove himself again cos i know he is fully fit now…essien will add sense of urgency to our build up than our good bt slow mikel…essien also intercepts attacks on da defense dan mikel….and on the other hand,initiates n support attack as well. My best formation 4-2-3-1 ………..ivanovic,cahill,terry,cole,essien,lampard,ramires,harzard,mata,torres….and den marin comes in do add sum fresh power to da game….mereiles n mikel also come in as midfield enforcers when need arises……another formation we can also revolve from our new dawn is a silky 4-1-2-1-2…………..ivanovic,cahill,terry,cole….wid essien sittin deep in middle infront of da back four…lampard n ramires infront of essien….harzard as da 1 in front of da midfield two….torres n oscar if signed….or torres n our young n growin lukaku
That team would score a lot, but how well would they defend? Neither of those holders are natural defenders plus David Luiz is hardly a rock at the back. (And JT has had plenty of injury woes in recent years.) That squad would be really exciting, but I think they’ll be with Arsenal, Spurs, and Newcastle fighting it out for 4th, rather than fighting with the Manchester sides for the title.
Now, if they made a couple canny moves for solid defensive midfielders, they’d be very tough. But right now they have lots of box to box types but no good holders besides Romeu, whose status w/ the club is up in the air. Cheik Tiote would be huge for them, Scott Parker would be a great fit as well. Fellaini is another one they should look at. Those are the kind of players you need to play that kind of shape with the other 9 guys in the squad. Esp. when you have a CB who is going to make mistakes and get caught out of position, like Luiz.
Cech
Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole
Tiote (~12 m.), Fellaini (~14 m.)
Mata, Oscar, Hazard
Torres
Other great thing with this set: If you want, you can drop Oscar into midfield as a Modric-style playmaker, let Mata and Hazard move onto the wings and play 4-3-3. Better width + Torres may get better service – he needs balls played from deep that he can run onto to be at his best. I don’t know that he’d get that kind of service in a 4-2-3-1: The striker in that sort of formation needs to be much more about technique and comfortable working in small spaces. I don’t think that’s Torres.
But Mikel and Lamps held in a similar formation under RDM in the UCL most notably. Also JT and Luiz worked very well together when AVB departed as Luiz got to sit deeper, and to be fair deserved a lot of credit for his role in the 2nd half of the season, in the UCL he was unbelievable, especially the final. The main issue is a lack of width and also a lack of cover for the fullbacks as none of the AMCS are going to track back which could leave the side grossly exposed- i guess RDM will hope CFC could occupy teams with their attacking prowess and not need to worry about anything else.
I’d agree with that. The suggested formation in comment above would leave out Mikel, Ramires and Lampard; to leave out one of the three would be problematic, all of the three would be complete suicide. And Luiz is a fantastic defender, struggled a lot at first but now is top-class, as he was before his move.
I will like RDM to play 4-2-3-1, Cech – Ivanovic Luiz Terry Cole – Mikel Ramires – Mata Oscar Hazard – Torres.
that is the formation for next season but oscar and mata will be with the squard around september so who will be filling in for them
Hey no mid field without mikel so mind wot u ar sayin
I think chelsea will play haq lot off games in coming sesion…so the
y have to play young guns…
and dimattio must plays this formation
chech..
ivanoc(new right back)…david(cahill)….terry….cole(bertyarnd)
Lampard(mikel)(essian)
Ramires(stauridge)..oscar(marin)..mata(debryun)..hazard(schuller)..
Torres(lukaku)(piazion)
Thays how they can play all off them .
First and formost,cfc didnt av another defensive midfielder eccept mikel obi. So Chelsea can not play without holding midfield. I will prefer 4.2.3.1 to 4.3.3. Starting lineup cech, ivanovic, luiz, terry, cole: mikel, oscar: ramires, hazard, mata: torres. Sub: marin, merrieles, lampard, de bruyne betrand, cahill, lukaku, turnbull, piazon and mceachran. That’s my own view for chelsea lineup.
Well, if chelsea can do according to this formation, 4 2 3 1 then i beleive that they wil remain unbeatable through out the season.
No chelsea without mikel…cheh,david,ivanovic,terry,mikel,hazad,ramires,maco,tores,oscar,hulk if we end up buying…lampard will also add that extra expirience to the midfield.
We ave alot of attacking midfielder bt non of dem good defencively.we kno mikel 4 stayin back always even at d centra defenc and he prove dat against big team like barca.so we nid mikel 2 help our defence dan anyone
What are you smoking…With Oscar you have a goal scoring mid-field player and as we have seen Ramires will give you 10 goals out of MF. Lamoard is expandable as a result. It’s Meireles, Oscar, Ramirez.
Cech
Luiz, Terry, Cole
Ramires, Mikel
Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Marin
Torres
I genuinely believe that Chelsea will challenge for the title next season. That attacking line-up is truly staggering. The front three can be so fluid as well, what’s the bet the LW and RW switch so regularly that we will lose count!
I also think Lampard may actually flourish in the CM/DM role as with age he has obviously tired and lost pace, so being more disciplined could be brilliant for him, as we saw with Stevie G at the Euros. My one worry would be cover out wide. What RDM did so well was use his wingers to defend as well as attack in the CL; with that line-up; Chelsea could end up exposed out wide as they were under Boas.
However, with RDM I don’t think being exposed is a serious worry, plus I have complete faith in him as a man manager – I think he will bring the absolute best out of the new players and will make them all gel together as they they were born and bred at Stamford Bridge.