Though it was just a meaningless preseason friendly, Saturday saw the highest attended match in Chelsea FC history. Close to 106,000 packed into The Big House, Ann Arbor, Michigan’s most famous landmark.
Here’s the starting XI Manager Antonio Conte went with:
Loftus-Cheek
Pedro Traore Willian
Matic Oscar
Azipilicueta Terry Cahill Aina
Courtois
As it’s preseason, a lineup like this was expected. The first half was so lopsided that the second 45 minutes became even more meaningless, it was essentially “garbage time.”
However we can take away several things from this match. The main thing I noticed while I was in the press box covering the game.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/759471799067377665
We haven’t heard any transfer rumors linking Chelsea with new defender purchases though. Right now, the transfer gossip is all about potentially bringing in Romelu Lukaku and possibly shipping out Diego Costa. In other words, there aren’t going to be many more wholesale changes to this Chelsea side.
ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol was highly critical of Conte’s planned 4-2-4 formation, and you can watch that video over at this link.
Nicol’s compatriot, Gab Marcotti composed this starting XI below, and I would more or less agree with it, except I think Matic should and will be in the lineup somewhere.
Hazard Batshuyai Costa Willian
Kante Fabregas
Azpilicueta Cahill Terry Ivanovic
Courtois
That obviously means Conte would have to change the formation from 4-2-4, to make room for a third midfielder.
Expectations are high at Chelsea this season, in spite of their issues in the back line; and elsewhere. Of course, every team has issues to resolves right now. Still, the bookies give Chelsea the third best title odds, behind only the Manchester clubs.
Some prolific prognosticators are picking the Blues to actually win the title even. The two main keys to the season will likely be:
1.) Conte being able to rebuild team chemistry and make the unit a family again and 2.) Eden Hazard regaining the form he had two years ago before he fell off a cliff last season.
Here’s another ESPN FC pundit, and former Chelsea FC player actually, Craig Burley, giving his starting XI prediction
Batshuayi
Pedro/Cuadrado Hazard Willian
Kante Matic
Azpilicueta Terry Cahill Ivanovic
Courtois
Of course, there are still some injury and transfer situations to sort out. Thus all lineups right now are pretty much guesswork and speculation right now.
Where would you slot certain players in your Chelsea FC starting XI? What formation would you go with?
Feel free to post your lineup in the comments section below, as well as speak your mind on any formations that you’ve already seen online.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication.
He also consistently appears on numerous talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.