In the latest in our series of pre-season articles for members, analysing the 2014/15 season from each club’s perspective, we turn attentions to league champions Chelsea.
We assess the Blues squad, focusing on influence, creativity and goal threat to offer a view on how Jose Mourinho’s prime assets stacked up.
Deported
I want to bet in 10 minutes I want an answer
Just googled all the German forwards and apparently they're all wingers. Which one is going to start up front?
how is thw team looking? You reckon they will beat usa?
I'm talking about the u21s. They probably will beat USA though.
Right. I'm in - thanks to all. Who are the HOT defenders, please?
I don't even know half of the England team 😀
Hehehe - yes you do, really! 😉
Go by the funny names. Can't go much wrong with that strategy.
Ha! 😀
Rugani Stones Knoche Ginter Kalas
I see. Stones it is, then - plus a Serb!
Filipovic looks pretty good prospect to me.
Petkovic has been captain when fit.
Yeah, but Filipovic is fecking cheap.
Petkovic is only 3.5 so not exactly pricey.
That can be a surprisingly big difference in the end though. But yeah, I'm just giving the name of the cheapest defender in the team.
Garbutt should also start.
- and a Dane!!!
Italy is pretty solid as well 😉
I have gone orfff the bloody Italians!
Remmer sounds like he's up to something.
Vestergaard. Likes the odd goal/assist.
Great!
A word of caution: that odd goal and assist can be for the opponent. 😉
Group Stage + Knockouts Clean Sheets:
England 12 Games 8 CS
Germany 10 Games 7 CS
Denmark 12 Games 6 CS
Portugal 10 Games 5 CS
Italy 10 Games 4 CS
Serbia 10 Games 3 CS
Sweden 10 Games 2 CS
So, it's a triple up on England defence then. Who would have thought?
Germany kept more clean sheets per game.
You are a star! 😀
West Ham notes Doos?
Soon! Sorry ...
No problem at all, won't be working on it till tomorrow, just wanted to jog your memory. 🙂
Okay, but in their pre-tour friendlies they conceded 5 goals in 2 matches, 3 against England.
against San Marino and Moldova U21 it's easy
Andre Ayew signs for Swansea.
I'm going to play this U21 game just to remind myself how it feels to be a casual 😎
Portugal have a forward called Mane! That's one spot sorted then. 😉
Get him now!
Not nailed on.
In my eyes, looking at who kept the most clean sheets in the qualifiers, a back line of this seems best -
England - Germany - Denmark - Portugal - one from the first match day lot (Serbia/Czech)
Which are the best defenders to have from those teams? Currently have: Garbutt, Knoche, Vestergaard + Cancelo.
Who would be the best goal keeper to have?
I'm on Garbutt, Ginter, Vestergaard, Guerreiro and Petkovic
Who are the other three from?
Ginter is German, Guerreiro is the Portguguese left back and Petkovic has been the Serbia captain when fit.
Thank you.
They were the cheapest nailed on cover I could find. 🙂 Lots of googling involved and not actual knowledge.
Let's hope your right then 😉
Copying eh? Loser. 😛
Haha! Well yours fits my criteria 😉
I had it well before you outlined your criteria! Don't go taking credit 😉
I won't, but I'll take credit for the criteria 😉
If you have one from the first match day lot, then you can have Germany, Denmark + Serbia/Czech and then you can sub in the other 2 best defences if any of the first lot don't keep a clean sheet.
This should our best XI:
Bardi
Zappacosta Rugani Bianchetti Biraghi
Sturaro Crisetig
Battocchio Berardi Trotta
Belotti
Thanks. I have Crisetig sitting on my bench. Couldn't find much better for 6m.
My bench is a disaster...
Mine's ok but it took a lot of tweaking.
Viviani over Trotta surely - Diamond midfield.
Cataldi should find some space
Indeed. Both far more likely to play than Marcello Trotta.
4.0 defender that scored 7 goals last season, from left midfield.
If only FPL offered this kind of thing when it re-opens....
Cheap midfielders are a complete mess.
Who is the Czech Republic keeper?
Not saying after your last manoeuvre 😉
I'll probably have Cancelo though, isn't he cheaper? Like his name too lol.
in portuguese means i cancel
*reads article*
*makes room for Ivan GW1*
Hazard and Ivan are going to cost us a very large chunk of our budget eh?
this!
Is it just me or is the u21 fantasy website not working?
Whoo..hoo...I take it the U21 game is up and running....brill...
In other news....Another training match under my belt and the old ankle felt a lot better...I'm on my way back !!!
Great feeling! step by step, it'll be stronger than new.
I hope so...I enjoyed tonight.
I am not sure if I will give the u21 game a go . Good man keep it up
Will Steve McClaren be adopting the Geordie accent for his interviews?
Why-aye man! Ha'way the toon army!
Wy aye, pet, I s'pect he will
Yesh.
I thought that was the Dutch one 😆
people are already betting on it
Odds on him donning an all-white T-shirt in the dugout?
odds on him adopting the Geordie accent
The U21 website is abysmal. 🙁
The UEFA website usually is.
All I have is a blank screen..
What's wrong with it . I am on the fence on whether I want to do the u21 game
Penalty Takers:
Italy- Belotti
England- Kane/Berahino
Denmark- Hojbjerg
Portugal- Esgaio
Germany- Hofmann
Unsure of the other 3 but I assume Kadlec will take them for the Czech Republic and Guidetti for Sweden. Serbia's only penalty in qualifying was scored by a guy who isn't in the squad.
I thought the striker takes penalty for Portugal
Just looked again. S Oliviera took a penalty ahead of Esgaio in one of the play off matches.
hmm...only the matches will tell then..
Berahino is probably the main penalty taker as well. He took one ahead of Kane in the play off match against Croatia.
Berahino takes for WBA as well..he must be the first choice taker
Before the U-21 fantasy game opened...no one had a clue about any teams or players (well most of them)...just 4-5hrs after opening..due to the information shared here..it seems like we know how the team plays and are an expert!
Love this thing about FFS
I didn't have a clue about Czech Republic's....
Still don't.
they are one team I guess no one has clue about...as it is they are their to fill the bench I guess 😉
I bought Kalas because I know his name.
Indeed. I'm familiar with Krejci and Kadlec too, but that's it I think.
Fuchs ayew
...am sure am late to the party
yes please upgrade to Google Chrome
Ask Jeeves
Which england forward are you guys getting for u-21?
Hurrikane.
Kane
Berahino
More and more signs the Cech is coming to Arsenal . The PSG owners saying they have pulled out because it's almost a done deal to happen
Amazing signing for arsenal if it happens , would still be amazed if Chelsea let it though
Will Wenger pay £10m+? That's what Chelsea will want I think.
Apart from that, Chelsea view Cech as a longstanding servant to the club who deserves to decide for himself where he wants to go. No-one would prefer it to be Arsenal but I don't think Chelsea would stand in his way if that's the move he wants.
Surely he would . £10m for what , 4/5 years service should be a no brainier considering the amounts paid for players these days
£ per point gained ratio would be very high .
I agree but Cech is 33... Not old for a GK of course. And would improve Arsenal no end, not because there's anything wrong with Ospina as a GK but because Cech would organise the defence in front of him better - that's the benefit of experience. Cech is very vocal when he needs to be and he has the standing to ensure he's listened to.
I have to say I'd far prefer he went to PSG. 😕
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/09/jose-mourinho-petr-cech-arsenal-chelsea?CMP=share_btn_tw
I posted this in an earlier article. Don't underestimate Jose trying to put in his .02 despite what has been said about allowing Cech to "pick his new club".
Does anybody have a link to the U21 site please ?...I think I'm on the right one but all I get is a blank screen...
Lovely...thanks...
Still happens to me too, when I click the link from google search.
What Moin has given should work. 😉
That's what happened to me...searched...Uefa U21 fantasy > listed the website > blank screen..
They'd better sort that out or their bee about 200 of us playing, maximum..
169 playing at the moment. 😆
just opened 24 hours ago
Sheesh. You can usually start a team by simply going for % picked by due to the fact they are usually the most nailed on players of the fancied picks available...and the work on it...
169 isn't really enough to even do that.
Hoffman German striker of choice? Is he nailed on?
Also, who will take penalties, kane or berahino?
Berahino took them before, but that was before kane, you know, became the hurrikane
In the fan league there are only 5 players in the Czech Republic Fan League...if things turn out like that...might change my team too them only 😆
Manchester United want Karim Benzema to be a part of the deal that takes David de Gea to Real Madrid, according to the Independent.
😆
The Independent will always walk alone...
Guzan in initial Gold Cup squad, Cameron not called up
http://www.espnfc.com/story/2486059/united-states-announces-preliminary-35-man-gold-cup-squad
Anyone got a set-piece draft for the U21s?
Don't know anything about this U21 game, but if Viktor Fischer is in it he must be a good option, great player & returned well from injury at the end of the season
Is he completely fit?
(He just scored a brace against me on FM for Chelsea in 2020)
He had maybe 4 games for jong ajax & 3 games for the first team at the end of the season. He had been out for 16 months but looked sharp
Yep 100% agree with you, I've got him in, the danes are a good bet to win imo and fischer could win player of the tournament
Is Garbbutt on plenty of set pieces ?
Aye, forgot about him. He could be the best in the tournament, never mind just England.
Zico to stand for presidency of FIFA...Breaking news...
Last seen managing in India
Such a good player though
In my top 3
9 years, 10 days agoGER USA which team is playing at home?