Hands down the best writeup for a match thread I've read on any forum. If you do this for every match it's a credit.
Oscar and Hazard picked up minor knocks during the internationals. Hazard seems fine now but Oscar probably won't feature. It's hard to predict what Mourinho will do but I'm going to guess he'll send out new signings Willian and Eto'o to see what they can do, and I think Mata will be back in for Oscar.
----------- Cech -----------
Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole
---- Ramires --- Lampard ----
Willian ---- Mata ---- Hazard
----------- Eto'o -----------
He might start Torres and De Bruyne for Eto'o and Willian if he intends to use them as subs this early, with Torres being quite unlikely since he doesn't seem to rate him at all. Lampard shouldn't really start but he probably will, I'd go with Van Ginkel myself. Cole may also be rested because of internationals for Bertrand. We have a CL tie three days after this so it's anyone's guess how players are feeling and how much he decides to rotate.
As far as gameplay goes, Mourinho has us working pretty much exactly like we were the last time (only not as physically dominant in midfield). We'll come out of the traps fast, press you hard and try to score early. Then kill the game. If you concede early I think it'll be very tough for you, because we'll just slow everything down and sucker punch you with counters for the rest of the game. Away from home at a tough ground I can only see him going for the quick and efficient over the exciting.
