THE POSTMAN’S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: IMAGINE yourself in Guus Hiddink’s shoes and come up with your ideal Chelsea line-up for this weekend’s game against Aston Villa in the Premiership.
In your entry, provide your analysis on why you think this will be Hiddink’s ideal team, and send in pictures that illustrates your ideal formation.
WELCOME TO THE POSTMAN'S NEIGHBOURHOOD 
If i were Guus Hiddink,i would opt for a 4-3-1-2 system .
Gk:Petr Cech
DR:Jose Bosingwa
DC:John Terry
DC:Ricardo Carvalho
DL:Ashley Cole
MC:Salomon Kalou
MC:Michael Ballack
MC:Ricardo Quaresma
AMC:Frank Lampard
ST:Nicholas Anelka
ST:Didier Drogba
Analysis:
What Guus Hiddink needs now is to bring Chelsea back to their winning ways and to do that,he needs to identify the best area for each player.At defence,Cech will be the number one keeper although his performances have suffered under Scolari but hopefully Hiddink could restore his confidence and the back 4 of Terry,Carvalho,Bosingwa and Cole is the probably the best we could find in the Chelsea defence.In the midfield area,Chelsea have got lots of lots of experience player but i think that Chelsea clearly need to use Quaresma pace down the flank to bring in the much needed assists while Ballack can try to split up defence with his passes in the centre midfield and Salomon Kalou brilliant form is definitely needed at the field as he can inject freshness into the team and could also score some crucial goals.In the attack,Chelsea can use Lampard to support Anelka and Drogba which could decide the fate of Chelsea at the end of the season.Although this formation is not foolproof,it could at least guarantee Chelsea of a Champs League place but to win the title,they need Roman Cash!
Norman Ng,14,Liverpool fan
Comment by norman — February 17, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
Petr Cech
Bosingwa terry carvalho Cole
Kalou Ballack Lampard Quaresma
Anelka
Drogba
Comment by AhJ MAN UTD — February 17, 2009 @ 9:59 pm
Hiddink is in a hurry to get the best of what he has…and i would suggest deploying a 4 – 4 – 2. I think this suits the English game best.
Peter Cech has to be in goal and gain confidence that made him the once “best goalkeeper in Europe”
Flat 4 at the back with Ashley Cole and Bosingwa filling the left and right full-back positions respectively. Captain Terry and Alex in the middle.
Just in front of them, Mikel can sit comfortably and has almost made the “Makelele” role his. In my opinion, he has been quite consistent and an ideal replacement thus far for Essien.
On the left, Malouda and Kalou can operate on the wings. Whilst Kalou can play on the right, Belleti can also deputise as we need some creativity on the wings. Quaresma can also play on both wings as well.
I think it has been concluded that it would be difficult to play Deco, Lampard and Ballack in the same midfield. My vote would go 1 player in the middle. Lampard’s tireless running and pin-point passing earns my vote…and he can pop up the goals as well in this free role.
Which leaves us of a 2 man attack up-front. Ideally, Anelka and Drogba, as they have shown against Watford – can play together upfront.
Cech
Bosingwa / Terry / Alex / Cole
Mikel
Quaresma / Kalou
Lampard
Anelka / Drogba
Comment by Jon Wan — February 18, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Gus Hiddink’s job is easy. He simply have to field the following players in a 4-1-3-2 formation.
Goalkeeper: Peter Cech
Natural choice in an area where Chelsea is weak in cover.
Defenders: Terry, Carvalho, Bosingwa, Cole
The back four picks themselves, given the lack of quality cover.
Defensive Midfielder: Belleti
Surprise choice, but Belleti is far more composed than Mikel, and is also more versatile.
Midfielder: Kalou, Lampard, Deco
Kalou has the pace and skills to create problems for full backs, while Deco can offer experience and accurate crosses on the other flanks. Kalou and Deco to be given instructions to swap flanks. Lampard, with his huge range of passing and deadly long range shots, to dictate the game in the middle of the park.
Attackers: Drogba and Anelka
These 2 players proved that they can be deadly playing together, as evidenced in the game against Watford. Drogba finally looked menacing after the departure of Scolari, and Anelka is no longer sulking. Put together both of them, they are perhaps one of the most dangerous striking partnership in the world.
Chelsea should have little problems dealing with a tired Villa side.
Adrian Lim, 29, Civil Servant
Norwich City Fan
Comment by Adrian Lim — February 18, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
The Report Card
Name:Chelsea
Manager:Guus Hiddink
Attack:A+
Defence:B
Overall Display:A
Weakness:Great defenders such as John Terry and Alex aren’t performing well.They can’t cope with the style of play Scolari brought.When they go up they never come back down.
Suggestion:Play a 4-1-3-2
Reason:The Chelsea defenders will have to follow the positioning of the man infront of them.Belleti is the ideal candidate.He knows where he is going and always plays to his position.
Team:
Cech:He was once the best goalkeeper in the world
Bosingwa:His name says he is the boss.Trust me.You wouldn’t want to leave the boss out!
Terry:Perhaps the best defender in Europe
Alex:He can defend well.Is tall and a dead ball specialist
Cole:He is currently the only candidate
Belleti:He has alot of experience and he knows what he is doing.
Kalou:How many times has he come to the rescue?
Lampard:He’s the man who glues Chelsea together.Chelsea could be relegated without him.
Deco:Mr Spectacular can be anywhere to score a goal.
Drogba:He has alot of experience and with Anelka he would form a great partnership
Anelka:Would you leave the top scorer of the league out of your team?
With this line up I see Chelsea back in the title race and could possibly win it.
Azhar,10,United fan
Comment by Azhar — February 18, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
Name of the club:Chelsea
Manager:Guus Hiddink
Attack:A
Defence:A-
Overall Display:A
Form:4-3-1-2
Team:
GK:Cech
Right D:Bosingwa
Centre D:Terry
Centre D:Alex
Left D:Belletti
Centre M:Deco
Centre M:Lampard
Centre M:Quaresma
Attacking M:Kalou
Forward:Anelka
Forward:Drogba
Cech is the only best goalkeeper left in in Chelsea,he will not make any mistake again.Defenders will help not to conceded any goals against Aston Villa.Lampard will shine in attack with his other 2 midfielders.Quaresma will be the star man for the match,he has went throught a match and know how they play,don’t surpise to see him scoring.
Kalou,attacking midfielder.He will help Anelka & Drogba to score goals.Anelka has scored 14 goals,he is still hungry with goals,is finding way to score.Drogba,after his long injury,suspended.Can he score giving the new manager a good face.Watch them on Saturday.
Tan Song Jing,14,student,Liverpool Fan
Comment by Tan Song Jing — February 18, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
If I am Hiddink, I will be deploying 4-4-1-1 formation.
Gk:P.Cech
FBL:A.Cole
FBR:J.Bosingwa
DC :J.Terry
DC: Alex
AML:J.Cole
AMR:M.Essien
DM:F.Lampard
AM:Deco
S/CF:D.Drogba
S/CF:N.Anelka
My Analysis:
A.Cole & J.Bosingwa can play as left and right full-back positions.While J.Terry and Alex can contol the centre of the defence.In the middle of the midfield will be F.Lampard playing the role of holding midfielder (Defensive midfielder) while Deco will be given the task of playmaker whose task is to provide the supply of ball to the main two striker namely : N.Anelka & D.Drogba
Both side of the flank will be filled up by J.cole on the left & M.Essien on the right. Both midfielders can switch flanks when required. This strategy is to confused their opponent : Aston Villa.
D.Drogba will be playing the role of Fox-in the hole whlie co-striker: N.Anelka will be upfront to hassle the Aston Villa defence.
The goalkeeper will be P.Cech, whose current in form keeper in the Chelsea squad.
Comment by Goh Hong Guan, 30, Technician, Liverpool — February 18, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
KPIs for the Defence:
– reduce the defensive errors which leak goals to zero
– hard tacklers like Alex and JT ro have 100% communication with Cech
– wing backs to reduce urge to attack by 50%
KPIs for midfield
– have three central midfielders, two holding (Deco & Mikel) and one scheming (Lampard)
– Belleti to come in when system changes to 4-4-2
– let Lampard forage upwards with confidence of suppurt behind
KPIs for attackers
– improve tha average to 2.0
– Drogba to lead line with Anelka support, interchange positions every minute
– Quaresma to cross from the flanks or cut in from sideline in every attack
Guus’s Note; To use the same team formation for at least 3 games.
System 4-3-3
Mr Elvin Woo P F
55 Civil Servant
Comment by Mr Elvin Woo P F — February 18, 2009 @ 9:23 pm
i’ll use a 4-5-1 formation
obviously, cech would be the goalie
right back is bosingwa
left back is ashley cole
center back will be ivanovic and terry
right wing is quaresma
left wing is joe cole
defensive midfield is mikel
centre midfield will be ballack and lampard
forward is drogba
i’ll appoint lampard as captain.
Comment by rizwan — February 19, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
I think Guus would attempt to build from the back, ensuring Chelsea do not concede and score the odd goal to grab the 3pts.
Ashley Cole and Bosingwa will still be my first choice full-backs because of their quality crosses and high-energy runs down the flanks. However, under Guus, I think the runs will be a privilege for the full-backs as Guus will go for a quality instead of quantity approach. Do it once and do it good.
Centre pairing will consist of JT and Alex. Despite Mancienne being an emerging talent, it would be rash to throw the 21-yr-old into an important match against Villa. IF Chelsea gets the odd goal against Villa, I would definitely deploy him for Bosingwa as Mancienne is a more defend-minded player, who is capable playing at right-back. Another reason why Alex is chosen ahead of Mancienne is because of his ability in the air; to reduce Carew’s dominance in the air.
I actually fancy Lampard/Ballack’s pairing in the middle of the park, and they could rotate on their roles in attacking/defending. Mikel will be stationed where he plays best, in front of the back four. A surprise inclusion would be Mineiro who will play alongside Mikel, bolstering the wall infront of the back four.
The flanks has been Chelsea’s Achilles heel this season and in my opinion no one’s good enough in the squad to play in the wings. I would actually opt for a diamond concentrated attack through the middle, with Deco playing infront of Lampard and Ballack.
Leading the attack will be the strikepairing of Anelka and Drogba.
Quaresma would be introduced as a sub if there is a need to change to a flank-attack game plan. If not, I think as long as Chelsea stays compact against Aston Villa, I feel confident the newly invigorated Chelsea squad could nick the odd goal.
Dennis Tan, 23, Chelsea Fan
Comment by Dennis Tan — February 20, 2009 @ 12:11 am
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