Right at the start of the season a lot of the talk here in the Transfer Tavern and indeed on the wider footballing landscape, was that of the amount of top class managers that were set to do battle in the Premier League this season.
We had the likes of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Maurico Pochettino’s stock had risen at Tottenham whilst Man. City and Man. United had bought in Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho respectively.
Finally, then, to really up the ante, Chelsea got Antonio Conte in their dugout and, arguably, he has had the biggest impact on his side since the beginning of the season.
Whilst Klopp and Pochettino, for example, have had longer to implement their styles, Conte has had but a few months to assess his squads’ strengths and make a 3-4-3 tailored to suit them.
Our landlord believes, though, that he may be tempted to switch things up for the visit of Spurs this weekend and reckons this 4-2-3-1 could just do the business, too….
GK: Thibaut Courtois
Courtois is Chelsea’s number one and despite any change in formation Asmir Begovic is not going to get near the line-up just yet.
RB: Cesar Azpilicueta
The Spaniard has been one of Chelsea’s best defenders over the years but has very rarely played in his strongest position. This formation would allow him to finally and that could be a huge positive.
CB: David Luiz
Luiz has silenced his critics so far this season. The Brazilian looks far more mature in this second stint at the club and has so far hardly put a single foot wrong. The Blues will expect more of the same against Spurs.
CB: Gary Cahill
Cahill has found some consistency in recent weeks and so whilst the amount of players in the back line could change, the personnel shouldn’t. John Terry will have to remain on the bench for now.
LB: Marcos Alonso
Alonso has done a decent job so far this season and gives Chelsea a lot more balance on the pitch.
He’ll be expected to do more defensive duties in this back four, though, against Tottenham.
CDM: N’Golo Kante
Kante must be one of the first names on the team-sheet.
He’s always going to play when fit and will always be key to ensuring whatever system is put out by Conte works to it’s maximum potential.
CDM: Nemanja Matic
The Serbian has come in for some criticism again this season but to be fair to him he’s seen it off and has done fairly well since. People will call for his head if he starts playing poorly again but for now he deserves to start.
RAM: Victor Moses
Speaking of players that deserve to start Moses has to be in the line-up at the moment. The former Crystal Palace man has finally broken into the Blues side and is making up for lost time with some good displays. He’ll want another one here.
CAM: Eden Hazard
The Belgian wants to play more centrally so this is where he’d fit in in this system. The idea of him in the number ’10’ role on paper makes for an exciting prospect but he’d still have to prove that against the Lilywhites.
LAM: Pedro
The Spaniard has never really reached his Barcelona levels but he’s done a decent job for the club this season. He should start then in this formation and will look to get at Spurs at every opportunity that presents itself.
ST: Diego Costa
The Premier League’s top scorer. Whatever formation you put him in he’s going to find a way to start shooting at the target and so Spurs will have to be on top form if they are to keep him quiet for the duration of this one.
Agree Chelsea fans? Let us know below…
