This weekend we start our preparations for the 2016/17 season as West Ham travel to Stamford Bridge with a top four place in mind.
After back to back defeats for the blues, their season is already over and the fans have already got their eyes set on the imminent arrival of Antonio Conte; the Italian has recently announced that he will step down as Italy boss and is bookies favourite to replace Guus Hiddink.
Enough of the future, lets talk about the present, even thought its a pointless game in our eyes, West Ham will be up for it so we cannot experiment too much.
Here is my predicted XI:
Goalkeeper:
Thibaut Courtois: The Belgian has put in mixed performances in recent weeks, despite making some superb save to keep us in the game, he has also made some silly mistakes that could’ve easily been avoided. Thibaut will continue in goal this weekend.
Defense:
RB – Cesar Azpilicueta: The versatile full back has put in decent performances recently and warrants a starting position in this weeks line up. With the return of John Terry, the Spaniard could be reverted to his ‘usual’ position, but I predict he will continue at right-back.
RCB – Branislav Ivanovic: Naturally a centre-back, Ivanovic has put in some solid performances when playing central and with Kurt Zouma injured for the rest of the season, our vice captain could maintain a spot next to the skipper with Gary Cahill being turned in and out by Romelu Lukaku last weekend.
LCB – John Terry: The skipper is back! It has been a frustrating time without Terry in our back line as we have conceded in all goal in which he had been injured, we can now hope he puts in a solid performance in his 701st game for the club.
LB – Abdul Baba Rahman: The Ghanaian has struggled to make a name for himself this season and has failed to earn the trust of Guus Hiddink. As our season is now pointless, I don’t see why he shouldn’t start.
Midfield:
CDM – John Obi Mikel: Our most experienced holding midfield needs to play if we were to experiment with some players. With the two midfielders ahead of him, we would need someone with stability and be a screen right in front of the defence.
RCM – Cesc Fabregas: The Spaniard looks a rejuvinated player since the turn of the year and has become one of the first names on the team sheet. Our technical genius could be providing assists left, right and centre against the Hammers this weekend.
LCM – Ruben Loftus-Cheek: The talented box-to-box midfielder has lacked game time in recent months and surely deserves a run of games in the first team, the club cannot waste his talented by making him sit on the bench. Also it could be guaranteed as RLC only posts on social media when he has been promised game time, so only time can tell.
Forwards:
RW – Willian: The Brazilian has struggled for form in recent weeks, looking anonymous last time out against Everton but will look to make a difference against West Ham this weekend.
CF – Betrand Traore: What an impact this man has had in the first team in recent weeks. From being out of the picture under Mourinho to being a key player for Hiddink. Diego Costa picked up a red card last weekend, so the Burkina Faso international will play this time out.
LW – Kenedy: One of the stand out prospects in our squad at the moment has shown his versatility in recent months, playing back at left back in important games such as PSG and Everton. Eden Hazard is supposedly ‘injured’ so Kenedy deserves a chance in a more advanced position.
