FA CUP SEMI FINAL: Chelsea v Tottenham: Who starts?

It's a question that no one will know the answer to until around 1700 on Sunday. There will be plenty of opinion from both sets of supporters on this that will continue to change right up until we find out from RDM and Harry Redknapp.

Of course being a Chelsea blog, I am going to focus purely on the Chelsea side and formation and to not take into consideration anything to do with Spurs.

Now forget current form or performances as this as we all know is just a one off game and anything can happen. Looking at the two meetings this season I think it's fair to say that Chelsea should have won the game at White Hart Lane and Tottenham should have beaten us at Stamford Bridge!.

The problem Chelsea fans see at the moment is Barcelona. Just three days after we have kicked off this one, Chelsea take on Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of the Champions League semi final (A big message of thanks to the FA and ITV for that one by the way!).

I know I should focus mainly on the Spurs game but I want to point out an important fact about Barcelona before I move on. Barcelona play Real Madrid in their biggest game of the La Liga season being (as it stands at the moment) four points behind them. OK, Chelsea have to travel to the Arsenal on the same weekend but the point I am making is that both sides have to think about their selection for Wednesday with the following weekend in mind.

I posted yesterday a rant at those fans that have come on here or in general that suggested that Chelsea play a weakened side against Spurs or just felt that it was the lesser important game we had coming up!.

This is Chelsea v Spurs for god sake and I made my own personal feelings clear that it will simply never happen. RDM will NOT send a side out to just roll over and die on Sunday. The good thing is, the players will have had five days to rest and regroup!.

So with that it mind and Barcelona on Wednesday, I still believe Chelsea will play a strong side against Tottenham. Branislav Ivanovic will be suspended after what he did against Wigan. Looking at the video I posted he has been caught bang to rights and I can't understand why he has appealed. I believe he will be forced out of this one.

So here is my Chelsea team selection in our 4-2-3-1 formation:

Cech, Luiz, Cahill, Terry (C), Bertrand, Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Mata, Sturridge and Torres.

My selection is based on pace. It is tempting to go with Didier Drogba, who surely would be a favourite among soccer betting fans for first goal and the like, but I think RDM will start him against Barcelona. In midfield it will also be tempting to go with Ramires but again, I believe he will start against Barcelona.

I am selecting Frank Lampard in ahead of Raul Meireles and Michael Essien purely for his big game experience and ability to get in and around the box. Essien will start against Barcelona.

Danny Sturridge will start this one purely for his pace down the left or right with the unpredictable Kalou the other side. Juan Mata will continue in the hole behind Fernando Torres who will work his socks off all game for us on the big Wembley pitch.

I wouldn't risk Ashley Cole at all in this one and continue with Bertrand who is getting better and better. Cahill looks comfortable next to JT so he carries on (as he will drop to the bench against Barcelona) and David Luiz will come in at right back ahead of Bosingwa and Ferreira.

That's who I would go with if I was RDM on Sunday. Do you agree with me or have your own ideas? I would love to read your opinion on this as the game is massive.

So if you were RDM on Sunday thinking about the team to start against Spurs, who would YOU start?



KTBFFH!

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