Cesc Fabregas is suspended for the visit of Hull at Stamford Bridge this weekend and I am asking YOU the Chelsea fan reading this who YOU think should replace him in our starting eleven.
We have to believe that Jose Mourinho would want to field his strongest team available for the game so expect the likes of Courtois, Ivanovic, Terry, Oscar, Willian and Eden Hazard to all return to the starting eleven from the side that started last night. The question remains as who the boss decides to replace Fabregas.
Let's have a look at the options he has available in our 4-2-3-1 formation:
Andre Schurrle:
Andre Schurrle is an option to replace Fabregas with Oscar dropping deeper into midfield next to Matic and Willian moving into the middle. Schurrle impressed with his performance last night and with yet another important goal and gives Mourinho cover wide if we have to move Willian.
With Schurrle coming into the side and Oscar dropping deeper, we would still have the same attacking options in the final third as we would with Fabregas playing.
Mikel:
As we saw last night, Mikel could come into the starting eleven as a direct replacement for Fabregas, to play next to Matic. In doing so, Oscar would become the play maker. Mikel next to Matic would provide excellent protection to our back four and a solid base to build from BUT, we would lose one of our attacking threats.
Ramires:
A different option to Fabregas but one that Chelsea fans would be familiar with. Ramires next to Matic would give the boss the box to box option we have lost since the absence of Frank Lampard.
Ramires would provide us with a threat going forward, but we would lose the option of having that additional playmaker to open the door from deep.
Other alternatives:
I would drop Oscar back next to Matic and bring in Schurrle to play wide opposite Eden Hazard with Willian in the number ten role. Oscar would give us a range of passing from deep similar to Fabregas (obviously not as good) but a better option than Mikel or Ramires.