Will Shevchenko flourish in a front three?

I'm with you.
If Jose is sticking with his fork attack Shevchenko, and Chelsea, would benefit from him playing in the central.

I read this yesterday and think the Telegraph badly misread what Jose said: he's saying that in a 4-3-3 system, there will be a role for each of the three centre forwards but only one at the time, and that is dependent on what style of play JM wants from his forward at that time - ie, whether he needs a battering ram, poacher or ball holder. There is no way on earth he'd play all three strikers together when he also has Malouda, Robben, Cole, Kalou and SWP to pick from. He only picked Shev to play wide last year to a) keep Roman happy; b) cos all our wingers were knackered.

First choice team next season is surely going to be:

Cech
Johnson Terry Carvalho Cole
Essien Mikel Lampard
Robben Drogba Malouda

But the strength in depth means there are an extraordinary number of options available.

The accumulation of top class players at Chelsea and Manchester United this season is simply unprecedented.

I don't think he will play with three strikers in his preferred 433 formation. (unless he's chasing a game) I have a sneaking suspicion in a lot of games he may have Drogs and Sheva playing in the middle, with the third player in the attack Cole/Robben or any of the others having a free role behind them to give the width,just like the Arse used to do when they had Overmars in the side.

Or the other possible option could be any of the other two genuine wingers with Drogs on his own in the middle.

I'm certainly eager to see what Jose has up his sleeve for the upcoming season, and how he's going to juggle a very talented bunch of players into an exciting winning team again.

But that's why he's paid a lot of money to do the job and I can just have my (perhaps way off the mark) "opinions"

Looking at the article again, it does seem that the Telegraph misinterpreted - deliberately or otherwise - what Jose said. Given the amount of wingers at Jose's disposal it's unlikely he will field all three strikers. I guess I should have realised this! When it comes to Shevchenko my judgement is clouded by the desire to see him succeed at Chelsea.

I'm not entirely convinced that 4-3-3 suits Sheva even if he is deployed as the main striker, and at 30 he might find it difficult to adapt. That said, he looked sharp during the time he was on the pitch in America.

Jose is also planning on using 4-4-2 with wingers and the 4-4-2 diamond if needed:

"We have to play with wingers. 4-3-3 is the system which the players are most comfortable with, no doubts. I know that and feel there is a big understanding with the system and their positions.

"But 4-4-2 with wingers is something we're working on. We're going to play Rangers with that system and have been working tactically on it in training for the players to build the same confidence they have in 4-3-3.

"4-4-2 in a diamond is something we have in the pocket, as we have a good understanding and dynamic. With so many good central midfield players that we have if one day I decide to use it then it's easy to do it. It's one of the good things about four consecutive seasons with not many changes in the group. Year after year, experience after experience, the players are ready for it."

I just hope Sheva gets the opportunities and takes them. His biggest problem is that Drogba is indispensable: a hard working defender who is also a goal scoring machine cannot be left out!

Yes, I think we'll be playing a bewildering array of formations this season - JM got through about five different permetations against LA Galaxy. A flat 4-4-2 would be very interesting as it's quite unfashionable now and I'd be interested to see what twist JM provides.

He's also talking about playing SWP in the middle, has used Joe Cole in the hole and can play Malouda in about three different positions. Kalou is also very adaptable. I doubt any English club has ever been as tactically malleable as this side will be.

Think the media do sometimes get a little bogged down in rattling off their take on managers talking about 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1 and so forth. Only clear point as to how we'll play next season is that there will be a huge capacity for flexibility, both game to game and within games to adapt to situations as they arise.

Premiership is starting to remind me of Serie A 10 years ago - big names, silly money - one does wonder quite how much longer it will go on for though.

(whispers quietly) - new Liverpool ground does look quite impressive...

It looks like a silver handbag. Nice Kop though - shame we couldn't do the same with the Shed.

Shevchenko will do well, he needs more time with Drogba. I would play him in a 4-4-2 not a 4-3-3

The Telegraph must have mis-interpreted it, on purpose or otherwise.

Jose's brave, but he'll hardly play Drogs, Sheva and Pizarro up top as a 3, meaning that SWP, Robben, Malouda, Cole, Lamps, Sidwell, Essien, Makelele, Mikel etc. would be fighting for 3 places. Would be interesting though....

As for Sheva, I truly believe his best days are well behind him, back in Italy. Yes he's looked sharp in pre-season, but age is against him now, I just dont think his game is suited to the Premiership. If AC were seriously interested in him, I say sell him back and invest the money in someone with time on their side.

I still harbour hope that a secret deal may be done for David Villa. But I know it's bonkers.

Shevers has another two seasons in him max, I don't think he'll be able to produce form anything like when at AC. If Lamps played through ball to him rather then shooting them maybe he'd score 'some' goals.

I think TSO will play the same system as the first season, namely two wingers, an attacking mid and holding mid, obviously two CB and two wing backs as attacking support. When TSO employed this in his first season at CFC we humiliated teams.

I've got money down on us beating the LiverRedskins at Anfeild (£20) with a London red (the worst kind).

What are your prdictions.

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As Nick correctly points out, and most of the other posters here, Sheva needs chances. I don't remember a game last season where he had a glut of them, and more often than not when he had shooting opportunities he scored or hit the target.

Seeing him play on the left wing last season was miserable. I suspect (and Jose has said tactically this is how he intends us to turn out) that we will play 4-3-3 with him alternating with the Drog, or 442 with him playing with the Drog and two out and out wingers in the midfield. Both these formations will suit Sheva better than playing him in a wingless team and asking him to beat players and create chances. I hope/expect he will have a better season next year. I really want him to succeed. He is class. That finish at Porto away summed him up and he needs to be given chances like that every game.

JD - the new Liverpool ground. I agree, very impressive, and the new kop looks incredible. All one tier with 18000 scallies in it. Going to be very loud I imagine.

Up the Chels.

If Chelsea is going to play a 4-3-3, the front formation has to include Drogba(team's best striker by far), Malouda (signed specifically to compliment Drogba) and a second winger. The candidates are Robben, SWP, Joe Cole and Kalou. SWP has to be the 1st choice. Other than Drogba, he has been Chelsea's most dangerous offensive threat since late last season when he finally got out of Mourinho's doghouse. Robben would also fit the bill but he can't stay healthy and looks to be headed to Madrid. Kalou is great at beating defenders with the ball but refuses to pass to anyone. Joe Cole looks lost.
Shevchenko simply doesn't fit in. He is small, slow and of average strength. Chelsea is not a team with creative passers in the midfield (name one who will pass before firing from 25 yards out) - you eat what you can kill on this squad, which is why Drogba works. It will be interesting to see how Pizarro works out. Sheva is still royalty in his own mind and will continue to be a source of team dissent unless and until he is the number 1 striker. Not going to happen.