Selection Headache Ahead

How can Claudio win? He has to play two up front, especially now he has to keep Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Adrian Mutu and Hernan Crepso happy. How can you leave Crespo out of your team? How can Mutu be dropped now? Scoring one, having another wrongly disallowed and fast becoming a Chelsea favourite. But then there’s Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The Dutchman seems to have been given a kick up backside by his Holland coach about Euro 2004 and by Claudio Ranieri. Also, Jimmy is no fool. He knows he is the oldest of the four and into his thirties. And following a disappointing season, he could well be the one whose head will role. But now Jimmy, who has scored already against Blackburn, Zilina and Liverpool, is very hard drop now in this form.

Also, his ‘new’ midfield is getting a bit over crowded. Geremi will be back from suspension soon, when Makelele will also be in contention. So that is now Joe Cole, Seba Veron, Frank Lampard, Manu Petit, Geremi, Claude Makelele, Damien Duff, Mario Stanic and Jesper Gronkjaer all to be kept happy, and to nicely slot into four positions! I personally feel that we don't need Makelele. After his striking at Madrid, is he only driven by money?

We all think different, but I would have to select:

Carlo
Geremi Desailly Terry Bridge


Lampard Veron Duff

Mutu

Crespo Hasselbaink


My first midfield would have to be Duff, Veron and Lampard in a middle three with Mutu roaming. But then, everyone thinks different.