The team:

Cech
Ivan Luiz Cahill Cole
Lampard Ram
Moses Mata Hazard
Torres

So a big shake up by Rafa. At least we have options like Oscar on the bench if needs be. Mata playing a central role to get him on the ball as much as possible.

As an aside, the BBC coverage of this game is absolutely terrible. Robbie Savage knows absolutely nothing, and the presenter is out of his depth. In japan, the roving reporter thought he was on tape when he was live!

Just hope Rafa hasn't underestimated Corinthians. Lamps is starting to show his age and Ram is not physically robust enough, so a danger the centre could be overrun,

Yes, that's one of the main reasons I disliked the idea of Benitez as caretaker manager. He's another "tinkerman" ..as Pat Nevin was saying. He was forever messing around with Liverpool, never willing to leave things alone even when it was working fine.
Luiz had a great spell in midfield, now he's back at CB. Oscar left out, imagine how much he had been looking foward to playing against Brazilian opposition in the final.
Still, I don't begrudge Frank the chance after all he's done for us.

Should have stuck with the winning team!

Cahill should have put us 1-0 up then.

Benitez should be using these two games to sort out his first XI and formation. The reality is the results really don't matter. If David Luiz played well in midfield he should really be staying there to see if he has a future in that role.

Agreed, but this IS a final, and you shouldn't really experiment with the team in a final. We have gone all that way to Japan, we need to win it.

Yes, I agree. I can only think he's a bit more of a sentimentalist than we realise. It's an "event", and giving Lamps the chance to captain the side is a nice gesture..it does appear that it's almost certainly his last season.

You don't really. Its an irrelevant competition, it should be used for the benefit of the team and their PL challenge when they get back. No-one actually cares whether you win today or not.

I would seriously have Lampard at Utd if he's going on a free. I don't see why there is such a hurry to usher him out the door.

Really ? He is 34, 35 on June 20th..same birthdate as mine, but quite a few years separate us.

Yup. If he is going for nothing and we are finally calling time on Giggs and Scholes. He is still incredibly fit and has looked after himself. Im not saying we give him the No.7 shirt and make him our playmaker or anything but i still think he has something to offer in a squad. I think he is good for 15 games a season and a safe pair of hands (well..feet) off the bench when needed.

15 games a season at £175,000 a week?

Sorry, have we offered him that? Must have missed it.

Its what you would have to pay

Well, the first 30 minutes have been disappointing. They don't look like you normal Brazilian team, do they ? I don't think its going to be a feast of football.

No it isn't. If Lampard wants to cash in he will go elsewhere, if he wants to carry on in England at the top level he won't expect that sort of money.

QPR are linked with him this week, they won't be paying him anywhere near that.

Hmm, So he is on £175 k a week - could easily get that in China or the USA or staying at chelsea for another year.

Why on earth would he want to go to QPR on a vastly reduced amount and probably get relegated, or to a big rival in United for less money, even though he will be on a free.

Its not a feast no, but there are good chances for each team. Lets hope they both go for it in the 2nd half.

The pitch is terrible by the way.

I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
He can't need the money, I would be looking for somewhere in the sun for a couple of years. But there again, I'm not a professional footballer.

He has already said he wants to stay in the UK. If he wants the cash then fair enough - go to the USA or China - absolutely no problem with that at all. However if he still feels he can play at the top level that will be what motivates him, not money. Its not always about money.

If you want him, you need to pay him. But i dont understand why we are talking about this as he would never go to united, he is CFC through and through.

And Chelsea have treated him shockingly. They haven't even bothered to tell him he isn't getting a new contract, he read the Rafa quotes the same as everyone else. That doesn't breed loyalty. Surely you sit down with him and tell him he isn't getting a new deal rather than just ignore the issue and allow the stand-in manager to announce that there is no new contract?

Would you be "Chelsea through and through" in these circumstances?

Nothing whatsoever has been decided yet, dont believe the media hype. Lampard has been handed the captaincy in the world cup final today - its hardly treating him badly.

Incidentally, who on earth made Robbie Savage a pundit. The guy is slaughtering Torres for his technical ability - perhaps Torres should show Robbie his medals.

Savage is a laughing stock, a joke.

I dont. I read quotes.

Anyway, back to the game - lets hope Rafa has changed things and we have a better 2nd half - and convert our chances.