Posted January 18, 200916 yr After the last two games without Drogba it is very unlikely he will be recalled so we will almost definitely be seeing Analka playing as a winger again against Ipswich. Kalou will surely keep his place and I would expect Malouda to start again. Di Santo and Stoch will most likely start on the bench and hopefully get a decent amount of game time. Ipswich has a cracking result away at Crystal Palace on Saturday and their last defeat was on Boxing Day so they are plying with some confidence just now. They have a number of player with Premiership experience including Richard Wright, Moritz Voltz. Ben Thatcher, Ivan Campo, Jonathan Stead and Kevin Lisbie. I had a quick look at their stats and their goals are quite spread around the squad with a n umber of players on 6,7 or 8 goals. This will not be an easy tie.
January 18, 200916 yr Yeah I think that it will be a tough one for us! I'm always apprehensive when we play lower league sides in cup competitions as they always come in with a "nothing to lose" attitude. I think you are right about the line up consisting of Kalou and Malouda and Anelka. I would also imagine seeing Stoch and Di Santo on the bench! Maybe even Kakuta? I would also like to see Ballack dropped, and maybe give Belletti the start in midfield alongside Lampard? Ballack has looked out of sorts for the past few games, but therein lies the problem.....Do we drop Ballack, thus denting his confidence? Or do we persevere hoping that he'll get a couple of good matches in him and hope that he comes good? For me, I'd like to see Mancienne also start, but think he'll be on the bench too? However, what is the news on Terry as Alex had a bit of a 'mare last time out ....................................Cech Bosingwa............Carvahlo.....Terry.....A Cole ...................................Mikel ........................Juliano.........Frank ......Kalou.......................................Malouda ...............................Anelka Carlo Mancienne Ivanovic Ballack Stoch Di Santo Kakuta A very attack minded bench, which hasn't exactly been Scolari's mantra as of yet, but I'd like to go for it!
January 18, 200916 yr Author I actually wonder if we might see Mikel rested. He has played more than most and Scolari may go down the rouute of thinking that it is not so necessary to play a holding midfielder against Ipswich.
January 18, 200916 yr I actually wonder if we might see Mikel rested. He has played more than most and Scolari may go down the rouute of thinking that it is not so necessary to play a holding midfielder against Ipswich. i was thinking the exact same thing, especially as hes been pretty poor lately. i actually think scolari will suprise us all and play with stoch and di santo from the start.
January 18, 200916 yr That would be an amazing move dave, but I'm not sure he will. I do think they will get some playing time, but that will be as subs. Scolari has stated that he wants to win every competition and I don't think he'll risk the FA Cup (which I'm sure he's been made aware of it's importance) by firing out younguns from the start. Maybe we will see Belletti in for Mikel, as I was writing out the team, Mikel was the one person I wasn't overly sure of
January 18, 200916 yr What I'm hoping: ----------------Cech----------------- Ivanovic--Carvo---Terry---A.Cole --Belletti---Ballack---Lampard----- --Stoch-------Anelka-------Kalou-- Rest Mikel and Bosingwa as they have played every possible game. That wont weaken the side, it might do the opposite actually. Give Belletti 90mins. Starting with Stoch is daydreaming but lets hope so. If Drogs is left out from this one as well he will talk to the press, no doubt about it. Apparently will be a really tough game but if we have the fighting spirit in this one as well we should be able to win it.
January 18, 200916 yr ...we will almost definitely be seeing Analka... Hey, Nicolas did play for Arse but give the lad a break! :P :D
January 18, 200916 yr at the end of the season we should look to see which players from the youth team can become genuine members of the first team squad (rather than the token squad number an a subsequent loan)... personally from all I have seen, I don't feel scott sinclair or miro stoch will ultimately make the breakthrough, but they need a chance (needed, perhaps in scott's case)... also stoch's cameo yesterday was very encouraging. with this in mind for ipswich I'd look to play a mix of players one would hope have something to offer soon, and experience. ...........................................carlo belletti............mancienne................ivanovic........paulo (I suppose) ........................................brazidwell .............................woods...................lampard ..........stoch.................................................kalou ..........................................di santo bench cech terry hopefully tejera kakuta ballack malouda drogba there's enough on the pitch for us to win well, and should we be comfortable (and the game not be too tasty) then there's an opportunity to give tejera and kakuta half an hour, if we're in trouble then we have the quality and experience to bail us out. Edited January 18, 200916 yr by gullit4
January 18, 200916 yr Author Guys you are going to get your wish - Mikel is suspended for this match. There speaks a wise man (although bloody incapable of realising what a alarm clock is for)
January 18, 200916 yr There speaks a wise man (although bloody incapable of realising what a alarm clock is for) I'd had a heavy night!
January 18, 200916 yr Di Santo already looks more of threat in the air than any CFC forward in recent years. Mancienne has looked lik premier league material down in the Championship and also looks to have a nice turn of pace to him. However competition for his spot most intense. Not a fan of Belletti in the midfield. Maybe give boss boy a break though.
January 19, 200916 yr Di Santo already looks more of threat in the air than any CFC forward in recent years. Mancienne has looked lik premier league material down in the Championship and also looks to have a nice turn of pace to him. However competition for his spot most intense.Not a fan of Belletti in the midfield. Maybe give boss boy a break though. More of a threat than Drogba? Would love to see Stoch and Di Santo a start! Edited January 19, 200916 yr by Ruh Buh Juh
January 20, 200916 yr Drogba doesn't use his head much in more ways than one. I am a fan of Drogba but he needs a lot of management, a tricky race horse to get at peak condition and performance if you will. Kalou would be in my CFC team most of the time at the moment despite finishing that is embarrassing to watch.
January 20, 200916 yr brazidwell i take it by this you mean sidwell? if so are you hoping we sign him back from villa in time for the game? cudicini paulo --- ricky --- jt ---- cole belletti lamps --- deco kalou stoch --- drogba should be comfortable but definately won't be
January 20, 200916 yr i take it by this you mean sidwell? if so are you hoping we sign him back from villa in time for the game? I think he means Mineiro. The Brazilian Sidwell --> Brazidwell
January 20, 200916 yr I think he means Mineiro. The Brazilian Sidwell --> Brazidwell oooooo never heard that before :D . sidwell is better than people gave him credit for
January 20, 200916 yr Moritz Volz is bloody good, by the way, so I'm not sure if playing Malouda against him is the best of ideas... Volz was the OPTA best right-back in the league when he was still with Fulham a little while ago. Nice fella as well, I must say. I like him even more because he captained my Pro Ev team to Champions League glory <_<
January 20, 200916 yr I think Drogba will be playing this one, if what Scolari said had any truth in it. Ballack should be dropped, in return we will probably get Deco. Invanoic should play instead of Alex. I really think we should try to play 2 strikers in a match like this, instead of playing them out of desperation.
January 23, 200916 yr No changes to the formation but I expect Carvalho and Alex in the defence as Ivanovic is too similar to him. Belletti may come in for Mikel and he sure does deserve his chance. As far as the attack is conerned, I think 'Anelka is being rested' and not 'Drogba being handed a start'. I'd love to see Stoch in action for more than 5 minutes for this one and he could be a second half substitute in place of Kalou for this one. Other than that, Malouda down left and chances for Deco and Ballack to prove themselves (though I think dropping Lampard could be the biggest of all gambles).
January 24, 200916 yr Considering all the troubles we’ve been having, we’ve been lucky to get a run of three games against lower oppositions to help us get our affairs in order, so we should make today’s game count. I wonder if we are going to win any balls when defending corners today. We definitely didn’t win the ball on any of the corner against Southend and Stoke, I can’t remember if we did against Man U.
January 24, 200916 yr My little brothers first chelsea game today, hope chelsea put on a good show for him! and the rest of us of course
