PL, Portsmouth vs Chelsea, 03/03/09, 1945 GMT

[loz]

Despite their result away at Boro you would expect the Giro Signers to get three points at home to Sunderland meaning we will need to get all 3 points away at Pompey to hold on to 2nd spot.

Bosingwa will return at the expense of Mancienne, other than that I don't expect too many changes from what has quickly established itslf as Hiddink's first choice eleven.

[bluevale2]

Yes I would agree, but you never know with Sunderland they are a strange side. Also the scousers will be down after getting a spanking at the smog monsters.

We on the other hand have a fairly good record at Pompey, and should come away with all 3 points.

[ozboy]

The side will be probably be the same one, but I would prefer to see a couple of fresh faces earlier. We still need to sort out the front two's interplay. Its funny how drobba's knee all of a sudden doesn't seem to be an issue.

[Zola's Love Child]

Will take a lucky 0-1 out of this one to be honest. Jose will be back in for Mancienne, and not much else will change, will just have to keep plodding on, and close the gap to the top of the table by even more before United play.

[blueday3]

Can't see us losing this one, Pompey have been downright sorry this season I never expect them to get anything when I watch them play.

[Paul Seery]

A tough game will Portsmouth away be for mighty Blues but one that I can see three points being achieved. Portsmouth are not the same as they were last season and have rather collapsed since Harry Redknapp left them last autumn for Tottenham. Like Zola's Love Child would be happy with another 1-0 win under Hiddink.

[Oblivion]

We should win this one.... but am still a bit nervous about the squads fitness and concentration levels.

Watched the Wigan highlights, and with the exception of that spell in the middle of the game, we were actually very poor at the back. Melchiot was having a field day early on.

We have to tighten up at the back and put more pressure in midfield if we are to secure 2nd spot come end of the season.

[Orangutan]

I wonder if we won't try rotating the starters one of these games. With so many fixtures, I'm worried about our best 11 getting too tired. I don't think it would hurt to start Quaresma one one of the wings or maybe sit Ballack for Belletti or even Mancienne. We don't have too much depth to play around with, but I would like to see a few changes just to keep some of our guys fresh.

Portsmouth should not be too much of a problem, at least theoretically, but I'm not taking this lightly. If Chelsea comes out tired a uninspired like today, Pompey could very easily grab the lead. Ultimately, though, I still think we'll have too much.

[PloKoon13]

I think we'll be fine as long as we don't start Alex alongside Terry. He's great when he plays with Carvalho (occasionally with Ivanovic), but he always looks like Terry's bumbling sidekick when they're at the back together, and more often than not it takes some Terry genius or Ashley Cole clearing the ball off the line that keeps us in it.

If Percy's still out, I'd start Mancienne next to Terry, and bring Bosingwa back at RB. Their attack isn't looking too special though, so I'd leave out Mikel for someone.

[coco]

With Ballack in poor form (and soon to be out of contract), I'd like to see Mancienne come in at RB and Bosingwa in front of him in midfield, especially for games like this, where we can afford to be more offensive on both flanks in the final third.

When we need to be narrower & tighter, we just put (a soon to be fit) Michael Essien in for Bosingwa.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Hiddink should give Quaresma a start over Kalou. What's the point of loaning a player we won't often use?

[loz]

Kalou has done well int he last couple of games so i see no point dropping him just to give Quaresma a game - it isn't as if Kalou needs a rest.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Kalou has done well int he last couple of games so i see no point dropping him just to give Quaresma a game - it isn't as if Kalou needs a rest.

I can see where you're coming from and he has played quite well recently, but Quaresma deserves a chance at least.

[loz]

Quaresma is a loan player - if we need him then we play him, if we have options using our permanent players and we are happy that they are playing well enough then he should stay on the bench. He doesn't deserve a chance as such - he is a stop gap and should be used as such.

My personal preference in order (based on a combination of current form and future prospects) and assuming Drogba and Anelka are going to continue playing together (so we are looking for one other starter) is

Kalou

Stoch

Quaresma

.

.

.

.

.

.

Gronkjaer

Laudrup

.

.

.

.

Zenden

,

.

.

.

Bluenut

.

.

.

Malouda

[ethicalstrategy]

I think we have to rotate a bit to be honest. We are aready suffering from lack of fitness so playing the same team for 4 games in 2 weeks is asking for trouble. Having said that, I don't see the point of playing people out of position as has been suggested by some.

If Carvalho is fit then he can come in for Alex, otherwise I might give either Ivanovic or Mancienne a run out at centre half. I would also give Anelka a rest and start with Kalou and Quaresma wide.

[ozboy]

The trouble with rotation is the players that need rotating are the midfield guys and they are the hardest to replace.

Frankie and Ballack could both be given a rest, Drogba needs the work and it would cause problems to rest Anelka just now. Kalou has done nothing to deserve being rested and is young enough to keep going, although his game is a bit one dimensional. If essien was back ballack could ceretainly be rested.

I'd like to see us using the speed of charisma and stoch but where to fit them in?

Anelka might well have scored the goal that Drogba missed on Saturday when Drogba was put through on the diagonal run by Lampard. Anelka would have lifted the ball over the goalie. Notwithstanding drogba's strength its still very marginal in my mind whether he or anelka should be at the spear point.

[bjd]

we've won three in a row with bar the fullbacks the same starting xi, I see no reason to change anything. I don't think much will change untill essien returns. Any news on percy ?

Edited March 1, 2009 by bjd

[bluevale2]

Quaresma is a loan player - if we need him then we play him, if we have options using our permanent players and we are happy that they are playing well enough then he should stay on the bench. He doesn't deserve a chance as such - he is a stop gap and should be used as such.

My personal preference in order (based on a combination of current form and future prospects) and assuming Drogba and Anelka are going to continue playing together (so we are looking for one other starter) is

Kalou

Stoch

Quaresma

.

.

.

.

.

.

Gronkjaer

Laudrup

.

.

.

.

Zenden

,

.

.

.

Bluenut

.

.

.

Malouda

Only Bluenut out of us all gets in before Malouda? You obviously havn't seen my dragbacks and Charlie Cooke 'tache!!

[icecoolguy22]

Boswinga will play, as much as the young debutant did a good job, he did not provide much option in attack on Saturday. Ballack doesn't deserve to play, but somehow I feel Hiddink will give him another game. I believe Belleti will do a decent job in place of Ballack. Quarmesa should get a start, I do think he provide better and early cross for Drogba to cash in.

[clubhappy]

I dont think Hiddink is the type of manager who makes too many changes , i just hope he looks at our attacking options and plays Anelka and Drogs without Anelka playing out of position. Agree Beletti is an option in midfield , cant be worse than Ballack , and Quarmesa has ability and id love to see him get a chance .

[ozboy]

Belletti is hopeless in midfield. I can't believe there is any chance that hiddink will play him there. anytime Belletis is brought on as a midfield sub he gets shifted to rb within 5 minutes. We do need to rotate our midfielders but Frankie and Ballack are very hard to replace. Deco can substitute in an attacking sense but is hopeless defensively. Ivanovic or Mancienne can sub defensively but offer nothing going forward. Ivanovic does have a lovely long pass, and personally I would still be playing him in front of alex.

Kalou is more of winger than your traditional point of the diamond and charisma is solely a winger.

I still think ballack is terrific even if he does pull out of the odd challenge. Covers a huge amount of ground in midfield. Essien is the only potential replacement for him in the squad. We could have used Diarra if we still had him.

[blizeH]

I think people want Quaresma to play because many of us hope that we'll sign him in the summer, as he does look like a great player, and IMO just the sort of player we need to add some width to the team.

I'd like to see us line up something like...

Cech

Mancienne Terry Ivanovic Cole

Kalou Lampard Mikel Quaresma

Drogba Anelka

^ win

[Virosh]

I think people want Quaresma to play because many of us hope that we'll sign him in the summer, as he does look like a great player, and IMO just the sort of player we need to add some width to the team.

I'd like to see us line up something like...

Cech

Mancienne Terry Ivanovic Cole

Kalou Lampard Mikel Quaresma

Drogba Anelka

^ win

Amen to that, but its just not going to happen.

[Gem]

Boswinga will play

You've got a touch of the Andy Grays. I'd get someone to take a look at that before you start talking utter bullsh*t too.

[g3.7]

I don't think we can afford to rest lamps at all- has been the lampard show all season, and we don't have many alternatives- thought ballack gave a good 60 mins or so followed by a very poor final 30 mins (despite the flick for the goal) against wigan, think there have been signs he is tiring so if anyone out of midfield could do with being taken out it would be him, though I can't see any alternatives right now. possibly beletti.

think ivanovic has been unlucky, playing mancienne ahead of him was a good sign for our youth development but not so much for branislav. unfortunately we are likely to be against a front "3" with crouch central and nugent wide, so for this game alex seems a better fit.

..................................cech

bosingwa............alex.............terry.........cole

.................................mikel

...................ballack.............lampard

........kalou.............................anelka

.................................drogba

would like to see anelka come off the line and make runs more, like he did in the first half against villa, and generally more movement from kalou and ballack to get forward, this side doesn't need him to be behind the ball as much as he often has been. also key to watch for his fitness, perhaps have woods on the bench (ahead of one of the 900 fullbacks we seem to have).

p.s. ideally if deco was fit he should feature, hope hiddink uses him once he has some condition, is the type of player that will help make his football work.

Edited March 2, 2009 by gullit4