PL, Chelsea v Man City, 15/03/09, 1330

[Oblivion]

We're on form.

City aren't really (on the road).

The confidence is back, players playing as a team, for each other. Long-term injuries clearing up so things are looking up.

Probably seeing the same team as the last few weeks

......................Cech

Bos........Alex........Terry.........Cole

.....................Mikel

...............Essien.......Lampard

Kalou...............................Anelka

......................Drogba

I expect Essien to start in place of Ballack, doing his box-to-box thing, for another hour or so. At the business end of the season, its important for him and Carvahlo to get as many games as possible. Speaking of Riccy, I think he'll get another 30 minutes at the end of the game, to get him fit in time for the CL QFs.

Subs

Hilario

Mancienne

Carvahlo

Ballack

Quaresma

Belletti

Di Santo

2-0 / 3-0 win for us.

Bling it.

[Paul Seery]

On paper this should be another win for Chelsea but Manchester City is Manchester City, in that they play either very well or very badly away from home. However the only good away performance that they have had recently was when they got a point at Anfield against Liverpool las month. As for how this game will go I hope it is another Chelsea win. We have been in good form and are showing the type of confidence that we had when Jose Mourinho was around in seasons gone by.

Come on the Chels!

[blizeH]

Cech,

Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Cole,

Essien, Mikel, Lampard,

Quaresma, Drogba, Anelka.

Oof.

[PloKoon13]

Could be a high-scorer, with Bellamy and Drogba on form...

[sexelk]

Cech,

Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Cole,

Essien, Mikel, Lampard,

Quaresma, Drogba, Anelka.

Oof.

that would be the team i would go with but i would play as a diamond in midfield

cech

bosingwa --- ricky --- jt --- cole

mikel

essien --- lamps

quaresma

drogba --- anelka

anelka will do his thing and drop off to the left a bit and quaresma can work from the centre out to the right

[Money]

Could be a high-scorer, with Bellamy and Drogba on form...

Bellamy is injured isnt he? Thought he wasnt back till 22nd?

Think Bellamy out and Robinho isnt sure depending on injury so should be easy win.

Ill be there, smiling at Robinho for choosing the wrong club! Muppet :lol:

[icecoolguy22]

Against one of the worst away team in the league, as long as we dont play Malouda and Ballack, and overcome fatigue by Sunday, we should win this easily,

[ozboy]

I want to go with the team that started against Juve. Hopefully Quaresma and Kalou can come on in H2 instead of Mikel and Essien and we will win by 5.

On the other hand with essien and mikel we are powerful but not attacking enough or fast enough.

[ChelseaYankee]

Does Mikel have a fixed starting spot? I guess Essien isn't 100 match fit (for 90 minutes) yet. But when he is, I hope he replaces Mikel and it's something like

Cech

Bosingwa/Carvalho/Terry/Cole

Essien/Lampard/Ballack

Kalou (or Quaresma)

Drogba/Anelka

Because Mikel needs to at least be somewhat of a threat at goal or a good passer.

It feels weird to have a selection problem in midfield again though.

Edited March 12, 2009 by ChelseaYankee

[blueday3]

I believe Mikel does have a fixed starting spot, and don't necessarily agree that he needs to be a goal threat or a good passer. I mean obviously he should be a good passer, and it would be nice if he put in some great passes to Drogba and Anelka, but at his position the safe pass is most often the one he should chose, or he is the one who has to get back and stop the guy again if he misplaces one. In addition, if we are going to have 2/3 box to box midfielders I think we need Mikel for saftey, especially since Frank and Essien like to get near the goal and make runs into the box.

[ozboy]

Its amazing how often Ballack gets into the box as well, just hasn't been able to convert once he gets there.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Would love to see Quaresma get a 90 minutes under his belt. Set the game alight in every game he's played for us! :D

..........................Cech

...Bosingwa.....Alex......Terry....A.Cole

.....Essien........Lampard.......Ballack

...Kalou................................Quaresma

.......................Drogba

:)

[Money]

Would love to see Quaresma get a 90 minutes under his belt. Set the game alight in every game he's played for us! :D

..........................Cech

...Bosingwa.....Alex......Terry....A.Cole

.....Essien........Lampard.......Ballack

...Kalou................................Quaresma

.......................Drogba

:)

Yeah thats the team for me. Would probably stick mikel instead of ballack and put mikel in the middle though.

[clubhappy]

Drogs on form now , looks 100% fit and i can see him causing City all sorts of problems . Robinho played for City tonight so i expect him to start Saturday .

[blizeH]

Poor Deco :D

[b00gamaster]

A must win for us esp with the Scum shuttering Mancs confidence today..

---------------------Cech-------------------

Boss-------Alex-------JT---------Ashley

--------------------Mikel-------------------

--------Essien---------------Lamps-------

Quaresma------------------Kalou/Anelka

-----------------Drogba----------------------

We definetely need the width and the pace upfront that Quaresma will provide - he was excellent against Coventry

Also, our midfield had too many cooks against Juve with Bison, Lamps and Ballack all trying to dictate the play. We should go for Mikel in his usual holding role, Lamps pulling strings and Bison charging forward.

At the back it's the usual suspects. Not sure if Carvalho is ready to start yet.

[paraphil]

I was quietly confident before I saw who is referreeing.

Mike (Old Mother) Riley. He gives us sweet F.A.

[Virosh]

I was quietly confident before I saw who is referreeing.

Mike (Old Mother) Riley. He gives us sweet F.A.

OK, now I'm worried. We better make this an emphatic one or else Riley will do his clucking best to bury us.

[evissy]

I have mixed feelings about this one. We are on good form, yes but so is ManCity. They have won their last two games and we are the sort of opponent that brings the best out of them.

And the biggest concern for me is that as Liverp**l won yesterday it brought the 'have to' in our agenda today. It was 'have to' before but now it is even more emphasized. We haven't used this situation for our good this season once so that is my biggest concern. I mean play after our rivals have played.

Hope Hiddink's good fortune continues today with a comfortable win but I'm a bit reserved..

.................Cech

Boss--Carvo--Terry--A.Cole

..............Mikel

....Essien...........Lampard

Quaresma................Anelka

.............Drogba

[icecoolguy22]

Lets hope Given not having a blinder, already done us a 0:0 this season

[wicksy]

I have mixed feelings about this one. We are on good form, yes but so is ManCity. They have won their last two games and we are the sort of opponent that brings the best out of them.

We would really have to blow it not to beat them today. They are seriously hampered by injuries, being without 3 key players (allegedly): Bellamy, Kompany and De Jong.

[sergeyMS]

I'm sorry mates, maybe I'm missing something, but what are you worrying about?

You have an excellent manager, an excellent squad, a clean injury list (except few long-term injured), the team is on impressive run, players are in a good form and you entertain an average opposition, which have played on Thursday.

We should beat them confidently!

Edited March 15, 2009 by sergeyMS

[moi]

I'm sorry mates, maybe I'm missing something, but what are you worrying about?

You have an excellent manager, an excellent squad, a clean injury list (except few long-term injured), the team is on impressive run, players are in a good form and you entertain an average opposition, which have played on Thursday.

We should beat confidently

Some confusion here, Sergey! Are you with us or against us?

If you talk about "beating" you have to say WHO you'll beat e.g. WE WILL BEAT THE SCUM COMFORTABLY!

Otherwise you say "WE WILL WIN COMFORTABLY."

[sergeyMS]

Some confusion here, Sergey! Are you with us or against us?

No confusion, I just have missed a word. Leave your confusions for your girlfriend.

You could understand what I mean, there's no need to post the rubbish you've posted.

[moi]

No confusion, I just have missed a word. Leave your confusions for your girlfriend.

You could understand what I mean, there's no need to post the rubbish you've posted.

Actually, Sergey, I am quite an old woman, who doesn't have a girlfriend. I'm sorry you have interpreted my linguistic advice so aggressively. I admire foreigners who post here, and like to help them when they make little mistakes, so that their English will improve. In future I shall not bother to tell you.