Posted April 29, 200916 yr Given that the 2nd leg against Barcelona is four days later and as Hiddink has all but accepted the title race is over for us you can bet we will see some players rested against Fulham. I can see Drogba, Lampard, Essien and maybe even JT rested.
April 30, 200916 yr I'd add Ballack to that list for sure. Even Malouda and Ivanovic. Malouda because of his work rate and Ivanovic because of the mental strain for a youg player of having to concentrate all the time. Its also important to start giving the younger fringe players more game time. Cech Bossy Mancienne Terry Cole Quaresma Belleti Mikel Deco Kalou Anelka Di Santo Ok I know that's a stupid team but I can't do any better. Guess that's why Guus has the job and not me.
April 30, 200916 yr This one has 0:0 written all over it. Considering th big picture, it's probably a result we take right now. I expect Deco, Quaresma, Kalou , Mancinne to get a start. Trying out Ivanoic and Alex together is not a bad idea either.
April 30, 200916 yr --------------------------Cech Mancienne------ Ivanovic-----Terry------ A.Cole ----------------------------Mikel --------------------------Lampard Kalou--------------------------------------Quaresma ------------------Anelka------------Di Santo Give Quaresma a runout, rest Drogs,Essien,Malouda,Alex, Ballack and Bosingwa. In the second half sub JT for Beletti and move Mancienne to the center,Lamps for Deco and Anelka for Stoch, or something of that nature. We're out of the title race but Barca game is only several days away so we'll need to rest as many players as possible. A win would be nice but I'd take even a draw if it means we'll be in top shape physically for Wednesday. Even if Arse gain a couple of points on us, I'm still positive we'll finish ahead of them.
April 30, 200916 yr Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Alex, Cole, Kalou, Deco, Mancienne, Quaresma, Anelka, Di Santo.
April 30, 200916 yr We need to Get Bossingwa 100%match fit and back at right back, A Cole muast also start. Rest Ballack, Essien and Drogba.
April 30, 200916 yr CechBossy Mancienne Terry Cole Quaresma Belleti Mikel Deco Kalou Anelka Di Santo Ok I know that's a stupid team but I can't do any better. Guess that's why Guus has the job and not me. that is a stupid team, you have 12 players there lol
April 30, 200916 yr that is a stupid team, you have 12 players there lol Based on this season's showing Deco doesn't count as a player.
May 1, 200916 yr (sexelk @ Apr 30 2009, 05:00 AM) that is a stupid team, you have 12 players there lol I knew there had to be some reason 4 4 3 wasn't that popular. OK Deco goes. Edited May 1, 200916 yr by ozboy
May 1, 200916 yr i think we should be resting drogba, cech, jt, alex, cole and lampard put out a make shift team with stoch and di santo leading the line last thing our better players need is a gruele against fulham ok its a local derby and theres pride at stake, but the cl should be more important than bragging rights
May 1, 200916 yr not a fan of resting players in derbies, but I guess we have to. giving quaresma a run out isn't a bad idea though. ..............................................cech bosingwa................ivanovic.............terry...............a.cole ..............................................mikel .............................belletti...................lampard ..............................................deco ..................................................................quaresma ................................anelka subs: drogba ballack essien alex hilario di santo stoch di santo and stoch to come on ideally, the big players are there if we need them.
May 1, 200916 yr Author I think Deco is out still G4. I think we may see something like ..............................................cech Mancienne................ivanovic.............terry...............a.cole ..............................................mikel .............................belletti................... Stoch..................................................................Kalou ..................................Anelka................................... ......................Di Santo.................................... Which is an accident waiting to happen!
May 1, 200916 yr can't believe we'd rest that many and play a 424! although I forgot about mancienne, can see him ahead of bosingwa. if deco is still out maybe di santo could get a start then. probably quaresma and anelka wide then.
May 1, 200916 yr Author Unless we go with more of an orthodox 4-4-2 (which would at least give Bluebeard a warm fuzzy feeling!)
May 2, 200916 yr I know I say this most league games now, but more than ever I want to see Quaresma play, especially after how well he did (and importantly: how hard he tried) against Tottenham reserves in the week. How often would you get a player of that quality, apparently with a 'bad attitude' who'd happily go in the reserves and try his heart out? Not very many, I'll tell you that. And for that reason it's going to be criminal if he doesn't get a game today, when we essentially have not a lot to play for and need to rest players on the weekend. I was speaking to my Portuguese mate the other day, and he said that even now, most Portuguese people think he has even more talent than Ronaldo, just a questionable attitude, well I think he's proved he's trying to overcome the latter, so let's see more of the former please Mr Hiddink!
May 2, 200916 yr I don't think we'll rest Lampard or JT, considering what Lampard said t'other week about being rested for games. And it's not as if JT ever needs rest, food or sleep. Do you reckon we'll give Cashley a start, to give him a warmup for next week, or will we rest him for that reason? I think we can count on seeing Mancienne and Mikel, however.
May 2, 200916 yr official line-up: 1 Petr Cech 17 José Bosingwa 33 Alex 26 John Terry © 3 Ashley Cole 8 Frank Lampard 12 John Mikel Obi 5 Michael Essien 15 Florent Malouda 11 Didier Drogba 39 Nicolas Anelka Substitutes: 40 Hilario, 2 Branislav Ivanovic, 35 Juliano Belletti, 42 Michael Mancienne, 13 Michael Ballack, 9 Franco Di Santo, 21 Salomon Kalou. Sorry if I miss something but where is Quaresma? I dont understand how Hiddink doesnt even give him the chance to come from the bench, especially against teams like fulham which will only try to defend the 0-0 somehow.
May 2, 200916 yr Strong team as usual. I hope we don't pick up any stupid/avoidable injuries, COME ON THE CHELS!!!!
May 2, 200916 yr 1423: TEAM NEWS Chelsea v Fulham Chelsea make just two changes from the side that earned a 0-0 draw in Barcelona on Tuesday, with Ashley Cole coming in for Branislav Ivanovic and Jose Bosingwa moving to right-back and Nicolas Anelka replacing Michael Ballack. Fulham are without the injured Andrew Johnson and he is replaced by Erik Nevland. Stunned really. I wouldve bet my mortgage on, say Drogba being rested. Fingers crossed we get lucky with any injuries.
May 2, 200916 yr I was surprised no one was rested as well. Maybe Hiddink's decided there are more important things than the CL and is giving it a back seat ;)
May 2, 200916 yr where are RQ and Stoch?? I think Ivanovic should start in CB next to JT. I doubt we will see Quaresma ever again to be honest. Id like to know whats going on, but i suspect either its his attitude or simply Guus doesnt fancy him. I think we have to trust Guus on this one. Malouda has actually started to offer something to the team so its not a case of us having ten any more anyway. Edited May 2, 200916 yr by bjd
May 2, 200916 yr im surprised but it does sort of make sense. hopefully we can get a couple of goals up and then we can rest 3 of our big names after an hour or so. theres a lot to be said for continuation, sometimes resting a load of players can backfire for the next gameas the players can drop off during a break.
May 2, 200916 yr im surprised but it does sort of make sense. hopefully we can get a couple of goals up and then we can rest 3 of our big names after an hour or so. theres a lot to be said for continuation, sometimes resting a load of players can backfire for the next gameas the players can drop off during a break. Agree with that totally but we wont half be mad if Drogs or Lamps come off with a muscle strain after 15 mins!
