PL, Sunderland vs. Chelsea, 24/05/09, 16:00 BST

[Gem]

So, Sunderland just lost 3-1 to Pompey, meaning they are one of 4 teams who could go down on Sunday. Not great news for us, as I'm sure a few tackles will be thrown about, and the week before a cup final it isn't the ideal situation. I don't want to suggest "resting" a few players (although if that meant Newcastle went down then y'know...) but it couldn't be a bad idea. I guess we won't, so there's no point in going there.

Just no injuries please, thats all I want from this one. Want a fully fit team for the cup final.

[The Moos]

We might have lost the title, but we can still get 2nd place and one of our players might still become top scorer. Anelka and Ronaldo has scored the same amount of goals and I would like it if Anelka finished 1st this season. So I hope he get to play and also take any penalty we get.

Too bad Sunderland has something to play for because it will make things more difficult for us.

But what I hope to get from this game is:

* A win, preferebly a big win if possible.

* A couple of goals from Anelka (or atleast enough to become top scorer).

* No injuries or red cards (does cards affect the cup game?).

[mad_mac]

Not sure about the reds Moos, but I think that it could be inconsequential as one is in the League, and one is in teh FA Cup. but I'm not overly sure as I now have a sneaky feeling that a red card in the league might mean they miss the final.....someone help me out here

[BlueBeard]

Anelka and Ronaldo has scored the same amount of goals and I would like it if Anelka finished 1st this season. So I hope he get to play and also take any penalty we get.

Us get a penalty? You're having a f*ckin' laugh ain't ya?

[Mr Chelsea]

i'm not happy about having play a relegation threatened sunderland side at the weekend now

now instead of having an end of season meaningless kick about with both sets of players and fans enjoying themselves

we're going be involved in a relegation dog fight, with the risk of injuries to players

i cant see fergie playing fakeboy as he wont want risk him falling over and injuring himself before the barca game

so hopefully anelka will score the goal he needs to win the golden boot, which he deserves anyway as he hasnt got penalties and free kicks in his tally

[midlandblue]

this is the perfect game for us to be tested as a defensive unit, cant see any change to the formation to start the game, but if we are level at half time I can see Guss making changes to formation and palyers for the second half.

[Tea Bar Boy]

well I hope sunderland win and Anelka scores a brace

reason being the last time we relegated a team outside of the bottom 3 on the last game prior to a cup final we didn't do very well in the final . Plus by newphew and brother in law are Mackems .........

[Howdenmackem]

Hopefully like most fans in england you will love to see the geordie scum get relagated,so just wondering if hiddink will rest a few of the 1st team with the facup final comeing up the weekend after

[Mod]

I am hoping Guus does rest some with the Cup Final next week. Nico will play and score against you though to grab the golden boot!

[yorkleyblue]

Personally speaking, I doubt it. Bang 5 past your lot again and have the Spuds turn the bin-dippers over and we go second. :D

Also personally speaking, I am sad for West Brom - I was hoping for Toons, Sunderland and Boro to go down :( - Still, wasn't it the great literary genius Meatloaf who said Two out of Three Ain't Bad

Kev

[Mod]

Anelka and Ronaldo has scored the same amount of goals and I would like it if Anelka finished 1st this season. So I hope he get to play and also take any penalty we get.

I love Nico, but lets leave the pens to Lamps eh! We don't want any repeat of that wet night in Moscow.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Hoping to see some full debuts handed to Stoch/Di Santo/Sinclair. Can't risk losing Malouda or Drogba or Anelka really. But Anelka needs that goal to make him Golden Boot winner. So I suggest resting Malouda and Drogba, and starting Stoch + Sinclair in place of them, and putting Anelka through the middle.

Then bring on Drogba/Malouda if it's 0-0 with 20 mins to go.

Edited May 19, 2009 by Ruh Buh Juh

[MHedges]

Hoping to see some full debuts handed to Stoch/Di Santo/Sinclair. Can't risk losing Malouda or Drogba or Anelka really. But Anelka needs that goal to make him Golden Boot winner. So I suggest resting Malouda and Drogba, and starting Stoch + Sinclair in place of them, and putting Anelka through the middle.

Then bring on Drogba/Malouda if it's 0-0 with 20 mins to go.

Don't lose hope in getting 2nd in the league! Play all our starters, if Liverpool take the lead on tottenham, then put in some youngsters at halftime.

[geezer]

I think Guus will go with the full strength armoury to keep the guys in top shape for the final the week after.

[Guest bigjockknew]

I'd like to see Newcastle go down before Sunderland but we come first. We should let Anelka play and blood some of the youngsters in a crunching game - it would give them a chance they deserve and we could rest a few key players for the final - in the end though we should be going for the result no matter what the sentimentalitie

[The Moos]

I love Nico, but lets leave the pens to Lamps eh! We don't want any repeat of that wet night in Moscow.

I see your point, but if we're up by a couple of goals then I think we might let Nico take a penalty. I mean, if he miss it probably wont lose us the game.

On the other hand, if it turns out that Ronaldo isn't playing and Nico already has a goal then I think Lamps can take it so he reaches 20 goals (he's on 19 now, right?).

If both have goals then let Cech take it :D

Or maybe Hiddink, if that isn't against the rules.

Edited May 19, 2009 by The Moos

[Mod]

I heard Ronaldo could be rested for that 'Corrupt Convention' Man Utd are attending in Rome, so Nico could be getting passes from everyone in front of goal on Saturday.

[MHedges]

I heard Ronaldo could be rested for that 'Corrupt Convention' Man Utd are attending in Rome, so Nico could be getting passes from everyone in front of goal on Saturday.

What does that even mean?

[Mod]

It means Ronaldo may be rested for Uniteds game against Hull so he is fit for the Champions League final. Ronaldo is currently top scorer in the premiership alongside Anelka. This means it would be good for Anelka to get a goal or two on Saturday and we may see generous passes to him against Sunderland (like Drogba did against Blackburn) so he can claim the golden boot!

(Blimey these Americans, claimed our language and still want guidance :D )

[Ruh Buh Juh]

It means Ronaldo may be rested for Uniteds game against Hull so he is fit for the Champions League final. Ronaldo is currently top scorer in the premiership alongside Anelka. This means it would be good for Anelka to get a goal or two on Saturday and we may see generous passes to him against Sunderland (like Drogba did against Blackburn) so he can claim the golden boot!

(Blimey these Americans, claimed our language and still want guidance :lol: )

Well said :P

[mad_mac]

Top stuff!!

Anyway, if 2nd place wasn't an option I'd say we would field a second string side. However, with 2nd still a possibility, I feel we will play the same starting 11 that we saw last week, but actually use some of our subs this time

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Don't lose hope in getting 2nd in the league! Play all our starters, if Liverpool take the lead on tottenham, then put in some youngsters at halftime.

Don't lose faith in our youngsters!

[MHedges]

I do have faith in our youngsters, but I don't exactly have faith for them to bag 3 or 4 against Sunderland!

[icecoolguy22]

Too important of a match to play reserves simply because of the relegation battle for Sunderland. If we play reserve and lose, it will be conspiracy theory all over the news. I can see a few minor changes in the team, for instance resting Cole or Lampard, but not a whole sale change. Personally I never liked Sunderland, if we send them packing to the CC league, so be it!

[bjd]

I suspect we may see Drogba and Essien rested but no-one else, maybe at a push Ashley and Alex. JT, Lamps play every Premier League game full stop.

Those looking too see Stoch, Di Santo etc are in for another disapointment i expect.

I reckon it will be something like

Cech

Boswinga

Ivanovic

JT

Cole

Mikel

Lampard

Belleti

Malouda

Kalou (if fit)

Anelka