Back to business after a series of mickey mouse international friendlies for most of our players (oh and a certain game for Anelka and Malouda).

Wolves to tackle on the day of the 2009 Shed End Piss Up. Lampard is definitely out however the fitness of Drogba and Terry is currently subject to nothing but speculation.

My gut feel is JT will play but Drogba won't in which case we will see probably see Kalou partner Anelka.

Zhirkov might start at left back given that he played a full 90 minutes for Russia or we could see Ferreira at left back again. I would expect to see Ivanovic play at right back in place of the injured Bosingwa.

Certainly interesting to try and speculate who will play, if the press are correct, we are without Ash, Bosingwa, Lampard, Terry, and Drogba.

Replacements respectively being: Zhirkov, Ivanovic, Malouda, Alex, Kalou.

However, we could always see Paulo in at LB, and maybe Belletti at RD with Ivan playing in the center with Alex and Carvs being rested.

You could all be witness to Yuri's first game!

First Premiership game maybe but not his first competitive game as he played in the Carling Cup against QPR

Sorry Loz, should have been a bit more precise...yes, his first Premiership game!

Consider yourself chastised - could be worse though, you could be dkw who finds every post he ever makes scrutinised by moi for grammatical errors.

Consider yourself chastised - could be worse though, you could be dkw who finds every post he ever makes scrutinised by moi for grammatical errors.

For the nth time, I would like to clarify that dkw hardly ever makes grammatical mistakes - what he regularly makes is punctuational deliberate omissions.

-----------------------cech------------------------

----ivan--------carv--------alex(JT)---zhirkov----

----------------------mikel------------------------

--------------------ess--ballack-------------------

-----------------------joe---------------------------

-----------------anelka-kalou(drogba)------------

Would replace JT with Alex and Drogba with Kalou, but of course only if they are injured and cant play.

Lampard wont be able to play, so I would like to see Mikel play again and Essien would go a little more forward then.

Zhirkov should definitly play after he played 90minutes against Slovenia on Saturday.

Edited November 15, 200916 yr by german-blue

For the nth time, I would like to clarify that dkw hardly ever makes grammatical mistakes - what he regularly makes is punctuational deliberate omissions.

Just because he doesn't make them doesn't mean you don't look for them.

any ideas when our wounded will be back to action?

Well this is a test for Carlo with injuries isnt it , his first game without key players , still think were too strong @ home .

Somehow Zhirkov having been out all season manages to be fit to play for russia so he is a good choice to replace ashley cole. Also mike makes a magic return to fitness just in time for the nigeria game so he can replace lampard.

Hopefully anelka is still fit. Happy to rest drogs and we could even rest terry for this game playing paulo at right back and pulling ivanovic into the centre.

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

----Ivanovic---Alex---Carvalho---Zhirkov

--------------------Essien------------------------

---------------Ballack------------Deco

---------------------Joe Cole--------------

---------------Kalou---------------Anelka

Subs: Turnbull, Hutchinson, Malouda, Matic, Kakuta, Obi Mikel, Sturridge

Somehow Zhirkov having been out all season manages to be fit to play for russia so he is a good choice to replace ashley cole. Also mike makes a magic return to fitness just in time for the nigeria game so he can replace lampard.

Hopefully anelka is still fit. Happy to rest drogs and we could even rest terry for this game playing paulo at right back and pulling ivanovic into the centre.

Mikel was on the bench against Manu .. dont know why zhirkov wasnt even on the bench and still was able to play 90 minutes for Russia.

For the nth time, I would like to clarify that dkw hardly ever makes grammatical mistakes - what he regularly makes is punctuational deliberate omissions.

Speaking of grammatical mistakes, shouldn't it be 'deliberate punctuational omissions'?

*waits to be shown up*

</pedant>

Ballack is doubtful as well. He has an infection of some sort in his knee. He will miss Germany's friendly match on wednesday..

Will be a good test to Carlo and to our second string as well. I'm hoping to see Deco bossing the midfield with Essien and Malouda and Zhirkov as left-back. Anelka to start with Kalou in the front and Sturridge coming from bench after an hour..

Is Mikel fit to play again? If so i want to see a midfield like this on saturday(If Ballack is out aswell)

Mikel

Essien Malouda

Deco/Cole

Should be more than enough to hammer Wolves. I would also want to see Sturridge up front with Anelka. First of all the lad deserves at shot in premier league, and we got to find out if we can trust him in january aswell without Kalou and Drogba.

I would imagine that he will be conscious of those players that have been off on international duty as well as those injured.

Those who play on wednesday in the qualifiers will be particularly tired I would think.

I think he will go with something like:

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

Belleti ----Ivanovic-----Alex---Ferriera

-------------------Essien--------------

---------Ballack------------Malouda

-------------------Joe Cole------------

----------Kalou---------------Anelka

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

---Ivanovic---Alex------Carvalho---Zhirkov

--------------------Essien

-------------Ballack------Malouda

------------------Joey Cole

-------------Kalou-------Anelka

Subs: Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Bruma, Deco, Sturridge, Borini

Drogba will be fit for the Wolves match, because hes going to start for Ivory coast tomorrow in a friendly against Germany.

Drogba will be fit for the Wolves match, because hes going to start for Ivory coast tomorrow in a friendly against Germany.

Lets hope he doesnt get injured in that one then

Just watching Russia-Slovenia (rerun) on Eurosport and have to say I would love to see Zhirkov play. He was very very good for Russia most of the game. He even went clean through dribbling brilliantly past two players but due to brilliant save from Slovenia goalie he didn't score. Also his crosses were better than I've ever seen from Ashley+Malouda all season. Hope he gets his chance.

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

---Ivanovic---Alex------Carvalho---Zhirkov

--------------------Essien

-------------Ballack------Malouda

------------------Joey Cole

-------------Kalou-------Anelka

Subs: Hilario, Belletti, Ferreira, Bruma, Deco, Sturridge, Borini

That looks a good team to me. I expect Mikel to play though. Obviously there are currently doubts over Ballack and we cant forget a fair few of these players have a game on Wednesday so there could be more injuries. Im not sure if Zhirkov is currently at a stage where he can play three games in a week, so dont be surprised to see Paulo at left back.

Either way we have been really very lucky with the fixture listings again (just like we have in January), we shouldnt forget this next time we moan about anti Chelsea conspiracies etc! Imagine if it was this weekend we were due to go to The Emirates!

Helmet

Borris

JT

Ricky

Yuri/ Paulo/ Beletti/ Tea Lady

Obi

Bison

Ballack/Deco

Joe

Nic

Didier/ Sola

If Ballack aint fit could possible see both Joe and Deco in the same team??

If ballack and Lampard are out I'd think we'd see the midfield 4 be

.............Essien

....Mikel...........Malouda

...........Cole/Deco

all the injuries are a concern, and anelka has to be kept fit.

Some of these midweek games were tough and wolves will be fresh, so this game will be closer than you'd think. Thats particularly as we will tend to relax mentally and therefore be a bit sloppy.

Kalou could start up front with Joe Cole, together with Malouda and Deco might give us enough attacking push.

Essien, Mikel to cover the centre, alex, riccy, ivan and zhirkov at the back.