Seems like a hell of a long time since we played and what better way to get back on the bike than making Steve Bruce feel glum.

I see today man management expert Bruce has said that nobody would be prepared the required price for Jones. Or, in other words, 'You're not worth it Jones'

We should see a few changes to the team that beat Watford with Cech, Ballack and Anelka all likely to return to the first team.

Sunderland have won one and drawn two out of ten away games this season averaging around a goal a game. Last two premiership results seem to be draws with Blackburn and Everton.

Hopefully Anelka is back and fully fit and can play with Sturridge up front. As for the diamond I'd like to pick both Zhirkov and Malouda but I guess Malouda will get the nod so Lampard Cole, Malouda and Ballack. The trouble with that diamond as we all know now is firstly its lack of pace and secondly the lack of form of Cole, Balllack and Lampard in that order.

Maybe Alex should play at the back instead of Riccy.

desparately wanting a win....well desparately wanting football actually.

I want Ancellotti to stick with the 4-3-3.

Ivan-----Alex----JT----Cole

--Lampard--Ballack---Malouda

--Anelka---Studge--Zhirkov

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

----ivan------alex---jt-------ash-----

----------------ballack----------------

----------lamps----zhirkov-----------

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

-----------anelka-sturridge----------

Subs: Hilario, PF, Ricci, Malouda,Kakuta,Matic.Borini

I want Ancellotti to stick with the 4-3-3.

Ivan-----Alex----JT----Cole

--Lampard--Ballack---Malouda

--Anelka---Studge--Zhirkov

Cole-Malouda-Zhirkov on the left side? I don't think we will see it honestly..could be interesting though.

Deco's apparently still injured, so is Bosingwa. Don't really expect Ancelotti to 'start' our game with a 4-3-3, so I'm guessing Ancelotti's 4-1-2-1-2 should line up something like this:

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

---------Ivanovic----------Carvalho-------Terry---------Ashley Cole-----------

-------------------------------------Ballack---------------------------------------

---------------------Lampard---------------------Malouda-----------------------

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

---------------------Sturridge---------------------Anelka------------------------

Substitutes: Hilario, Zhirkov, Borini, Ferreira, Belletti, Alex, Matic

^ Personally, I'd rather start with Zhirkov in place of Malouda, Alex in place of Carvalho, and have Kakuta on the bench.

We could see Matic or Belletti tried out in the holding-midfielder's role later on in the game, lest we switch to 4-3-3 before that.

Edited January 13, 201016 yr by Bombay Blues

The players should be fresh and ready following the Hull City postponement. So I expect a decisive win against Sunderland. More than likely Carlo will start with his diamond formation.

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

Ivan -----------------Alex---------------Terry------------Ashley

-------------------------------Belletti----------------------------

------------------Ballack------------------Lampard-------------

-------------------------------Malouda--------------------------

---------------------Anelka-----------------Sturridge-----------

Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Joe Cole, Matic, Kakuta, Borini.

The players should be fresh and ready following the Hull City postponement. So I expect a decisive win against Sunderland. More than likely Carlo will start with his diamond formation.

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

Ivan -----------------Alex---------------Terry------------Ashley

-------------------------------Belletti----------------------------

------------------Ballack------------------Lampard-------------

-------------------------------Malouda--------------------------

---------------------Anelka-----------------Sturridge-----------

Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Joe Cole, Matic, Kakuta, Borini.

I'd swap Ballack for Zhirkov, other than that it's the lineup I'd go with.

Wow, our first Premiership game of 2010 and without key players but this must be the beginning of a good run because we urgently need a good start to Jan.

Cech

Ivan Alex Terry Ashley

Ballack

Lampard Malouda Zhirkov

Anelka Sturridge

Home game against okay opposition so I don't see any need for a defensive midfielder.

I would line up:

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

Ivan-----Alex----JT----Cole

Joey--Lampard--Ballack---Zhirkov

.......--Anelka---Studge--

Subs: Hilario, Bruma, Malouda, Kakuta, Borini, Matic

Even without key players we should be capable of beating Sunderland considering the squad we have.

Is Anelka confirmed as fit ?

Cole-Malouda-Zhirkov on the left side? I don't think we will see it honestly..could be interesting though.

Interesting what Malouda thinks about loading the left wing out and going 4-3-3...

MALOUDA: LEFT-WING POLICY

Posted on: Fri 15 Jan 2010

In our most recent match the team started with four left-footed players, Florent Malouda, Ashley Cole, Yury Zhirkov and Daniel Sturridge. The total used rose to six with Gael Kakuta and Nemanja Matic coming on as subs.

As he prepares to take on Sunderland two weeks after that FA Cup outing against Watford, Malouda discusses the advantage of loading up on left-footers.

It must be unusual playing in a side so equal in right and left-footed players?

Everyone was talking about that and I think it was the first time in my career so many left-footed players were in the team. But it was great because we did great moves and it was a real threat for the opponents. It created many spaces and gave us many chances.

There was a good balance to the team. Was the interchanging between you, Ashley and Yury easier being all left-footers?

We were trying to be aware of the movement of our team-mates all the time and when Ashley was wide and I was trying to stay inside. We had basic positions but we were trying to move and cover team-mates so we had freedom to adapt. In the same way we kept the balance to close the channels when we were defending.

Tell us about playing in the 4-3-3 formation that has returned at times since Christmas, most notably in the second-half versus Fulham?

People have focused on the system but basically the system hasn't changed. People call it 4-3-3 but when we defend we have the same system which we were using for the game against Watford - the Christmas tree. When we had the ball we were maybe 4-3-3 because we were create space and try not always to be in the centre of the pitch but basically the way we are animating the system is the same.

We are trying to create space between the opposition defenders so you have players who have to go wide and some players who go in the middle of the pitch but there is no basic change. The options we had are because we had more left-footed players and we were using the wings more and it creates more space, but the system is the same.

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0...1932858,00.html

I hope that we'll play 4-3-3.

I really don't mind what formation we play to be honest, I just want to watch the team. Given that Watford wasn't televised I haven't actually seen us play in more than two weeks.

A good belting of Sunderland should fix that though. Hopefully with a goal somewhere for Joe Cole.

I really don't mind what formation we play to be honest, I just want to watch the team. Given that Watford wasn't televised I haven't actually seen us play in more than two weeks.

A good belting of Sunderland should fix that though. Hopefully with a goal somewhere for Joe Cole.

If he plays that is. However I do hope Carlo puts him in the starting line-up for tomorrow's game. It is going to be one of those games when we are going to need a bit of quality from a player like Joe Cole, Deco ect. Sunderland ae not going to be a push over and also have done well so far this season against the 'Big Four', apart from of cause the game against us back in August.

I think he'll play. From all reports Deco isn't match fit meaning if we play the diamond he's the most likely to play, and if we play 4-3-3 then he's the only right sided winger in the first team I'm pretty sure.

the clocks havent gone forward yet , so no chance of Deco being match fit

Looks like Zhirkov is missing out again.

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0...1933954,00.html

Today Ancelotti will have to disappoint one or two players who would like, and may be expecting a start. One could be Daniel Sturridge, the other between Alex and Ricardo Carvalho who have both staked a claim to partner John Terry in central defence.

Elsewhere, the coach has his line-up pretty well sorted, with his list of names revealing another start in midfield for Juliano Belletti, and Florent Malouda and Joe Cole expected instead of young striker Sturridge.

'Cech, Ivanovic right-back, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Belletti, Lampard, Anelka. I think Joe Cole, Malouda, Anelka,' Ancelotti said.

Does Belletti have photos of Carlo in a compromising position? I can't believe zhirkov doesn't get more starts. He's looked first rate when he's been on.

If Studgey doesnt start, I will be disappointed.

Does Belletti have photos of Carlo in a compromising position? I can't believe zhirkov doesn't get more starts. He's looked first rate when he's been on.

I don't know about Beletti but I'm pretty sure Joe Cole getting playing time irregardless of his form is largely due to the fact that he hasn't signed an extension yet and is free to negotiate with other clubs so he's being picked even though he is struggling.

Edited January 16, 201016 yr by abramovich

If Studgey doesnt start, I will be disappointed.

And Hes Not! For some reason :S.

I Really wanted to see him upfront with Anelka and Either Joe or Malouda supporting.. Not Both !

Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-3-3 formation:

1 Petr Cech

2 Branislav Ivanovic

6 Ricardo Carvalho

26 John Terry ©

3 Ashley Cole

13 Michael Ballack

35 Juliano Belletti

8 Frank Lampard

10 Joe Cole

39 Nicolas Anelka

15 Florent Malouda

Substitutes: 40 Hilario, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 33 Alex, 18 Yury Zhirkov, 24 Nemanja Matic, 45 Fabio Borini, 23 Daniel Sturridge.

So no Kakuta :)

Nice to see Borini and Matic on the bench however. I hope they can get some minutes on the pitch today.

One thing I found odd on chelseafc.com is this quote: "Michael Ballack replacing Yury Zhirkov in midfield"

Surely Zhirkov never played as central midfielder? Wouldn't it make much more sense if Yury was replaced by Ashley or Malouda?

Excited to see how we play with more width.

Edited January 16, 201016 yr by A.T.E