Birmingam are lying 8th, recently put Everton out of the FA Cup. Away from home they have played 10 games winning 4 scoring 12 goals and conceding 13.

With Ivory Coast out of the ANC Drogs and Kalou will soon be on their way back, but not in time for this game.

We have injury worries over Lampard, but Malouda is a ready made replacement, or Zhirkov.

Carlo has been playing Belletti in the holding role, which I guess will continue. He's tended to go with riccy over Alex.

The tip of the diamond remains the attacking problem with Joe Cole apparently still having to work hard to make an impact at Preston.

Anelka Sturridge

Malouda Ballack Joe Cole Belletti

A. Cole Terry Alex Ivanovic

Cech (if fit)

If Lamps was fit then I'd play Ballack at the back of the diamond keep Malouda as a starter and push Belleti back to the bench.

Bossy should also be back in the next week as a sub.

Hopefully we'll win this win one at home...but could be a tough game.

Any news about Belletti´s injury ?

4-3-3 please, and a similar line-up (apart from one or two) to the one that hosted Sunderland:

-------------------------------CECH------------------------------

------IVANOVIC-----TERRY---------ALEX------A.COLE---------

--------LAMPARD----------BELLETTI---------ZHIRKOV---------

-------J.COLE--------------ANELKA-----------MALOUDA--------

1. I know seeing Ashley, Malouda, Zhirkov - ALL playing on the left flank would be ambitious and unlikely, but hell, I'm an optimist.

2. Presume Ashley Cole is fit and available?

3. If fit, rather play Lampard, albeit on the right, or have Ballack play in his position. In that case, we could switch Ballack and Belletti's positions, but I suppose Ancelotti prefers it the other way round.

Let's hope Drogba's back for the game against Hull.

4-3-3 please, and a similar line-up (apart from one or two) to the one that hosted Sunderland:

-------------------------------CECH------------------------------

------IVANOVIC-----TERRY---------ALEX------A.COLE---------

--------LAMPARD----------BELLETTI---------ZHIRKOV---------

-------J.COLE--------------ANELKA-----------MALOUDA--------

1. I know seeing Ashley, Malouda, Zhirkov - ALL playing on the left flank would be ambitious and unlikely, but hell, I'm an optimist.

2. Presume Ashley Cole is fit and available?

3. If fit, rather play Lampard, albeit on the right, or have Ballack play in his position. In that case, we could switch Ballack and Belletti's positions, but I suppose Ancelotti prefers it the other way round.

Let's hope Drogba's back for the game against Hull.

Cole, Zhirkov and Malouda on the left flank! Its like getting a Thai massage from The Corrs sisters while sipping a fine Portuguese wine.

Cole, Zhirkov and Malouda on the left flank! Its like getting a Thai massage from The Corrs sisters while sipping a fine Portuguese wine.

I don't think anything involving Malouda is that good. Except his trophy for 'most outlandish haircut at Stamford Bridge'.

Sometimes when I don't feel like watching football, I will wake up and turn on the telly at 3am in the morning just so I can laugh at Malouda's latest hairstyle....

Just joking....I always feel like watching football....but his hair is still crap

I am really worried about this game and see it as a must win for us which is going to be very very tough .

Birmingham are in a very rich vein of form and with us lying 3rd we really must win this to have a chance of landing the big one in May .

I want Drogba on the bench for this game, just in case, it wont hurt him to sit there for 90 minutes, it will get him re-acclimatised to the British weather.

I don't think anything involving Malouda is that good. Except his trophy for 'most outlandish haircut at Stamford Bridge'.

I just wanted to say its like a fantasy....and you just spoiled it by mentioning Malouda's hairs.

team is setup a bit like the jocks national team - solid 442

great keeper, back 4 have 3 centrebacks so strong in the air, carr still decent player (yes I know he was a spud)

midfield 4 good tacklers and work hard as a unit, also got a bit of niggle in there

front 2 are quick and want it long down the channels, happy to concede possession and then hit on the break

they press the play and will try to stop our passing game and make us hit long and high..........into the solid centrebacks

away match we were far better team and shouldve won tho

way to win is to play it quickly on the floor and get some width and take on their full backs on

piece of cake

3-0 to cfc

Birmingham are a well organised side and their recent form is no fluke but at their place i thought we created enough to win the game , and should have got a result. Most of the 2nd half was in their half , but it was difficult to break them down with everyone of the players defending deep in numbers . I'd like to see Joey given a more free role to take on the full back , Anelka with Sturridge starting , and move the ball quickly , dont give them opportunities to close us down . Zhirkov has really impressed , hope he starts , very rarely gives away the ball and i think our back four should be the usual suspects .

I too think Zhirkov deserves a start. A last shot at 4-3-3 before Drogs is back and we revert to the diamond is in order.

Would like to see Sturridge and Zhirkov starting aswell. Back-4 should be clear. I just wonder about Belletti and Lampards injuries. Did I miss something or are there no news regarding them? Deco at the holding position wouldn´t be a bad idea aswell. He played well there against Preston.

Im pretty optimistic about the match as ever, even tho we didnt play well against Preston, confidence and luck seem to be back.

Just checked physioroom and they dont have a return date for Belletti, Lampards "injury", if it is one, isn´t mentioned.

Edited January 26, 201016 yr by german-blue

Deco at the holding position wouldn´t be a bad idea aswell. He played well there against Preston.

He did OK, but you have to be joking? Risking Deco in the holding role in a hugely important premier league game where we really can't afford any slip ups?

This is not a game for Deco, we need grit and determination in the middle for this game.

Ancelotti has just announced tomorrow's team at the press conference.

Sounds like a 4-3-3 or the christmas tree formation to me.

Cech

Ivanovic

Terry

Carvalho or Alex (can't remember who he said)

A Cole

Ballack

Deco

Lampard

J Cole

Malouda

Anelka

Ancelotti has just announced tomorrow's team at the press conference.

Sounds like a 4-3-3 or the christmas tree formation to me.

Cech

Ivanovic

Terry

Carvalho or Alex (can't remember who he said)

A Cole

Ballack

Deco

Lampard

J Cole

Malouda

Anelka

Carvalho it is.

Looks like a 4-3-3 to me with with either Deco or Ballack holding the midfield. Hopefully Joe puts on a show and a new contract is agreed after the final whistle.

Does anybody know if this game is on TV? I have been looking around and it doesn't look like it is going to be. Any ideas?

Does anybody know if this game is on TV? I have been looking around and it doesn't look like it is going to be. Any ideas?

It's on ESPN in India. Which is as good as it gets for us Indians. However, the official site suggests tha the game is only on Chelsea TV for those in Britain I guess?

It's on ESPN in India. Which is as good as it gets for us Indians. However, the official site suggests tha the game is only on Chelsea TV for those in Britain I guess?

Well I am from the US so hopefully I can get it from a live stream from somewhere. If anybody has any suggestions on how to get more Chelsea games over here I would be open to anything. I miss too many games.

Ancelotti has just announced tomorrow's team at the press conference.

Sounds like a 4-3-3 or the christmas tree formation to me.

Cech

Ivanovic

Terry

Carvalho or Alex (can't remember who he said)

A Cole

Ballack

Deco

Lampard

J Cole

Malouda

Anelka

Well decent line-up but not too happy about Zhirkov not beeing in the line-up

It is on Fox Soccer Channel in the USA.

It is on Fox Soccer Channel in the USA.

Are all or most of the Chelsea games on FOX Soccer Channel in the USA?

Ancelotti has just announced tomorrow's team at the press conference.

Sounds like a 4-3-3 or the christmas tree formation to me.

Cech

Ivanovic

Terry

Carvalho or Alex (can't remember who he said)

A Cole

Ballack

Deco

Lampard

J Cole

Malouda

Anelka

Now call me old fashioned, by why the hell would he want to go and do that? What advantage do we gain by it?