Posted October 31, 201014 yr thought against rovers we were tad jaded, and started slowly................and wolves at home similar, but yes we won the matches moscow looked sharpish up front with some quick & clever players in the away leg and don't expect an easy ride this week drogs got a good assist yesterday but his general game is a bit patchy isn't so hoping he'll return to some form expect kalou to start instead of malouda, and bosingwa back in 2-0 will be good result
October 31, 201014 yr Hi again :) Spartak team news: Captain and playmaker Alex will be fit; Striker Ari & vice-cap Parshivlyuk injured; Spartak results since first leg: Siberia 0-0 SM SM 1-0 Zenit SM 2-1 Rostov Probable lineup Dikan Shtranzl Suchy Pareja Sheshukov McGeady Alex Ibson D.Kombarov ??????(Ananidze/Kozlov) Welliton Prediction: Draw/chelsea win
October 31, 201014 yr Perfect game to give Josh his first start. Both Mikel and Essien need and deserve a rest before Liverpool away but such a shame that we don`t have any cover for those two at the moment. If Ramires is back we should at least start him in favour of Essien because he don`t look as sharp as he should be if you ask me.
October 31, 201014 yr We need to find a good balance here. We need to rest people ahead of the trip to Scouserville but we really can't field too weak of a side. I think Drogba should start since he looks like he needs the playing time to get fit, Bosingwa should come in for Ivan, Kalou in for Malouda, and Cole, Terry, and Alex should all start. Zhirkov starting is a no-brainer, but the 3 players I'm wondering about are Essien, Mikel, and Anelka. Anelka not so much, I think he should start and maybe come off for Kakuta later. Any news on Ramires? He could start if he's fit. If not, I say rest one of either Mikel or Essien and start McEachran. One of those two could use a rest. Anyone know anything about Lamps as well? I know he and Ramires start training on Monday so they probably won't be entirely fit, but perhaps Lamps could get a few minutes towards the end.
November 1, 201014 yr I'd honestly like to see a young team out there. Tunbull boss bruma alex van aanholt Gael josh yuri sturridge Nic Kalou
November 1, 201014 yr Think this match will ultimately determine how much Carlo trusts/rates our younger players with Liverpool away only a few days after this one. I'd rest about 6 or 7 players for this one. Cech Bosingwa Bruma Alex PvA Mikel McEachran Zhirkov Kalou Sturridge Kakuta That's a decent enough team to get at least a draw against Spartak at Home. Edited November 1, 201014 yr by Gilvorak
November 1, 201014 yr I dare say it won't be a disaster if we lose this one, as long as we don't have any injuries. I would at least half of the team on Saturday, play Drogba etc for 20 minutes if we need 1 goal.
November 1, 201014 yr I dare say it won't be a disaster if we lose this one, as long as we don't have any injuries. I would at least half of the team on Saturday, play Drogba etc for 20 minutes if we need 1 goal. Well...it´wont be a total disaster but a bad result that leaves us in quite a bad position if we want to progress as the group winners. IF we win this one then we will finish top of the group 99,9% . That leaves us 6 points ahead of Spartak and Marseille (who I expect to beat Zilina). So at least a point from our last 2 games and it´s done. Draw would be bearable as well as Then it would be Chelsea 10, Spartak 7, Marseille 6, Zilina 0. A win at home against Zilina and a draw in Marseille will do then. But a lose will leave us not in a good position. Chelsea 9, Spartak 9, Marseille 6, Zilina 0. As Spartak have the last two games at home against Marseille and away against Zilina I expect them to get 6 points from those games. That means we have to win at home against Zilina and away against Marseille. So we cannot rest our key players as much as we would like. I expect that Carlo will field quite a strong lineup. Maybe give a rest to Mikel or Essien and Malouda. Ramires is back and I expect him to start in place of Mikel-Essien. Kakuta or Studge might get a nod for Malouda. Expect DD to play as he hasn´t played in the competition yet and need a goal imo to get himself going. Remember scousers have to play on Thursday and need a win as well as they are in a quite even group. So far Whoy has given Torres and Steve Me a rest from the Europa league games and I expect him to act like that this time as well. Other than that the first team players should play for them as thier bench is not very long. Cech Bosingwa-Alex-Terry-Cole/Zhirkov Ramires-Mikel-Zhirkov/McEachran Anelka-Drogba-Kakuta/Studge
November 1, 201014 yr I have doubt about the importance of 'progress as the group winner'. Look at last year, we won the group and got Inter, the eventual champion. There are no weak teams in the knock out stage, and if are going to win the cup, we have to play the likes of Barca or Madrid somewhere down the track. I'm not saying we should play the youth team, just think we can afford to take some risks in team selection. If things aren't working out, we have another 2 games to make things right. Surely, we can't fail to progress from the group. I consider the focus now is to maintain and extend our lead in the league, so we can afford to drop a few points new year to win the cup.
November 1, 201014 yr I have doubt about the importance of 'progress as the group winner'. Look at last year, we won the group and got Inter, the eventual champion. There are no weak teams in the knock out stage, and if are going to win the cup, we have to play the likes of Barca or Madrid somewhere down the track. I'm not saying we should play the youth team, just think we can afford to take some risks in team selection. If things aren't working out, we have another 2 games to make things right. Surely, we can't fail to progress from the group. I consider the focus now is to maintain and extend our lead in the league, so we can afford to drop a few points new year to win the cup. Getting Inter last year was just bad luck. But that is unlikey to happen this year, with all the big guns at the top of different groups at this point. We'll have to face them eventually, but the more easy matches we have, the better our chances.
November 1, 201014 yr Hi again :) Spartak team news: Captain and playmaker Alex will be fit; Striker Ari & vice-cap Parshivlyuk injured; Spartak results since first leg: Siberia 0-0 SM SM 1-0 Zenit SM 2-1 Rostov Probable lineup Dikan Shtranzl Suchy Pareja Sheshukov McGeady Alex Ibson D.Kombarov ??????(Ananidze/Kozlov) Welliton Prediction: Draw/chelsea win Hi mate! :D Sorry, but you don't have chances to get a draw at The Bridge. ;) Unfortunately, Lampard won't return to this game, but we've got a squad which is strong enough to beat you! ;)
November 1, 201014 yr Hi mate! :D Sorry, but you don't have chances to get a draw at The Bridge. ;) Unfortunately, Lampard won't return to this game, but we've got a squad which is strong enough to beat you! ;) Thats what liverpool, ajax, real, bayern and arsenal also thought;)
November 1, 201014 yr ---------------------------------cech------------------------------------- ---bosingwa----------bruma-------jt-------------------pva--------- ------------------------ramires-josh-zhirkov-------------------------- --------------sturridge-------kalou-------kakuta-------------------- Thats if Ramires is fit...If we lose or draw this one thats absoluty no problem imo.
November 1, 201014 yr A lot of options here. I am tempted by Cech Bossy. Alex Ivan Zhikov Mikel Ramires kalou malouda Drogba sturridge
November 1, 201014 yr Thats what liverpool, ajax, real, bayern and arsenal also thought;) Stamford Bridge is Stamford Bridge. Sorry mate, you've no chances.
November 1, 201014 yr I'd honestly like to see a young team out there. Tunbull boss bruma alex van aanholt Gael josh yuri sturridge Nic Kalou Bruma, Kakuta and van Aanholt will play for the reserves tonight so I doubt they will start on wednesday. I even doubt they will all be on the bench against Spartak, unless we're resting some players.
November 1, 201014 yr Against spartak good oppotunity to Qualify directly and then we will manage the two rest games smartly , we need to play this match with all our power. Ancelotti could give rest to two or three player and i f we beat spartak then we can focus on premier league .
November 1, 201014 yr I dare say it won't be a disaster if we lose this one, as long as we don't have any injuries. I would at least half of the team on Saturday, play Drogba etc for 20 minutes if we need 1 goal. loss against spartak would put pressure on the team and push chelsea to make extra effort to qaulify . let's lake advantage of this opportunity and qaulify directly
November 1, 201014 yr I can't imagine us resting vast swathes of players as some of the XIs posted here predict, but I can see one or two people being given the night off. As far as I'm aware we qualify upon winning this, so we can rest players in the subsequent matches. Maybe: -----------------------Cech Bosingwa---Alex---------JT-------A Cole --------------------- Mikel ------------Ramires-----Zhirkov ---Kalou----------Drogba--------Malouda I'm not entirely sure how ready Ramires is to play, so Essien might keep his place in the side.
November 1, 201014 yr I'd like to see us rest some players for the meeting against bin dippers and hopefully the young people get a shot, including Kalou who I think deserves a start. Cech Bosingwa Alex JT Zhirkov Mikel Ramires Josh Kalou Anelka Sturridge
November 1, 201014 yr This is not a difficult match , but not to say it is a easy match .. However , We can afford to try some of our 2nd string players .. From what I saw in the match against Rovers , Essien and Malouda need to be rested for this midweek game . Mikel as well but sadly we dont have a replacement for him . Out: JT , Acole , Essien , Anelka , Malouda In : Bosingwa , Van Aaholt , Ramires , Kakuta , Kalou
November 1, 201014 yr Knowing ancelotti, i dont think he'll rest more than two players. One of them will be anelka/drogba, and the other from the midfield where chelsea has depth.
November 1, 201014 yr for the first time in a long while,i have no fear going into the liverpool game,we will beat them comfortably,i feel we should go for the win in this game and keep our 100% winning streak up (in europe),maybe change a few faces but nothing major....i can see us winning 3-0
November 1, 201014 yr for the first time in a long while,i have no fear going into the liverpool game,we will beat them comfortably,i feel we should go for the win in this game and keep our 100% winning streak up (in europe),maybe change a few faces but nothing major....i can see us winning 3-0 I'm actually a little worried about the Liverpool game, they will probably do their best to shut us out and Torres may get a lucky break. I'm still worried.
