Chelsea v Blackburn (PL) 13/05/12 KO 15.00 GMT

[Davey Baby]

Well folks, it's been quite a season.

We've been appalling in the league, we'll finish behind our London rivals, and yet we've had more big games and more memorable nights than any other side this term.

It's a funny old game.

I hate to use the rollercoaster ride analogy so instead I'll plump for .. no, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride.

We don't do dull.

This game is a dead rubber, so who do we play? That's the question I'm putting to you lot.

I know you all want my opinion so here it is ..

Do not, under any circumstances, play anybody certain to start in Munich. That means 10 players out of this game, and we all know which 10 they are. Even if Luiz and/or Cahill are fit to play, don't risk them. I know I know, they need game-time together. F**k it, they're not going to get it. That's just the way it is. We need both of them fit and I'd rather go into the final with both playing and having had no game-time together than either one or both of them out. It is not ideal but things are far from ideal going into Munich. We are depleted by injury and suspension, especially in defence. Wrap Bossy, Ashley, Gary and David in cotton wool.

Let's face facts folks, we should be able to beat Blackburn at home, and if we can't, well that may spell for the end for some of the players on show, which might not be a bad thing.

Some of you will say, give the kids a chance, and I agree, to a certain extent. At least it will give the fans something to cheer about, given this match has no consequence whatsoever.

That means Terry, Ivan, Rambo and Raul could be given the day off, seeing as they have no part to play in Munich. Those players who may be called upon (either from the bench or from the start), such as Bertrand, Ferreira, Romeu, Essien, Malouda, Sturridge and Torres need to start, firstly because they haven't played that much and secondly because there is a starting spot up for grabs.

Yes, they all played pathetically up at Klanfield but there you go, one more chance to impress, before we bid some of them adieu.

Maybe Drogba can have a 2 minute cameo at the end, just so the fans can show their appreciation, given his future is up in the air, but he's not allowed to do anything other than stroll around. No falling over please Didier. It won't be funny.

My team, in their new blue and gold kits ..

Turnbull/Hilario

Ferreira

Bertrand

A Kid

Hutchinson

Romeu

Malouda

Essien

Torres

Bring Back Josh

Sturridge

[abigsmurf]

Sadly, this is reserves + ineligables with nothing to play for vs. a relegated side with a large portion of their squad knowing they'll be leaving in the summer.

Not a scenario setting up the greatest game ever.

But if we're going to field a C side, we should go all out and give lots of starts to youngsters.

[charierre]

Give Hilario some match practice , I sincerely hope Turnbull is nowhere near the subs bench in munich. Hope a couple of kids get a run out, going en masse against seasoned professionals could be counter productive and damage confidence if it went pear shaped. Let Sturridge lead the line, time to see if he can live upto the hype he has set himself. Cameos for any waving goodbye to us.

[alan'82]

Personally,I'd be inclined to field the same team that started against the dippers.

I think the lads would like to have the chance to prove that shocker was just 'one of those things' & a good show against Rovers would be a way to say sorry to the fans who travelled to Anusfield.

I would be inclined to swap Torres & Studge for the first half, but mostly, I'd be interested to watch how Malouda performs, just to find out if he really does posses a pair of balls or is he truly the first eunuch to play for the Chels.

Honestly,just when was the last time he played a good 90mins?.

Maybe he's saving himself for the CL final,but if he gets that shout from Robbie,then he should consider himself one lucky boy indeed.

[Mike Carefree]

Reading what ive read and agreeing with the basics of it, the worry would be that if most of the first choicers are rested for Blackburn this would mean they have had a good rest ..but...after nearly 2 weeks off how would they perform in a match of the magnitude of ECF against a very quick team as Munich.(but) as i also understand we want all our bunch in fine fettle, it would seem to be a possible catch 22 situation

[The Moos]

Neither team has anything other than pride to play for. The main difference is that whilst Blackburn only have this game, we also have perhaps the most important game of the season barely a week away from this game.

Our focus will be on that one and we will rest as many as possible. The only first team players who might play is JT, Ivan and Ramires. Maybe Torres, but I would not be surprised if we rested both Drogba and Torres. Perhaps give Lukaku a chance.

Hope to see Hutch play and also Hilario. In my oppinion he's better than Turnbull.

If Meireles is fit to play he might be in the line up.

[Ozztheboss]

I understand the whole injury-part of resting players, but don't these guys need matching as well? I mean, do you really think that Bradley Wiggins stop training hard two weeks prior to the Tour de France? Do you think he takes the car down the slopes in case he might be hurt? He even races two week prior to the TdF, and that's dangerous! Luiz and Cahill will be dying for some playing time together. Since there's no Terry there's no leader, so they need to sort out who's setting the offside line etc etc.

This match can work as:

1) Confidence booster

2) Tactical review (are we really letting Kalou/Malouda/Essien/Romeu out on the field in a CL-final????). 4-2-3-1, 4-5-1 or 4-3-3?

3) Last audition for the available spots

Edited May 9, 2012 by Ozztheboss

[Cam]

I would personally go:

Hilaro

Ivan-Terry-Hutch-Berty

Romeu-Meireles

Piazon-Rambo-Studge

Lukaku

But that's just me, I expect nothing of the sorts.

[axman2526]

Hilario, Todd Kane, Hutch, Brana, Bertrand, Meireles, Essien, Ramires, Piazon, Torres, Lukaku for me.

JT is still nursing those injured ribs, no need to push him in a game where the result has not end meaning in terms of our league position. We want to see Torres used out wide for maybe the CL final? Use him wide in this game. More game time for Paulo in case we use him in munich, ditto Essien.

Couple of kids also get the chance to show what they can do.

What I would like to see anyways.

[CodyBound]

I want to see LUKAKU!!!

[nonotnowjim]

I would go for:

Hilario

Hutchinson

Chalobah

Terry

Berty

Romeu

Mary Ellis

Malouda

Rambo

Lukaku

Torres

Bench

Piazon

Essien

Turnball

Paulo

Studge

Ivan

I dont want Sturridge if he isnt going to try.

[Tea Bar Boy]

Hilario, Todd Kane, Hutch, Brana, Bertrand, Meireles, Essien, Ramires, Piazon, Torres, Lukaku for me.

JT is still nursing those injured ribs, no need to push him in a game where the result has not end meaning in terms of our league position. We want to see Torres used out wide for maybe the CL final? Use him wide in this game. More game time for Paulo in case we use him in munich, ditto Essien.

Couple of kids also get the chance to show what they can do.

What I would like to see anyways.

Terry has to start sounds like he will have plenty of time to rest in the summer ..............................

[rougvie13]

like to see at luiz or cahill on the bench at least for this one , also how " injured" is cech , but why not blood some youngsters

[dkw]

I think if Cahill and Luiz are to play in the final they will need game time together for definite in this game, as long as they are fit. I`m always loathe to drop player in case of injury the match before a final as I would prefer they keep ticking away and playing. But this match we have so many missing so its gonna be a very hard decision to make for RDM.

[Nibs]

My team, in their new blue and gold kits ..

Turnbull/Hilario

Ferreira

Bertrand

A Kid

Hutchinson

Romeu

Malouda

Essien

Torres

Bring Back Josh

Sturridge

Yeah bring back Josh - think I might start a campaign. Almost forgotten what the lad looks like - will have to go and have a look at my quilt cover to remind myself!!

I wouldn't play Malouda or Essien in this one, even if they are leaving in the summer and it HAS to be Hilario ahead of the happless Turnbull. Sure JT and Ivan will play but I would have Piazon and Chalobah feature somewhere and give Lukaku a decent run out.

[dkw]

You just need to look up when you go to bed and see him on that poster you have on the ceiling dont you?

[WV2 Blue]

Personally,I'd be inclined to field the same team that started against the dippers.

Turnbull?? honestly he's shocking to say the least, i dunno what was going through Carlo's mind when he signed him...

[Davey Baby]

Yeah bring back Josh - think I might start a campaign.

I'm still on strike until he returns.

I wouldn't play Malouda or Essien in this one, even if they are leaving in the summer and it HAS to be Hilario ahead of the happless Turnbull.

Essien is not leaving. Too many people are writing him off too quick. He needs a pre-season under his belt without any other commitments, and he's got one. Let's see next season. He still might make a very good DM. We would be mad to let him go at this stage, before we've really found out. After the injuries he's had he was always going to struggle to find his feet. It may not bode well but we must not jump the gun on this one. He deserves that chance and we deserve it, for suporting him through his rehabilitation. I think next winter is the time to really judge, assuming he can stay free from injury until then. Big assumption I know.

[Zeta]

Hilario

Kane---Ivanovic----Terry---Bertrand

------------Romeu------Merieles

-------------------Piazon

Feruz--------------------------------Kalou

-------------------Torres

[Nibs]

You just need to look up when you go to bed and see him on that poster you have on the ceiling dont you?

You honestly think I've got a poster on the ceiling as well as My JM quilt cover? What do you think I am, some kind of obsessive?!!!

[BYRON]

Hilario

Ivanovic

Hutchinson

Terry

Bertrand

Mikel

Ramires

Piazon

Malouda

Lukaku

Torres

6-2 Lukaku hat trick

[dkw]

You honestly think I've got a poster on the ceiling as well as My JM quilt cover? What do you think I am, some kind of obsessive?!!!

Well..........YES!!!!!!

[alan'82]

Turnbull?? honestly he's shocking to say the least, i dunno what was going through Carlo's mind when he signed him...

If I paid the bills at Chelsea,I'd think it only fair to give certain players a chance to play for their future careers at the club.A chance to show after a heavy defeat,what character they are made of.

Yes he wasn't good enough on the night & he has no excuse really, but he wasn't the only one.

One more match & one more chance,a chance to show you can reach the required standard,(& most important of all,the will to win), or its pack your bags time.

And just to make sure all is equal,the players concerned would know none of this beforehand.

[Blue Kangeroo]

Any meaningful news about Cahill or Luiz?

Edited May 11, 2012 by Blue Kangeroo

[Blue Kangeroo]

My team for the last premier league game of 2011-2012 (a chaotic and very mentally draining season) is:

Hilario (better than Turnbull but both must go), Bertrand (good future coming at CFC), Ivan-hoe (voted for him as player of the year, shame he didn't) John T, Ferreira (always liked Paulo but been unused for too long to justify staying at CFC), Essien (was great but should have gone in 2010), Romeu (have him as a good squad player), Meireles (would keep him for next season), Ramires (Brazilian, what do you expect!) Sturridge (needs to grow up and become a man!), Lukaku (must play next season f**k loans he's a big boy give him a chance), we will win 3-0 and cheer us all up! Come on the Chels!

Edited May 11, 2012 by Blue Kangeroo