Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Whilst the lot of you will be slumming it either in the stands or at home, I have been invited (okay, my father has, but I can tag along icon_rolleyes.gif ) to sit in the executive area at the Bridge, provided with a free 3 course meal and drinks. Okay, I'd rather be in the MHS, but this isn't a bad second option icon_wink.gif . Its what I got to do last season against Man City , where I struck up a very good friendship with Elen icon_wink.gif Our 3 or 4 worded conversation would have no doubt stuck in her mind, I'm sure I'll get a wave from her as I enter.

259.gif

Seeing as its a night game, I doubt the players will come up afterwards like they did last time... but THIS time I plan to corner KK Dixon & get his autograph, I missed out last time icon_mad.gif

Anyway, all of this aside, we better bloody win or the whole thing will be crap. We should win, but you never know with Chelsea, especially at the moment. I'm glad the second leg is at home, that could prove the decisive factor.

I think Jose will play Cech, I think he?s pretty much in the first team now, he did well against Liverpool, going in at Riise?s feet was the test, and he did it like he did before. I don?t know the extent of Bridge & Robben?s injuries, but hopefully they?ll be in the team. Incidently, has anyone heard anything on Robben?

I?d like to see Sahar partner Drogba (who we?ll probably need) and Mikel to start in midfield again, he did well against Liverpool.



Posted

I thought Cech looked just like the old Cech - except the helmet of course.

JM will let him play as much as possible now to really get him back on form (though he doesn't seem to have lost that much during his injury).

Bridge is gone for a couple of weeks. Atleast that's what I think JM said after his injury. I guess he'll miss this game then.

Robbens injury looked like a twisted ankle and that shouldn't take him out of the game for too long. I've twisted my ankle several times and it usually heal in less than a week. I would be surprised to see Robben play in this game though. Since he's injury prone I wouldn't dare playing him until he's more than 100% fit.

The injury I'm most interested in is JT's. What is going on with him?

After his surgery he and JM said that he would be back on the pitch in a few days, then it became in a week and then another week or so. Now we don't hear anything about it and there doesn't seem to be any plans for his return. Since he's probably the single most important player for us I think we would all be happy just to hear a date when he's going to return.

I hope JM let some youngsters play. We have a lot of players injured and that should leave the door open for players like Sahar, Diarra, Sinclair and Woods. But we must not risk anything. Loosing to Wycombe would be a catastrophe. The media would really have a field day. The team needs a big win. Another Macclesfield (but without conceding a goal) would be great.

Posted

I expect a near full strength team for this one, the team need a morale boosting win after the weekend and Jose knows it. Hope Sheva will get a start despite all the rumours of the fallout with Jose.. He has to come good sometime, right? icon_twisted.gif

Posted
The injury I'm most interested in is JT's. What is going on with him?

After his surgery he and JM said that he would be back on the pitch in a few days, then it became in a week and then another week or so. Now we don't hear anything about it and there doesn't seem to be any plans for his return. Since he's probably the single most important player for us I think we would all be happy just to hear a date when he's going to return.

What I've heard about JT injury is that the trapped nerve he had in his back had affected the power in his calf so he's been building that power back up. When he'll be back I don't know but I'll have a guess and say it will the Blackburn game.

I'd also like to see Sahar start alongside the Drogs.



Posted

The FA cup game with forest is 5 days after so i would expect to see a full strength side for this one. I think Kalou will definately drop out and we have little option but to play the 442 diamond, so:

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

...Geremi.......Ferreira......Carvalho........A Cole...

............................Makelele...............................

.......SWP................Essien.......Lampard..............

.....................Drogba.......Sheva.........................

Kalou

Mikel

Ballack

Sahar

Hilario

Not much use for Maka in a home game with wycombe but after his rest i think we might see him play and hopefully lamps given more instruction and license to get forward and score against them again.

I thought Geremi was particularly poor defending, fx. not tracking riise, and i think that essien would be stronger in the middle than ferreira for this one, so we might see ballack in for Geremi and essien moving into central defense, but i think the above is what JM will play.

However, if i were king for a day we would see:

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

............................Makelele................................

...................Ferreira......Carvalho.......................

...Geremi.................................................Cole...

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

...................Mikel..............................................

......................................Lampard......................

.....................Drogba.......Sheva.........................

SWP

Hilario

Sahar

Cavezza

Ballack

yes... what a lovely day it would be! makelele sweeping, you would all love it!



Posted

Tomorrow night I would play this team (and I will explain the two controversial decisions)

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

Paulo.........Carvalho....Drogba......Cole

.......................Maka..........................

.........Essien......Ballack ©...Lamps..........

.............Mikel...............................

.....................Sheva......................

So two big decisions with this being my reasoning.

1. Drogba at centre half. Basically we are very short of centre halves and whoever we play there is going yo be playing out of position. However playing players who are not strong in the air there is a poor makeshift and I dson't understand why we did it on Saturday. Drogba is supposed to have played at centre half before with a reasonable amount of success and he at least provides the height to help deal with the long hoofs. If we are to try him out as a makeshift centre half then this is a better game than most to do it in.

2. Ballack as captain (bound to be unpopular). Lamps is no captain and fails miserably to drive an under performing team onto better things. At the same time Ballack is nowhere near his best. I think Ballack is missing being captain and missing being able to orchestrate the game. Put Ballack right in the centre and give him the armband and I have a sneaking suspicion we yet see the best of him. It will be a big blow to Lamps but I think we are in need of some big changes just now (o f course JT gets the armband back when he returns - whenever that may be)

Posted

Great looking line up which I agree with, although I wouldn't play Mikel there, maybe use Kalou (if he can play).

Drogba back there for a few games wouldn't do any harm, and a much better option than PF.

Also, with you on Ballack as captain, though would never happen so long as Frank is on the pitch - Im sure he would be pissed with that.

Posted

;5 central midfielders, loz. jesus! that's not good. but I lke mikel high up far more than lampard.

.........................................cech

paulo...............carvalho.................essien..............elmer

....................................ballack

...................................................lampard

swp................................................................kalou

.............................obi mikel

...............................................sheva

subs

carlo

geremi

essien

drogba

sahar

obi mikel right up there. as a second striker almost. in any case, give him the defensive and tracking back responsibilty of a striker, leave him close to sheva AT ALL TIMES.

ballack deep- should see lots and lots of the ball. that would be ideal. swp to stay wide, kalou can cut in and join sheva, elmer agressive on the overlap.



Posted
obi mikel right up there. as a second striker almost. in any case, give him the defensive and tracking back responsibilty of a striker, leave him close to sheva AT ALL TIMES.

ballack deep- should see lots and lots of the ball. that would be ideal.

Exactly.

It's not as if Ballack hasn't played there before.

I do not think one has to be able to make 1287428742 tackles and run like a headless chicken for the entire match (aka Scott Parker) to be a good Defending midfielder therefore simultaneously a "beginer", someone to make the transitions with a decent pass.

Posted

With the youngsters playing last night I can't see too many of them taking part (famous last words or was it grouse)

Guillt4 I know Essien is good but he can't play in the back four and on the bench it would be too painful ':cryyy:'

Chelsea Megastore Away Shirt
Chelsea Megastore Away Shirt

Chelsea Megastore Away Shirt

Posted
The injury I'm most interested in is JT's. What is going on with him?

After his surgery he and JM said that he would be back on the pitch in a few days, then it became in a week and then another week or so. Now we don't hear anything about it and there doesn't seem to be any plans for his return. Since he's probably the single most important player for us I think we would all be happy just to hear a date when he's going to return.

What I've heard about JT injury is that the trapped nerve he had in his back had affected the power in his calf so he's been building that power back up. When he'll be back I don't know but I'll have a guess and say it will the Blackburn game.

As someone who has had a fair share of back problems I said after the Reading game it may have been better in the long term if JT had suffered a broken leg rather than a back injury. A broken leg would have been easier for the doctors to treat and once it's healed that's it. I wouldn't mind betting this calf injury is related to the back problem.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hli ... gh+battle'

Posted

it will be mate. I have a bad back, and it has caused me to have siatic nerve problems in my hip and on down into my left calf. It ain't easy, and I am about to start physical therapy for it.

Scott

Posted

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

Geremi..Rikky...Essien...Cole

...............Makelele..............

.......Ballack.....Lampard.......

................Mikel...................

......Shevchenko...Drogba.....

This week we`ve get a chance for Mikel`s breakthrough. Playing 2 cup matches he can feel himself more confident, more valuable for the club and his contribution is already at high level.

From his last perfomances I can see he is very prospective player. And I want to believe one day he will be indespensible to Chelsea.

P.S. Does Chelsea has any hotter youngster than John Obi Mikel??



Posted

obi mikel right up there. as a second striker almost. in any case, give him the defensive and tracking back responsibilty of a striker, leave him close to sheva AT ALL TIMES.

ballack deep- should see lots and lots of the ball. that would be ideal.

Exactly.

It's not as if Ballack hasn't played there before.

I do not think one has to be able to make 1287428742 tackles and run like a headless chicken for the entire match (aka Scott Parker) to be a good Defending midfielder therefore simultaneously a "beginer", someone to make the transitions with a decent pass.

Yeah, he could play the Carrick role to perfection! icon_wink.gif

Posted
Do away goals count double in the CC?

I think they do. I think the only way today's match will go to penalties is if it's still 1-1 after extratime.



Posted

Team just announced

Cech

Diarra

Riccy

Essien

A Cole

Lamps

Maka

Ballack

Mikel

Drogs

Shev

Diarra starting at RB


Posted

Insane because he is not a right back - he is a young defensive midfielder trying to make a break through. If we are serious about giving the young players a chance to prove their worth then we should play them in the positions they are comfortable with rather than forcing them to play out of position.

Is Diarra going to play right back in thePremiership? No. Do we have two right backs who need to find form who will play at right back in the Premiership? Yes

So why not play a right back at right back to help him get his form back and play a young defensive midfielder at defensive midfield to give him half a chance to make a mark.

If Diarra makes a couple of howlers tonight there will be folk pointing the finger and saying he is not good enough etc etc - not me, if Diarra makes a couple of mistakes tonight my finger is firmly pointing toward the dugout.

Lunacy!



Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...
Please Sign In or Sign Up