So weekend is quickly coming, so as a very important match against Portsmouth. A very important because we can reduce the gap from ManUtd and I`m frustrated with my inability to watch Liverpool-ManU, it will be hot I think, very hot

I see in March we have 6 finals too

And our next game, as all others, is `must win`. The main concern for me John Terry`s fitness, of course, it`s better for him to rest before CL and FA Cup clashes, but I really believe that he will take a start, so as Robben.

It`s an away game so we must be hard and concentrated.

Glen Johnson, portsmouth`s RB is ineligeble in terms of loan,so right defender`s position will be obviously weakened and it`s a good opportunity for Robben to show his skills.

Also Makelele will be rested before CL and Tottenham. And Bridgey boy is, of course, second.

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

Diarra.....Rikky.......JT........Cole

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

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

Sheva..........................Robben

................Drogba...................

Hopefully we will do it 3-0 with Robben or 2-0 without him.

And answer the poll please, I am really interested.

Terry is being rested for tomorrow's game at Portsmouth. I still think however that we will get three points; The team will be brimming with confidence after the CC win.

The only match that might cause us a problem this month may be City away, i think.

I remember us losing there to an Anelka penalty a couple of seasons back after Paulo wrestled him to the deck. That was their only shot on target, and we struck the woodwork twice.

Stuart Pearce is no mug. We'll need Terry for that one.

For those that aren't interested.

I think Sergey may have got it spot on with the exception that we now know JT won't play and thus it makes the decision easier for Jose as Essien will go to centre half and Maka will come in.

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

Diarra.....Rikky.......Essien........Cole

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

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

Sheva..........................Robben

................Drogba...................

The only potential surprise I could see would be Sheva on the bench and SWP playing on the right hand side.

I think Sergey may have got it spot on with the exception that we now know JT won't play and thus it makes the decision easier for Jose as Essien will go to centre half and Maka will come in.

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

Diarra.....Rikky.......Essien........Cole

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

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

Sheva..........................Robben

................Drogba...................

The only potential surprise I could see would be Sheva on the bench and SWP playing on the right hand side.

Loz (Lozy ) my main concerns are about Makelele. On 6th game vs Porto then on 11th game vs Tottenham. It will be difficult for him to play 3 games in a row. Now I`m thinking about next:

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

Geremi//PF..Rikky..Essien..Cole.

....................Diarra..................

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

Sheva..........Drog.......Robben...

But we can see our midfield loses quality, becoming slow(Ballack) and unexpireinced(Diarra)

That was the other possibility that occurred to me however my guess is we will be sticking with Diarra at right back for the foreseeable future. He is doing well there and we are at a stage in the season where we can afford no slip ups in any games and although Pompey have not been in the best of form I would still say that we may have a game on our hands as it is away. Thus we have to go with out best team and that includes Maka.

personally I would be more inclined to rest him against Porto than against Portsmouth.

For those that aren't interested.

Is Mikel suspended for the Porto game?

Is Mikel suspended for the Porto game?

No, he`s suspended for 4 domestic games. He will be avialible at Watford.

personally I would be more inclined to rest him against Porto than against Portsmouth.

Are you sure???

Ok, we will let him rest against Tottenham, because Porto, I believe, is more important than Tottenham and equally important as any PremierLeague match. I mean our 2 main targets are 3rd title and CL. But on a flip side of a coin we`ve never won FA Cup under Abramovich&Mourinho....

I am sure - I think with JT fit (assuming he will play against Porto) we can afford not to have Maka protecting the back four - and we can approach the game with a more attack minded mentality.

With JT missing against Pompey I would rather see Maka play.

I think terry was rushed against arsenal, and essien looked a lot better...

but, yeah, maka has to play this one. I'd like a ballack and lampard midfield with robben on the pitch- both players could use the option to switch it, and we could use robben. I really do think the team picks itself for portsmouth, though some might want someone else instead of ballack.

also, i'd like to wish paulo well next year, when he's busy winning the italian championship, or challenging for the spanish one with valencia.

So the obvious answer is to play Maka in the premiership and play Mikel against Porto

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

--------PF---------Essien----Ricci----------Ashley-----

-------------------------Diarra--------------------------

--------------------Ballackl--Lampard------------------

--------------Sheva----Drogba---------------Robben

Subs: Carlo,PF,Maka,Kalou,SWP

Bloody evening kick offs, just ruins my Saturday with nerves.

Com'n the Chels!!

Line up is (no surprises)

Cech

Diarra

Essien

Carvalho

A Cole

Maka

Lamps

Ballack

Robben

Drogs

Sheva

Drogba 1-0

Drogba's Goal

A gruesome 45 mins from us. Great goal, both the cross and the finish, other than that not a lot to be pleased about. Pompey will feel confident they can get something out of this game.

Portsmouth supporters singing "You're not special anymore".

Kalou 0-2

well i hope the ashley cole haters on here will now give him a break because he created both goals tonight and had an excellent game. man of the match for me was carvallho. with terry injured hes now the man we would miss the most if he got injured. iffy last season, awesome this season.

And so that brings to an end a horrible game of football.

I actually don't think we had a midfield until about the 65th minute.

Good performances by Cech, Carvalho, Essien, Cole and Diarra (i.e the back five!)

Otherwise very poor. And Lamps was actually worse today than any performance I have seen Ballack put in all season.

Man of the match Cech, for one of the best two-minute spells of goalkeeping ever.

Petr Cech....7 clean sheets in 10, says it all really.

Done what was required today, nothing more.

Hopefully no injuries, so with two big cup matches at home to come things are looking good.

Carefree.