sergeyMS Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 So, it would be very important and very difficult match. Both sides have serious losses. Valencia would be missing some key players - Baraja, Marchena, Morientes. We are missing creative part of the team - Robben and J.Cole. And we cann`t rely on SWP, it wouldn`t be 1/4 Carling Cup, it`s something different. Having our backline as strong as it must be and having a task to score I think we must bring Essien back and play 4-4-2. Kalou must be on a bench to provide opportunity for `plan B` if something is going wrong way. Makelele played 45 min against Watford and had a rest in last international match, so he`s starting . So, for me it should be: ......................Cech....................... ..........Rikky...............Terry............ Diarra................................A.Cole.. ...................Makelele..................... ..........Essien.............Lampard........ ...................Ballack....................... ........Sheva..............Drogba........... Subs: Mikel Kalou Not much creative, but a lot of power and strength. Crosses into penatly area were very effective against Barca, making all 3 goals. So what would change against another spanish side? I see our chances are: 1) A.Cole`s some decent crosses and Diarra`s runs. 2) Lampard`s long shot (just enough to hit bars, it`s time to score) 3) Essien, can provides possesion and makes some great runs, can finishes, can makes a nice shot. He can do everything. His name is Michael. 4) Drogba, it`s time to score 30th. 5) Sheva. It seems he likes to score in CL. 6) A kind of miracle from Ballack, sometimes it happens. The CL`s spirit would pass through Terry, Rikky and Cech and I believe we could see great defending and great communication, so it smells like a cleensheet. I have a full belief in Chelsea. For me it would 3-0, giving us a pass to semis after the 1st leg already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 Referees, appointed for quartes-finals: Roma vs ManUtd-------- Gerbert Fandel (GER) Chelsea vs Valencia---- Tom Henning Evrebe (NOR) PSV vs Liverpool-------- Bertran Layek (FRA) Milan vs Bayern M------ Yuri Baskakov (RUS) Let`s hope this norwegian would be alright. Though Hauge got a promotion for final match last year, after showing red to Del Horno. Good example for others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moos Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 I think it's very important that we don't concede a goal. If we do we have to make sure we score atleast two more than they. They are strong at home and I can see us losing there. 2-0 to us would be good. 2-1 would be very, very bad. They might not have Morientes but they can still score goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
german-blue Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 We should beat them at the Bridge. Focus must be on not conceding a goal anyway. --------------------------Cech-------------------------------- -------Diarra------Rikky--------JT-----------Ashley C.----- --------------------------Maka-------------------------------- -----------------Essien-Ballack-Lampard-------------------- --------------------Sheva------Drogba----------------------- If Essien is fit, if not Mikel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Is it exactly that Baraja, Marchena, Morientes will miss the game? If so, that's great! Good score for chelsea is 1:0. Have no right to concede even one goal at Stamford Bridge. IN CHELSEA WE TRUST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliott Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Im thinking: ...................Big Pete.................. Diarra........Carv......JT........A. Cole ....................Maka....................... ...Essien........................Lamps...... ....................Ballack .........Sheva.............Drogs... Our Dutch winger, that seems to be made of paper, has gone and done it again. Will he ever be fit for a lenghty amount of time? A big miss for Chels, as he really does give us something different. I have a feeling that Jose will go for Diarra and Cole as Full Back's, due to Vicente and Joaquin starting for Valencia. Both will pose a real threat going forward. Will Obi Mikel play some part? I hope so. Maybe SWP? or the long awaited return of Joey Cole? (I feel he may get 30 mins). Baraja and Morientes are out for Valencia through injury. Marchena and Navarro are serving suspensions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 It seems our first eleven are already decided. Though I`ve heard Diarra has a slight injury and it makes sense to ask why Geremi was substituted for PF??(I am unable to watch non-London away Chelsea`s EPL games) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 vicente is injured a lot. he's class, but I wouldn't be surprised to see silva start wide left. joaquin has had a really poor season. he's made a bit of an impression lately coming off the bench, but I would expect the slower angulo to start (good footballer though). there is the possibility of 451, and there is the possibility of angulo in the middle or up front, which would give jsr a possible starting place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 3, 2007 Author Share Posted April 3, 2007 vicente is injured a lot. Great if it`s so. Is it closer to a rumour or to a fact?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydneyChelsea Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 vicente is injured a lot. he's class, but I wouldn't be surprised to see silva start wide left.joaquin has had a really poor season. he's made a bit of an impression lately coming off the bench, but I would expect the slower angulo to start (good footballer though). there is the possibility of 451, and there is the possibility of angulo in the middle or up front, which would give jsr a possible starting place. Joaquin is having a poor season, agreed, but don't underestimate his threat. All he needs is one good game against Ashley Cole and we're in trouble. Angulo is a smart footballer. He won't beat Cole for pace or for trickery but he is very good at moving around off the ball. Silva is also very good he is a bit of an unknown like Kalou. Angulo would be likely to play behind/off Villa, wouldn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clubhappy Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Apologise for this , but Chelsea scare me at the moment . A lot depends on the first 25 mins , if were passing the ball well, look comfortable and confident , though not over confident and we can get decent supply to the front two it will scare them . We cant give them time on the ball and if we can limit their posession we will get a result . Its games like this Sheva relishes so im hoping he's fired up and can produce the form we all know he can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 From what I have seen of Valencia recently, they play with a lot of width and have quality wingers - and I am worried that if we play our 4-central midfielder diamond midfield, their width with really expose us - leaving their wingers one-on-one with our fullbacks. I would prefer us to go with the 4-3-3/4-5-1 for this one. That way our two wingers will be able to help out our fullbacks, so that they aren't as badly exposed. ...............................Cech................................. Diarra..........Carvalho........Terry.................Cole ...............................Maka................................. ..............Ballack/Mikel.........Lampard................... SWP.........................................................Kalou ..............................Drogba............................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBosnian Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Drogba and Sheva up front! Will not have it any other way! We have to hope they don't score... and we do. I hate playing home the first match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nibs Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 I see most seem to have gone for the line up: --------------------------Cech-------------------------------- -------Diarra------Rikky--------JT-----------Ashley C.----- --------------------------Maka-------------------------------- -----------------Essien-Ballack-Lampard-------------------- --------------------Sheva------Drogba----------------------- It's pretty much what I expect. That is a typical Mourinho Champions League line up and one set up for a not very enthralling 1-0 victory. I think Mourinho would even see a 0-0 tonight as a good result. That is why, in a way, it would almost be a good thing if we concede an early goal. If we do concede we will need to score at least 3 or 4 to have a decent chance second leg and I would love to see us go for it and bring on Mikel, SWP / Kalou or perhaps even Joe in the second half at the expense of some of those less attacking midfielders. Of course it would be great to be Champions of Europe, but do we really want to win it by grinding out matches 0-0 / 1-0? Well I don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 4, 2007 Author Share Posted April 4, 2007 No Essien, sorry....... Here`s MOurinho`s press-conference: http://www.chelseafc.com/xxchelsea18070 ... _2209129_2 Jos? Mourinho has begun the build-up to the Champions League quarter-final against Valencia by comparing injury lists with his Spanish opponents. On that criterion alone, he is willing to swap. The Chelsea manager announced that Wednesday night's game will come too soon for Michael Essien, not yet fully fit after straining knee ligaments three-and-a-half weeks ago. That important absence is added to by Arjen Robben but there is better news with Wayne Bridge's return to availability following his own knee operation. On Joe Cole, who has expressed a desire to make his return this week after four months out, Mourinho said: 'He is not injured anymore. If he is ready to play or not is still a doubt.' -------------------------------------------------------------------- And many more............. So, now it seems like: ...............Cech................ ......Rikky.........Terry....... Diarra...................Cole.... ...............Maka............... .....Ballack........Lampard.. ...............Mikel............... ......Sheva.......Drogba..... SB: Kalou, J.Cole, Bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliott Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 As Sergey has quite rightly pointed out, Essien is still injured with ruptured knee ligaments. That means that we will either go for plan A: 'The Win': ..........Maka........... SWP...............Lamps .........Ballack.......... (Which i highly doubt). Or Plan B: 'Play it safe': .........Maka....... Obi.............Lamps.. ........Ballack.......... (I cant see it any other way). Jose will certainly want to keep a clean sheet, and playing Mikel Obi, will give us more possesion in midfield and greater control of the game. I expect J.Cole, or SWP to come on in the horrific event that we go 0-2 down, only. I think he would still be confident of getting a result at the Mestalla, even at 1-2 down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sergeyMS Posted April 4, 2007 Author Share Posted April 4, 2007 I think if we should be in need to come back from behind in the 2nd half we could use Kalou and J.Cole. Sweepy..... I think we`ve seen enough of this, I believe it would be frustration once again. Imagine, if he will lose possesion against Vicente or Joaquin, it can become vital moments of the game. Also I don`t believe Del Horno would be unable to handle with Sweepy...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 not an easy place to go to, the mestalla, one of the more intidimdating grounds in spain, their support is like the andalusian support- much more like the british than spanish. would hate to take a bad result there or even an away goal. I liked swp in that central position instead of ballack- made runs beyond the striker and doubled up with robben in wide areas. without, robben, it might not be so effective, in fact it surely wouldn't unless we also play kalou... you still feel ballack will be more important today than he would have been at home to sheffield in the league, and I KNOW he will start. putting paulo on the right as whoever is on the left will be pacey and will be a dribbler. confident paulo can put those in his pocket, and he did quite well against watford IMO. but lets put this out there just to be different. also an opportunity to see cashley play the entire flank. he's supposedly good at that, so why not? angulo will not be outstripping him if he play on the right. ..........................................cech ferreira...............terry...................carvalho.............cashley .........................................maka ....................................................lampard .................................swp ...........kalou ............................drogba.................sheva you'll also notice, this attacks del horno. he's unfit, and though I rate him, he prefers to fight and head the ball more than face dribblers. so swp and kalou will both be attacking him. also it puts big emphasis on swp and cashley, lets see how they do. (I think cash will play well today in with our diamond of death, as it happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abramovich Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Jose press conference(AUDIO) http://footballaudio.com/content/audio/ ... UR0304.mp3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maksimov Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 What a let down...it doesn't include the bit about the mirrors and the showers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BackInBlue Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Chelsea line up: 1 Petr Cech 19 Lassana Diarra 6 Ricardo Carvalho 26 John Terry © 3 Ashley Cole 13 Michael Ballack 12 Mikel John Obi 8 Frank Lampard 11 Didier Drogba 7 Andriy Shevchenko 21 Salomon Kalou Substitutes: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 20 Paulo Ferreira, 9 Khalid Boulahouz, 18 Wayne Bridge, 4 Claude Makelele, 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips, 10 Joe Cole. Wanted to see JOM in the team but not the expense of Maka. Also good to see Birdgy and JC on the bench back from injury Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abramovich Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Valencia: 1-Santiago Canizares 2-Miguel 4-Roberto Ayala 24-Emiliano Moretti 3-Asier del Horno 15-Joaquin 6-David Albelda 20-Raul Albiol 14-Vicente 21-David Silva 7-David Villa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brit Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 watching the game from spain as I am on work trip...great to see stamford bridge...the spanish commentators are going on about boring boring chelsea...time to shut their faces...come on you blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Interesting to see Mikel favoured over Maka for this game. Shows two things: 1. Jose's faith in Mikel to deliver on such a big stage and in such a pivotal role 2. Jose's intention to take a lead to Spain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maksimov Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Everyone, come to the match chat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts