Posted October 24, 200717 yr OK enough of this everton v lpool garbage and on with the real action. A home game against a team above us in the league and therefore a good and important opportunity to move up. Also Arsenal playing away to Pool so they could also drop points. Man C. have looked good this season without being in the least bit convincing in terms of longevity. They have a fast mobile defence and Elano is a threat from the midfield. I would be playing belletti at Rback but otherwise going with a similar team to the CLeague, although possibly brining in Bridge and considering whether to start with kalou instead of Malouda. thoughts?
October 25, 200717 yr It will be a difficult game but I think that as long as we can keep Elano at bay we should be able to get atleast a point from this one. If Drogba has a good game I can even see us win this one. 1-0
October 25, 200717 yr This is going to be the one of toughest tests so far imo, Sven has got City playing well and brought in some good players who seem to have gelled amazingly quick and I have got to say he has made me change my opinion of him as a manager. that said I think barring defensive errors we can keep a clean sheet and I am struggling between 1-0 and the defensive error idea 1-1. I would like to see Sweepy get a game as he will be up for this one and could give us the added pace to worry them, would love to see JT back for this one.
October 25, 200717 yr OK enough of this everton v lpool garbage and on with the real action. A home game against a team above us in the league and therefore a good and important opportunity to move up. Also Arsenal playing away to Pool so they could also drop points. Man C. have looked good this season without being in the least bit convincing in terms of longevity. They have a fast mobile defence and Elano is a threat from the midfield. I would be playing belletti at Rback but otherwise going with a similar team to the CLeague, although possibly brining in Bridge and considering whether to start with kalou instead of Malouda. thoughts? Exactly because of the threat Petrov poses I would go with Paulo on this one.
October 25, 200717 yr Chelsea at a canter 3 - 0 Man City position flatters them and they will put 11 men behind the ball for most of the game. So the 1st goal for us is all important, but when is goes in look for goals from the drogs and 2 from Lamps
October 25, 200717 yr This going to be the one where everything goes in - 5-0 (Think'll I'll start doing the BPL again)
October 25, 200717 yr Manchester City is a good team this year, but I see us going past them very easy. I could be wrong, but I see us beating them by a few goals.
October 25, 200717 yr This going to be the one where everything goes in - 5-0 (Think'll I'll start doing the BPL again) Hear hear! Lamps and Drogs with a couple and Joey to cap it off
October 25, 200717 yr Love the confidence people - hope that is confidence and not complacence!! Personally I fear Man City. Hopefully we will be too strong for them but we'll certainly have to be a lot better than we were last night - especially can't afford to give the ball away like we did, so looking for huge improvements from the likes of Essien, Alex (if he plays) and Joe.
October 25, 200717 yr Love the confidence people - hope that is confidence and not complacence!! Personally I fear Man City. Hopefully we will be too strong for them but we'll certainly have to be a lot better than we were last night - especially can't afford to give the ball away like we did, so looking for huge improvements from the likes of Essien, Alex (if he plays) and Joe. Too right, as I said City are gonna be quite a tough test and they haven't done a lot wrong so far, If we win this one I will be well pleased, I would like to have had some more fodder lined up for a few weeks so we could get a flow going.
October 25, 200717 yr Author I forgot about Petrov but I don't know how. Watched him on the box a couple of times and he has looked excellent. very fast, skilful and an eye for goal. I am hopeful for the result but not that confident given their results this season. In terms of the draw what is noticeable is how tough Arsenal do it up until Xmas. On the other hand Manu have one tough game before xmas but a very tough finish to the season.
October 26, 200717 yr ----------cech----------- paolo-riccy-alex-bridge ---------essien---------- ----------------lamps--- -------mikel------------- ---joey---------malouda ---------drogs----------- 2-1 to us. I predict ciry tries to attack as well and wont be all 11 below the ball. eriksson is brave lad, will try to shake us.
October 26, 200717 yr Chelsea ball possesion will keep Petrov & Elano out of the game. Plenty of high balls onto the city 6 yard line to test the little dane. Chelsea demolish city and knock Sven and his dreamers on a downward spiral.
October 26, 200717 yr ----------cech-----------paolo-riccy-alex-bridge ---------essien---------- ----------------lamps--- -------mikel------------- ---joey---------malouda ---------drogs----------- Playing Mikel in front of Lampard? Oh goody, I'm sure that will improve our attack.
October 26, 200717 yr ---------cech----------- Beletti-BenHaim-Riccy-Paulo ---------Maka--------- ---Mikel-------lamps--- ---SWP--------Joey---- ---------drogs----------- I might be wrong but I think Wayne's still suspended for this one.
October 26, 200717 yr ----------cech-----------paolo-riccy-alex-bridge ---------essien---------- ----------------lamps--- -------mikel------------- ---joey---------malouda ---------drogs----------- Playing Mikel in front of Lampard? Oh goody, I'm sure that will improve our attack. that's where he should be played- he has a better creative brain and better short passing than lamps, who is best making long diagonal passes and making runs into the box. it makes no sense to play lamps too advanced- he doesn't have the creativity or dribbling to cope with man marking (generally speaking), and a player like mikel should be close to the attacking players- to get the most out of short passing you need to have players a shorter distance from eachother.
October 27, 200717 yr ----------cech-----------paolo-riccy-alex-bridge ---------essien---------- ----------------lamps--- -------mikel------------- ---joey---------malouda ---------drogs----------- Playing Mikel in front of Lampard? Oh goody, I'm sure that will improve our attack. that's where he should be played- he has a better creative brain and better short passing than lamps, who is best making long diagonal passes and making runs into the box. it makes no sense to play lamps too advanced- he doesn't have the creativity or dribbling to cope with man marking (generally speaking), and a player like mikel should be close to the attacking players- to get the most out of short passing you need to have players a shorter distance from eachother. agreed, but I dont see Grant playing Mikel up there. That is what I'm hoping though.
October 27, 200717 yr --------------------------Cech----------------------------------- --------PF-----------Ricci----Alex-------------------Bridgey--- --------------------------Mikel----------------------------------- -------Joe------------------------------------------Malouda---- -------------------------Lampard------------------------------- -------------------Sheva---------Drogba-----------------------
October 27, 200717 yr bridge is serving the last game of his suspension, I can't see it being anything other than the same lineup from the CL with the possible exception of Makelele... but i like your lineup
October 27, 200717 yr This may prove to be a diffcult encounter. City will be up for it and I can't see the teamsheet being a whole lot different to what we started with in the CL midweek (with the difference being SWP to come on as a sub after half-time) albeit Uncle Fester may have other ideas. I predict 1-0 or 2-1. We just need the win and keep that glorious home record. Who really cares about the score as long as we win and the Arse down the scousers at Anfilth.
October 27, 200717 yr line-up according to chelseafc.com 4-4-3 Cech Belletti Carv Alex PF Mikel Lampard Essien joe drogba kalou
October 27, 200717 yr Official lineup 4-3-3 cech PF-Alex-RC-JB Lamps-Essien-Mikel Cole-Drogba-Kalou Sub-Ben haim, Pizzaro, Sheva, Carlo, Maka NO SWP
October 27, 200717 yr Damn, you beat me to it. No Sweepy and no Malouda. I think I remember reading that Sweepy was fit to play. Is Malouda injured? I almost forgot. The games ref is Riley
October 27, 200717 yr Malouda is not injured .. i believe this is Grant/ten cate' rotation policy. IF it is .. i like it. Which means.. SWP should play next game. I hope to see sheva and pizza on the pitch .. but not as wingers !
October 27, 200717 yr Malouda is not injured .. i believe this is Grant/ten cate' rotation policy. IF it is .. i like it. Which means.. SWP should play next game.I hope to see sheva and pizza on the pitch .. but not as wingers ! Couldn't they rotate against a weaker team? And speaking of rotation policy, let's not go the way Pool has
