Home match 2pm English time on sunday, Cech out:

Carlo, Beletti, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge, Lampard, Drogba, Joe Cole assured of a place imo:

.........................Carlo........................

.Beletti.....Carvalho.....Alex.......Bridge.

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

...............Mikel.........Lampard............

........................................................

............Joe......Drogba...........Malouda

Ben Haim

SWP

Makelele

Hilario

Shevchenko

Haven't seen everton play this year so I can't predict the score, Cahill is back and there's a possibility Makelele could play to try to deal with him- though that would probably be useless as his threat isn't really on the ground.

Which side is going to turn up?

1. Will we take control of the game early and win 2 or 3-0?

2. Will we nick the winner in a tight game?

3. Will they come out with a result after soaking it up and hitting us on the counter?

If Paulo was fit Belletti would be dropped after Tuesday. I'd bring in SWP and drop either Malouda or Cole. Perhaps Kalou and leave them both on the bench.

I love Carlo but he doesn't inspire confidence in the same way Cech does. If we don't keep it tight Arteta, Cahill and Yakubu can cause problems. A clean sheet is a must.

Riccy will have Yakubu in his pocket and Mikel will man mark Cahill. Essien may well be asked to play at right back (which means Makka in the middle) if Paulo is still out. Malouda/Kalou and SWP on either side.

3-0.

As for Carlo, can you think of a better second choice keeper in the league?

I was thinking along the same lines as you midland (the Essien at right back idea) however I am not sure that would be the right decision. yes Belletti had a horror show however his form up till then had been decent. Dropping him in favour of Essien may be harsh on the back of one stinker and may not be good for confidence either. I am sure Belletti is more than aware he had a nightmare game and putting a little faith in him against Everton may actually get the best ou of him.

Alternatively he could be cr*p again!!

We may very well lose this one. The past few matches have been against "weaker" opponents, and winning those was a much needed boost after some underwhelming performances. I feel that Everton are a better class than Wigan, Boro and Bolton, they have had some good results lately, boosted by the return of Cahill. And once again our defense is shaken up by the absence of JT and Cech, and Belletti's performance in the CL is fresh in our memory.

It's going to be tough I fear

Well I'm sure Grant and Co. are thinking exactly the same, lets hope they make the right decision.

that was in reply to loz, and Pauly also.

Riccy will have Yakubu in his pocket and Mikel will man mark Cahill. Essien may well be asked to play at right back (which means Makka in the middle) if Paulo is still out. Malouda/Kalou and SWP on either side.

3-0.

As for Carlo, can you think of a better second choice keeper in the league?

dear god no- surely the days of destroying players confidence playing others out of position when an injury occurs in the position they are there to cover, is over. beletti all the way.

Riccy will have Yakubu in his pocket

Lets bloody hope so with no repeat of the horror show when Yakubu completely murdered Riccy at the Riverside a couple of seasons ago. Maybe his worst ever game for us?

Riccy tends to step up to the plate when Terry is not playing. Ordinarly, Terry would be the dominant centre back with Riccy's role very much fitting in with Terry. Now Riccy is the leader at the back and his partner has to adapt to him.

Carlo

Beletti

Alex

Carvalho

Bridge

Mikel

Essien

Lampard

J.Cole

Drogba

Kalou

Subs: Hilario, Ben Haim, Maka, Malouda, Sheva.

2-1 Chelsea win.

I expect a tough match. Everton is a decent team. Although they play today on the UEFA Cup wich is an advantage for us.

Yakubu (Ricardo Carvalho's nemesis) is back to his scoring days, and there's also a threat coming from Arteta and Cahill.

Vaughn is also back in business. (a kid who I rate higly)

Meanwhile Baines is injured so we need someone to explore their left back weakness. SWP or even Kalou should play there, as Joe Cole tends to get inside too much AND/OR Belleti will have to get himself back in business.

So:

....................Cudicini......................

Belleti.......Alex........Ricky.......Bridge

...................Makalele......................

.......Essien.................Lampard........

...Kalou..........................Joe Cole....

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

Everton are going to test us and I hope the players go into this one with the right frame of mind after the dissapointing performance in Germany.

I hope Belletti plays and gets that game forgotten as he is far better than that and dropping him would be madness, we need confidence at the club and he was showing that in bundles before the other night.

I think Sweepy should play on the right an Joe on the left, Mickel was class when he came on so deserves a start.

my team

-------Carlo-------

Bell--Riccy--Alex--Wayne

-------Essien-----------

--Mickel---Lampard

Sweep--Drogs--Joey

I would like to see Sheva get half an hour if either Drogs is looking off or we are leading.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Sheva will start.

And you should listen to me as I'm on top of the Prediction League despite having played far fewer matches than so-called legends like TT and Ossie13.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Sheva will start.

And you should listen to me as I'm on top of the Prediction League despite having played far fewer matches than so-called legends like TT and Ossie13.

I would welcome that to be honest, Drogs never really looked up for it the other night (who did?) so maybe a rest could help him, anyway he could come off the bench in the second half if Sheva was not looking good.

we have to find out if Shev can do it when Drogs is a way so why not let him start Sunday?

we have to find out if Shev can do it when Drogs is a way so why not let him start Sunday?

Apart from the fact that he's sh ite?

I actually thought they'd both start with Malouda dropping to the bench..

I want us to start in a 4-4-2:

Cudicini

Belletti - Carvalho - Alex - Bridge

Wright-Phillips - Essien - Lampard - J. Cole

Drogba - Shevchenko

We may very well lose this one. The past few matches have been against "weaker" opponents, and winning those was a much needed boost after some underwhelming performances. I feel that Everton are a better class than Wigan, Boro and Bolton, they have had some good results lately, boosted by the return of Cahill. And once again our defense is shaken up by the absence of JT and Cech, and Belletti's performance in the CL is fresh in our memory.

It's going to be tough I fear

Lose at Fortress Stamford Bridge - Never!

Okay well we will eventually of course but not to Everton.

They are definitely a much stronger proposition that the relegation fodder we have had sprinkled between the odd CL game and City and we will have to be playing a damn sight better than against Schalke to ensure victory.

That said, Everton have had a European game and will only be back in time for a day or so's rest before having to face us and we have had longer to get prepared.

So I think a 2-1 or if the extra training Grant insisted for the lads pays off a 3-1 win.

What?? Callista is hopefully optimistic? Stop the presses!

Just pulling your leg C., I just hope you're right

Okay well we will eventually of course but not to Everton.

I don't like the sound of that quote...!!

We may very well lose this one. The past few matches have been against "weaker" opponents, and winning those was a much needed boost after some underwhelming performances. I feel that Everton are a better class than Wigan, Boro and Bolton, they have had some good results lately, boosted by the return of Cahill. And once again our defense is shaken up by the absence of JT and Cech, and Belletti's performance in the CL is fresh in our memory.

It's going to be tough I fear

Lose at Fortress Stamford Bridge - Never!

Okay well we will eventually of course but not to Everton.

We're gonna lose now

We will have some trouble this sunday but in the end we will come away with a win or a draw. Sheva (or Drogba is Sheva isn't playing) and Lampard with the goals. Lampards possibly on a penalty. Three yellow cards for us. Drogba, a defender and Mikel. No red cards this time.

Ref will be a c*nt as usual but the crowd will try and cheer us on. The game in general will be okay, mostly because it will be a close one.

The absence on JT and Cech will be noticable in the back. Carlo will however make one big save. But one will have to wonder if Cech might not have saved the conceded goal.

Riccy will atleast step up and take on JTs role which is good. Alex will be okay but nothing special.

As usual it will be nice to see Bridge back.

2-1 if it's a win.

1-1 if it's a draw (we won't get a penalty then even though we should have had one).

Okay well we will eventually of course but not to Everton.

I don't like the sound of that quote...!!

We are going to lose at one point, its inevitable.

Records like that can't just keep going for ever no matter how great they may be.

Grant is on a hiding to nothing with this unbeaten record issue, still I guess it's a great motivational tool with the players to add to the armoury.

We may very well lose this one. The past few matches have been against "weaker" opponents, and winning those was a much needed boost after some underwhelming performances. I feel that Everton are a better class than Wigan, Boro and Bolton, they have had some good results lately, boosted by the return of Cahill. And once again our defense is shaken up by the absence of JT and Cech, and Belletti's performance in the CL is fresh in our memory.

It's going to be tough I fear

Lose at Fortress Stamford Bridge - Never!

Okay well we will eventually of course but not to Everton.

We're gonna lose now :lol:

Hey come on be nice! I'm not the gloom and doom fairy you know, contrary to popular belief.

:shock: What?? Callista is hopefully optimistic? Stop the presses!

Just pulling your leg C., I just hope you're right

Yes I know it's a shock to me too! No problem.

Yes I think the game will be tougher than some recent matches given Everton are further up the table than the likes of Wigan etc but we should manage a win in the end.

Hope Carlo has a good game especially, he deserves it after all this waiting around on the sidelines.

Okay well we will eventually of course but not to Everton.

I don't like the sound of that quote...!!

We are going to lose at one point, its inevitable.

Yes, yes we all know that, but it doesn't mean that you have to write it.

We all know that Chelsea will lose in the end but it doesn't mean we want to know of it

We're the famous (or is it infamous?) CFC and we never lose. Even if the scoreboard shows something else we all know that we were the better team in some way or other. If not then atleast we have the best fans. Unlike those thieving b*stards of L'fool