Posted December 31, 200717 yr The games are thick and fast, a little like SWP and unlike Jody Morris who was just thick! Not much in the way of team news yet so no idea if JOe's knock was just minor and the status of Cech's fitness. Given the amount of absentees we have I would be surprised to see many changes from the Newcastle game. Maybe Pizarro getting a start (depending on Sheva's fitness) and maybe a start for Sidwell. I would like to see Sinclair start but I suspect he will be on the bench again. LOFTY - remember is it a 1245 kick off!
December 31, 200717 yr LOFTY - remember is it a 1245 kick off! AM or PM? Depends on where you are in the world
January 1, 200817 yr Cashley is back for this game too, but after his performance in the last game, I would like tosee us stick with Bridgey...doubt it will happen. The other 3 in the back 4 pick themselves. I still don't think cech should be rushed back, and no word on Carlo. Sheva is still ruled as "doubtful" according to SSN. I think Sinclair will see action, but again from off the bench. For me (and due to work I couldn't get this in to the BPL) .............................Hilario ....Belletti........Alex............BlueBeards Gran.....Cashley ...............................Essien ..................Mikel....................ballack ........SWP...........................................Joe Cole .............................Kalou Bench. That young welsh bloke Pizzaman Sinclair ZX Spectrum Red Headed Reading bloke Maka one maka two maka three makalele With it being a Derby, and us with a half a squad, I think this will be a potential banana peel. However, I hope we squeek out a 1-0 win Scott
January 1, 200817 yr Fulham with new manager and as per usual , clubs with new manager and first game in charge tends to end up with new manager getting a result. Christ i hope im wrong.
January 1, 200817 yr Fulham with new manager and as per usual , clubs with new manager and first game in charge tends to end up with new manager getting a result. Christ i hope im wrong. I think you will be, Fulham are 19th and obviously in trouble, I don't see Hodgson getting much improvement about 3 days after taking over. May be long term he can turn things around but we are meeting them at a perfect time. Makes a change to meet a team where the club sack the manager before we arrive, normally we play them and they sack them the next day. Despite our injuries I think we will win reasonably comfortably in the end.
January 1, 200817 yr Team today: Chelsea are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation as follows: 40 Hilario 35 Juliano Belletti 33 Alex 22 Tal Ben-Haim 18 Wayne Bridge 9 Steve Sidwell 5 Michael Essien 13 Michael Ballack © 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips 21 Salomon Kalou 10 Joe Cole Subs: 30 Rhys Taylor, 20 Paulo Ferreira, 12 John Mikel Obi, 17 Scott Sinclair, 14 Claudio Pizarro.
January 1, 200817 yr I would have liked it if Scotty had started but hey-ho... he'll have to take his chance when (if) he comes on. Against Newcastle we seemed to lose our midfield part way through the second half, we need to rule that position today!! Ballack and Essien need to ensure that.
January 1, 200817 yr Ballack and Essien's cross field balls have been awful, all gone out of play! Just one of the maaaany many many many many reasons why we miss Frank. But hey-ho, can't do anything about it, come on Chels!! Joe Cole doesn't look too bothered though. ...We're just not taking our chances, our final ball has been awful, from all areas. Kalou looks lively and looks most likely to do some damage, but needs to learn the offside rule to do it, we're not going to get it given to us like we did against the Barcodes.
January 1, 200817 yr Author If Kalou could master the art of the offside rule we would be home and dry by now!!
January 1, 200817 yr If Kalou could master the art of the offside rule we would be home and dry by now!! He's had how many years to learn about this rule by now?
January 1, 200817 yr Kamara Chance (Min 1) Click Here for Video Kalou Chance (Min 6) Click Here for Video Wright-Phillips Run and Shoot (Min 7) Click Here for Video 1-0 Murphy P.K (Min 10) Click Here for Video Murphy Free Kick (Min 32) Click Here for Video Alex Free Kick (Min 36) Click Here for Video
January 1, 200817 yr I don't take this as a level playing field from the referee - he has missed stone-wall fouls on our players time and time again in that first half and given 50/50's Fulham's way. I wonder whether this particular referee isn't up to the task of keeping the crowd off his back and that the Fulham fans are forcing his hand. The Fulham penalty wasn't a penalty and Kalou was "level" with the defender when he went through and went down over Niemi for a penalty which should have been.. Roll on the 2nd half - Fulham aren't a good team in the 2nd half, even under a new boss..
January 1, 200817 yr This is a horrible performance. sh*t way to start 2008. Yep, not impressed at all. I'd like to see Pizarro come on at half time for SWP, move Kalou to the left and Joey to the right. Kalou just doesn't cut it for me as a striker. Ballack's playing alright so far, some of his passing has been great.
January 1, 200817 yr Sorry you can't blame the ref for our performance so far. Next half we need Sidwell and SWP to actually start doing something. We have Mikel and Scott Sinclair on the bench and they are the only two guys who can make a difference. Come on Chelsea - we can score against this lot
January 1, 200817 yr I'd like to see Pizarro come on at half time for SWP, move Kalou to the left and Joey to the right. Id like to see Sinclair instead of SWP right away and Pizzaro in for Kalou with about 30 min to go if we dont score.
