loz Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 The first game without our African players (not quite sure how Everton have managed to delay the departure of Yobo and Yakubu so they can play on Tuesday yet we either haven't been afforded or requested the same luxury for Mikel) From the team that started against QPR I would expect Ballack, Joe and Belletti all to return to the starting XI. Bridge maybe to start ahead of Ashley and Sinclair to drop back down to the bench. So going with Kalou and Pizarro up front again. We may just see a couple of rturns from injury though which would alter things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clubhappy Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Everton have hit form this season , apart from .FA.Cup , and i think they can cause us problems , although at home is an advantage. I'd go for Sinclair and Kalou up front , but the loss of Essien and Mikel is a serious blow . Any news on Sheva ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Kalou would have gone to the ANC though wouldn't he? Drogs waved his goodbyes yesterday and they both play for the same country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youlots Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Big shame we don't have Maka for this. At least we have some goalkeepers back though and the tank. Time to shine Sidwell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted January 6, 2008 Author Share Posted January 6, 2008 OOps - cheers for pointing that out Geezer - all this time I have thought Kalou was a Brixton boy ! OK Pizarro up front with Sinclair in support or Pizarro leading the line alone in the 4-5-1 with Ballack in the holding role. Maybe a chance for Sahar on the bench? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 We are seriously going to struggle to get a team and a bench together for this first game unless some of the injury plagued group are back. If no Cech, Cudicini, Lampard, Terry, Malouda or Sheva coupled with Rikki being suspended and the ANC boys gone it could look like Hilario Belletti Cole A Ballack Alex Ben Haim SWP Sidwell Pizarro Cole J Sinclair Bench: Taylor, Ferreira, Bridge, Sahar, ???? Shows how we've arrived at the bare bones of the squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backbiter Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 I heard we're allowed to keep Mikel till after the Everton game. And RC has served his 3 match ban, too (Newcastle, Fulham, QPR). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 I heard we're allowed to keep Mikel till after the Everton game. And RC has served his 3 match ban, too (Newcastle, Fulham, QPR). Backbiter if you were a woman or I was Brian M I'd kiss ya!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted January 6, 2008 Author Share Posted January 6, 2008 I heard we're allowed to keep Mikel till after the Everton game. And RC has served his 3 match ban, too (Newcastle, Fulham, QPR). Not confirmed yet but hopeful [iframe:3boqcd38]http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3026959,00.html[/iframe:3boqcd38] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUENUT Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 I don't really want to be taking anything other than a 2-0 up to Goodison for the 2nd leg. A clean sheet is top priority tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Moos Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 And let's not repeat our last game against them. Though their goal was very nice indeed It will be a tough one but I hope we can win it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callista Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Will be a tough game but Grant is hardly playing the reserves, he has Mikel still, Carlo could be back, Riccy is back, we have both Coles, SWP, Belletti, Alex, Bridge who Grant appears to prefer to anyway and Ballack who is playing very well. So okay striker wise we are very short but otherwise the quality on the pitch if all of the above is available is pretty damn high. So I think a win for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Has it been confirmed Mikel is available yet? Huge boost to have him and Ballack in the middle - not to mention Ricky returning from suspension. I think we'll play 4-3-3, with Mr Piz as the lone ranger. SWP and Cole on either side with Sidders, Ballack and Mikel in the middle. Beletti, Alex, £8 million Spuds target, Bridge along the back 4 and Hilario in goal Come on Chels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 I am 99% sure it has been confirmed Gem although most websites are still saying that he 'should' be available - I heard on the radio last night he was available. Everton are moaning about Pienaar not being allowed to play as South Africa's first game isn't until January 23rd but SA, unlike Nigeria have invoked the 14 day rule which is that the players must be released 14 days before the opening game of the tournament. It is a bit farcical that some countries invoke it whilst others don't. For me there should be a hard and fast rule and clubs should not be allowed to even ask for players to be released. At least it would be applied consistently to all clubs then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethicalstrategy Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 There seems to be an assumption that Sheva won't be available for tonight. Is that definite? I haven't seen anything either way but I didn't get the impression that his injury was very serious. I'd be quite happy with: Hilario/Carlo/Cech (one of, not all three!) Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Bridge Cole, Mikel, Ballack, SWP Sheva, Pizarro or whatever formation Grant can make from those same players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abramovich Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 As far as i know Sheva is still not fit, but Carlo is,Ricky is back from suspension so here's my take ...................................CUDICINI............................. BELETTI.............CARVALHO..........ALEX.............BRIDGE ......................................MIKEL............................... ....................SIDWELL...................BALLACK............... WRIGHT-PHILIPS...............................................J.COLE .....................................PIZARRO............................ subs HILARIO,SINCLAIR,FERREIRA,BEN HAIM,SAHAR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Cech (According to BBC Sport he has an outside chance of being fit) Beletti Riccy C Alex Bridge Makelele Ballack Mikel Joe Cole Pizarro Sinclair Subs: Carlo (Hilario if Cech isnt fit), Ben Haim, Sidwell, SWP, Sahar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethicalstrategy Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Paddy Power are offering 10/1 on Sheva to score the first goal tonight. Taken from the Official Chelsea website. Do we take that to mean he might be playing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWestwayWonder Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Id rather start with Carlo in goal and Pizarro up front, even if sheva and Cech are fit. The possibility of re-injury at a time when we really, really need as many players as possible is just too scary. Put sheva on the bench if he is fit, and let him be that extra boost we might need. Ive got a strange feeling that this might be Pizza's coming out party in blue Cmon the blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet waffle Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I'd like to see Sinclair start upfront alongside Pizarro, so I'm going for this formation. Chances of it happening? Slim. ---------------Hilario (Cech if fully fit) Beletti------Riccy------Alex------Bridge SWP-------Mikel------Ballack------Joey ---------Sinclair------Pizarro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MannyJello Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Paddy Power are offering 10/1 on Sheva to score the first goal tonight. Taken from the Official Chelsea website.Do we take that to mean he might be playing? I take that to mean that Paddy Power is going to be making some money on that bet today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evissy Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Paddy Power are offering 10/1 on Sheva to score the first goal tonight. Taken from the Official Chelsea website.Do we take that to mean he might be playing? I take that to mean that Paddy Power is going to be making some money on that bet today. source: http://www.chelseafc.com Paddy Power and Chelsea FC have a couple of great offers for Blues fans ahead of tonight's semi-final first leg against Everton. 10/1 Shevchenko First Goalscorer It's not a joke or a mistake, Paddy Power are offering Chelsea fans near enough double what any other bookie is offering on Sheva tonight. How can you ignore this, if he's fit has to play (remember if he doesn't play you get your money back). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e!!iot Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Is Sinclair deffo gonna be playing? I really hope so, i wish that lad would get more starts he's fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Unfortunately not Elliot, he isnt even on the bench. Malouda starts. 40 Hilario 35 Juliano Belletti 33 Alex 5 Ricardo Carvalho 18 Wayne Bridge 12 John Mikel Obi 13 Michael Ballack © 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips 10 Joe Cole 15 Florent Malouda 14 Claudio Pizarro Subs: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 20 Paulo Ferreira, 22 Tal Ben-Haim, 9 Steve Sidwell, 27 Ben Sahar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT26CFC Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Hooray! Ben Sahar's on the bench i hope he gets some playing time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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