Birmingham City v. CHELSEA

[Basarabeanul]

Any thoughts, ideas about our next game? Looks to me like some easy three points, although I would preffer a better team interaction and commitment than just a plain, sad, dry win. I am looking forward to what Anelka might do on Saturday, and maybe Sheva too. I would like them to score.

[midlandblue]

Birmingham had a decent result against Arsenal (dubious penalty against as well)

and lets hope Mikel doesnt come back to haunt us.

It will be interseting to see how we play for 90 mins with Anelka starting.

[MannyJello]

Any thoughts, ideas about our next game? Looks to me like some easy three points, although I would preffer a better team interaction and commitment than just a plain, sad, dry win. I am looking forward to what Anelka might do on Saturday, and maybe Sheva too. I would like them to score.

i have to disagree, basara. this is going to present a stiff challenge for us.

1. remember the first league match of this season? we pulled out a late 3:2 victory at home.

2. as midlandblue reminded us, Brum have been on good form lately in the Premiership. They beat Boro 3-0, tied Fulham 1-1, only lost at Old Trafford 1-0, and then tied Arsenal 1-1. (of course, they also lost to Huddersfield in the FA Cup as well during that span.)

3. in 05/06, on our way to our second successive league title and playing with a full squad, we drew 0-0 with themat St. Andrews on 1 April 06.

4. way back in 03/04, our last year with Tinkerman, we also drew 0-0 with themat St. Andrews (14 Oct 2003).

[mad_mac]

I do not have a good feeling about going to Birmingham! They are under a ressurgance with McLeish, and they are going to battle hard for anything that they can get. We are missing some pretty substantial midfield weight in Mikel and Essien (who I feel we MUST keep for the future, as in a couple of seasons they could form one of the most dominant partnerships in football)

I do think SWP and Anelka showed signs of glimmering hope and fanciful entertainment when they played together last game out against the y*ddos. So, I fully expect Anelka to start, but not too sure on the midfield. If Maka is fit, then he should play, but I am not entirely clear about how many games he can play (surely at least once per week)

Scott

[ozboy]

Wont be easy, not too much in the Premier is, but we should be able to get a result.

How long is Sheva out for? Sheva and Anelka with SWP and JC out wide has a certain appeal, although not much defensive capability.

Then its Maka and Ballack running the centre with the usual back 4. Perhaps you could play Malouda instead of Sheva and have SWP in the centre but I wouldn't.

[The Moos]

Theres no such thing as an easy game. Birmingham should not be underestimated.

Will Lampard be back? He's back in training, right?

Anelka to start with Pizza on the bench?

I think we will focus and take home the three points. 3-1 with Anelka scoring one, a midfielder (Ballack or Sweepy) hitting the net and also a defender. Alex to head one home?

[BLUENUT]

They also beat Spurs at WHL in Mcleash's 1st match. He comes across as a decent manager.

I'd take a 1-0 win now.

[midlandblue]

http://www.bcfc-commercial.com/newsDeta ... 8ok7fts%3d

£75 for a corporate ticket, might just take themup on that.

[Lofty]

This is one of those games that really could go any way. We could win, and if so I'd expect it to be a hard fought away win, similarly if we draw - Birmingham won't lie down and roll over. They'll be hard to break down and difficult to beat. The Anelka factor, assuming he plays from the start, could make all the difference. But the chances are that Birmingham will play like the away team and if they do, there's always the chance that we could have another one of those days, countless chances, battering the woodwork, not one of them hitting the back of the net, and they could nick it with their one clear opening of the game.

The one thing I don't expect is an easy three points.

[Guest Brian M]

0 v 3 to Chelsea. Cracker performance with Anelka getting two and SWP the other!

[Elliott]

I think the line-up will be;

..................Big Pete...................

Belletti......Carv......Alex.........Bridge

..........SWP....Maka......Ballack.........

....Joey Cole.....Anelka.......Malouda...

0-2 Chelsea.

Alex, and Anelka to score!

[mad_mac]

how much do you realistically think Maka can play? I have asked this elsewhere, but if we are to expect him to be the lynchpin of the midfield is it likely that we will use him that much in the premiership? I know who I would chose between him and Sidwell, but if Sid was brought in as cover for the ACN then surely we will see more of him during that time?

Scott

[Osgood]

I do think Chelsea will win 1-0 (or 2-1) because The Blues will play at League Cup with Everton next week and Birmingham City isn't pleasant place. (Villa win 2-0 early season and the lastest meeting Chelsea drew Birmingham). So 1-0 is enough.

I agree with ethicalstrategy

[ethicalstrategy]

I would suggest we will start:

------------Cech

Belletti---Alex----Carvalho-----Bridge

-----------Maka

----Lampard-------Ballack

SWP-----------------------Malouda

-----------Anelka

[JT26CFC]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... 23&cc=5901

well McFadden has signed for Birmingahm and may start tommorow.

Result 1:0 hopefully anelka, but i'll say Lampard, just to laugh if im right.

[mad_mac]

I went for

.............................Cech

Belletti.............Alex...........Percy..........Cole

..........................Sidwell

.................J Cole............Ballack

....SWP.....................................Malouda

...........................Anelka

Carlo, Paulo, Maka, Sinclair, Pizarro

I don't think Lampard will be rushed back, and I don't think Ivanovic will be rushed in

Scott

[Gem]

Why have you called Ricky, Percy?

[Y_dizzie]

I went for

.............................Cech

Belletti.............Alex...........Percy..........Cole

..........................Sidwell

.................J Cole............Ballack

....SWP.....................................Malouda

...........................Anelka

Carlo, Paulo, Maka, Sinclair, Pizarro

I don't think Lampard will be rushed back, and I don't think Ivanovic will be rushed in

Scott

I would go for the same, just swap J.Cole with SWP, and Maka instead of Sidwell if he is fit.

[frostmo]

..................Cech...................

Belletti......Riccy......Alex.........Bridge

....SWP........Ballack....Sidwell....

....Joey C...............Malouda...

.............Anelka...................

I hope its maka not sidwell, but I've got the same concern about how much he'll be playing as many of you...so Sidwell seems to be the obvious choice for Birmingham. I'm a little nervous about the game but I think we'll get a good result.

Anelka brace in his first start for the Chels and throw in a late Alex goal for good measure...3-1 to the Chels

[guddy69]

Why have you called Ricky, Percy?

Do you really not know??

[aussiegood]

Why have you called Ricky, Percy?

Do you really not know??

"Don't drink the wine"

[Liam]

Percy Riccy

By the way Gem, you're a Chelsea nut, you love Duffer, you hate Stevie G, you swear like a sailor, and you're brilliant at Tetris.

I think I'm falling in love.

[Alan]

Anelka starts:

Chelsea are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation as follows:

1 Petr Cech

35 Juliano Belletti

33 Alex

5 Ricardo Carvalho

3 Ashley Cole

24 Shaun Wright-Phillips

4 Claude Makelele

13 Michael Ballack ©

10 Joe Cole

39 Nicolas Anelka

15 Florent Malouda

Subs: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 22 Tal Ben-Haim, 18 Wayne Bridge, 9 Steve Sidwell, 14 Claudio Pizarro.

Birmingham are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation as follows:

Taylor; Kelly, Ridgewell, Schmitz, Queudrue; Larsson, Muamba, Johnson ©, Kapo; O'Connor, Jerome.

Subs: Doyle, Parnaby, McSheffrey, McFadden, Forssell.

The referee is Rob Styles.

[g3.7]

ok, into match chat you timewasting c*nts.

[Lofty]

Heard on SSN that Anelka's twistd his ankle?????