match thread -- Olympiacos v. Chelsea -- 1st leg (19-2-08)

[MannyJello]

here's what I'm envisioning for the starting XI:

1. Avram is going to be playing for a draw here, hoping for a solid victory at home. although we are just about at 100% in terms of health, i don't see him opening things up in this first match.

2. i heard tonight that Sheva did not make the trip to Greece, so we can assume he is the only player we don't have available. i know that Pizarro and Sidwell did not make the knockout stage roster. also, Sinclair is not on the roster, as our player B list only includes Hutchison and Sawyer (remember, SS was ineligible for this list because of his loan to Plymouth this season).

3. I think Saturday's FA Cup tie gave some strong indications as to who would be starting and who wouldn't on Tuesday. Except for a few players getting their legs back under them after injury -- Lamps and Terry -- I think that every other player who started for us on Saturday will not start on Tuesday. Most were being rested, I'd gather.

Here's what my guess is:

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

----Belletti---Terry----Carvalho-----A.Cole-------

-------------------Makelele---------------------

-----------Ballack---Lampard---Essien-----------

---------------J.Cole-----------------------------

--------------------Drogba----------------------

Subs: Cudicini, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, SWP, Anelka, Kalou

Not on bench: Hilario, TBH, Ferreira, Hutchison, Malouda, Sawyer, Sheva

Not available: Sidwell, Pizarro, Ivanovic

Thoughts:

- I think you will see a tight, compact midfield more concerned about controlling possession and destroying Olympiacos' offensive flow that you will see any hint of a wide match. If we score, it will be because of a nice bit of skill from Joe Cole, who will be allowed some offensive freedom to float down the wing if he chooses, or some wonderful one-man-gang stuff from Drogba. Or perhaps from a set piece.

- I think this was a fairly easy line up for Avram to choose. The back 4 speak for themselves, and even though it looked about a month ago that Bridge had a chance to displace Cole, it doesn't seem as if he has done so. Maybe Saturday versis Sp*rs, but not in Europe.

- The midfield might have been a hard selection until Lampard put on such a great display on Saturday. I know it was only Huddersfield, but he still looked like the best player on the pitch. If he'd had another anonymous game, and Avram was thinking of starting Lamps on the bench, then Avram would have had three other real choices: start Mikel and hope for no red card; start SWP and Joe on the wings; or start the double striker duo of Anelka and Drogba. But once Lamps showed he was back, I think he's forced to start this four. Simply our four best midfielders this season -- Maka has been wonderful, Ballack has been all you'd hope he'd be, and Essien has had a dip in form but is still world class. I guess it's possible he starts Essien on the bench and takes one of those other routes, but I don't see it.

- Up front -- I know many of us want to see Anelka and Drogba partnered up, and we might see that in some other match, but in a game of this magnitude on the road, I think we sacrifice offense for lock-down defense. Cole plays the link-up man role, and Drogba his usual lone ranger.

- The 7 person bench is a blessing, of course, because we'll have offensive subs if we go a goal down (Anelka, Kalou, SWP), and other defensive reinforcements if we go up or if there is an injury (Mikel, Alex, Bridge). Malouda has not earned his spot on the bench this season, and I really hope he doesn't play in this game. I'm not sure what we would have done had Sheva been available -- or maybe he will be available and that was misinformation I'd heard.

[Guest]

I'm expecting to see a 4-3-3 again, I don't beleive Grant is going to want to "reinvent the wheel" so to speak in such an important game.

[mad_mac]

I dont think Maka will start, as I see him as more of a back up player, and that was a job he has performed admirably

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

Belletti.....terry....>Carvs.....Cole

...............ballack

......Essien................Lamps

J Cole............................Malouda

..................Drogs

I could see Malouda replaced with Kalou, but that will be the line up in my opinion

[evissy]

I think Malouda just could start in this game. His passing skill in a game that is expected to be tight, defensive match could just be decisive. I know most of you don't agree with me with this but his one moment of passing magic can turn this game to our victory. He hasn't found his spot in our team yet but his skill is there that is for sure.

Starting with Kalou is more risky since his defensive game is non-existent and I also think we are playing with a passive style in this game.

My guess is:

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

bell..riccy..JT..cole

.........mikel...........

essien.........lamps

......ballack...........

joey/SWP..malouda

............DD............

[Maksimov]

Hopefully the weather doesn't take a turn for the worst, 'cause I heard they've had to postpone some Greek League matches because of all the snow.

[ozboy]

Surely we have to play with drogs and anelka up front, with one wide player

cech

beletti, riccy, jt, ac (hope terry is fit)

essien

ballack lamps

anelka drogs kalou

subs, jc, swp, mikel

[Gem]

Surely we have to play with drogs and anelka up front, with one wide player

cech

beletti, riccy, jt, ac (hope terry is fit)

essien

ballack lamps

anelka drogs kalou

subs, jc, swp, mikel

Or play a (erugh) diamond? With Joey given a free role just behind the front 2.

[Peeking Duck?]

My guess is:

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

bell..riccy..JT..cole

.........mikel...........

essien.........lamps

......ballack...........

joey/SWP..malouda

............DD............

I'll have evissy's line up where we get 12 players! Excellent, Smithers!

[coco]

---------------Superman---------------

Belletti------Ricci-------JT-------A.Cole

------------Ballack----Essien-----------

--------Lampard-----------J.Cole-------

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

-----------Drogba----------------------

Subs: Cudicini,Alex,Bridge,Malouda,SWP,Mikel,Kalou.

Got to put JT straight back in the thick of it, hes our captain and he wouldnt want it any other way (Plus he is in a hurry to get his England capt's position back).

Ashley Cole to play in place of Bridge, purely for speed/defence worries.

Essien holding midfiled, Ballack will take control of the midfield (Best man for the position @ club).

This will leave Lampard free to go forward more and support Joe Cole & Anelka, these 3 will work off Drogbas touches. If all 3 can support Drogba quickly then i fear for the Greeks.

This is where the boys meet the men.

[loz]

Are we on terrestial TV tomorrow?

[dkw]

i was fancying this formation. i know we lose width, but the full backs can add that.

---------------cech---------------

Belletti------Ricci-------JT-------A.Cole

-------------Mikel/Maka---------------

----Lampard-------Essien/Ballack-------

---------------Joey-------------------

-----------Drogba----Anelka-----------

[coco]

Are we on terrestial TV tomorrow?

Must be, my brother just text me to say he is coming over to watch it at mine, and he knowa im too tight to pay for skysports. Especially as he dont know about myp2p

e2a: Its on ITV4 Loz

[MannyJello]

does anyone anything close to a scouting report for our opponents? i literally know nothing about them.

[Alan]

Are we on terrestial TV tomorrow?

Must be, my brother just text me to say he is coming over to watch it at mine, and he knowa im too tight to pay for skysports. Especially as he dont know about myp2p

e2a: Its on ITV4 Loz

Ah, ITV are keeping up their precedent of putting Liverpool on ITV every Tuesday without fail

[coco]

Are we on terrestial TV tomorrow?

Must be, my brother just text me to say he is coming over to watch it at mine, and he knowa im too tight to pay for skysports. Especially as he dont know about myp2p

e2a: Its on ITV4 Loz

Ah, ITV are keeping up their precedent of putting Liverpool on ITV every Tuesday without fail

Its coz we got no history Al !

does anyone anything close to a scouting report for our opponents? i literally know nothing about them.

Copy/Pasted from another forum.....

Olympiacos:

------------------Nikopolidis--------------

Torosidis---Antzas---Zevlakow---Pantos

------Ledesma--------------Stoltidis-----

------------------Belluschi----------------

Galleti--------------------------Djordjevic

----------Kovacevic/Lua Lua--------------

It's something like 4-5-1 that changes to 4-3-3. It's Olympiacos's usual squad in CHL.The only change is Fernando Belluschi who took the position of Patsatzoglou.Belluschi can make the team more attackive than it was with Patsatzoglou.

[MannyJello]

if the rumors are true, then the starting XI for the first leg will be completely changed from the FA Cup match vs. Huddersfield:

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

---Belletti---Alex---Carvalho---A.Cole

--------------Makelele

---------Ballack-------Essien

---SWP----------------------J.Cole

--------------Drogba

bench: Cudicini, Terry, Bridge, Lampard, Mikel, Kalou, Anelka

not on bench: Hilario, TBH, Ferreira, Hutchison, Malouda, Sawyer, Sheva

[mad_mac]

DAMMMIIIIITTTTT.....been called to a "must attend" meeting, for all managers at my work....won't see the game...at all! But lready booked the day off for the return leg!

[Bodzilla]

I think Maka will get a rest, JT with Ricky in the middle of defense. Essien holding and Anelka wide in a 4-3-3(4-5-1).

Cech

Belletti

Terry

Carvalho

Cole

Essien

Ballack

Lampard

Anelka

Drogba

Cole

Subs: Cudicini, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Makelele, Malouda, Wright-Phillips

[Paul Seery]

Ah, ITV are keeping up their precedent of putting Liverpool on ITV every Tuesday without fail

Joking aside that is rather wierd Alan. Every time that both clubs have oplayed this season it seems that the ITV broadcasters seem to prefer showing Liverpool games rather than Chelsea games. In regard to the match today I expect Chelsea to be rather cautious and making sure that Olympiakos do not score. However it is vital though that Chelsea can at least score one, that way making the tie more favourable in Chelsea's favour.

Below is the starting line-up that I would select:

GK: P Cech

DF: J Belletti

DF: J Terry

DF: R Carvalho

DF: W Bridge

MF: M Essien

MF: F Lampard

MF: M Ballack

MF: J Cole

CF: D Drogba

CF: N Anelka

Formation: 4-4-2

[Chippy]

Cech

Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, A Cole

Makelele

Essien Ballack

SWP J Cole

Drogba

seems to be the likely line up

[Gem]

According to The Sun & The Mirror, Grant is going to leave out Lamps, JT and Anelka for this game, so that they're fresh for Sunday's CC final.

[Valerie]

Are we on terrestial TV tomorrow?

Must be, my brother just text me to say he is coming over to watch it at mine, and he knowa im too tight to pay for skysports. Especially as he dont know about myp2p

e2a: Its on ITV4 Loz

Ah, ITV are keeping up their precedent of putting Liverpool on ITV every Tuesday without fail

Liverpool on Dutch tv too Hopefully our consolation prize will be a complete thrashing by Inter

[Maksimov]

AS Roma versus Real Madrid is on Finnish television, but Viasat is showing Chelsea's match live, so Pub Chelsea, here I come!

COME ON MIGHTY BLUES!

[jack h]

The game is on ITV 4

[MHedges]

does anyone anything close to a scouting report for our opponents? i literally know nothing about them.

I should know a little bit, since I am Greek and a Greek National Team supporter...but alas, I know close to none.

Antonios Nikopolidis is their GK, and I think he is spectacular. He is captain of the Greek National side, and you all probably remember him from EURO 2004. He didn't let in any goals in the knockout rounds.

Stoltidis is their version of Maka. Plays Defensive midfielder, very strong on the ball, but gets forward often. Dangerous with his head on set pieces.