v Wigan

[lauren]

seems like nobody wants to start this thread. I know the game is Monday night and everyone else (Manks v Arse) is the day before.

A must win obviously for us. And a perfect draw for the game on Sunday.

[dkw]

totally agree lauren. playing monday after the mancs/arse is usefull. hope for a draw, or an arse win. hopefully we will come out fired up and try and add to our goal difference.

[mad_mac]

I'm never comfortable when the others play ahead of us. There have been a couple of times this season when Arse or the Mancs have lost points, and we failed to capitalize. I think we might put on a typical 1-0 "ugly but got the job done" performance

Scott

[Mr Chelsea]

i can see a few players getting a rest, and some of the not so regulars playing, with travelling away to everton on thursday

it will be tuff against wigan it always is

we should win 2 or 3 nil

[aussiegood]

it will be tuff against wigan it always is

we should win 2 or 3 nil

Gee like to see Wigan under perform against us.

No Crespo for late goal celebrations but I'm sure that all players will be in the right frame of mind

reflecting a positive outcome, not only result (3-0) but the quality of passing, finishing and above all commitment.

Should I wake up now?

[doctorblue]

I see us using our squad rotation policy to save legs for Thursday's bigger challenge at Goddison (and maybe test out a 4:4:2 formation?)

Think that Alex will also be in to counter Heskey's height and power.

Hilario

Ferrera Alex Terry Bridge

SWP Mikel Ballack Malouda

Anelka Shevchenko

Bench: 'keeper, Ben Haim, Essien, Kalou, Pessario

[mad_mac]

i don't like the inclusion of SWP and Malouda. Neither of them are performing, so it would be too risky to bring them in to a game like this. Especially seeing as we now MUST win, after the mancs going 6 clear. I would like to see Anelka start

[Lofty]

I see us using our squad rotation policy

Have we got a squad rotation policy? That's news to me. Some may argue that a certain Mr G hasn't got a squad selection policy as such ...

I think we need to be careful about resting players. Everton away may be a more difficult game, but blow it tomorrow night and it all becomes pretty much irrelevant.

[doctorblue]

I see us using our squad rotation policy

Have we got a squad rotation policy? That's news to me. Some may argue that a certain Mr G hasn't got a squad selection policy as such ...

I think we need to be careful about resting players. Everton away may be a more difficult game, but blow it tomorrow night and it all becomes pretty much irrelevant.

Of course we've got a rotation policy...

Whenever we need pace at the back we bring in Alex...

Whenever we need height and power we bring in Ricci...

Have faith 'The Corpse' will see us right...

[Tim]

and whenever we need a goal to kill a game off against weak opposition, we bring on a right back and play 4-1-4-1.

[ozboy]

i don't like the inclusion of SWP and Malouda. Neither of them are performing, so it would be too risky to bring them in to a game like this. Especially seeing as we now MUST win, after the mancs going 6 clear. I would like to see Anelka start

The odds are against us winning the league and have been since the spurs result.

We need to rest players. 2 weeks ago Manu looked to have a problem with Vidic and Ferdinand out, but now they have Hargreaves coming into form.

I would like to see Kalou and Joe cole rested a bit. maybe even give bridge a run down the left hold ashley back for the cl. Malouda should have another chance to run into form.

Wigan will be tougher the beat than you might think, they have had some reasonable performances lately.

Hilario

Paulo, Riccy Terry bridge

essien ballack lampard malouda

anelka/drogba

bench: kalou, sheva, mikel, sunday league goalie

[Arcaeon]

prediction, 0-2 chels, but i feel its too little too late. Im being pessimestic sure but I think the title's gone now after yesterday. even with a win over manchester united at home they still have to drop points. which is not going to happen. they play blackburn, west ham and wigan. It's a very easy run in for them. Barring a miracle it's runners-up again.

[mad_mac]

Well, due to time difference, I will not be able to watch this one. Look for a tough game, Wigan will be tough as I think they will be battling to stay above the relegation zone. 1-0, but I would love for us to put in a good high scoring preformance to give the team a needed boost!

[Mr Chelsea]

prediction, 0-2 chels, but i feel its too little too late. Im being pessimestic sure but I think the title's gone now after yesterday. even with a win over manchester united at home they still have to drop points. which is not going to happen. they play blackburn, west ham and wigan. It's a very easy run in for them. Barring a miracle it's runners-up again.

west ham usually do ok against th manc scum

so they may well do there southern neighbours a big favour

[blizeH]

I'm with Arcaeon on this unfortunately, however, if we could win all of our games I'd be ridiculous happy, even if we lose out on goal difference.

[Lofty]

I see us using our squad rotation policy

Have we got a squad rotation policy? That's news to me. Some may argue that a certain Mr G hasn't got a squad selection policy as such ...

I think we need to be careful about resting players. Everton away may be a more difficult game, but blow it tomorrow night and it all becomes pretty much irrelevant.

Of course we've got a rotation policy...

Whenever we need pace at the back we bring in Alex...

Whenever we need height and power we bring in Ricci...

Have faith 'The Corpse' will see us right...

That's not a rotation policy: A rotation policy means resting players on a regular basis. Choosing a player on merit, on the basis that he is be expected to be more effective against any particular opposition isn't rotation, it's team selection based on perceived requirements of the situation.

[ethicalstrategy]

My guess at tonight's team. Grant will look to rotate with a match on Thursday and then the CL semi next week.

--------------Hilario

Ferreira----Alex------JT--------Bridge

--------------Mikel

------Essien-----------Lampard

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

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

Subs: Taylor, Carvalho, Ballack, Kalou, Sheva

[Maksimov]

---------------------Hilario---------------------

---Ferreira-----Alex----Terry-----Bridge-----

----------------------Mikel---------------------

------------Essien-----------Lampard----------

----------------------SWP----------------------

-------------Anelka-------Sheva---------------

[BLUENUT]

With the goal difference as it is, I'd go straight out of the starting blocks tonight. Play 2 upfront and have a right go. Now I'm not saying we can overhaul a 20 odd goal difference by the end of the season, but if we spank Wigan tonight, which we're quite capable of, then it would send out the right message to Manu, just in case any nerves or complacency are creeping in.

Getting 1-0 up and hanging on in there just won't for tonights game, if we keep allowing side to knock on the door, ala Boro, it will open eventually!

[loz]

With the Everton game only a few days away I think it is unlikely that we would push for a big win should we get our noses in front. I would be very unhappy if we scored and tried to sit on a 1-0 lead but I would understand if we sat on a 2 goal advantage and preserved some energy.

[BLUENUT]

All good in theory Loz, but I have yet to see us 'preserve' energy whilst ahead under Grant, we seem to get in front and hand the onus over to the opposition.

I'm all for steam-rollering them tonight.

I hope we get 2 or 3 ahead and bring players of with Thursday in mind, but lets get the job inhand done first.

[kalpitv]

Here's my team for tonight...

------------------Cech/Hilario--------------------

----------------Alex---------Terry----------------

---Belletti-------------------------------Bridge----

---------------Obi Mikel-----Ballack/Essien---------

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

-----------------Anelka------Kalou----------------

Subs:

Hilario/Taylor

Carvalho

Essien/Ballack

J Cole

Shevchenko

I think we should start taking the GD seriously and go into this game with an attacking mind.

Prediction:

Chelsea 2/3 Wigan Athletic 0

(I don't know why, but I expect Obi to shine today )

C'mon Chelsea!

[Gem]

I don't expect to see Ricky, A.Cole, Maka/Essien or Drogba tonight. Alex, Bridge, Mikel and Anelka (or shock horror, Sheva?) to take over respectively. Who knows about RB?! Cech to be foolishly risked in goal Ballack and Lamps to continue in the middle... Maybe a start for SWP?

[Alan]

Just seen on the Chelsea site that Ivanovic, Ferreira, Ben Haim and Sidwell are playing for the reserves against Spurs tonight. But also, Taylor is on the bench. So that must mean that Cech will either start or be on the bench tonight.

[Maksimov]

I hope Cech is on the bench. I'm not a doctor and I don't know enough about Cech's condition, but I just feel it would be stupid to risk it. Especially as we're playing another match so soon. Hilario can handle it.