g3.7 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 right, think our pre season games have finished, so time to look towards this game perhaps. we will see portsmouth this weekend against man utd in the community shield, think we can expect harry to be playing a 442 this season after signing crouch. if swp does go there, I can't imagine we'll let him play in this one, which is good news. drogba, who appears to be staying (thus negating any need to sign a lead striker), will be out till the end of the month according to scolari, which means after a strong pre season, anelka will start. this is very good new I think- a strong start from him should lead to us having an excellent asset for the season to come. I think we will see the four central midfielders system, and given that they're behind the rest of the squad in fitness, sheva and ballack probably won't start. the questions for me then are who will play as the second striker (I think joe should be given the position and see if he can hold onto the shirt), and whether paulo or invanovic covers for bosingwa (IMO paulo given scolari knows him better). it's quite a tought game to start with, they should be a very decent side. would take any sort of win, reckon 2-0 or 2-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack h Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 (edited) Portsmouth will probebly play something like this: James Johnson Cambell Distin Hreiderson Utaka Diarra Diop Kranjkar Defoe Crouch In the papers down here there was alot of rumours about Nicky Shorey being signed so if they get him then Hreiderson's out. I think Muntari is a big loss and IMO they won't do aswell this season without him despite signing Crouch. Edited August 4, 2008 by jack h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Based on pre-season form, injuries to Drogba and Bosingwa, and that Ballack is probably not match fit, I can see us going with: ...........................Cech.............................. Ivanovic.........JT..........Carvalho.........A Cole ...................Lamps.......Essien.................... J Cole...................Deco....................Malouda .........................Anelka................................ With Robinho to come off the bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evissy Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Based on pre-season form, injuries to Drogba and Bosingwa, and that Ballack is probably not match fit, I can see us going with:...........................Cech.............................. Ivanovic.........JT..........Carvalho.........A Cole ...................Lamps.......Essien.................... J Cole...................Deco....................Malouda .........................Anelka................................ With Robinho to come off the bench. One for me of these as well. Not sure about Ivanovic starting though, is Paolo injured? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_mac Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 when's the BPL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Not sure about Ivanovic starting though, is Paolo injured? I thought Ivanovic looked superb going forward against Milan. As did Ashley Cole. It really makes a huge difference to the type of football we play when our fullbacks get forward. Paolo's a great defender, but isn't at his best bombing forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblivion Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Based on pre-season form, injuries to Drogba and Bosingwa, and that Ballack is probably not match fit, I can see us going with:...........................Cech.............................. Ivanovic.........JT..........Carvalho.........A Cole ...................Lamps.......Essien.................... J Cole...................Deco....................Malouda .........................Anelka................................ With Robinho to come off the bench. Given injuries and pre-season form the above team pretty much picked itself. However, is Mikel around or is he going to Beijing? I know he came to Malaysia, so I assume he's not in the Olympics. Let's pick the bench then shall we (based on currently available players) Carlo Alex Ballack Mikel SWP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruh Buh Juh Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 (edited) Given injuries and pre-season form the above team pretty much picked itself. However, is Mikel around or is he going to Beijing? I know he came to Malaysia, so I assume he's not in the Olympics.Let's pick the bench then shall we (based on currently available players) Carlo Alex Ballack Mikel SWP 7 players on the bench next season remember :D I think we're going with this in a 4-3-3, very similar to TomP's suggestion actually... ........................Cech ...Paulo.........JT..........Carvalho...........Cole ...Essien.............Deco...............Lampard ....Joey...........Anelka.............Malouda Bench: Carlo Alex Ivanovic Ballack Mikel SWP Di Santo Edited August 5, 2008 by Ruh Buh Juh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Moreland Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Anybody know of any spare tickets going for the Portsmouth game on the 17th? We're going to be in London that weekend and I was hoping to take my young son. Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethicalstrategy Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 I'd be very surprised if we didn't start with Mikel holding based on his performances in pre season. I think we will play Cech Ferreira Riccky JT Cole Mikel Essien Lampard Deco Cole Anelka Whether we play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalpitv Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 I think we would be going with this... ------------------------------------Cech----------------------------------------------------------Carvalho-----------Terry------------------------ --Ferreira-------------------------------------------------------A Cole-- ----------------------------------Essien----------------------------------- ----------------------Lapmard-----------Deco--------------------------- --J Cole-------------------------------------------------Robinho/SWP-- ---------------------------------Anelka---------------------------------- Subs: Cudicini Alex Bridge Obi Mikel Ballack Shevchenko Di Santo Prediction : Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_mac Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 I'd really like to see Mikel play more and more this season. I'd also like to see him play in a more advanced role. Maybe have him and Essien trading out holding duties while the other marauds forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeny Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 i'd go with; Cech Ivanovic Terry Carvalho Cole Mikel Essien Wright-Phillips Deco Cole Anelka Ivanovic over Ferreira as he's better attacking, i don't see Lampard being effective in a holding role, and i'd include SWP if Hreiderrson plays as he lacks pace. i think Scolari will go with; Cech Ferriera Terry Carvalho Cole Deco Essien Cole Lampard Malouda Anelka Ferreria as he's better known to Scolari, Malouda as he's (for whatever reason) more 'rated' than SWP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glory55 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Dont Pompey play KranjÄar behind the front two strikers? This blokes a genius! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maksimov Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Malouda as he's (for whatever reason) more 'rated'than SWP Malouda as he's...well...more of a left winger than Sweep. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 kranjcar will play on the left I think rob... probably drifting joe cole style though. think ethical has the 11 spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glory55 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 kranjcar will play on the left I think rob... probably drifting joe cole style though.think ethical has the 11 spot on. Oh I always thought of him as sort of a second striker/attacking midfielder G4. I really like him,great touch,a real classy player! The Croatians seem to produce some brilliant players with real flair,Robert ProsineÄki being one of my favourites,f**king great player!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g3.7 Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 if he didn't have loads of injuries (that IMO changed his game) stanic could have been really good for us too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maksimov Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 if he didn't have loads of injuries (that IMO changed his game) stanic could have been really good for us too. He did have a pretty good debut, that's for sure. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glory55 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 He did have a pretty good debut, that's for sure. :o Lets be honest,on THAT day against W*st H*m I thought Mario Stanic looked like the best player in the world!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glory55 Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 I just cant wait to see John Terry burst out of the East Stand tunnel and run towards the North stand on Sunday! We have been waiting to say thank you all summer,to show our mutual appreciation for each other! That night in Moscow as painfull as it is,does go down in history as one our most unforgetable! And its down to a bloke like John Terry that we have achieved things like this! Fighters and scrappers people like Ronnie Harris,David Webb,Stevie Clarke,Mickey Droy,Joey Jones,Dennis Wise,these are players who saw the club like the fans did! Same with with John Terry maybe even more-so! We are very lucky to have a player like John in this day and age! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimboola69 Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I think we will play with a loose diamond. -------------Cech------------------- Ivanovic---Percy----JT---Cashley -----------------Essien-------------- ----SWP-----------------Lamps---- ------------------Deco--------------- ---------------------------Joey------- -----------------Anelka-------------- Joe Cole playing off Anelka in the way that Kalou did in China. Pompey looked pretty awful today, big-time strikers but no creativity. And did you see how slow campbell was, especially on the turn!!! Nic will make mincemeat of him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreadis Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Lets be honest,on THAT day against W*st H*m I thought Mario Stanic looked like the best player in the world!!! Actually, Mario is Bosnian! :D Born and raised in Sarajevo...played for Zeljeznicar! But, with war and everything...and the fact that Bosnian team was total sh*t at the time he decided to play for Croatia. Can't blame him, many players in many sports did that. You'll be quite surprised the amount of Bosnians playing for other national teams...Ibrahimovic, anyone??? Sorry for being a bit "off-topic", but I love the fact that a Bosnian played for my Chelsea...once upon a time! :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeny Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Malouda as he's...well...more of a left winger than Sweep. :D i'd have joe cole on the left, but if malouda plays joe will play on the right... sorry if that wasn't clear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kornblume Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 How come is Sheva not an option for that game? Is he injured, or just not match fit? (Sorry if it looks dumb, but on this side of the Atlantic it's not always easy to keep track). Had he been available, I'd have loved to see a 4-1-3-2: Cech Ferreira/Ivanovic-JT-Carvalho-A Cole ----------Essien J Cole---Deco--Lampard -----Anelka--Sheva Something I'd love to see with both Ballack and Drogba in the team (in places of Joe Cole and Sheva). If not, I guess, like most here, that the team will be: Cech Ferreira/Ivanovic-JT-Carvalho-A Cole ----Essien--Lampard Joe Cole---Deco---Malouda -------Anelka (or maybe Lamps goes at Malouda's place and Mikel at his.) Cudicini, Alex, SWP, Mikel/Malouda, Di Santo on the bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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