Next Assignment: Cluj

[Scott]

The Land of Mutu and Super Dan..............

How will we cope with their altered diamond formation?

[Kekso]

Ahh. My area of expertise. I still think Chelsea should win, but as opposed to two weeks ago, I fancy Cluj's chances of reaching the knock-out stage. They beat Roma and Bordeaux shouldn't be a problem at home, that's 6 points in the bag. With a couple of hard-earned draws against Roma and away in France, a comfortable 8 points should be enough (if Chelsea win everything and I hope they do).

I've got my tickets, can't wait for Wednesday's game. By the way, the Cluj fans didn't prepare a choreography for the game against Steaua this Friday, even though it was a derby opposing the champions and runners-up of last season. They said they were saving all their material for the Chelsea game, so expect a beautiful atmosphere.

As a side note, 'Super Dan' is currently managing Romanian minnows Unirea Urziceni, also involved in European games, but in the UEFA Cup. In the first leg, they drew 0-0 with Hamburg, away. The second leg is this Thursday, keep an eye on it. Urziceni are small team from a small town (Cluj are viewed as a super-club when compared to them), so it's quite something for Petrescu's team to have held Hamburg on their own ground. He's one of the most promising coaches in Romania and it has even been said that he will take over the national team after the WC Qualifiers.

[geezer]

Great to see SuperDan is doing so well at his club. I was seriously hoping he would come to us as LFS assistant when Steve Clarke left. Hopefully he may still come back one day.

[Gem]

Looking forward to this one, like to see what Cluj can offer and if they have the potential to get to the knock ou stages.

Lets hope for a good game and no more poxy injuries.

[mad_mac]

Great news on Super Dan! Is tihs going to be the game thread? Also, anyone got news on formation or injuries? Other than Deco or Essien

[ethicalstrategy]

Seems like as good a place as any for the match thread!

Joe hasn't travelled as he is still carrying a knock. Don't know about Kalou.

I would expect us to start with the usual suspects.

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

Bosingwa----Alex-----JT-------Cole A.

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

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

Kalou/Anelka---------------------Malouda

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

Subs: Carlo, Belletti, Bridge, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Sinclair, Di Santo

I really have no idea what to expect, but they can't be too bad if they beat Roma away.

[Chelsea FC Champions]

]

INJURY UPDATE AS CHELSEA HEAD TO CLUJ[/url]

Posted on: Mon 29 Sep 2008

The first team squad this afternoon (Monday) departed for Cluj-Napoca Airport in Romania, minus Joe Cole who is still struggling with injury.

The midfielder, who missed Saturday's trip to Stoke, is still out with a small tear in the muscle around his hip. He should return to training with the squad on Thursday.

Salomon Kalou has recovered sufficiently from his injury picked up in the Stoke game to travel. Deco (upper thigh muscle tear) and Ricardo Carvalho (knee) will be working with the medical staff for at least another 10 days before they are ready to start training. They remain doubts for the starting line-up against Middlesbrough on 18 October.

Two Chelsea Academy products, keeper Rhys Taylor and winger Miroslav Stoch, have been included in the trip to Romania.

The decision was made to fly today rather than tomorrow in order for the players to be able to get some proper rest ahead of tomorrow's open training session at the Dr Constantin Radulescu Stadium.

When the plane lands, the side can look forward to cloudy weather during their stay, with the possibility of warm, sunny spells in central Romania.

You can follow the team's preparation tomorrow here on chelseafc.com, and keep up with the action live on Wednesday night, via Chelsea Plus and the Matchday Centre.

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

Bosingwa-------Alex--------JT--------A.Cole

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

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

Kalou------------------------------------Malouda

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

Subs: Carlo, Belletti, Bridge, Ivanovic, Anelka, Sinclair, Di Santo

1-0 win for us..

Edited September 30, 2008 by Chelsea FC Champions

[midlandblue]

I fully expect Drogba to dominate in this game, an ideal match to flex the muscle and get back to full match fitness.

[callista]

I really have no idea what to expect, but they can't be too bad if they beat Roma away.

Roma are having a seriously up and down season in Serie A right now if you look at their results that win by Cluj although it was a shock I don't think perhaps was that much of a shock if you were a Roma fan...

Chelsea are a different proposition altogether and I think we will win there comfortably in the end.

[dkw]

just noticed that stoch is in the squad for the cluj game. will be excellent experience for him.

[Mr Chelsea]

just noticed that stoch is in the squad for the cluj game. will be excellent experience for him.

if he gets on the pitch that is

this game should be a breeze for us, but i reckon it will be a bit frustrating to watch, as they will park the bus so to speak, hope they leave a few windows open :lol:

[dkw]

if he gets on the pitch that is

this game should be a breeze for us, but i reckon it will be a bit frustrating to watch, as they will park the bus so to speak, hope they leave a few windows open :lol:

i dont think he needs to get on the pitch to gain experience. just travelling with the 1st team squad to a game like this is a massive boost to him. added to the fact he was in the CC squad and will more than likely get game time against burnley.

[Mr Chelsea]

cant see him playing against cluj or burnley, but he'll get something out of been with the 1st team squad

[Kekso]

Cluj will likely field the same team as against Roma:

--------------Stancioiu--------------

Tony---Cadu---De Sousa--Pereira

---------------Muresan--------------

Dubarbier-----Dani-----------Culio

-----------------Trica----------------

-----------------Kone----------------

[Mod]

Great Avatar Kekso!

[midlandblue]

I think it's important that we play 2 wingers, as I hear they dont like crosses.

[bonetti]

I think it's important that we play 2 wingers, as I hear they dont like crosses.

What's your stake for this one?

[midlandblue]

What's your stake for this one?

that depends on the pitch but more so the ground, which I hear was recently re-vamped.

[dkw]

that depends on the pitch but more so the ground, which I hear was recently re-vamped.

one things for sure, they will have bite in the midfield.

[midlandblue]

And as usual the journalist's will churn out thier usual garbage and the reporter from the mirror will see nothing to report.

[ozboy]

You guys should be on the midnight stage. Trust Cluj don't put the bite on us. I enjoyed a visit to Pitesti in Romania in 2006 and a very pretty drive down to the ferry on the Danube border with Bulgaria. Lot of development potential as with much of Eastern Europe.

Anyhow some more match practice for Drogba, and perhaps an opportunity to give Bridge a run instead of Ashley.

[Taipan]

The official site has done a tactical brief of Cluj. Their likely formation and what to lookout for from their players: link

[Kekso]

I went downtown earlier today, lots of Chelsea fans in blue shirts, young and old. Most of the pubs and bars are all blue if you look inside (there's even a huge Chelsea FC flag smack in the middle of a popular square), waiters carrying loads of pints.. There's a very friendly atmosphere.

I can't wait to be at the stadium. :o

P.S. Also, I saw Ray Wilkins jogging down a street near the hotel. I had a friend on the passenger seat wearing a Chelsea shirt, we honked and he waved back at us.

[MannyJello]

That Culio is a pretty cool cat. Here he is posing with Marco Materazzi, living in a gangsta's paradise after returning from a fantastic voyage.

[MHedges]

That Culio is a pretty cool cat. Here he is posing with Marco Materazzi, living in a gangsta's paradise after returning from a fantastic voyage.

Culio

Coolio