A suggestion from someone was that we should try and have one thread per match within which we have all the build up chat, during game chat and post match chat.. Seems like a good plan to me so will give it a blast.

Roma up next. A fairly unconvincing start to their season so far with only two wins out of their first six games (including a very poor loss to Bologna) and they are up against Mourinho's Inter team tonight. Our current form and home advantage should be enough to see us through this game.

Returning to the Bridge will be old Chelsea 'favourite' Panucci. When you look at the Roma team it is not to be taken lightly (which I am sure we won't be). They still have quality players in the likes of Mexes, De Rossi, Perrotta, Aquilani with their main goal threat seemingly carried by Baptista and Vucinic. Not sure what the latest state of affairs is with Just's favourite Totti, I think he is just getting back from his surgery and ha made a first team return.

As for us well who needs the injured back!! The eleven that played on Saturday will do just fine!

I'm fine with players like Ashley Cole and Deco not being risked for this one with the Liverpool match coming up. Then again, Deco may need the match fitness, but I don't think Belletti deserves to be dropped.

The Roma fixtures will be the ones that decide this group, we have to win our home games.

I know Scolari took Bridge off because he had a slight knock, but I think that was with this game in mind, so I can see the same starting XI as we had against Boro.

A little update. Roma got thumped 4-0 by Inter taking Jose to the top of Serie A. Also don't forget Roma will have Risse in their team so we are 1-0 up already.

A suggestion from someone was that we should try and have one thread per match within which we have all the build up chat, during game chat and post match chat.. Seems like a good plan to me so will give it a blast.

Sounds like a good suggestion to me, would make things easier.

It would be very harsh if Beletti is dropped for this one, because we should have a few names back for Liverpool so he will almost certainly not be included in the starting 11 in that one.

According to the soccernet match preview:

Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Joe Cole all return for the crucial clash but striker Didier Drogba (knee and ankle), Ashley Cole (hamstring) and Michael Ballack (foot surgery) miss out.

I would be surprised to see Carvalho back. Deco I can see starting and maybe Joe on the bench

Provisional squad, according to the BBC:

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Malouda, Obi, Deco, Kalou, Bosingwa, Terry, Lampard, Anelka, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Mancienne, Bridge, Di Santo, J Cole

From the same article, on the subject injuries:

Chelsea's Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba are both nearing comebacks after injury but are unlikely to feature against Roma.

Scolari is still without Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho but their replacements have fitted seamlessly into the side.

So the BBC have Carvalho as both unavailable and included in the squad for tomorrow.

Interesting there Lofty. Also, it says that Di Santo is available, any reason he wasn't for the Boro game? I think it may have been due to the Internationals and him having to make a long trip?

I would like to see Ivanovic get another start, perhaps a pairing of Ivanovic and Terry, but there again why drop Alex. Even give Stoch/Mancienne 15 minutes or so.

A little update. Roma got thumped 4-0 by Inter taking Jose to the top of Serie A. Also don't forget Roma will have Risse in their team so we are 1-0 up already.

Happy memories Loz but that was a bit of a one-off, unfortunately Risse has got a pretty good record against us

Scolari seems to think this will be a very entertaining match. I hope he is right, providing we win, of course. Games against good teams who are struggling always worry me. This is a game we should win but I suspect it will be harder than many have predicted.

I would expect us to line up with the strongest team available, which would include Deco. A european match like this will suit him rather more than Sunday's match although I would think he will play then too if he comes through unscathed.

Scolari seems to be pretty pragmatic about playing his strongest team all the time. The only changes we have made have been enforced ones.

Injuries permitting I would expect the team to be:

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

Bosingwa----Alex-----JT--------Bridge

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

-------Deco----------------Lampard

----Cole---------------------------Malouda

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

Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Belletti, Kalou, Stoch, Di Santo

I was slow off the mark when the tickets for this match went on sale and missed out on getting our normal season ticket seats so we will be in the East Lower tonight. I hope that isn't a bad omen.

Looking forward to tonight.

Cant see anything other than a routine chelsea win.

I'd go with something like this.

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

Bos......Alex........JT.............Bridgey

...........Belleti...............

.......Lamps....................Deco.........

Joey..........................................Kalou

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

Edited October 22, 200817 yr by 4EVERCHELSEA

I see no reason at all to change the side from Saturday, as the old saying goes you don't fix what isn't broken

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

Bosingwa----Alex-----JT--------Bridge

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

-----------Deco--------Lampard

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

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

3-0 (Kalou 12'32' Lampard 52')

I think that this will be the formation:

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

....Bosingwa..Carvalho..JT..Bridge....

....................Belletti.......................

........Deco.................Lampard........

...Kalou.........................Malouda.....

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

Subs: Cudicini, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Mikel, J Cole, Di Santo, Mancienne

Chelsea 3 - 1 Roma (Anelka x2, Lampard)

not bad,

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

Bossie...........Carvs.................terry..........Bridge

................................Mikel

.................Deco....................Lampard

Malouda..................................................Kalou

.............................Nic

Malouda makes his 50th appearance for the Blues

MATCH CHAT FOLKS, NOW!!!!!

Is that the actual team? ESPN has delayed telecast, they always show the lpuddle match live

typical ESPN says cfc vs roma and it's liverpool vs atletico...i'm in my chelsea shirt and everything, what a dissapointment!

guess i'l have to watch ffrom a stream...GO CHELSEA!

JT, get into match chat, I'll post you a stream in there. Good stream and english commentary

For anyone in this forum, there is a link at the top of the home page title "match chat"

Get in there and share thoughts as the game progresses. It's an underused feature that should be utilized

Lampard Shot Min.8

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ahhh!! off the crossbar, lampard!

Lampard Freekick Min.23

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Lampard Freekick Min.23

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what was that crap Mourinho came out with about English clubs having the most divers :o :spin:

totti and cicinho have spent half the game on the floor!!

Edited October 22, 200817 yr by jack h