A chance to improve our home record. Given the number of matches we have been playing and those coming up it must surely be time for some squad rotation?

Looks like we will be without Carvalho and Joe Cole again so options up front at least are limited.

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

Bosingwa------Alex-------Ivanovic--------Cole

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

------Belletti-----------------Lampard

----Deco--------------------------Malouda

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

I cant believe we're actually playing at 3pm on a Saturday!

it must surely be time for some squad rotation?

I don't think JT does rotation.

I wouldn't mind Di Franco instead of Anelka. The kid needs to play more than a few minutes every now and then. And I thought he did quite well against Pool. And Anelka needs some rest.

And why not let a youngster play? I haven't followed the young ones that closely, but surely we have atleast one who is good enough to play for the first team in a game like this?

Why are we without Joey Cole?

Really hope LFS gives Di Santo one chance to prove himself. If it's not this saturday, it has to be next saturday against Burnley.

Going for

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

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

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

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

..J.Cole/Kalou........................Malouda

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

Subs: Carlo, Ivanovic, Belletti, Bridge, J.Cole/Kalou, Sinclair, Di Santo

apparentley keane is going to unleash kenwyn jones onto JT, i.m sure he's quaking in his boots

if we play our football on the deck like we did against boro villa and hull we should win this easily

Why are we without Joey Cole?

His ankle was playing up again. There is a chance he could be fit but I'd rather we let him recover fully than push him back too soon.

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

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

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

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

..Belletti...................................Malouda

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

Bench:

Carlo

Ivanovic

Paulo

Kalou

Di Santo

Sinclair

Bridge

2-0 win.

Edited October 31, 200817 yr by Chelsea FC Champions

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

Bos........JT.......Ivanovic........A.Cole

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

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

..J.Cole........................My mother in law

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

I think the JT and Ivanovic combination is a stronger one than JT/Alex - they compliment each other better. Nothing against Alex of course who is a stunning backup to have.

We have to start with our strongest available squad and hit Sunderland early, the longer the game goes on without a goal, the more frustrated we get and then the fans get quiet which doesn't help, there's also a lack of options on the bench to bring on a player that is a "matchwinner" of sorts..

His ankle was playing up again. There is a chance he could be fit but I'd rather we let him recover fully than push him back too soon.

Ahhh I see, and I agree. Leave him rest for a week and let him play against Burnley next week :)

BTW, can I just say that the Halloween layout is actually really cool :D

My team is as follows:

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

...Ferreira.............JT...............Alex...............A. Cole.....

.................................Obi Kenobi..................................

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

.......Joe Cole/Belletti.........................Malouda.............

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

Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, J.Cole/Belletti, Kalou, Di Santo, Bosingwa, Drogba.

Score: 3-1 Chelsea.

TEAM NEWS: CHELSEA V SUNDERLAND

Posted on: Sat 01 Nov 2008

Alex in for injured Ricardo Carvalho is the one change from the side that started at Hull but as promised, Didier Drogba is on the bench after a month out.

Also among the subs for the first time is Brazilian anchor midfielder Mineiro who joined in September.

Frank Lampard, looking for his 100th top-flight goal, will play alongside Deco in the middle and at the back, Petr Cech is searching for his 100th Chelsea clean sheet.

As he threatened, Roy Keane has wielded the axe. The side selected has a new forward line of Kenwyne Jones and 18-year-old Martyn Waghorn.

Former Spurs players Pascal Chimbonda and Teemu Tainio also return.

Chelsea will line-up in a 4-1-4-1 formation as follows:

1 Petr Cech

17 José Bosingwa

33 Alex

26 John Terry ©

3 Ashley Cole

12 John Mikel Obi

10 Joe Cole

20 Deco

8 Frank Lampard

15 Florent Malouda

39 Nicolas Anelka

Substitutes: 40 Hilario, 2 Branislav Ivanovic, 18 Wayne Bridge, 27 Mineiro, 35 Juliano Belletti, 21 Salomon Kalou, 11 Didier Drogba.

Sunderland are expected to line-up in the following 4-4-2 formation:

Fulop; Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, McCartney; Malbranque, Whitehead ©, Tainio, Richardson; Waghorn, Jones.

Subs: Colgan, Bardsley, Meyler, Henderson, Reid, Diouf, Cissé.

The referee is Martin Atkinson.

Mineiro is in the bench ;)

man utd leading..goal from ronaldo..

;)

ashley cole misses a sitter.

Drogba back on the bench, and Miniero??? Suppose we have to give him some time

Can't expect Drogba to be anywhere near fully fit. I can see him being brought on if we go a couple of goals up ... or maybe if things start getting desperate.

wohoooooooo!

arse one-nil down

# 13' GOAL STOKE!! A massive long throw by Rory Delap and the ball flicks off Toure's head and into the corner of the net. The Arsenal captain complains that Fuller is holding him down but ref Rob Styles has none of it.

deco hits the bar..

22 ' GOAL! COUSIN! Hull win a free-kick on the right...fantastic delivery into the box...Cousin flicks on and the ball flies into the far corner.

manure 1-1 hull

;)

alexxxxxxxxx

GOAL !!!

joe cole assist.

Alex - 1-0!!!!!!!!!

1000th goal scored by ALEX!

;)

I've just realised/remembered - that's the 1,000th