Gem Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I'll take a 0-0 bore draw with no injuries please. 1 Chelsea................... 3 2 1 0 5 0 5 7 2 CFR Cluj-Napoca...... 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4 3 Roma....................... 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3 4 Bordeaux................ 3 1 0 2 2 7 -5 3 The two bold ones are goal difference and points. Unless Cluj go mental against Bordeaux or we let in loads, even a loss would leave us top. Of course, we want qualification sooner rather than later (and at top spot) but if a draw means we don't have any injuries then I'll be more than happy. I wouldn't play Joe for this game, give him a rest (although our best player against Sunderland in my opinion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virosh Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 (edited) Personally, I would like to see us rest some players for this one. As you pointed out, Gem, a win is not a must right now and I remember Scolari saying we need 3 more points to qualify - its a no-brainer we will get those against Cluj at home and I don't seriously see us losing to Bordeaux, unless things are well and truly done and dusted. So we might give the odd start to some of the substitutes. I for one would love to see Carlo in goal, Sinclair on the left, Mineiro making his CL debut and Di Santo upfront with a couple of youngsters filling the bench. Of course, none of it will probably happen and Scolari will pick the same team that beat Sunderland, save for the odd change B) I love the man, but I wish he would play at least the youngsters in such games. But we are top in all leagues we are currently in, so I don't have the right to complain really. Edited November 2, 2008 by Virosh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Away in Rome is not the sort of game I would want us to blood youngsters - it is hardly a welcoming atmosphere. I am also frustrated at Scolari not taking opportunities to play youngsters (Mineiro coming on against Sunderland made no sense to me at all) however this is not a good opportunity to do it unless we have a good lead and have quietened the crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I can see LFS playing his strongest team. The earlier we qualify the better it will then be to 'rest' players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_mac Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 We will go to Roma to win. Scolari has also stated that Anelka will play ahead of Drogba. I'd expect us to field our strongest possible team. If we go and win, great, then we can let some youngsters in against Cluj at home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 On paper at least, the away trip to Roma is the most difficult match in the group stage. I wouldn't expect anything less than a full strength lineup. In the wake of the sunderland match, Scolari pretty much said that Ashley Cole was not going to travel, and that Anelka would start. .........................Cech........................... Bosingwa.......JT..........Alex............Bridge .........................Mikel........................... ..............Lamps...........Deco.................. .....Cole............Anelka............Malouda... Personally, I would always start a fully kit Kalou over Malouda - but Scolari seems to keep playing him, so I don't think it will happen. It should be a good match, I think. Roma really can't afford to park the bus, as 0-0 in Rome and a win to Cluj would make it very hard for Roma to go through. They will have to attack us, and I think we are always at our best when teams try and play football against us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_mac Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Think that will be the line up tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Chelsea Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 roma will have to come out and play in this one rather than sitting defending like they did at the bridge we are on a good run and have scored freely in our last few games would be nice to go and stick 4 or 5 past roma but i'll settle for a victory of any kind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlandblue Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Drogba to start (and finish with any luck) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4EVERCHELSEA Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I see this being a close game. roma played tough against us at the bridge. I think we will score and if we go up early and they need to chase the game then there will only be one outcome. 0-2 Chelsea. lamps and anelka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethicalstrategy Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I'm not sure that Scolari feels that he has any responsibility to blood youngsters. His brief is to ensure we play winning and attractive football and he will do that in the way he feels is best. If younger players are needed and he feels they are upi to the job then I'm sure that he will use them but if his main players are available then he will use them. so far his approach has been to field his strongest team available for every match and he will do so again on Tuesday. I think the idea behind Mineiro coming on against Sunderland was that he may need him as the season progresses and it was an ideal opportunity to give him a bit of match practice and fitness. The same applies for Drogba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killbill Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 its a no-brainer we will get those against Cluj at home I wouldn’t bet on that, they played eleven men behind the ball for 90 minutes at home, can you imagine what they are going to be like away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virosh Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 I wouldn’t bet on that, they played eleven men behind the ball for 90 minutes at home, can you imagine what they are going to be like away. No one said it would be easy, but we will get 'em 3 points. We were indeed very poor in the first fixture and we will be much better, hopefully with a fit Drogba by then. Besides, for them it will be a totally different experience to play at the Bridge and they will be making all kinds of mistakes. I agree the players shouldn't take it for granted, but it's three points in the bag for me already. Common, have some belief in the lads ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkw Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 surely roma will play a more offensive game this time, which might well play into our hands. we havent had the oppoprtunity to play on the break this season as pretty much every team has defended deep and tried to flood the midfield. if roma come out on the attack our boys may well have a field day, especially the full backs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkw Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 (edited) some belting pictures from training tonight. looks like the boys are having a ball.. http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Detail.a...amp;id=83542525 http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Detail.a...amp;id=83542448 http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Detail.a...amp;id=83542397 and this one would make a good avatar if it didnt have text through it http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Detail.a...amp;id=83542325 Edited November 3, 2008 by dkw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share Posted November 3, 2008 For your current avatar dkw, I used the small Getty thumb nail picture, not the big one with their logo going through it, so you could have it unwatermarked if you wanted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mod Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Un-watermarked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 Mod you're just a genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethicalstrategy Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Well I can see we are all very excited about tonights match! Based on Roma's current form and the fact that they need to win to have a chance of qualifying this should be a much easier match than the one at the Bridge. However, I'm always wary of teams on a bad run. The last time we played a team in turmoil, near the bottom of the table we ended up with a disappointing draw (ahem, Tottenham) I'd expect Scolari to pick his strongest team so it will look much like the side that started against Sunderland with Bridge coming in for Cole. It's nice to see ITV have tucked us away on ITV4 yet again. I suppose it is some sort of saving grace that we won't have to put up with Tyldesley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benji Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Ive been hearing its real bad weather in Rome and some sites are saying the game might be cancelled? Any idea if this is true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Ive been hearing its real bad weather in Rome and some sites are saying the game might be cancelled? Any idea if this is true? Well Roma's last league game was abandoned due to flooding after only about 10 or 15 minutes and apparently the rain is ferocious at the moment so there is a chance this game may go the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHedges Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Well Roma's last league game was abandoned due to flooding after only about 10 or 15 minutes and apparently the rain is ferocious at the moment so there is a chance this game may go the same way. I heard the same - that some official claimed there was a "very real risk" of it being postponed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_mac Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Oh great!!! Was looking forward to watching this and then watching the election unfold. If there's no football, I'll need to go do the dishes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lofty Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I've just flicked over to ITV4, where there was no mention of the game being cancelled. Also their pitchside reporter looked dry enough, no sign of needing a brolly or a raincoat. Oh and so far there's been no sign of trouble between Chelsea and Roma fans. So far so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 Match chat people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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