PL, West Brom Vs. Chelsea, 15/11/08, 1730 GMT

[loz]

Another 'easy' game, another 5-0 win? Or so we thought before Burnley dispelled that myth.

Bottom of the table West Brom currently on a slide so rapid you could put a mat on it and flog it to a fun park.

We are bound to resort back to our standard starting eleven with Scolari seemingly unable to contemplate the idea of dropping Kalou, Malouda and Deco all at the same time (although in fairness Cole's injury does make that harder). Not sure whether the FA will have banned Drogba before Saturday but even if they haven't I hope Scolari has the decency to drop him back to the bench.

Haven't heard the latest on Joe so not sure if he will be fit.

My guess is we will see

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

Bosingwa........Terry......Alex............Bridge

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

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

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

..........................Drogba....................

with Anelka playing if Drogba is suspended.

[Taipan]

I think Ballack might be available for this one. If he's fit enough to start he could come in and start in midfield next to Lampard, with Deco pushing further forward and Kalou or Malouda dropping out.

[midlandblue]

think Deco may be dropped to the bench for this one.

[ethicalstrategy]

Didn't Deco pick up an injury on wednesday?

[midlandblue]

not sure, even if he's fit I dont think his form warrants a place in the starting eleven

[Chelsea FC Champions]

Is Alex injured?

[evissy]

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

Boss----Alex----Terry----Bridge

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

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

-------------Deco-----------------

----Anelka------------Drogba----

Won't happen, just something I wish we'd try and probably Ballack wouldn't even start..

5-0 to us. Anelkax2, Drogba, Lampard, Deco.

[b00gamaster]

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0...1454377,00.html

Alex, Belleti and FDS are injured and out. Deco is not certain to start.

Ballack is a big possibility to start.

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

Bossi --------Ivanovich---------Terry-----------Bridge

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

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

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

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

[b00gamaster]

or to satisfy Anelka's long time desire to play alongside Drogba and to make use of DD before the ban:

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

Bossi --------Ivanovich---------Terry-----------Bridge

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

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

------------------Malouda--------------------------------

------------Anelka--------Drogba-----------------------

then again our bench is very thin as it is and with FDS out and Drogba facing the ban, may be we should keep Anelka on the bench for now:

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

Bossi --------Ivanovich---------Terry-----------Bridge

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

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

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

-----------------------Drigba-------------------------

[bjd]

According to this - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_4499474,00.html, Cech is injured. Though its the first ive heard of it.

This means Carlo, which of course means we need to avoid as many corners as possible!

Anwway, I go :

Cech/Carlo

Bridge

JT

Ivanovic

Boswinga

JOB

Lampard

Deco

Malouda

Kalou

Anelka

Do we have any ETAs yet for Ashley Cole and Riccy ?

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Alex is injured? I didn't know of this if it's true...

Going to be a tricky one, selection wise. LFS said on the website (http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0...1454377,00.html) that he has a 24 man squad, but 6 are out. Who is this 24 man squad, because on the squad list it shows we have 27...?

Going for:

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

...Bos...Ivanovic...JT...Bridge

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

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

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

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

Subs:

Carlo

Belletti

A. Cole

Ferreira

Mineiro

Sinclair

Drogba

[Chelsea FC Champions]

Ballack&A.Cole should be on the bench.IMO

[Nibs]

Was really hoping Joe would be back for this. We don't look as good going forward when he's not playing. Joe seems to be turning into our new Robben with one niggly injury after another.

Great news if Ballack is available. Hopefully we should have too much for WBA whatever the team but then again that's what I thought against Burnley.

Still, the league is a different matter and the boys should be focused and up for it.

COME ON YOU BLUES!

[Chelsea FC Champions]

Cech

Bosingwa

Ivanovic

Terry

Bridge

Mikel

Deco/Ballack

Lampard

Kalou

Anelka/Drogba

Malouda

Bench:

Carlo

A.Cole

Belleti

Paulo

Ballack/Deco

Miniero

Drogba/Anelka

PS/Is Di Santo still injured?

5-0 win.

[Alan]

Cech is out:

Link

[Gem]

Great, if Carlo's catching and punching is as good as it was on Wednesday night, we'll let in a couple easy. Sort it out Carlo!!!

Come on Chels!!!!!

[Maksimov]

Who is this 24 man squad, because on the squad list it shows we have 27...?

I guess that comment tells us just how highly Scolari rates Sinclair, Stoch and Woods.

[evissy]

Great, if Carlo's catching and punching is as good as it was on Wednesday night, we'll let in a couple easy. Sort it out Carlo!!!

Come on Chels!!!!!

What is wrong with Hilario. To my recollection he's never played a bad game with us. Carlo is a Chelsea legend but his career is in the latter stages and his reaction time and touch are not the best anymore.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

What is wrong with Hilario. To my recollection he's never played a bad game with us. Carlo is a Chelsea legend but his career is in the latter stages and his reaction time and touch are not the best anymore.

Fair point, I can't recall a bad game he's had for us, in all honesty. Will I regret that comment? Probably.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

I guess that comment tells us just how highly Scolari rates Sinclair, Stoch and Woods.

Was thinking the exact same thing. He rates a player that's been with us for 10/11 months (FDS) but not players who've been with us since they were 15/16. That makes sense.

[Makelele]

cech out is bad news but should be an easy win either way

[GatlingGun]

23 Carlo Cudicini

17 José Bosingwa

2 Branislav Ivanovic

26 John Terry ©

18 Wayne Bridge

12 John Mikel Obi

21 Salomon Kalou

20 Deco

8 Frank Lampard

15 Florent Malouda

39 Nicolas Anelka

Subs: 40 Hilario, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 3 Ashley Cole, 27 Mineiro, 13 Michael Ballack, 16 Scott Sinclair, 11 Didier Drogba

[Gem]

Good to see Ballack and A.Cole fit enough for the bench, can't wait till we have Joey back.

[geezer]

Damn, but for the injury to Petr I'd have had all 11 starters and all 7 subs. Stupid bloody game.

[dkw]

Damn, but for the injury to Petr I'd have had all 11 starters and all 7 subs. Stupid bloody game.

ahh,, but did you have them in the right order?