Normally speaking for a game like this I would be advocating the use of one or two youth players to give them some first team experience however this time round I am more concerned with the first team getting back to winning ways and getting a confidence boost. With this in mind I don't want to see too much experimentation however I do want to see some under performers given a kick in the rear.

Deco shouldn't even be in the 16 and Ballack should be benched again. I haven't heard about Malouda but if he is fit I would like to see him start.

I think we'll see Kalou and Malouda start this with Anelka, I would say Frank Ballack and Belletti in the mid with Ferreira Carvalho Ivanovich and Ash

Joey to get a run out later if needed.

could play the team we will be going with next time out though as there's a bit of a gap...

3rd round FA Cup day. Love it. Nothing else like it. Everything football should be about. Loads of away fans from a tiny club having one of the biggest footballing days of their lives and making the type of atmosphere at SB we struggle to create ourselves these days. Hopefully it will be a freezing cold day as well. Not a day or a fixture for the Decos the Kalous and the Maloudas. Nor for the Ruperts, Tarquins and Fionas. Hope to see Sinclair and Stoch get some worthwhile pitch time.

Altogether now;

"when Wise, went up to lift the FA cup......................."

i love the FA cup, i still think its the best cup competition going

we should cruise past southend easily and hopefully score a lot of goals. would be nice to see sinclair stoch and di santo (if fit) get a run out

I agree with the team suggestions. We should put out a strong team to show respect for the trophy and also ensure we send the message to Southend that we are taking this seriously. However I do think there is room for one or 2 younger players and would like to see Sinclair or Stoch start on one of the wings. I'd also like to see us use this type of game to play Drogs and Anelka together. We should also include at least a couple of younger players on the bench and bring them on if we are able to build a comfortable lead. I would go with:

Cech

Boswinga

Carvs

Ivanovic

Ash

Mikel

Lamps

Joey

Sinclair

Drogs

Anelka

bench: Stoch, Malouda, Bridge, Franco (if fit), Woods

Considering the not-so-good form that Chelsea have been in the last couple of weeks I would be in favour of putting out a side that is likely to play Manchester United on the 11th January next month. The reasons being mentioned by previous members in this thread. Also this may be the only competition that we might have the best chance of winning this season.

Do we know anything about Malouda?

Hopefully...

...............................Carlo

...Ferreira.....Carvalho.......Ivanovic......Bridge

..........Ballack........Belletti.......Lampard

...Kalou..................Drogba.................Stoch

Subs: Hilario, Bosingwa, Mikel, Deco, Woods, Sinclair, Anelka

But the more likely one is that with Deco rather than Stoch.

3-0 Chels.

i agree that it would be nice to see some of the younger, inexperienced players in action on saturday but i was at the burnley match the other month. scolari underestimated the opposition, chelsea played poorly and we were knocked out of the carling cup on penalties. i look forward to going to SB on the 3rd to see some of our younger players but it would be better, in my opinion, if we played most of the regular squad (minus Deco)

i agree that it would be nice to see some of the younger, inexperienced players in action on saturday but i was at the burnley match the other month. scolari underestimated the opposition, chelsea played poorly and we were knocked out of the carling cup on penalties. i look forward to going to SB on the 3rd to see some of our younger players but it would be better, in my opinion, if we played most of the regular squad (minus Deco)

You're probably not far off mate,

Welcome to the Forum by the way..

i agree that it would be nice to see some of the younger, inexperienced players in action on saturday but i was at the burnley match the other month. scolari underestimated the opposition, chelsea played poorly and we were knocked out of the carling cup on penalties. i look forward to going to SB on the 3rd to see some of our younger players but it would be better, in my opinion, if we played most of the regular squad (minus Deco)

Now that is something I can agree with. Welcome to the forum!

i agree that it would be nice to see some of the younger, inexperienced players in action on saturday but i was at the burnley match the other month. scolari underestimated the opposition, chelsea played poorly and we were knocked out of the carling cup on penalties. i look forward to going to SB on the 3rd to see some of our younger players but it would be better, in my opinion, if we played most of the regular squad (minus Deco)

i think your completely wrong, get of the forum NOW!!!!

only kidding, your bang on mate, welcome to the most depressed chelsea forum in the world (at the moment) :D

I agree that we probably shouldn't get too cute. I'm all for Malouda, Kalou, Bridge and those types being given an chance to play, but I don't think we should go as far as playing the youngsters unless we get a huge lead. Personally, I'm thinking something like:

Cudicini

Bosingwa Carvalho Ivanovic A Cole

Mikel

Kalou Lampard Ballack Malouda

Anelka

Bench: Ferreira, Bridge, Drogba, Deco, J Cole, Cech, Stoch.

That's a rough idea. We don't have to play our absolute #1 team, but even that wouldn't be bad. It wouldn't hurt to have our main team get a big win so that we can have some momentum heading into the Man U game, which is going to be massive. If we lose that, we'll give Man U the inside track to the title.

Do we know anything about Malouda?

Yes, he's not very good.

I can't understand all this talk about not throwing in a few youngsters. What has a player like Malouda ever done to show they deserve a starting spot over a Stoch or a Sinclair? Also, this is third round FA Cup day against Southend. It's possibly the biggest stage their players will ever have. They are going to be up for it 110%. Do you really believe this game has the same significance for players like Malouda and Deco? I don't. Which is why I'd be more than happy to see a few youngsters take their places tomorrow. After all we've made this mistake before. Scolari put a strong team filled with first team squad players, including Deco, Malouda and Kalou, against Burnley. And look what happened.

Yes, he's not very good.

Haa! Sorry I didn't word that correctly.

Does anyone know anything on Malouda's injury?

Sounding like a broken record here but this is a perfect chance to give Anelka-Drogba 90mins. Just a thought.

Sounding like a broken record here but this is a perfect chance to give Anelka-Drogba 90mins. Just a thought.

It sure is. But I don't see it happening unless one of us becomes the gaffer.

Edited January 2, 200917 yr by kalpitv

SCOLARI TO MAKE CUP CHANGES(from the official site)

Hmmm...so Ballack, Terry, Bosingwa, Bridge and Cech are out. Cudicini and Drogba are in and Lee Sawyer, Jeffrey Bruma and Michael Mancienne are in the squad as well. No mention of Stoch or Sinclair but hopefully they're in the squad too. No mention of Deco either so I reckon that means that he will start.

I see Mancienne is back

but having 2 relatively unknown youth players (for me anyway) in the squad is definitely a promising sight!

Stoch and Sinclair (I hope) are a cert. for the FA Cup squad. Sinclair over Malouda and Stoch over Joey Cole. Hopefully.

Edited January 2, 200917 yr by Ruh Buh Juh

Is Di Santo still injured?

Is Di Santo still injured?

Seem like it as there's no mention of him on the official site.

I would be happy if Stoch got at least half an hour and impressed enough to feature again at a later date. :D

Is Di Santo still injured?

Is it a good sign that he's in this picture?

Is it a good sign that he's in this picture?

YES!

FFS! The one game we get to see Mancienne play and it's impossible to find a stream for! :)

Is there even MOTD on tonight? I couldn't see it listed on the Sky planner...

I'm actually really quite depressed by that, I sometimes enjoy watching our more 'fringe' players than I do our first team, especially with our recent form! :)