Chelsea vs Blackpool Match Thread, Sunday 19th September 2010

Re: Chelsea vs Blackpool Match Thread, Sunday Sept 19th

Oh look I voted for an away win.....................

 

It is crazy to see Blackpool in a CL spot in the standings. After the opener, ok. But after 4 games? Keep it up!

 

Just try not to find out the result.......

And the table doesn't lie HA HA Blackpool one of the "Big Four" in England in a CL spot..... And yes we all find it hilarious too!!!

Despite this match being shown live on tv, Blackpool still sold out their full allocation of tickets, although it was only 1,400.

Given the way Ian Holloway has refused to just defend (like Rangers did last night at ManUre with 5 defenders, 4 just in front and ONE loan striker), and he will almost certainly do the same again on Sunday. If we lose, then at least we won't have lost by playing boring football.

 

This game will live in the US on foxsoccer.tv and will be on delay at 5pm eastern on FSC.

I will plan to go to the pub for the 5pm showing, I just need to keep off the boards.

 

The game being switched to Sunday for tv purposes has been good news for Israeli defender Dekel Keinan, as it has ensured he will not miss the fixture. Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, takes place on Saturday - which means that West Ham United will be without the services of Tal Ben Haim while manager Avram Grant will also be missing from the dugout, for their game against Stoke City.

Keinan explained:

He could come up against compratriot Yossi Benayoun at Stamford Bridge, who Keinan has spoken to a number of times since arriving in England.

Club president Valeri Belokon, who recently revealed that there is still plenty of money available for Ian Holloway to spend in the January transfer window, should he wish to, will also be at Stamford Bridge.

Belokon is flying in from Latvia for the game. Given that he speaks fluent Russian I am sure he will have a good chat with Roman Abramovich!

 

DJ Campbell is 14/1 with bookies Coral to score the first goal while Charlie Adam is 16/1!

If Ian Evatt starts he will be making his 100th league start for the Seasiders since completing a permanent move (he was initially on loan) from QPR in January 2007.

 

The match will be on live of course all over the world. However, for anyone who can't see it on tv:

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=87085&part=sports

 

I guess my job on this thread is to be the downer.

I fully expect us to get our butts handed to us. I'll consider it a moral victory if we score. Chelsea is 17-1 on goals this season. That's unreal.

But, I won't be surprised if we do score. I love Ian Holloway's attacking style. If I have a chance to go down quietly, or go down screaming, I'd rather go down screaming. Then maybe someone hears you and saves you.

Game prediction: 4-1 Chelsea, which would put the 'Pool above average against this opponent.

 

Hey, that is realism not a downer! The reality of this game is that just one Chelsea player probably gets paid more than the Blackpool team. The differences between the two clubs are vast and they have some world class players.

My hope is just that we entertain. In all honesty fans don't expect too much from games against the top tier PL sides. It is the likes of Wigan and Newcastle United that we need to pick up victories, and of course so far we have been doing just that!

If we play well and contribute to an entertaining game I will be happy - regardless of the result. And I can guarantee that the Pool support will continue chanting no matter what happens. Even Andre Arshavin was amazed at the Tangerine Army when we got hammered 6-0 at Arsenal, saying how he had asked Theo Walcott what Blackpool fans were singing when it was 5-0, to be told the chant was "6-5. We're going to win 6-5..." And he made a point after the game of praising the Blackpool fans.

Bring It On!

 

Match facts, stats and news

Team News
Ian Holloway could keep the same starting eleven that beat Newcastle United so convincingly last weekend. Dekel Keinan will be available to play as Yom Kippur, is on Saturday, and Keith Southern is pushing for a start. Alex Baptiste will probably miss the game with his hand injury, while Blackpool also still have Louis Almond (shoulder), Billy Clarke (knee) and Paul Rachubka (knee) out.


Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is back after a three-week absence following hernia surgery. Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole will also return for the Blues after missing Wednesday's match with MSK Zilina. Jose Bosingwa is out with a knee injury.

Facts

Blackpool

• DJ Campbell scored on his last trip to Stamford Bridge in 4-3 defeat for Leicester City in the League Cup in October 2007.
• DJ has scored seven goals in his last five appearances away from home for Blackpool.
• Matt Gilks has made more saves (20) than any other Premier League goalkeeper so far this season.
• Blackpool have allowed their opponents a league-high 29 shots on target so far.
• There have been 19 goals scored in Blackpool's four away games in all competitions this season.

Chelsea

• Chelsea have won 21 and lost just one of their last 23 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge and have scored in all of those games.
• Chelsea have scored 50 goals in their last 12 Premier League games, and have conceded just five times.
• Didier Drogba has scored 19 goals and contributed nine assists in 2010, which is more than any other player in the league.

Stats

Leading goalscorers:

Blackpool - Marlon Harewood 2 (league), Charlie Adam 2 (1 league, 1 cup)

Chelsea - Didier Drogba 4 (league), Florent Malouda 4 (league)

 

Match officials:

Referee: Peter Walton

Assistant referees: Stephen Child and Andy Newbold

Fourth official: Mike Jones

 

So what if Blackpool gets beaten by Chelsea, even if by a comical score. The point is that Blackpool is playing Chelsea and to play Chelsea again next year. Clearly there's a premier league within the Premier League. Chelsea is in it and Blackpool is not. I can't imagine there's any Blackpool fan disappointed with 7 points from 4 games. 7 points from 5 games is still not bad, especially when 2 of the 5 games were against elite premier league teams.

You play all your games because you never really know what will happen. I have no doubt that some of the same people who are saying its not possible for Blackpool to beat Chelsea were saying this time last year that promotion for Blackpool was not possible. Blackpool may lose on Sunday but one thing for sure is they will put on a good show. The boys will not take the pitch intimidated and will play an attacking and entertaining match. And who's fans do you think will have a better time? If fans decided matches, the score line against Arsenal would have been reversed! I don't have unrealistic expectations for this weekend (my vote in the poll notwithstanding.)

There's often talk about dropping points but, really, teams can't drop points. Only pick them up. Holloway understands that points picked up early in the season are just as valuable as those late in the season so he's picking them up now while everyone is still laughing at Blackpool and not taking them seriously. No matter what happens on Sunday, Blackpool will come away with no fewer than 7 points. I can live with that.

Up the 'Pool!

 

who? most of you wont get that

glad to see Keinan again, too bad well make him look bad

Glad to see you guys do so well, love underdogs, just don't go Hull City

 

Mark Clattenburg has replaced Peter Walton as the referee for the game.

 

Ian Holloway today confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Alex Baptiste will be in contention for a starting place.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher has also been interviewed today by Sky Sports, Blackpool Gazette and Sunday Telegraph. GTF has scored at Stamford Bridge before when he played for Huddersfield Town, scoring in the FA Cup.

 

See part of Ian Holloways Press Conference on the Blackpool Gazette website here -

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Holloway-keeps-his-feet-on.6538083.jp

It has also been revealed that Ollie missed training yesterday, even though it was so close to the match. He went to visit Gary Parkinson's (Head of Youth) wife Debbie. Gary is in a desperate fight for his life after a massive stroke and he has locked-in syndrome" where a patient is aware and awake but, due to almost complete paralysis of their muscles, cannot move or communicate apart from with their eyes. Only two people have ever recovered from the condition.

Ollie explained:

 

Just to show how the so called 'experts' are slowly starting to change their attitude toward Blackpool, and not just simply laugh every time they talk about us, this blog from Sky Sports Andy Gray is very respectful ahead of the game tomorrow:

http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,12064_6382931,00.html

 

The game is now being shown Live on FSC at 11am eastern.

 

For anyone interested, club president has been in the media spotlight with his visit to London this weekend and the News Of The World has an article and video interview online:

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/spo...ILL-NEVER-MAKE-ANY-MONEY-OUT-OF-FOOTBALL.html

Another good article from The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...l-Tangerines-flying-high-on-a-low-budget.html

 

Blackpool:

21. Matthew Gilks
5. Neal Eardley
6. Ian Evatt
15. Alex Baptiste
31. Dekel Keinan
3. Stephen Crainey
14. Elliot Grandin
26. Charlie Adam
11. David Vaughan
16. Luke Varney
39. Dudley Campbell

Subs:
13. Mark Halstead (GK)
4. Keith Southern
9. Marlon Harewood
10. Brett Ormerod
12. Gary Taylor-Fletcher
20. Craig Cathcart
29. David Carney

 

Chelsea: (gulp)

1. Petr Cech
19. Paulo Ferreira
2. Branislav Ivanovic
33. Alex
3. Ashley Cole
5. Michael Essien
12. Mikel
7. Ramires
21. Salomon Kalou
11. Didier Drogba
15. Florent Malouda

Subs:
22. Ross Turnbull (GK)
10. Yossi Benayoun
18. Yuri Zhirkov
23. Daniel Sturridge
39. Nicolas Anelka
43. Jeffrey Bruma
44. Gael Kakuta