8/14/05 Matchday 1: Wigan Athletic v. Chelsea FC [R]

[GPK]

http://www.uefa.com/ImagesContent/Competition/Clubs/Logos/70X70/89696.gif v. http://www.tom.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~chiko/images/chelsea_centenario.png

Chelsea FC 0-0-0
Wigan 0-0-0

4:00 PM GMT
11:00 AM EDT

US TV: Live PPV
UK TV: Live Sky Sports 1
CA TV: The Score (from 10:30AM)

Live on Big Blue (http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?article=103464&Title=Big+Blue+Radio&lid=Navigation+-+TV+and+Media&sub=Big+Blue+Radio&nav=&sublid=)

ChelseaFC.com (http://www.chelseafc.com/index.asp)

News on Soccernet (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=363&cc=5901)

TEAMtalk-Chelsea (http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Listing/0,7759,1773,00.html)

BBC-Chelsea (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/default.stm)

Latest Chelsea News From Google (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=us&ie=UTF-8&q=Chelsea+)

Other Fixtures (EDT) US TV

Saturday, August 13, 2005
7:45 Everton v Man Utd Live FSC, SDD FSC 5PM
10:00 Aston Villa v Bolton Live PPV
10:00 Fulham v Birmingham SDD FSC 3PM
10:00 Man City v West Brom
10:00 Portsmouth v Tottenham
10:00 Sunderland v Charlton
10:00 West Ham v Blackburn Replay, Monday FSC 3PM & 8PM
12:15 Middlesbrough v Liverpool Live FSC

Sunday, August 14, 2005
8:30 Arsenal v Newcastle SDD FSC 1PM

Monday, August 15, 2005
6:00 EPL Highlights Show Live FSC

[Eddie26]

Finally, a thread worth posting in.

Wigan is a good team though and not to be taken likely. They have a decent shot at staying up and have a pretty good squad for a team just promoted. They have two very good forwards in Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts. On top of those two, the signed Henri Camara in the offseason from Wolves (but he was at Soton last year on loan). Both Ellington and Roberts were stars in the Championship and should do quite well this year in the Premier League. They also just signed a very good midfielder from Nowich, Damien Francis, who I believe scored against us at Carrow Road last year. As always with these newly promoted teams, their biggest lack is on the defensive side of the ball and Wigan is no different. They did add Stephane Henchoz over the summer from Liverpool and that's a good signing for a team like Wigan. Though we've all seen Henchoz play and know he's good on the ball but prone to mental lapses. The do have what they believe to be a gem back there though in Leighton Baines, the U21 international is expected to get a lot of playing time in order to keep the Latics up. Their goalkeeper, John Filan is average. He does have some EPL experience though playing for Blackburn and I believe Coventry. The player on the defensive side of the ball that most of us Chelsea fans should remember is Emerson Thome, our former players from 1999-2001. He was a pretty good player for us for that season playing on the wing with Desaily and Lebeouf in center. I think he even started in the 5-0 whooping we put on Manchester United that year.

All in all, Wigan is a pretty good team and should challenge to stay up, they aren't of Chelsea's caliber though and even though the game is at JJB Stadium, Chelsea should still win this game fairly easily. It'll be interesting to see though whether the recent trip to the US and the Charity Shield games will matter. This game obviously should be a Chelsea win. I would expect nothing less than 2 goals in this game and most likely I'd like to see a 3-0 or 3-1 result. Good way to start the season, especially when the Gooners have a tough game at St James Park. If they scrap a draw (as I believe they will) we'll be 2pts up after one game and then 5pts after 2 games!

In short, thank God the season is here, I have the silly offseason (at least next year we have the World Cup) and I for one and ready to get the season off to a blazing start.

P.S. - I just read that Wigan is very close to agreeing to terms with Arjan De Zeeuw from Pompey. That would be a decent signing, he's a proven Premiership player and Portsmouth's captain. He could pair well in center with either Baines or Henchoz.

[yasik19]

Good post Eddie. Although i thought it was Mackenzie who scored for Norwich against us with his head, to tie the game at 1-1.

[SamWAFC]

I'm really looking forward to this game - our first ever in the premiership- it's a lil bit of history in the making.

I'm expecting us to get beat but I can see us putting up a good fight and perhaps getting a goal.

[yasik19]

I'm so ticked off that I'll be in Tahoe on the weekend and i've called like 5 bars and Harvey's and Harrah's casinos, and they all said they don't show soccer games. wtf kind of crap is that? Maybe i'll try to drive to Reno on Sunday morning, but that will be almost impossible as i won't go to bed Saturday earlier than 4 in the morning.

Maybe one of you guys can text me the scores. Eddie? ;)

[gomez]

:p

[gomez]

Are we going to see Gallas or Carvalho? Did anyone else find it strange that Carvalho didn't get any time against Arsenal? Maybe Gallas played the full game since Carvalho will be starting against Wigan?

[tptp]

I was wondering that as well. What will be the starting XI on Sunday?

I believe Carvalho's shoulder is still not 100% and he started training camp a little late, yes? Please correct me if I am wrong.

With that, my starting XI for Sunday
Cech
Ferreira...Gallas...Terry...Del Horno
.................Maka.....................
...........Lampard...Eidur............
Robben...........................Duff...
..............Drogba....................

Thoughts?

[Riz]

... (edited so as not to jinx anything)


4-0.

FFS gomez, can you PLEASE edit this?

[Eddie26]

I was wondering that as well. What will be the starting XI on Sunday?

I believe Carvalho's shoulder is still not 100% and he started training camp a little late, yes? Please correct me if I am wrong.

With that, my starting XI for Sunday
Cech
Ferreira...Gallas...Terry...Del Horno
.................Maka.....................
...........Lampard...Eidur............
Robben...........................Duff...
..............Drogba....................

Thoughts?

I agree with that lineup. Gallas and Terry will be the #1 CB pairing all year. I disagree with your midfield though. I think we may see Cole starting over Eidur but it wouldn't surprise me either way. What I'd like to see is:

..................Cech..................
Ferreira...Gallas...Terry...Del Horno
....................Maka.....................
Robben.........................Duff...
.................Lampard................
.......Drogba.............Crespo.........

[yasik19]

http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=895136&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsLatestFAPremierLeagueNews&breadcrumb=latestfa_breadcrumb

Wigan signs De Zeeuw. On the bottom of the page, some interesting Wigan stats.

[fernb8]

Good post Eddie. Although i thought it was Mackenzie who scored for Norwich against us with his head, to tie the game at 1-1.


agreed, good post Eddie. I see Wigan being in the same mold as Norwich, I think they will play good football and have the ability to score goals. The one area you didnt seem to highlight was their midfield, or lack thereof, which could ultimately lead to their downfall. IMO the key for Wigan is their form before the Jan transfer window. If they are in contention and look like staying up then I think it will be easier for them to attract some bigger signging to ensure that they survive.

[fernb8]

Are we going to see Gallas or Carvalho? Did anyone else find it strange that Carvalho didn't get any time against Arsenal? Maybe Gallas played the full game since Carvalho will be starting against Wigan?


I think Carvallho is still getting over his injury and JM seems to prefer Gallas against some of the quicker teams. He certianly reacts well, and let me repeat me most overquoted stat of last season; Terry and Gallas started 16 games together last season and conceded 0 goals! Probably another reason for that pairing.

[gomez]

I think Carvallho is still getting over his injury and JM seems to prefer Gallas against some of the quicker teams. He certianly reacts well, and let me repeat me most overquoted stat of last season; Terry and Gallas started 16 games together last season and conceded 0 goals! Probably another reason for that pairing.

Don't get me wrong, I prefer Gallas as well. I just found it strange that Carvalho didn't get any playing time - then again, I didn't know he was still recovering.

[Eddie26]

agreed, good post Eddie. I see Wigan being in the same mold as Norwich, I think they will play good football and have the ability to score goals. The one area you didnt seem to highlight was their midfield, or lack thereof, which could ultimately lead to their downfall. IMO the key for Wigan is their form before the Jan transfer window. If they are in contention and look like staying up then I think it will be easier for them to attract some bigger signging to ensure that they survive.

The difference also being that Wigan's owner is willing to spend cash where as Norwich's was just willing to swill bottles of wine and make a fool of herself at halftime.

Call me crazy (CRAZY!) but it totally wouldn't surprise me to see Wigan have a season like Ipswich did a few years back when they qualified for the UEFA Cup (even drawing Inter with Ronaldo). I think Wigan, if their form stays on, could have a top 10 finish. Bullard in midfield played well for them last year, they could play Henchoz a DM. They'll obviously drop points to the big boys but if that second teir of teams, I see them doing really well. I think they area solid mid-table Premiership team.

[nicephoras]

The difference also being that Wigan's owner is willing to spend cash where as Norwich's was just willing to swill bottles of wine and make a fool of herself at halftime.

Call me crazy (CRAZY!) but it totally wouldn't surprise me to see Wigan have a season like Ipswich did a few years back when they qualified for the UEFA Cup (even drawing Inter with Ronaldo). I think Wigan, if their form stays on, could have a top 10 finish. Bullard in midfield played well for them last year, they could play Henchoz a DM. They'll obviously drop points to the big boys but if that second teir of teams, I see them doing really well. I think they area solid mid-table Premiership team.

OK, you're crazy. Wigan won't finish above 14th, will be lucky not to go down, and their great First Division players are just that - poor EPL players who're good First Division players.
And for all the talk of spending money at Wigan, whom have they bought?

[Eddie26]

OK, you're crazy. Wigan won't finish above 14th, will be lucky not to go down, and their great First Division players are just that - poor EPL players who're good First Division players.
And for all the talk of spending money at Wigan, whom have they bought?

How can you say that? Roberts, Ellington, Bullard, Baines, etc all have little or no EPL experience. Henchoz and Thome do and are OK. Damien Francis was very good for Norwich last year, he was by far their best player. They have a good team. I would say they are about as good as Man City, Fulham, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa right now.

[yasik19]

How can you say that? Roberts, Ellington, Bullard, Baines, etc all have little or no EPL experience. Henchoz and Thome do and are OK. Damien Francis was very good for Norwich last year, he was by far their best player. They have a good team. I would say they are about as good as Man City, Fulham, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa right now.

I thought Ashton and Mckenzie were terrific. Also, De Zeeuw has EPL experience.

[nicephoras]

How can you say that? Roberts, Ellington, Bullard, Baines, etc all have little or no EPL experience.

Honestly Eddie, why do you think that is? None of them have the talent of Ashton, for instance.

Henchoz and Thome do and are OK.

Correction - Henchoz and Thome were OK.

Damien Francis was very good for Norwich last year, he was by far their best player.

:confused: Picking the best player on a team that finishes last is hard, and aside from which, I think you're completely wrong.

They have a good team. I would say they are about as good as Man City, Fulham, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Villa right now.

Man City? Villa? Come on. I'm not sure there's one position at which Wigan is better than, say, Villa. Hell, even Blackburn's a bit better. I also think you're underestimating the talent level necessary for the EPL. While Fulham are going nowhere fast by selling every player anyone might ever want, Pompey aren't, and have better players on average.
There's a very good reason that of the 3 teams that came up last season, two went straight down, and one avoided the drop on the last day by 10 minutes.

[BridgeMonkee]

I like Wigan. No reason really. Maybe I’m just an old Northern Soul Boy? Wigan Casino - better than Studio 54 :D

Anyways, I got me new Chelsea top in the mail today and I'm ready for the new season. I just want to watch the football now.