Joe Cole injury update

[nicephoras]

According to Jose (http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=408077&CPID=8&clid=8&lid=2&title=Concerned+Mourinho+fears+Cole+KO), it may be ligaments.

********.

[Middle Of The Shed]

Very very dissapointing if true.

After he had the collision he did actually try to carry on but couldn't, now I'm definately no expert but if it was ligaments wouldn't he have known a bit earlier rather than actually seeing if he could run it off.
I thought we were taking him off as a precaution, but it doesn't seem like that now, seems rather serious. :(

Positives could come out of this though, Kalou can play on the wing, he looked pretty good last night, and of course SWP might finally get the run of games he needed last season and we can finally see whether he's a flop or not.

[nicephoras]

We'll be OK, but I think what yesterday showed is that Lampard and Ballack in a 4-4-2 won't work. I hope we go back to the 4-3-3, but for that we need wingers. And we're down to only one left winger now if Cole's hurt.

[Clan]

Thats a bitter pill to swallow.

Honestly, why we have to play in form teams, with unfit players, this close to opening day is strange.

We should just stick to playing other European teams, even if it is in the US.

Is anybody really surprised we got somebody injured?

[BridgeMonkee]

We'll be OK, but I think what yesterday showed is that Lampard and Ballack in a 4-4-2 won't work. :confused:

showed? Er, it was a pre-season freindly and therefore its rating is "slightly above meaningless" and I don't think you can read too much into it nice. We'll see after a few league games...you might be right....going by yesterday Lampard looked shagged and Ballack also looked a little jaded. Essien would be the first mid I pencil in to the line-up. Obi-Mikel looked good, doesnt seem able to tackle much though.

Sucks about Joe Cole :mad: But in football there will be injuries.

[Clan]

I only caught the game in bits and pieces, to be perfectly honest, but from what I saw, I'll say this.

It may (gasp)...be time for lampard to take a rest.

[BridgeMonkee]

Is anybody really surprised we got somebody injured?

nope. I mean the mls players were were entering the game with a different attitude and as you say it really isnt a wise fixture.

Seltick at the bridge on Wednesday makes a little more sense and then the Feyenored game...then the English "Super Cup"

[BridgeMonkee]

I hope we go back to the 4-3-3, but for that we need wingers. And we're down to only one left winger now if Cole's hurt.

Can Sheva play in a 3 with two wingers?

Kalou----Sheva----Joe Cole

Robben------Drogba------SWP

[Middle Of The Shed]

Is anybody really surprised we got somebody injured?


Well strangely enough, I said to myself before the game that the only real positive I could see us getting from this game is if no one got injured and sods law, Cole got injured.

I actually tend to agree regarding Lamps, he just didn't look at it, I'd rather see how he fairs on Tuesday and Wednesday though before I jump the gun. And a totally irrelevant and random comment but Mikel is an absolute massive bloke, he towered over Terry ffs!!! :eek:

[nicephoras]

I don't think Lampard and Ballack can play in a 4-4-2, I've always thought that. This confirmed it for me - they both like to see the ball too much. And I agree, Frank looks out of energy. Which is strange for him.

[leftwing]

I don't think Lampard and Ballack can play in a 4-4-2, I've always thought that. This confirmed it for me - they both like to see the ball too much. And I agree, Frank looks out of energy. Which is strange for him.

I thought SWP looked lost on defense and the MLSers kept pumping balls over his head. That was my first time seeing him live and I have to say I wasn't real impressed. Shame about J Cole but honestly, that injury could have happened in a training session. Hopefully he didn't tear anything.

[wembley]

According to Jose (http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=408077&CPID=8&clid=8&lid=2&title=Concerned+Mourinho+fears+Cole+KO), it may be ligaments.

********.

Here is the incident where Joe Cole got injured.

http://i.pbase.com/o4/31/352531/1/64674928.ZUCd7wef.GAV_1499.jpg

more picures at: http://www.pbase.com/wembley/mls_all_star_game_2006

wembley

[schafer]

I don't think Lampard and Ballack can play in a 4-4-2, I've always thought that. This confirmed it for me - they both like to see the ball too much. And I agree, Frank looks out of energy. Which is strange for him.


Lamps hasn't been himself, IMO, since he was rushed back to fitness for the Barca CL tie. He hasn't really had a decent period of rest for a long while.

As for Joey, it's a shame and hopefully he'll be back soon.

[Dear_Claudio]

I don't think Lampard and Ballack can play in a 4-4-2, I've always thought that. This confirmed it for me - they both like to see the ball too much. And I agree, Frank looks out of energy. Which is strange for him.
You're forgetting that Essien was also in that midfield. Insert Makelele and you've got loads more room for Lampard and Ballack to operate. It was their first 45 minutes together.

As for Lampard needing a rest, that was about 7 months ago. He's knackered and Jose is going to run him into the ground.

Now it's looking like we've sold Duffer a bit too early, ala Baba 2 years ago.

[Indiana Jones]

Thats a bitter pill to swallow.

Honestly, why we have to play in form teams, with unfit players, this close to opening day is strange.

We should just stick to playing other European teams, even if it is in the US.

Is anybody really surprised we got somebody injured?

I totally agree with you.

[Indiana Jones]

I don't think Lampard and Ballack can play in a 4-4-2, I've always thought that. This confirmed it for me - they both like to see the ball too much. And I agree, Frank looks out of energy. Which is strange for him.

Well you have finally said something that makes sense.

[okocha1]

You're forgetting that Essien was also in that midfield. Insert Makelele and you've got loads more room for Lampard and Ballack to operate. It was their first 45 minutes together.

As for Lampard needing a rest, that was about 7 months ago. He's knackered and Jose is going to run him into the ground.

Now it's looking like we've sold Duffer a bit too early, ala Baba 2 years ago.

Essien was in the midfield and was amazing. If we are going to play Lamps and Ballack in the same position we will need to play in a midfield just like AC Milan.


.........Pirlo...........

Gattuso....Seedorf

..........Kaka..........


Now we could play

........Ballack.........

Essien.........Joe Cole

........Lampard.........

honestly I don't think that formation will work when we tried it against West Ham, Essien was the only one who could play on the flanks and Lampard played deeper allowing Maniche to drive the team through the middle.

I just can't see them playing together in the same team, granted we were playing in a very crowded midfield (why?). I'll have two wait until we use them in a 4-3-3 before I see if they are affective together.

[drc003]

Even though I'm not a Chelsea fan I hate to hear this. Cole is a joy to watch and I hope everything works out for him. Hopefully this won't be something that lingers. Luckily Chelsea is one of a few clubs who shouldn't need to rush him back at all.

As far as formation, imho, JM should stick with the 4-2-3-1 that has given them so much success. Why mess with it? However it's hard to see how everyone fits in this plan with the addition of Ballack and Sheva. In that lineup at least one very good player will sit. How about:

------------------Ballack------Maka
-----------------------Lampard
-------Sheva--------------------------Robben
------------------------Drogba

Of course this leaves out Essien(which is a mistake imo) and also puts Sheva on a wing. I'm very interested to see the squad JM opens the campaign with.

[RaDragon]

Here is the incident where Joe Cole got injured.

..photo..

more picures at: http://www.pbase.com/wembley/mls_all_star_game_2006

wembley

Ouch! :(

Thanks for the pics, wembley. Those are really great shots!

[furby]

Even though I'm not a Chelsea fan I hate to hear this. Cole is a joy to watch and I hope everything works out for him. Hopefully this won't be something that lingers. Luckily Chelsea is one of a few clubs who shouldn't need to rush him back at all.

As far as formation, imho, JM should stick with the 4-2-3-1 that has given them so much success. Why mess with it? However it's hard to see how everyone fits in this plan with the addition of Ballack and Sheva. In that lineup at least one very good player will sit. How about:



------------------Ballack------Maka
-----------------------Lampard
-------Sheva--------------------------Robben
------------------------Drogba

Of course this leaves out Essien(which is a mistake imo) and also puts Sheva on a wing. I'm very interested to see the squad JM opens the campaign with.


This may be a naive question, but why not just continue using the formation you did last year, sliding Robben back to his natural position on the left to replace Cole, and plugging SWP, who is starving for games on the right.

---------------------Cech
------Ferreira----Terry--Carvalho----Ashley Cole
------------------Ballack------Maka or Essien
-----------------------Lampard
-------SWP--------------------------Robben
--------------------Sheva or Drogba

The Cole injury is unfortunate but with Chelsea's depth is seems you just plug the others into position. One benefit may be getting Robben back in his natural spot on the left.

It actually looks pretty natural - Cole and Robben overlapping on the left is pretty scary, and Essein's range may allow him to fill in defensively when Cole goes forward. On the right, SWP with a more-defensive minded right back in Ferreira seems to fit as well. A lot of possibilities there.