Matchday XXXIII 4/12/03: Chelsea v. Bolton [R]

[GPK]

Chelsea 16-9-7 57 PTS, 4th Place (-10)
Bolton 8-11-13 35 PTS, 20th Place (-32)

3:00PM Kickoff
10:00AM EST

Live on PPV

Live on Big Blue (http://www.chelseafc.co.uk/StatPage.asp?id=big_blue_radio)

CFC Official Web (http://www.chelseafc.co.uk/Next_Match.asp)

News on Soccernet (http://www.soccernet.com/england/clubs/chelsea/index.html)

TEAMtalk-Chelsea (http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/Team_News/0,1562,14,00.html)

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

A bit surprised to see this one is on PPV. Guess I'll be up the pub at 10AM ;)

[Clan]

So few games left...the missus can't object...can she?

Thoughts from Desailly and Cudicini (http://www.cfc-net.co.uk/Images/new_select_results_detail.asp?ID=1409) on Bolton.

[Clan]

We could find ourselves just a single point behind the Toon after todays games if things go our way.
Wouldn't that be nice.

Toon v Man U on the telly in a few mins.
Actually going to cheer on manure .

[Dr_Intoxicated]

It's a great day here in London, going to watch the first half of Newcastle V Manure before heading off to the bridge.

Bolton are on a run so it should be a good game. It will be interesting to see who CR picks at the cack and if it is a 3 or a 4.

[Clan]

Gallas----Terry----Desailly----Babayaro

[pething101]

Ugh.

It hurts to say it but, come on Chelsea. Blow Bolton out of the water.

Ugh.

[Clan]

Can't see the Wanderers being blown out to tell the truth, they are a much better team than their position suggests.Their current run of form is what should be expected from the likes of a team with some of the players they have.

That being said though i would expect a Chelsea victory.May not be comfortable, but a victory none the less.

Newcastle are simply being torn apart by Manure.
Down 1-5 now with a Scholes hat-trick.Excellent game.

As for West ham i would rather lose this game and see those pikey knackers relegated but our financial problems dictate a champions league place over that.

[GPK]

In the shower then up the street to watch. Clanblue, how's that DirecTV bill doing? ;) Enjoy the match.

[Clan]

Originally posted by GPK
In the shower then up the street to watch. Clanblue, how's that DirecTV bill doing? ;) Enjoy the match.

I'm screwed anyway GPK.
My youngest sons little league coach called last night to say they have a practice today at noon.He has to make it if he wants to be on the team this season.Ah well.....

[Clan]

Carlton Cole gets the start today.
Interesting, but i suppose he deserves it really.

[Clan]

All Chelsea so far.Bags of possession here and three corners so far.Lots of scufed shots, but, no goals.

Chelsea really going for it.
Zenden coming on in the game..about time.
We need to score.We will if we keep up this pressure.

Need to do so before the half i think.Those wankers from across down are 1 up against the Villa and no doubt Allardyce will have that score to tell 'em at the half, which would make them come out even harder one would think, especially if the game is still tied.
We could be looking at a 9-0-1 formation from them if so in the second.

Or we could see a Rovers result.

[spectra]

Cole has played brilliantly in the first half, really hope he gets one today. He has made that old french defender on the right look bad today. I also thought he'd score when Zenden put in that great cross, too bad.

On another note, I thought Lampard was quality as usual, great touches on the ball and passing, nice SOG as well.

Kudos to the defenders too, Terry and Marcel have been excellent.

[Clan]

Early goal please lads.

West scum are tied up and no doubt Bolton will play not to lose now, even more so as the game winds down.

[spectra]

YES!!

What a ball by Petit!!

[Clan]

..as Chelsea take the lead.It was always on the cards though wasn't it.Carlton Cole making a big case to displace one of the established strikers up the front.

Middle of the field is playing quite well today it would seem.No coincidence that Petit is back and we seem to be feeding balls up the front.

Now, we need to hold this lead as both scouse teams are also wining at the moment. We need to keep gaining points for just a few more games and then it won't matter a ******** what they do.

[Clan]

Ranieri takes off Cole for Gallas?

If we somehow manage to conjur up a way of losing this game he will be crucified for that move.

Ok, so he wants to shore up the back by bringing in a class defender who can go forward as Bolton are still a dangerous team.Thats fine.
But you don't take off your best player on the day.

Now, obviously he knows and understands things better than the likes of me, but, i would have brought on Gallas for Zenden and pushed Melchiot up.

Course if Gallas does something to save the game or even make another goal then Ranieri looks like a flipin genius.

[spectra]

We pretty much bossed this game, but the finishing was sub-par, to say the least. Well we got the three points and thats all that matters. Jimmy had a few chances to score, even Zola missed, and of course, our good friend Quique.

Here's to a Merseyside Derby DRAW next weekend. We play at Villa on Saturday and Monday at home against Everton. Hopefully Everton and Liverpool tire themselves out. We control our own destiny really. I'm thinking that 67 or 68 points will get us a CL spot, but really we can get about 11 points in the last 5.

@ Villa: 3 points
Everton: 3 Points
Fulham: 3 points
@West Ham: 1 Point
Liverpool: 1 Point

I'm hoping it works out that way, and possibly finish third.

[Clan]

Who knows, perhaps they will line up in the national team like this one day..

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=254683&cc=5901