EPL Round 26 - February 3, 2007 - Charlton Athletic v. Chelsea FC [R]

[GPK]

http://www.premierleague.com/en/images/club_normallogos_180x160/charlton.gif http://www.premierleague.com/en/images/club_normallogos_180x160/chelsea_crest.jpg

3:00 PM GMT
10:00 AM EST

US TV: Live & SDD 10PM Setanta
CN TV: None
UK TV: Chelsea TV from Midnight Sunday

Chelsea FC 16-6-2, 54 PTS, 2nd Place (-6)
Charlton 5-5-12, 20 PTS, 19th Place (-40)

Live on Big Blue & 102.2 FM London (tv.chelseafc.com)

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

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 - US TV

Saturday, February 3, 2007

07:45 ET Liverpool v Everton Live Setanta
10:00 ET Aston Villa v West Ham Live FSC
10:00 ET Blackburn v Sheff Utd
10:00 ET Fulham v Newcastle Live Setanta Xtra
10:00 ET Man City v Reading SDD 2:15PM FSC
10:00 ET Watford v Bolton
10:00 ET Wigan v Portsmouth
12:15 ET Middlesbrough v Arsenal Live FSC

Sunday, February 4, 2007

11:00 ET Tottenham v Man Utd Live FSC

Other Programming Note

11:00PM Sunday - Chelsea v. Manchester United FA Cup Round 3 1998 on FSC

[yasik19]

no TV again, sucks. I think Charlton is playing a little bit better now then 2 month ago, but we need to win this game. I feel like MANU might drop points here, so picking up 3 points here will be essential to catching them.

------------------------Cech
Diarra------------Dicky--------JT:) --------------Bridge
-------------------------Maka
-----------------Mikel---------------Lampard
-------------------------Ballack (I'd like to see Kalou here)
-----------------Sheva--------------Drogba

[slipereypete]

no Essien?! surely you jest...

[yasik19]

no Essien?! surely you jest...

:o whoops. Was so excited to see JT back, that i completely spaced out. substitute Mikel with Essien then.

------------------------Cech
Diarra----------------Dicky--------------JT-------------Bridge
------------------------Maka
-------------------Essien-----------Lampard
-----------------------------Kalou
-----------------Sheva-----------------Drogba

[jjayg]

:o whoops. Was so excited to see JT back, that i completely spaced out. substitute Mikel with Essien then.

------------------------Cech
Diarra----------------Dicky--------------JT-------------Bridge
------------------------Maka
-------------------Essien-----------Lampard
-----------------------------Kalou
-----------------Sheva-----------------Drogba
If you leave Ballack in there I think you are spot on. I'd prefer Mikel to Ballack and sliding Frank in the whole behind the strikers but I think it will be just like you have only with Ballack.

[yasik19]

If you leave Ballack in there I think you are spot on. I'd prefer Mikel to Ballack and sliding Frank in the whole behind the strikers but I think it will be just like you have only with Ballack.

see, for me, I would like to see Kalou out there just to give us some width, on the right or the left. I feel we are so much better that way.

[slipereypete]

Jose's take on the Ballack situation...

"He gives a big contribution for the team. Maybe not for you, maybe not for the supporters but for me, a big contribution. And because I make the team, if he makes me happy, if he gives me what I want, he is okay.



Mourinho continued his backing to the under-fire player.



"It's obvious that football in England is faster than any place in the world. It is not easy for players to adapt, that's obvious. But it's also obvious that he gives everything for the team. Tactically he plays exactly how I want him to play and I think he will get that little bit of sharpness that will make the difference."

[Clan]

I think I'm going to tape the Fulham game on Setanta extra.

I want to see how this gooch kid does. :p

Addicks always play us tough, in fact, they have mugged us more than once.
This is another of those games that you would prefer to play later in the season, when they are full of doom and gloom, staring relegation in the face, on maths keeping their futile efforts to remain aloft a possibility.

This will be a good game to see the will our players have to dig out a win against an opponent that will kick the living shit out of anything to get a result.Ballack might be better rested for this one, he could be a red card waiting to happen.Shevchenko will be in for a tough ride, we'll see if he has indeed got a step back in his pace, adjusting to the speed of our game.

I'd take 1-0 right now.

[adri]

we got good width from the fullbacks vs Blackburn, also dispite his goal Kalou has to play his way back into the team:

---------Cech-----------
Geremi-Dicky-Terry-Bridge
---------Maka-----------
-Essien--Ballack--Lamps-
----Sheva--Drogba------

Mikel, Kalou, Diarra, Hilario, Ferreira

[tptp]

we got good width from the fullbacks vs Blackburn, also dispite his goal Kalou has to play his way back into the team:

---------Cech-----------
Geremi-Dicky-Terry-Bridge
---------Maka-----------
-Essien--Ballack--Lamps-
----Sheva--Drogba------

Mikel, Kalou, Diarra, Hilario, Ferreira

robben still hurt? why not diarra at rb?

...and its ricky or carvalho for chrissakes

[slipereypete]

from this article http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0,,10268~975275,00.html

sounds as if Maka is going to get a rest and the "train" will be taking over, so it looks like Mikel will keep his spot in the mf

------------Cech--------------
-Diarra---RC-----JT-----Bridge-
-----------Essien-------------
----Mikel--Ballack--Lamps----
------Sheva------Drogs-------

[fernb8]

from this article http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0,,10268~975275,00.html

sounds as if Maka is going to get a rest and the "train" will be taking over, so it looks like Mikel will keep his spot in the mf

------------Cech--------------
-Diarra---RC-----JT-----Bridge-
-----------Essien-------------
----Mikel--Ballack--Lamps----
------Sheva------Drogs-------

Mikel deserves to keep his place after his last performance. The team looks a little narrow, but hopefully Diarra and Bridgey will provide some width.

IMO, this may be trickier than most expect, with Charlton playing better of late. I am sure they will crowd the midfield and attempt to counter attack as even a point would be massive for them at this juncture.

[lobomojo]

Hmm I read it as we will see Essein in his usual spot ahead of Mak.

--------Cech----------
Diarra----Carv--Jt----Bridge
------- -Mak------------
----Ess------Lamp
---------Ballack------
-------Drogs----Sheva

If it were me, can I say I am on a short list too, I speak American and some English and Spanish:D, I think I'd sit Ballack and give Kalou a run out in more of a 4-3-3 but not pushing Sheva wide, with Kalou in a bit of a free role. If we insist on the diamond I think Mikel fits better into the sytem and playing with Lamp than Ballack or give Ballack a match at rb, not sure if he will defend as well as needed but he can whip in a nice cross

[yasik19]

Hmm I read it as we will see Essein in his usual spot ahead of Mak.

--------Cech----------
Diarra----Carv--Jt----Bridge
------- -Mak------------
----Ess------Lamp
---------Ballack------
-------Drogs----Sheva

If it were me, can I say I am on a short list too, I speak American and some English and Spanish:D, I think I'd sit Ballack and give Kalou a run out in more of a 4-3-3 but not pushing Sheva wide, with Kalou in a bit of a free role. If we insist on the diamond I think Mikel fits better into the sytem and playing with Lamp than Ballack or give Ballack a match at rb, not sure if he will defend as well as needed but he can whip in a nice cross

;) yep, exactly what i want.

[BridgeMonkee]

another brand NEW back four line-up

Diarra----Carv--JT----Bridge

Good IF Terry is back, but looking at this unsettled back four you can see why we have had problems this season

the back four against Liverpool the other week

Geremi---Paolo---Essien---A.Cole

at least we are a lot stronger at LB this season:rolleyes:

[okocha1]

Well if Essien is in midfield I'd have Geremi at rightback and play our "European" formation. Diarra, Mikel, and Kalou would be on the bench. I don't feel Mikel should be dropped, he is so key to the fluidity of our play, never looses the ball and is always open for a pass (I feel he also relieves a lot of pressure of Makelele as well. I would much rather he play at the top of the diamond, but I feel Ballack will start and all the youngsters will be on the bench. Despite a good performance, Diarra is a midfielder NOT a rightback. I'm not sure he should start, they will target our right side though. I do wish Essien started at leftback, Diarra at holding midfielder and Mikel on the right of midfield but that won't happen. Anyhow, I hope we thrash them, if not a win will suffice :D

[jjayg]

I do wish Essien started at leftback,

What do you have against Wayne Bridge????????



Diarra is a midfielder, Essien is a midfielder, Geremi is a midfielder. They are all converted backs when they play back there. I wouldn't be suprise to see Geremi get another run out at RIGHT back but I wouldn't be dissapointed to see Diarra there again. VERY HAPPY to get Essien back in the midfield.

[okocha1]

What do you have against Wayne Bridge????????



Diarra is a midfielder, Essien is a midfielder, Geremi is a midfielder. They are all converted backs when they play back there. I wouldn't be suprise to see Geremi get another run out at RIGHT back but I wouldn't be dissapointed to see Diarra there again. VERY HAPPY to get Essien back in the midfield.

I meant rightback, if you read what I was speaking about it was between starting Diarra at rightback or another player. A mistake on my part though. BTW, Geremi started his career at rightback, made his name at Real Madrid as a rightback, and plays for Cameroon at rightback. He has the capability of playing in the midfield and did so while in England, but he is a natural RIGHT back.

[sportinglisbon1]

I meant rightback, if you read what I was speaking about it was between starting Diarra at rightback or another player. A mistake on my part though. BTW, Geremi started his career at rightback, made his name at Real Madrid as a rightback, and plays for Cameroon at rightback. He has the capability of playing in the midfield and did so while in England, but he is a natural RIGHT back.


He's satisfactory, but there are better options. Diarra and Ferreira are ahead of him IMO.

[srd....]

live on Setanta Ireland b.t.w. :)