Matchday 4 - August 25, 2007 - Chelsea FC v. Portsmouth [R]

[GPK]

http://www.foerstl.net/Chelsea-Logo.jpg http://www.sportslogos.net/images/teams/primaries/5401.gif

3:00 PM GMT
10:00 AM EDT

US TV: Live Setanta
UK TV: Chelsea TV from Midnight Sunday
CN TV: Live Setanta Sports Canada

Chelsea FC 2-1-0, 7 PTS, 2nd Place (-2)
Portsmouth 1-2-0, 5 PTS, 5th Place (-4)

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 US TV

Saturday, August 25, 2007

07:45 ET Sunderland v Liverpool Live Setanta
10:00 ET Arsenal v Man City Live FSC
10:00 ET Aston Villa v Fulham Live Setanta Xtra
10:00 ET Bolton v Reading
10:00 ET Derby v Birmingham NDD 1:30AM FSC
10:00 ET West Ham v Wigan
12:15 ET Everton v Blackburn Live FSC

Sunday, August 26, 2007

08:30 ET Middlesbrough v Newcastle Live Setanta
11:00 ET Man Utd v Tottenham Live FSC

[yasik19]

I am bummed out I'll miss this game, although if the place I'm going to go camping has wi-fi, i can still bring my laptop, but that would kind of ruin the whole "camping in the nature" experience.

Anyhow, I predict another tough game, but since we're at home, 1-0 to the good guys.

[lobomojo]

I am bummed out I'll miss this game, although if the place I'm going to go camping has wi-fi, i can still bring my laptop, but that would kind of ruin the whole "camping in the nature" experience.

Anyhow, I predict another tough game, but since we're at home, 1-0 to the good guys.

You really need to consider giving up that Mountain Dew life of yours and live up to your CFC responsabilities:D

How did the finals go last week?

Portsmouth are a very good team, that have improved up front but for some reason we seem to have their number a bit, especially at home, and they have looked a bit more vulnarable defensivly this year with all their injuries so hopefully, though we rarely do after "poxy internationals" (TM by Clan:D), we put on a good performence so I don't have to read page after page of bench Lamp, fire the tactically challenged Jose, we need soft players from overseas to save us....etc

[yasik19]

How did the finals go last week?

:( lost 2-0.....i hit 2 posts and 1 cross bar.

[Master_Chief123]

:( lost 2-0.....i hit 2 posts and 1 cross bar.

Sorry to hear that.

Up front they could cause some trouble but I think it'll be a 2-1 win.(do you honestly feel we'll get a clean sheet?)

Knowing us lately, it'll be 1-0 because of some sort of mistake, and then we'll score two.

[lobomojo]

:( lost 2-0.....i hit 2 posts and 1 cross bar.

Kind of your team's Kalou then:p:D

Thats frustrating, sorry to hear

[yasik19]

Sorry to hear that.

Up front they could cause some trouble but I think it'll be a 2-1 win.(do you honestly feel we'll get a clean sheet?)

Knowing us lately, it'll be 1-0 because of some sort of mistake, and then we'll score two.

true....but at some point, our defense has to get their act together.

what is the outlook on Carvalho's injury?

[the101er]

The friendly this week really seems pointless as don't a lot of European nations have upcoming Euro Qualifiers? The "friendlies" are just going to add injury problems for clubs and countries.

Will Robben get a game for Chelsea (after all, his dad says he's fit). Robben is a great player, but if his dad is going to be a pain then he probably deserves to go to Real Madrid and get what he gets.

[Nip/Tuck]

The friendly this week really seems pointless as don't a lot of European nations have upcoming Euro Qualifiers? The "friendlies" are just going to add injury problems for clubs and countries.

Will Robben get a game for Chelsea (after all, his dad says he's fit). Robben is a great player, but if his dad is going to be a pain then he probably deserves to go to Real Madrid and get what he gets.
The obvious point is.

He wants ridiculous wages, the club (quite rightly) aren't prepared to offer them and he'll more than likely be gone.

Either immediately before, or after the Alves deal is finalised.

I presume Makelele is playing mid-week for France? Having not appeared this season, one would think he's some chance to start against Pompey. (in place of Mikel)

If Ricky is back, Tal will revert to the right. His return however, is unlikely and most certainly would be an unnecessary risk. (even with Pompey's pacey strikers likely to cause Ben-Haim a handful)

With Ballack still injured and Sheva likely to return from the bench, the rest of the starting team is quite obvious. Aside from one or two spots of conjecture.

Cech
Ferreira Terry Ben-Haim Cole
Makelele
Lampard Essien
SWP Malouda
Drogba

Would be my guess.

Kalou will likely drop out of the starting XI. Pompey are a good team (the sixth best imo) so they'll be no walk in the park.

Perhaps starting Pizarro alongside Drogba may be an option, as Sol Campbell will likely be paying close attention to Drogba throughout. Having a genuine strike-partner alongside, may prove greatly beneficial to him.

Malouda may drop to the bench (for a rest) replaced by Joey Joe C Homeboy Cawl.

As I said though. The XI basically picks itself for now, until Sheva, Ballack, (possibly) Alves and likes come back/in.

[Rman3349]

Kind of your team's Kalou then:p:D

Thats frustrating, sorry to hear

Curses! Here I thought I'd though of somthing wity that had yet to be said and you take it! :)

[blackjack]

First match of the season I'll be able to watch. I went to a pub here and promised to buy at least four beers both tomorrow night during the France game and Saturday during ours if he showed this match instead of the Arsenal one. He agreed. :)

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Are any of our currently injured players returning this game?
I expect a walkover win, even if they don't, though.

[sinner78]

Surely Alex is ready to play. He is far superior to Ben Haim.

[yasik19]

Surely Alex is ready to play. He is far superior to Ben Haim.

yes, at least, in theory. He's not proven yet in England, so it's still an assumption that he will be better than Ben Haim. Most likely he will be, given his physical "characteristics", but still, only time will tell.

[adri]

yes, at least, in theory. He's not proven yet in England, so it's still an assumption that he will be better than Ben Haim. Most likely he will be, given his physical "characteristics", but still, only time will tell.
Pompey have a very strong attack (utaka, kanu, mwaruwari), it could be a tough bedding in for him.

[I-Got-The-BLUES]

I presume Makelele is playing mid-week for France? Having not appeared this season, one would think he's some chance to start against Pompey. (in place of Mikel)I don't think so....
I believe he retired from Int'l play....he only came back last year because France were struggling, but I don't think we'll see him suiting up for Les Bleus

[Dear_Claudio]

It's time for Joe Cole, IMO. He's better than SWP and Malouda.

[gf_zola_CFC]

I know everyone is desperate to see Joe Cole, but the fact is that SWP and Malouda have been in better form than he has. It's the same situation with Shvechenko and Ballack, they may be better players than some of the players on the squad, but if you aren't in good form and aren't playing well you won't play. That is just the way Mourinho does it.

[Dear_Claudio]

Cole actually did something when he came on against Liverpool. SWP and Malouda were rather innocuous. Cole has the extra quality and we shouldn't wait around until SWP starts sucking again when we have a much higher quality player sitting around.

[blackjack]

There's no reason that Sweepy, Malouda, and Cole can't all play. If we drop Kalou and let Cole play as the support striker, everybody's happy (well, everybody except Kalou that is).