1st Fixture - August 17, 2008 - Chelsea FC v. Portsmouth [R]

[GPK]

http://www.foerstl.net/Chelsea-Logo.jpg http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/images/portsmouth.gif

1:30 PM GMT
8:30 AM EDT

US TV: Live & SDD 5PM Setanta
UK TV: Live Sky Sports 1
CN TV: Live & SDD 5PM Setanta Sports Canada

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

Team Talk Chelsea (http://www.teamtalk.com/football/news/0,16370,1773,00.html)

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

Other Fixtures (EST) US TV

Saturday, August 16, 2008

7:45 ET Arsenal v West Brom Live Setanta
10:00 ET Bolton v Stoke SDD 4PM Setanta
10:00 ET Everton v Blackburn Live FSC
10:00 ET Hull v Fulham SDD 2:15PM Setanta
10:00 ET Middlesbrough v Tottenham Live & SDD 5:45PM Setanta
10:00 ET West Ham v Wigan SDD 2:30PM FSC
12:30 ET Sunderland v Liverpool Live FSC

Sunday, August 17, 2008

10:00 ET Aston Villa v Man City SDD 1PM FSC
11:00 ET Man Utd v Newcastle Live FSC

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

An official match thread.

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!

[Kazuma]

WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

YES YES YES YES!!!!

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/funny-pictures-racoon-yes.jpg

[Kazuma]

That said, what do you think the line-up will be? Going off of the preseason this is what'd I like to see:

4-3-3:

-----------------Cech-----------------
--Ivanovic----Carvalho--------Terry-------A. Cole
--Essien--------Mikel-----------Lampard--------
--J. Cole--------Anelka---------Malouda/Sinclair (Sadly, Kalou is at the Olympics and you know what the likely hood of Sinclair playing is.)

My reasoning for Ivanovic is that Bosingwa is still injured even though he's returned for training I don't think Scolari will want to risk him. Same goes for Drogba which is why I hope that we don't have to rely on Sheva and Pizzaro soon.

As for what I think we'll see in reality:

4-3-3:
---------------------------Cech-----------------------------------
--Ferreria-------------Carvalho-------------Terry---------A.Cole
--Deco----------------Mikel------------------Lampard
----J.Cole/SWP-------Anelka-----------------Malouda

[yasik19]

That said, what do you think the line-up will be? Going off of the preseason this is what'd I like to see:

4-3-3:

-----------------Cech-----------------
--Ivanovic----Carvalho--------Terry-------A. Cole
--Essien--------Mikel-----------Lampard--------
--J. Cole--------Anelka---------Malouda/Sinclair (Sadly, Kalou is at the Olympics and you know what the likely hood of Sinclair playing is.)

My reasoning for Ivanovic is that Bosingwa is still injured even though he's returned for training I don't think Scolari will want to risk him. Same goes for Drogba which is why I hope that we don't have to rely on Sheva and Pizzaro soon.

As for what I think we'll see in reality:

4-3-3:
---------------------------Cech-----------------------------------
--Ferreria-------------Carvalho-------------Terry---------A.Cole
--Deco----------------Mikel------------------Lampard
----J.Cole/SWP-------Anelka-----------------Malouda

You think Essien will be on the bench?

[Kazuma]

You think Essien will be on the bench?

Well, in all honesty yes. This is complete speculation on my part but given that Scolari has been starting Deco in preseason quite a bit and that Big Felipao has been completely mum about the formation and line up I think Essien may be on the bench. But for Portsmouth I'd choose Essien mainly because they have a good physical presence in them and I doubt Deco would be able to cope with that part.

They also have plenty of experienced players in a sense (Experienced meaning they know how to play in England, Deco doesn't.) but I wouldn't be too worried about that if we were to play Essien in midfield. One player that actually has me worried about is Niko Krancjar in terms of free kicks which I hope that we've been working on our set pieces.

Truth be told, I wouldn't trust Malouda to be able to give Glen Johnson trouble but if it were me I'd put Joe Cole on the left mainly to cause Glen some problems.

[yasik19]

Cole on the left, Essien on the right would be my guess.

Still, 5:30 am my time with no ability to record definitely sucks.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Lineup I want:

Cech
Ivanovic-Carvalho-Terry-A.Cole
Essien-Ballack-Lampard
Deco-Anelka-J.Cole

Subs:Cudicini, Ferreira, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Kalou, Di Santo


Lineup I expect:

Cech
Ferreira-Carvalho-Terry-A.Cole
Deco-Ballack-Lampard
Kalou-Anelka-J.Cole

Subs:Cudicini, Ivanovic, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Essien, Shevchenko

[Kazuma]

Lineup I want:

Cech
Ivanovic-Carvalho-Terry-A.Cole
Essien-Ballack-Lampard
Deco-Anelka-J.Cole

Subs:Cudicini, Ferreira, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Kalou, Di Santo


Lineup I expect:

Cech
Ferreira-Carvalho-Terry-A.Cole
Deco-Ballack-Lampard
Kalou-Anelka-J.Cole

Subs:Cudicini, Ivanovic, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, Essien, Shevchenko

Deco is not a winger, Ballack can play at DM but Mikel would be better suited there, and Kalou is at the Olympics.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Deco is not a winger, Ballack can play at DM but Mikel would be better suited there, and Kalou is at the Olympics.

Alright thanks for the clarification especially the last part.

New lineup:

Cech
Ivanovic-Carvalho-Terry-A.Cole
Essien-Ballack-Lampard-J.Cole
Deco
Anelka

Subs: Cudicini, Ferreira, Alex, Bridge, Mikel, SWP, Di Santo

[Syrus]

So if I'm in Boston, I need to get up at 8:30AM to see the game?

[yasik19]

So if I'm in Boston, I need to get up at 8:30AM to see the game?

yep

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

So if I'm in Boston, I need to get up at 8:30AM to see the game?

Look at my location you have no right to complain.

[Syrus]

Not complaining, my good sir!

I love my CFC

[slipereypete]

Start of the season!?!?!?...















LUV IT!!!...









http://i35.tinypic.com/2a5b4lf.gif

[fernb8]

Another season and I am glad to see it come around.

A few quick points. A very tasty opener for us and let me quickly start by dashing anyone expecting a 5-0 opening day romp. Tough game for us and a lot of pressure as I am sure Scolari wants to get off to to winning start and avoid the disaster of ending our home winning streak. Also although Pomey looked like dog piss vs Man Utd at the weekend, I expect a few players (Diarra, GJ) will have something to prove along with James having his usual blinder against us.

Personally I dont think Ballack will start as he only has 45 mins of pre season footie under his belt.

Cech
A. Cole Terry Carvs Ferreria
Mikel
J. Cole Lampard Deco Essien
Anelka

subs
Cudicini, Ivanovic, Alex, Ballack, SWP, Malouda, Sheva (ugh)

[lobomojo]

My guess a very fluid for 4-2-3-1 of sorts, width from the fullbacks, Lamp, Deco and and Ess, a bit, all kind of change spots here and there, J Cole to roam a bit from wing to wing and in the hole so it can look like/morph into a diamond, 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-2-2, christmas tree, jam or jelly etc.

Mr fear we try to force Ballack into the lineup and take ESS away from what he does best or lose Joe Cole

-----------Cech-
Paulo----Carv---JT-------Cole
----------------Mikel
----------Ess
----Deco----Lamp---Cole
----------Anelka (oops)

[L.G.S]

I'll be at the game so nobody can use me as an excuse to post rubbish like usual :D

I really think Sinclair will get a shout in this game. Scolari used him in everything today, something which he did not do with SWP or Malouda.

[lobomojo]

Look at my location you have no right to complain.

Well I'm going to rent a boat, with satellite of course, sail to a third of the way across the Pacific and complain the most so there:p:D

[lobomojo]

Another season and I am glad to see it come around.

A few quick points. A very tasty opener for us and let me quickly start by dashing anyone expecting a 5-0 opening day romp. Tough game for us and a lot of pressure as I am sure Scolari wants to get off to to winning start and avoid the disaster of ending our home winning streak. Also although Pomey looked like dog piss vs Man Utd at the weekend, I expect a few players (Diarra, GJ) will have something to prove along with James having his usual blinder against us.

Personally I dont think Ballack will start as he only has 45 mins of pre season footie under his belt.

Cech
A. Cole Terry Carvs Ferreria
Mikel
J. Cole Lampard Deco Essien
Anelka

subs
Cudicini, Ivanovic, Alex, Ballack, SWP, Malouda, Sheva (ugh)


Had to hold it up to the mirror Fern Da Vincci but I think we are on the same page