1/26/03 FA Cup 4th Round: Shrewsbury Town v. Chelsea [R]

There is an outside chance that the match may be called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Heavy rains for the past few days and tomorrow and thursday are predicted.
I remember their pitch is right up alongside the bank of the river and is prone to flooding as well.

If it does go ahead in heavy conditions i fear it will be of far greater benefit to them than us.
Our wing play will be rendered useless and our passing game will boged down.Hoof and hope will be the name of the game and thats just not us.Our aerial attack this year is remarkable for it's lack of production rather than anything else.

Also our, shall we say "tempermental", foreign lot may not fancy a right old fashioned get stuck into 'em game in the mud.
The Shrewsbury game plan is going to have a very physical approach to it, make no mistake and the players had better be up to it.They are going to take lumps and no doubt the ref will be tested early by their lot.If he's not up to it, it could be a long and unhappy day for us.

Also, if the pitch is that bad is it worth throwing away the league season for the price of a win there, taking into account that a season ending injury to a player in our excellent, but depth restricted, midfield could also have the effect of being a season ending injury for the club.

I just have a bad feel about this game.
One thing i remember from my few trips there is that it is flipin freezing when the wind and rain blow.Not exactly Petit type of weather.

Hope i'm wrong on this.
Oh, and i would fully expect there to be a whole lot of Police about as there is simply no way bovver will not happen.
(Ah, the old days...skinhead do, tight jeans, denim jacket, Dr Martens)

 

The Back four?

Desailly out through suspension for 5th yellow.

Melchiot...Gallas...Terry???....Baba.

Who's on the bench?

 

Back line

Bobby Huth?

I thought someone said Melchiot looked like he pulled up lame at the end of the Man Utd match as well. Anyone know his status? Maybe we'll see Ferrer once more before he leaves us.

I know it is thinking ahead but it would be nice to see Chapi and Big Ed start in the last game vs Liverpool if there is nothing on the line. Give them a good sendoff for their dedication to Chelsea.

 

It indeed looks like

The back four will be...

Melchiot...Gallas...Terry...Babayaro

 

Squad

Haselbaink (ankle), Desailly (suspended) and De Lucas (hamstring) are out. Thank goodness, no De Lucas.

Claudio Ranieri has taken a squad of just 16 to Shropshire, so all will play or be on the bench.

They are: Cudicini, de Goey, Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Huth, Babayaro, Le Saux, Gronkjaer, Lampard, Petit, Morris, Zenden, Zola, Gudjohnsen and Cole.

Probable lineup:

---------------------------Cudicini---------------
Melchiot----------Gallas---------Terry--------Baba
Gronkjaer--------Lampard-------Petit------Le Saux
--------------------Gudjohnsen-----Zola----------

Subs: EDG, Cole, Morris, Zenden, Huth


I am hoping Zenden gets 90 minutes instead to rest Le Saux or Gronks for Tuesday, but I doubt it will happen. Can't believe my local bar is charging $10 a head to watch this match - it's fecking Shrewsbury for Christ's sake. Every other match it's free. I'll check in after, Go Blues (and Go Bucs)!

 

According to SKY's live score page, Zola has scored in the 40th minute.

 

Chelsea 2 - Shrewsbury Town 0

Carlton Cole, 53rd Minute

 

Chelsea 3 - Shrews 0

Zola - 75th minute

 

Chelsea 4 - Shrews 0

Jody Morris - 80th minute

 

FULL TIME:

Chelsea 4 - Shrewsbury Town 0

Gianfranco Zola (40)
Carlton Cole (53)
Gianfranco Zola (75)
Jody Morris (80)

 

Seems like it was all Chelsea...good. Can't wait to see this match. Next up, Leeds.

 

All Chelsea, all the time

Pretty tame first half until Zola's goal, then all Chelsea in the 2nd half. Poor Shrewsbury never had a sniff of a goal besides a free kick that Carlo made an excellent save on. Everyone looked really good, I would say Zenden, Zola, Cole and Petit the best of the bunch. Jody's goal was a nice left footed curler, not something I ever expected to see coming off of his boot. Billy G almost got into trouble a few times with his challenges, but nothing to get too worried about. Overall, a solid away performance vs a small team, and nothing the critics can use for ammo.

 

SoccerNet - Police: "Cudicini could have been killed"

Tribal Football: Two-goal hero Zola: I'm back in business

 

Was he sent off

for dissent then or was that post violent conduct?