v. Chelsea 10-2-1, 32 PTS, 2nd Place (-1) Manchester United 10-1-2, 31 PTS, 3rd Place (-2) 4:05 PM Local Time 11:05 AM EST US TV: Live PPV UK TV: Live Sky Sports Live on Big Blue ChelseaFC.com News on Soccernet TEAMtalk-Chelsea BBC-Chelsea Other Round 14 Fixtures (Times ET) US TV Saturday, November 29th 7:30 Wolverhampton v Newcastle Live FSW-Tape 12PM 10:00 Aston Villa v Southampton 10:00 Blackburn v Tottenham 10:00 Bolton v Everton Tape FSW-2PM 10:00 Charlton v Leeds Live PPV 10:00 Portsmouth v Leicester Sunday, November 30th 9:00 Arsenal v Fulham Tape FSW-2pm 10:00 Liverpool v Birmingham 10:00 Man City v Middlesbrough Big.
This is a must win for Chelski. If we have any chance of winnning the league or any other cups we have got to start beating the better teams. Man United, even though most people don't want to admit, have been the benchmark in this comp for so many years now. it's time for us to take over that position and start kicking some ass. If we can get through Man Utd, I have no doubt that we can beat Arsenal at home. Go the Blues! We need this!
Clash of the Titans Looks like Veron will be our only first-choice player out and the Mancs will have everyone at their disposal. We seem to have started in the diamond the last few matches I've seen, and I won't be surprised to see this lineup: -----------------------Cudicini------------------ Johnson------Gallas----------Terry---------Bridge -----------------------Makelele----------------- ----------Lampard---------------J Cole----------- --------------------------Duff------------------- --------------Mutu----------Hasselbaink---------- Melchiot has been solid in place of GJ but he might be due a rest. Can't see Dessa making this his first match back. If CR plumps for Gronks then Cole probably drops out and we may go to a straight 4-4-2. I think Jimmy has been getting a rest just for this match. Crespo might get the start but I'd be very surprised. PPV tomorrow, all ready for this one.
Hard to say with these top of the table games though innit? Look at Man u-Arse game a few weeks ago. Most likely it'll be more of the same i suspect, very tight game, both teams afraid to make a mistake as that one mistake might lead to the only goal of the game. In fact, i think it'll be a one goal game to be honest, perhaps 2-1, but i would take bets on 1-0. Now that i've said that it'll be a classic, end to end stuff I don't think we can afford to play the diamond in this one.Giggs is far to good to be allowed any space at all down the sideline, and, having a diamond will inevitably cause the "outer" players to drift into the middle more, thus giving him room to operate. Van horseface by himself is no threat.he needs service.Give him anything at all in the box and the chances are he'll score.He's not a great goal creator or even goalscorer like Henry, but, he's the best in the business at goal poaching. To take him out of the game we simply must win the battle in the middle of the field. I would like to see... Gronkjaer----Lampard----Makelele----Duff ...it is perhaps a good thing that Veron isn't available for selection in this one as Ranieri may have been severly tempted to play him. Playing against yer old club, point to prove, chip on the shoulder about being sold and all that stuff.Players generally do have a Roy of the Rovers type game gainst former clubs. Veron has been seeing an upswing in form lately, however, we have been using the diamond when he plays and, frankly, he sucks in a 4-4-2 formation. That young yank keeper is proving to be every much the equal of his peers, however, he has looked a little out of sorts on crosses into the box. Perhaps Crespo and Gudjohnson will get the nod as they are formidable in the air, Crespo being quite lethal from crosses.Another reason why i would like to see the Gronkjaer/Duff combo in a straight 4-4-2.
Rethinking the RB With Giggs in such fine form it might be asking too much of GJ to take him on, especially if we play with Gronks on the RW. On second thought I wouldn't be surprised to see Melchiot at RB, or even Billy G at RB with Marcel returning to captain the team.
I hope it is a goal fest, but will settle for 1-0 as long as we get the points. That is also the midfield I would like to see. I am looking forward to seeing a team that tries to win at SB. Do you think they will come at us or sit back and try to counter?
I would be highly surprised if they come at us from the kick off.I am of the opinion that sir red nose will treat this as an away tie in Europe and thus adopt the 4-5-1 formation and counter at every opportunity. His main objective will be not to lose the game as that would put them 4 points behind us.That could be huge as none of the top three are slipping up.Whats even bigger is that it could put them 5 behind the arse, who, again, are showing no signs of slipping up, in fact they seem to be getting stronger if anything. All in all, 8 to 9 players behind the ball most of the time.This tactic could actually work for them too if they control the middle of the field.One good pass to vanhorseface and it could be curtains. Was it two season ago we had about 70% of the possession at Stamford Bridge--and lost 0-3. On the other hand, if we score early it may lead to a highly entertaining game as they will be forced to come at us.
Good luck - and sack up It's about time for someone else besides Arsenal to show some balls in the title race and challenge ManUre. I'm getting sick and tired of seeing all these so-called "contenders" roll over and spread 'em in the big games (Newcastle last season comes to mind - just pathetic). From what I've seen of Chelsea this season, they look like a good bet to be that 3rd team that actually stays in the race and doesn't wilt at the finish line. Maybe they've got so many new players that the ManUre mystique hasn't blinded them yet, I don't know, but they play like they're not scared of anything. Good luck tomorrow - ABMU!
Hard to say about this match really..... we were running out of steam after the international break..... but the lads will need to bounce back for this one. I'd be delirious if we nick it (even if it's a lousy 1-0) but this is one match that can produce lots of goals. I might be wrong though if one of the lads can rile up RVN and get him sent off for retaliation. Yeh..... I know..... we don't have that sorta player to rile other players up like we used to.
Enjoy. I'm heading off to a match party here in Boston. Should be a good day Come on you Blues! Go Chelsea!
The Lineup: 23 Carlo Cudicini 2 Glen Johnson 13 William Gallas 16 John Terry 18 Wayne Bridge 14 Geremi 8 Frank Lampard 4 Claude Makelele 10 Joe Cole 7 Adrian Mutu 21 Hernan Crespo Subs: 31 Marco Ambrosio, 6 Marcel Desailly, 11 Damien Duff, 30 Jesper Gronkjaer, 9 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. I'll be watching, so have fun to all who will be listening on Big Blue and posting here, i'll stop by after the game. Come on Chelsea!
Timmy didn't have to deal with the crosses in MLS. He has looked very suspect all year when they have been thrown into the area.
WTF? Our defense is playing like a first division outfit. United geting to all the balls first. We just don't look sharp right now. Definitely looks like we are playing not to lose at this point.........jesus another *#*#*#*# up at the back as i watch......we're showing them dar too much respect. Melchiot needs to get his head out of his arse...real quick like!
Penalty......... Joe Cole taken down by Roy keane. Definite penalty, but Cole showed a bit of "European expierence" there with taking the ball away from the side keane was coming from thus making contact inevitable and a penalty the only decision in that case. What a pass by Crespo.....yes, Crespo. Chelsea had been on top for the previous 5 to 10 anyway. We seem to have settled down...................whoa..we almost score again....Melchiot of all people. This will open the game up now.
Watching it on the telly Spoon, i'm at home. We definitely got better from about the 20th min. Again Bridge--who i've picked on for most of the season i'll admit--is doing his case no harm. The back 4 seemed to settle down after some very nervous moments in the opening mins.Overhype of the game very evident and trying not to make a mistake actually leading to mistakes. J Cole should have scored.What a flipin idiot to pick up that booking.He'll definitely get subed now as i can't see Ranieri risking going down to 10 men in this game. United on the ropes towards the end, and starting Geremi seems to have worked. Mutu and Crespo perhaps not as effective as Gudjohnson and Crespo could be.
The expected subs But Gronkjaer for Crespo? More defensive than anything methinks. Probably a little biast here, but, Chels seem to be on top now. Expected Cole to be off for Duff, probably would have happened anyway, but, the yellow made it quicker than expected. Johnson hasn't started--or even played a minute--since his childish kick away of the ball in Italy--wonder if Cole will now suffer the same wrath.Granted he didn't get a red, but, Ranieri came with and has maintained his reputation of being a disciplinarian. Chels really on top now, lampard with a screamer....good save from the young Yank. He's a really good keeper, been in the right place at the right time so far, shows good reading of the game and positional sence. Started the second half with only 9 men, then 10, then finally the full 11. Typical Chelsea of old there. Duffer with an almost instant impact. Lampard and in particular Makelele playing a blinder i think, really dominating the midfield and keeping vanhorseface out of the game.
Dodgy moments here Hassilbaink came on for Mutu with about 15 to go. Mau Yoo certainly picking it up now. They are back to being better to the ball in the middle of the pitch.We seem to have "gone Italian", happy to have a 1-0 lead and counter attacking even though we're at home. Nervous final moments here.....