Mods and premium members are having trouble posting, so I'm using an old user name..... Away to Manchester United 8PM Kickoff 3PM ET Live on Big Blue CFC Official Web News on Soccernet TEAMtalk-Chelsea BBC-Chelsea 6 matches in the next 18 days..... Go Chelsea!
No US TV for this match? crapola. I was going to cut out of work to watch, but I guess I will just sit at my desk and listen to Big Blue again. Desailly supposedly will be back, the 3 rumours going around are that his father was ill, his wife left him, and he was involved in a dodgy land deal in Ghana that he had to go resolve. Hope it was the latter of the three as it sounds the least painful. Seeing as JT had a good showing on Saturday, I think this is the perfect opportunity to give Billy G a rest. He picked up a knock vs Boro and keeping him healthy for Villa is more of a priority IMO. Baba will be back for Villa as well, so hopefully GLS can tough it out for one more match at LB. Let's hope we see this team: ----------------------------Carlo----------------- Melchiot---------Terry-------Desailly------Le Saux Gronkjaer--------Lampard-------Petit-----???????? ------------------------Zola--------??????-------- I'm not usually one to advocate resting players when the team is playing well, but with 6 matches in the next 18 days keeping everyone fit is a priority. Maybe Guddy should get a runout in this one, JFH for the weekend as well. As for LW, take your pick: Stanic, De Lucas, Morris, Zenden. I'll take Zenden as I would rather attack Utd and put their FB's under pressure, thus blunting their attack. Speaking of, how did BZ look on Sat?
Next 6 Matches 12/17 @ Manchester United 12/21 v. Aston Villa (12PM ET FSW-2 hour delay) 12/26 v. Southampton 12/28 @ Leeds (12PM ET FSW-2 hour delay) 1/1 @ Arsenal (TV likely, will know for sure in 1 or 2 days) 1/4 v. Middlesbrough (FA Cup)
Tough days ahead Here is where we may lose our way i fear to the likes of the scouse, the Arse and Manure who have without a doubt better squad depth than us. What we have to do is look at the matches that are really importent to the season as a whole and try and forget the pain a short term defeat will bring. Bearing this in mind, and remembering that Ranieri et all have insisted all season long that this club has one, and only one, aim this season.Namely, qualification for the Champions League. With that in mind we have to pick out these matches... 12/21 v. Aston Villa 12/26 v. Southampton 12/28 @ Leeds 1/1 @ Arsenal The two home games are of paramount importence in these fixtures as full points (6) is of absolute vital importence to maintain our challenge at the top of the table. With this in mind the best we have should be starting both these games.That means Zola plus Hasselbaink up the front.Hasselbaink should be able to cut it as he's quite a bit younger than Zola (speaking football wise here now lads).There is no way i can see Zola playing in 5 of these matches, let alone all 6. Probably 4, the first three and the Arse game i would think.Besides the away tie to Leeds is typically a very hard/dirty match and we can't afford to have him crocked. Can't really see Ferrer starting in place of Melchiot in any game except the Leeds fixture to be honest. Baba and le saux to be permanent starters through out...who else is there really???????Perhaps Bogarde may make the bench for one or two games. Same for Petit and Lampard in the middle for the league games although perhaps Morris might get the nod in the Leeds game as well. I really think we will have a "weaker" side against the Leeds as Ranieri will have his eye on the Arsenal game and it is sandwiched to close to the others so rest will be required. A loss to the Arse would not be the end of the world either as i still think they have the best "squad" in the country and will win the title in the end.Losing to them can be accepted if we continue to beat the rest..remember our main aim here. If ranieri thinks this way i would not be surprised to see Zola rested to make sure he plays in the FA Cup.Ranieri has taken all the cup comps seriously from day one. So, i think we will see a full strength team against Man Utd tomorrow night.I think also that MST is spot on about Gallas as well. My guesses... Away to manure... ----------Carlo------------ Melchiot----Terry---Dessa----Le Saux Gronk---Petit-----Lampard----Stanic ---------Zola-------Hass--------- Home to Villa ----------------Carlo--------------------- Melchiot----Gallas----Dessa----Baba Gronk------Petit---lampard----GLS -----------Zola-----------Hass Home to S'ton ----------------Carlo------------------------ Melchiot-------Gallas----Dessa-----Baba De Lucas----Petit---Lampard-----GLS -------------Zola--------Hass--------- Away to Leeds ---------------------Carlo----------------- Ferrer--------Terry----Gallas------Baba Gronk----Morris---Lampard----Zenden-- ---------Hass-------Guddy-------------- Away to Arsenal Same as Villa Home to Boro Same as S'ton
Thanks for that Clanblue. However, I disagree with you on one thing. You mentioned that Arsenal will win the league - I believe Man United is now officially the team to beat. Therefore, this game will definitely prove where we are at. Middlesbrough was always going to be a tough assignment away, and this won't be any easier. I wouldn't be too disappointed if we lose this one. Man United are in form - Ruud and Barthez especially. I am looking forward to our next 2 premiership matches at home. I cannot see us coming away with less than 6 points, but who knows what the outcome will be?
Last night's reserve team: won 2-1 vs Leicester Pidgeley; Watt, De Silva, Kitamirike; Anis, Nicolas, Ross, Cousins; Oliveira; Kneissl, Boussoufa. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think any of those 11 are over the age of 22 are they? Kneissl scored both, one from a penalty, the other adeflection. Bodes well for the future team spirit that all these young guys are playing together regularly against tougher and more experienced competition. I think if CR sticks around long enough we will see at least 3 or 4 of these guys in the first team squad by 2004/05. I guess this also means that Oliveira won't be in the squad tonight although it was rumoured that he had traveled to Manchester and might make the bench.
The match is going to be televised in the US by Sentana Sport on Closed Circut PPV. Sorry for the late news, I just learned it myself...
couldn't make it out of jail so I'll be here. Lineup: Carlo Melchiot Gallas Terry Le Saux De Lucas Lampard Morris Stanic Zola Hasselbaink Subs: EDG, Dessa, Eidur, Zenden, Ferrer
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr No Petit or Gronkjaer for us, substandard midfield may be overrun by Veron, Giggs, Beckham, Neville. At least RVN and OGS are out for Utd, will be wierd to see how our midfield cops, Morris MUST have a huge game for us to win IMO.
ouch, i thought i had it bad not being able to sneak out to watch. I'll post what I hear and see if I beat BBC for you.
Afternoon lads Horse face not playing for manure i see. Thats good as the prat is in fine form at the mo. Agree on the Petit thingy.Looks like ranieri has his eye firmly on the league fixtures over the hols.
Looks like a couple of shots on Barthez already... BTW folks, we're not looking good for Chelsea v. Arsenal on New Years Day 1/1/03 FSW Manure v. Sunderland live @ 9AM Newcastle v. Liverpool live @ 2:30PM ************
Arsenal/Chelsea will be far more entertaining than ManUre/Sunderland. Sheesh. Hopefully it'll be on PPV.
Hopefully, but it hasn't been FSW's policy to overlap a live FSW match with PPV and Chelsea v. Arsenal is scheduled for 3PM, 10AM ET Hopefully that will change, but its not looking good at all..... Sucks.
Gronks doesn't see to me to have the manager's confidence of being a 90 minute player, never mind on 2 days rest.....
slow doesn't even describe this midfield like playing in molasses. Only Lampard with any offensive tendencies in this bunch aside form teh odd Stanic header. Scum are all over our goal now, sounds like we've been lucky not to concede 2 so far...
Ranieri has opted for his "workman like" midfield to be sure. Seems like he is relying on the players to get stuck into them in the middle whilst our Premiership leading defense holds their second string attack., coupled with hold the idea that our forwards will not be held scoreless. Interesting tactic. Also, i'll bet he wants gronks for his speed against the Villa who are very suspect to speedy wingers. Really i think Ranieri has come out with a statement in this game that he is in fact after bigger things in the league than a "champions league position" I may be wrong, but thats the way i read his team selection. BIg BLue keeps fuckin cuting out on me.AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
It would seem That united have targeted Melchiot to be the bearer of the brunt of their attacks. United are indeed all over us at the mo. Possession football by them, but lacking that final ball so far. 40th min Scholes screams one just wide.phewwwwwwwww
Mario Sounds up to the challenge so far, commentators have praised his efforts Been in good form recently. How will we get any penetration with this midfield? And Man U are bound to score eventually aint they. Hmmmm.
Half-Time Nil-Nil Sounds like Manure have the better of the chances. But we've had our fair share of chances. Gotta get back to work, I hope to see a good result I when I return.