1st Fixture - August 14, 2010 - Chelsea FC vs. West Bromwich Albion

about bloody time! was sick of looking at that other thread.

should be a walk in the park, but I still don't think we are at destroying teams mode. also i hate predicting final scores, so I'll stay away.

 

Considering how clunky our preseason was & how unfinished our transfer season has feels, i'd be more or less content with an uneventful 1-0.

are Alex & Cech expected back for this one?

 

Cech - ja
Alex - negatory

 

To be honest, I am a little worried about this one. The team isnt fit, nothing in the side is clicking and the less said about our defensive errors the better. To compound things, I am willing to bet that West Brom will play 11 behind the ball. Potential opening day banana skin? Possibly. Maybe thats a little too D&G and we will blow them out 8-0.


----------------Cech
Paulo---------Ivan----JT--------Ash

Essien-----------MIkel----------Lamps

Anelka----------Drogba---------Malouda

PS
How does one use the Lineup Wraps for posting teams?

 

Again, Alex has been fully involved in training this week and should be ready to go.

 

Are you positive about that, pete? I want to get Warnock out of my fantasy team and grabbing Alex would be nice... but only if he is going to play because Villa will still be a decent enough defensive team.

Anyway, WBA have a pretty good side for a promoted team but we're at the Bridge or else I could see a game like Wigan gave us when they came up (CRESPOOOO!!!!!!!!!!). I also hate predicting scores but I think a 2-0 scoreline is fairly likely.

I also doubt Drogba will start, he'll probably come off the bench at half-time after we create nothing with the average frontline of Malouda-Anelka-Kalou.

 

Chelsea TV online showed him in full sprint against Di Santo in training, so take that fwiw.

 

Fair enough. I just know which ever one of Ferreira/Alex I pick up, the other will start

 

500-0

 

yessss finally


btw L>G, its playing on sportsnet one and sportsnet one hd in canada (how many channels am i going to buy FFS)

 

Where do you get the information for the TV listings?

 

Not anymore

repped.

 

I'm glad we get to start the season off playing a slew of "weak" teams while we are still looking for form. Hopefully we get into the swing of things after the first four or five games before our clash with City.

 

Frank Lampard a doubt for Chelsea's season opener
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE67C2H420100813?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&rpc=401

Start Gael then if true?

 

good news and bad news

chech and alex in

and as bruck posted, lamps out

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2121520,00.html

 

I'd expect Lampard to play in the end. Also, if he doesn't, you have to think Benayoun comes into the side or we play with a 4-4-2 with Kalou and Malouda on the wings and Mikel and Essien in midfield.

 

---------Mikel---------
Essien---------Malouda
---------Yossi---------
---Nico--------Didier---

i think this is what well see, it just screams Ancellotti

 

Sturridge is terrible wide in a 4-3-3, I'd hate to see that. Kalou will certainly play there, with Anelka probably on the other side. But that's not that different from a 4-4-2, since Malouda will be spending a decent amount of time going up the flank.

Some day soon for a non-crucial game I'd like to see us pair Essien and Ramires in midfield to see how that might work. Talk about work-rate and running.......

 

Terrible? Ask United if he's terrible out wide left... Not his best position to be sure, but he's servicable out there.

 

He played wide last year a few times and looked terrible doing it. He's not a 4-3-3 forward unless he plays the central role.

 

Yet on Sunday, comes in and looks quite good playing off the left, bit of progress there. But you and I seem to have a different idea as to what "terrible" means.