Carlton Cole playing alongside Michael Owen for England, you know it makes sense. The synergy is there Svenn. Poor old West Ham, Spurs, Arsenal and Leeds...allright I know it's only the Worthington cup but still...................Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha I know they are going to say that it was their reserve teams, BUT, come on, Chelsea played mostly a reserve team, so did Man U...an EPL reserve team should still get a result. Also check out their lousy fans... Highbury Attendance: 19,059 Stamford Bridge Attendance: 28,033
I hope Cole is playing tomorrow I can't wait to see him in action again. I am surprised the gate was a big as that, seemed to be quite a few empty seats, but to be fair to Gillingham fans they did fill the Mathew Harding Lower, while teams Like West Ham have not even filled half the lower east this season. The thing about both goals on Wednesday was they came from quick breaks, like the ones at maine road. I am always frustrated by players like Gronks who accelerate to the half way line, stop wait for the oppo defence to reorganise then pass back to one of our back four. Yep we have loads of possession but no shots on goal.
This is a good point, we are not direct enough, but I think part of the problem is our lack of speed from midfielders and forwards. Zola, Jimbo, Soxy, Lampard, De Lucas. All good players but not quite lightning fast are they. I really think that is one thing this team misses, the type of speed that is gonna make defenders shyte themselves. One thing that stood out about the Brazilian team that won the world cup was they were tall and fast all over the pitch. If we can add some speed to the team, and get a strong ball winner we could go for the title. How did Oliviera play by the way?
Year, Well Gronks is fast, but does not know how to use it. Gallas is also very fast and he lead our best breaks out of defense. Also Cudicini seems to have an eye for a quickly thrown ball much like Bonnetti did and if the mids are awake that can lead to quick breaks as well. Oliviera did ok but he did not stand out in the same way as the first games of Gallas and Cole. To be fair he came on as the side was disrupted by a few changes including the introduction of Bogarde!
Ranieri will continue with teenage prodigy Carlton Cole and veteran Italian ace Gianfranco Zola according to team talk which is cool. Forrssell, Kniesel may both be good, but as fans I think the prospect of Cole being the full time number 9 at the bridge is the most exciting prospect. He may be a Croydon lad, but we shall not hold it against him. Chelsea (probable for the Zulu's): Cudicini; Melchiot, Gallas, Desailly, Babayaro; de Lucas, Lampard, Petit, Le Saux: Zola, Cole.
Looks like the lineup I'd play with the exception maybe being to use Gronks on the RW to exploit their LB, his speed seems to shred the lower teams. Even though it often comes to nothing, once or twice a match he might just be the spark we need. De Lucas is just a glorified Stanic to me, with much higher fitness levels. He hasn't shown me the ability to pass, has no shot (I don't think I've seen him shoot all year), and he is not lightning quick either. He does run his butt off though and puts in some tackles and generally disrupts the opposition on the wing. Thought I read Carlton was from Brentford, not Croydon, but grew up a Chelsea fan?
Is No.39 the the new Messiah? I bloody hope so. I have also read that he was from Brentford, but on Big Blue they said he was a Croydon lad, and on his profile they have him down as being born in "Surrey" which would include the Tram buffs paradise of Croydon. I also note that it is his Birthday next Tuesday (same day as me wifes incidentally) and I hope he gets a run in the team for a few games and keeps on scoring goals. Duff would have been a great player to have to unlock the opposition defence. At present we haven't got a midfiled player who can A) make decent crosses and B) shoot from long range, although some may argue for Petit.