Matchday XXXIV 4/19/03: Chelsea v. Fulham [R] Chelsea 18-9-8 63 PTS, 3rd Place (-11) Fulham 11-8-16 41 PTS, 16th Place (-33) 3:00PM Kickoff 10:00AM EST Live on PPV Live on Big Blue CFC Official Web News on Soccernet TEAMtalk-Chelsea BBC-Chelsea
Um.... I view this as a set up game. The result of this game will determine the results we need from our remaining fixtures and how much-if at all-we need to worry about the red/blue scousers. A win against the Villa and we are in a great position going into the Everton match with a whole load of pressure being lifted off us.Even a draw wouldn't be a bad result in light of the fact that you couldn't have scripted a better run in for us with the scousers playing each other and having both of them at home. That away game at Upton park though is a worry to be honest.
Money is vital Thoughts from John Terry on the Easter weekend games. What with all the talk of Gallas and Terry wanting more money this summer-despite the denials of the gaffer and the piss take at the expense of the gunners-i can't help but think of the Leeds situation. Yes, i know many things are different for us, however......
Line up ---------------Cudicini--------------- Melchiot----Terry---Desailly-----Gallas De Lucas----Lampard---Petit-----Le Saux ------Cole-------------Zola----------- Bench> Hasselbaink Gudjohnsen Zenden Babayaro Big Ed
It's a funny ole game Last seasons joint leading scoreres in the league can't get off the bench. The old man and the kid geting the nod up the front--what odds would you have got for that to happen last season? Never won 5 on the trot in the Prem--time for a change.
Early jitters Villa, in particular Vassell, all over us from the begining. And just as i say that we go 1 goal down. Villa up for this game no doubt. Barry with the volley into the corner of the net after a good build up from the Villa. Piss poor start.
25 mins Villa pressing hard right from the start. The De Lucas/Melchiot combination on the right is being simply torn apart by Villa. The back 4 sound scrappy.No good clearances to our players, just big to and away we go defending. No attacks worth mentioning from us. Villa bossing the middle of the field-our 4-4-2 isn't working here. We could well be another goal down before the half. Shades of Sunderland all over again. We must get better. The problem is when you look at the bench, there isn't anyone there that would seem capable of doing anything better than what we have served up so far.
Subs Okay, we're just not geting it done here. 10 mins untill the half. We are losing the battle in the middle of the field, and how. Le Saux is starting to give them some problems down the sideline. We are still be killed on the right side. Bring Babayaro on at the half and move Gallas over to the LF spot moving Melchiot up and taking of De Useless.
Half-time 1-0 Villa Must say they totally deserve it.We just aren't in this game really.Occasional runs by Le Saux only thing to brag about. Toon and Pool both wining at the half. We need to gat a point here at least.
Defender off/Striker on at the half Very interesting swithch here for the start of the second half. Melchiot is off and Gallas is on...not real surprise there given the way the Villa were taking us apart on that side of the pitch. However Hasselbaink comes on and Zola drops back to the spot vacated by Le Saux who is now the LF.In effect he strengthens the back line and brings on a 3rd striker. Villa break an catch us flat footed at the back. Terry loses out in the air to Vassell and edwards has him in a foot race, which he loses...fuckin close call as he chips Cudicini and it bounces off the bar and over....phewwwwwwwww Terry shown up for lack of pace again. Villa still up for this.
Villa pressing, alot of defensive marking problems at the back - one right across goal, but headed out...still 1-0 to Villa
Listening to this game ...one would be at a loss to understand how Chelsea are chasing the Champions League and Villa re just abouve the relegation zone. It's a strange game though and we could still score and come away with a totally undeserved point.
Goodison news Toffees equalise on a penalty. Blue scousers 1-1 Red scousers Hope it stays that way. Would negate any bad result here..which is looking increasingly likely.
Don't get it Right footed players in the left wing position? Babayaro behind Le saux works quite well for us. Now we have our best left sided player/crosser of the ball in the full back position.... Fuck...pool go 2-1 up.
3 points We really needed 3 points... It would have been nice to win this one and get that 3rd spot, let Newcastle and the scousers fight it out for 4th place. As it is, Champions league footy is . . . a crazy pipe dream.
Cry me a river Thats that then...we're bolloxed. Can't say they don't deserve it. Ah well, off to Little league with the nippers.... Laters fellas. (i suppose the pool will win just to rub it in even more)
REAL CHANCE - Last second of stoppage time - Free kick + 10 yds for dissent- JFH to take......... ahhh richocet, petit rebound blocked...cudicini sends it back it, but out. FULL TIME Chelsea 1 - Aston Villa 2