No heart-stoppers this time please!
I expect us play in both the halves in this match. I expect us to treat Reading like Reading. I expect Khalid and Hilario to have an error-free match. These are expectations and not just hopes. If these expectations come good, Reading would get nothing out of this match in the Stamford Bridge. We should not relax hoping for another last minute stunner and we should play all the 90 minutes.
Terry is still out and it looks like he is out for another three weeks. These things are inevitable in football but these are the opportunities for the second line to really make an impression. Look at Joe Cole. Even if he is back from injury, I’m not sure if he can straightaway walk into the team. I’m not even suggesting this for Terry. Captain John is world class and would walk into any first team, for that matter. Players like Essien, Kalou and Robben have played well in Joe Cole’s absence and made selection, a very difficult job for Jose. I hope Khalid uses this opportunity very well makes something out of the next few weeks.
Over the last two seasons, our mean defence has been the highlight of our performances. Unfortunately, we have been shipping too many goals in the recent matches. When was the last time we gave away 4 goals in two successive premier league matches? Many of the goals conceded by us this season, have been from headers. We have made mistakes while defending set pieces and we have not learnt too much from them.
Like I had mentioned in the other post, I dont want us to play the diamond with a defensive midfielder with teams like Reading, that too at the Bridge. We should bring Geremi back as the right back. I dont know why he should not play when Khalid is starting despite his recent disastrous matches. We should play 4-4-2 with two CMs and a RM and an LM. If Essien is one of the CMs, he will not push up too much and keep the opponent midfielders at bay with his defensive qualities.
There is too much hype about reception of Hunt and Sonko at the Bridge after their moments of stupidity which has had a substantial impact on our season so far. Essien also says that they need not fear about a revenge in the Bridge. Those were not intentional fouls, those were just negligence, carelessness, poor judgement and recklessness. These things do happen on and off the football pitch. I dont bear any grudge over Hunt or Sonko. I’m not against booing them. They deserve some punishment for their recklessness and so far, they have been left scot-free. But I’m certainly not for brainless death threats.
Scoring is one thing. I want us the control the match and hold the opposition by the scruff of their neck. We should start grinding out results again by wearing out the opposition and virtually numbing their confidence. It’s an early kick-off for us and if we win, we would be No.1 in the table. Whether it would remain that way by the night would depend on Wigan. If Wigan produces the super stuff as they did against us, Man Utd can crumble under pressure. 1-0 for Wigan anyone?
As regards our match, nothing short of a 3-0 will calm me down.
[tags] Chelsea, Reading, Premiership, Stamford Bridge, Cech, Cudicini, Stephen Hunt, Sonko, Wigan, Man Utd, Essien [/tags]
Agree with you BC
We need not defensive midfielder and Robben with Sheva should start together.
very well written. we should kill off reading. robben should start and deserves to play all 90 mins. sheva should also start. the more people are scared and start marking drogba more, chances will be created for sheva.
somehow, i feel kalou will play in this match instead of Sheva.
Anyway Sheva is looking like taking extra efforts to improve his performance.
I think he can make a difference coming off the bench.
I’m really worried about Boularouz. If terry is out for 3 weeks, it is going to be hell lot of pressure on Carvalho. Anyone watched the way Mourinho congratulated RC after last mach?
My preference for the back four would be
Geremi – Carvalho – A. Cole – W. Bridge.
Other than that, rest will take care of itself.
Anybody like minded on back 4?
Ashley in central defence will leave too much space in the back, as it’s in his instinctive natural game to push up.
Isn’t Khalid suspended for this match… whom is JM going to play there
Are you still interested on my offer Blue Champion?
Match drawn…..what a crap we are playing……I am really broken…..
Iam sure we’ll play better in this match considering the fact we played poor football against Wigan.I wanna see Sheva in the scoresheet along with Robben n its better for Chelsea if they play whole 90 mins.
what happened to Chelseaaaaaa !!!!! oh gawdddddddddd……i feel like crying
In my opinion, Chelsea appears to be cracking rather than Manchester United. Essien and Drogba and Mourinho can keep insisting that ManU are going to crumble under the pressure, can continue claiming that they will win by at least 5 points, when they are the ones in trouble instead. They are conceding too many goals in recent matches, and leaving it too late to kill off the game(Wigan, Newcastle, Everton).
And Ashley Cole? Replacing Gallas with him is starting to look like a stupid mistake made by Mourinho. Chelsea has conceded 15 in 20 games, compared with 22 in 38 last season, while their number of goals have been totally outshone by Man U’s.
If they continue this way, there is no way they are going to be crowned champions. And forget about Europe as well.
January? Get rid of Boulahrouz, Ferreira and Cole, bring in more pacy defenders who don’t fall apart the moment Terry is out. If not, my Red Devils are going to be the ones winning by at least 5 points.
Boulahrouz must go his defending style is poor and he misses important tackles let him go play for watford or sumthin and also SWP must go he doesnt perform in a Cheslea shirt and losses the ball at the attack’s prime
These players should be lost in January
Ballack didnt have a good game againest Fulham but he is mixing in much better then Sheva on a weekly Basis
We should be looking to grab Adriano in January .. Inter Have let him go dew to bad form but he is only 24 and Jose can mold him back and he can partner drogba upfront …when we let boulahrouz and shaun wright philips we can offer big big money for adriano who is a fantasic finisher