Premier League - Written by BlueChampion on Sunday, August 12, 2007 0:46 | 1,769 Views | 60 Comments | Add Comment
Chelsea vs Birmingham | 12-Aug-07 @ 13:30 UK
Chelsea start their premier league season today (Sunday) against fellow-blues Birmingham. Jose Mourinho does not have the full squad at his disposal, but the situation is lot better than the FA Community shield match, both in terms of opposition and in terms of players available. A win or draw would give us a tremendous record in the history of English league football.
As regards the injury situation, there is some kind of unclarity and there is also lack of information about who is available and who is not. Players who are surely out for tomorrow’s match are Terry, Ballack and Bridge. Drogba and Shevchenko may not be 100% ready for tomorrow but it appears Sheva has a better chance of making it than Drogs.
I expect Jose to play 4-4-2 if Sheva or Drogba is available, collectively for 90 minutes. Otherwise, he can play 4-3-3 with Pizarro supported by Malouda and Joe Cole. For a three-man midfield, we have Lampard, Essien and Sidwell and if it’s 4-4-2, we can have wither Malouda or Joe Cole playing in the side midfield area.
In defence, we have Ricardo and Alex in the centre, Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson on either sides. I’d prefer to see Johnson on the right because he has been playing fairly well and if he is not going to be played at home against Birmingham, I don’t know when he can play. I don’t consider him to be a back-up player or something. He can claim his stake for the right back position as much as Paulo or Diarra, until Alves arrives.
As you see, we have plenty of options in defence, midfield and the wings. We are vulnerable only in the striker/centre forward area. If Pizarro pulls a muscle or has a real bad day, we’d be in trouble. As long as Pizarro plays for all 90 minutes, I don’t think we should have a problem. Drogba will be missed but that’s fine. If we can’t beat Birmingham at home without Drogba, then we can’t be title contenders.
As you might be aware a draw or a win today would be a great historic achievement for Chelsea as we surpass Liverpool’s record of unbeaten home league streak. And one man who can play a major role in helping us achieve this feat is Petr Cech. Hope he has a great confidence-boosting match before he travels to Reading where skull was split into two in the last season.
Cech talks to BBC Sports about Chelsea’s style of play:
In the end what counts is points and trophies. If you play beautiful football and finish fourth like Arsenal then it is maybe nice to say you played brilliant football but you never have a trophy. Personally you don’t want that to happen and your fans don’t want it to happen either because everyone wants the trophies and the glory. You need resilience too. Even when you don’t play well and have problems or injuries you need to keep winning and hopefully that is what we can do.
We have always tried to be as attacking as we can be but last season part of the problem was that we had won the title twice. Everyone coming to Stamford Bridge just put 11 people in front of the penalty area and were just defending, defending, defending. When you don’t have the space to attack every time you have to be patient and wait for the chance. It happened a lot last season but hopefully it will be different this time.
We should certainly attack Birmingham relentlessly. In the first half, we should do our stuff and really try to scare them a bit, instead of waiting for the second half or their goal to spur us up. Frankly, Birmigham have nothing to lose. For this season, as per their expectations, this may not be one of those matches where they expect to get point/s. Still , if we rattle them a bit, who knows, may be the flood gates will open.
I feel we have to start playing with some kind of arrogance too. Many times, we have been guilty of respecting our opponents too much and struggling to force the issue later on. Birmingham should be treated as Birmingham and nothing more. Do you know that the last five premier league matches were draws (and still we lost the title by only 6 points). Let’s get out of this streak of draws which is under Mourinho, Chelsea’s longest winless streak.
Jose has made it clear that we would be more interested to get three points than setting this record. Here is what he say:
If we draw I think we shouldn’t celebrate. In spite of the draw giving us a historic record, I think we shouldn’t celebrate because we don’t play for records we play for titles. I know one point against Birmingham is better than zero, but our target is not to beat the record, it is to win the game.
On their side, Birmingham are also missing two of their defenders and their captain Johnson too. I think it’s all even then - we missing our strikers and they missing their defenders. And yes, Forsell would be facing his earlier club in a very important night. Surely, they would have been motivated by Sunderland’s win against Tottenham and Derby’s draw against Pompey.
Staying with the results in day one of the premier league, Liverpool got the job done as late as possible, Sunderland justified the hype around them by beating Spurs with a goal scored few seconds before final whistle, Derby threw in the other surprise by holding Pompey, Man City finished off West Ham in style, Newcastle raised a lot of expectations by crushing Bolton at the Reebok stadium and Blackburn, Everton notching up victories over Boro, Wigan respectively.
Back to our match - no disrespect to Birmingham, but it just looks like a 2-0 to me, a regulation win.
[tags]Chelsea, Birmingham, Premier League, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool[/tags]
60 Comments
1. ZANEEB
2. Adonis
Am I the only one pissed off at having other Blues in the Prem?? And am I the only one who jumped after he read “Blues fire coach” or “Blues sign _______” or “Blues hopeful of avoiding relegation”??? I hate Birmingham simply for their color. I don’t know anything about them other than reading news about them scares the crap out of me continuously.
So, I am pretty confident and excited about the victory 
Adonis - You’re not alone. I had talked about this earlier in this post
But I dont hate Birmingham for that. Oh well, I’ll tell you on Sunday night, if I hate them or not!
4. Menndim..!!
Mates I just saw the spain super cup and alves played so i don’t think he is going to come to the bridge , what do u guys thing ??
5. Jumbo
Re: transfers.
We seem to have done good business. I would loathe to lose Robben but his father his handling the contract talks v poorly. As his agent he takes a cut, so no surprise that he’s being a mercenary about it. Robben is one of the few flair players we have but we are covered on the left and team unity and morale are more important than just 1 player.
Re: new season
Goodbye social life. Sheva needs to score at least 15-20 goals in all competitions. Here’s hoping he finds his long range shot. He’s not a back to goal striker to pick up the ball and carry it. We just need him to hit it - like all his Milan goals!!
6. chelseafanusa
Thanks for the great insight into the game we just don’t get here in the states. I have to say I do not belive alex will play or start v BC. My thoughts are Ben haim instead if alex. Also, Pizarro to start in the 4-3-3 with cole and malouda. If we put them away early we MIGHT see Sheva sub for Pizzaro. If not Drogba in the 70th minute. Got to give it to Jose, he knew where injuries would hurt him and he got great players to fill in. Let me know id you agree?
7. SH.IBRAHIMI
3-0 (Lampard/Pizarro/J.Cole)
8. Cashif
Chelseafanusa agreed.
Benhaim definitely the best shout. Looked surprisingly comfortable against Reds. With Benhaim and Carvalho at cb we should be fine.
9. Johnarejr
This should not be a repeat of the Wigan game in ‘05 where Chelsea needed Crespo to give the last second death blow. Chelsea should put up no less than two goals even without Drogba. I am hoping for 3-0 and no more injuries.
I caught the Man City vs. West Ham match. Good win for City. But, it is way too early to call Sven a genius or the Hammers to relegation. Liverpool fans shouldn’t bee too carried away either.
10. Maysam
BC I don’t like your line up .
—————- Cech————————-
Ferreira—–Cervaliho—–Ben Aim—Ashly
—————Mikel—————————
——-Essien————Lampard————-
SWP——————————–Malouda
—————-Pizarro—————————-
4-2-2 is not a good formation on a day that we have two unready strikers(Drogba and Sheva)
Johnsen is not good , i believe Ferreira is much better than him .
Alex has not practiced with other players , he is not a good choice.
11. Maysam
i am very worried about this game, when you see Sunderland beats Tottenham , you can not say we will win easilly.
I am always nervous at the begining of seasons, first games are very important.
I think we will win 2-0 Malouda, Lampard
12. Spanish Fry
Chelsea should win comfortably. As an Arsenal supporter I’ll be keenly watching the new signings Malouda and Pizarro as well as Alex. I also hope that Johan Djourou can come in and do the job and keep Chelsea scoreless but I think it will be 2-0 with Shevchenko grabbing a goal or two.
13. Andrew,Uganda
i think guys BC should not give us a lot of trouble coz we have what it takes to beat any team.The problem is that we relax too much and wait for our opponents to provoke us with a goal but some times it is too late. Chelsea for life.In case u need me ma no is +256773255318. Enjoy the game.Chal.
14. Adonis
Spanish Fry, cheers mate. You’re an Arsenal fan, but an honest one, you’re welcome here.
I really hope Alex starts tomorrow, contrary to quite a few people here, apparently… Alex is a fantastic player (no wonder PSV’s won the league the three years he’s played for them) and can play well against an English team like Arsenal (Champions LEague last season is proof) so why not Birmingham City?? He’s not been in out preseason, but he played and won the Copa America, so I’m pretty sure he’d be ready for th match today. He’s going to be an important player for us, I’m confident he’ll outclass Ben Haim, if only at the CB spot.
2-0 Chlesea, Pizarro and Joe Cole to score.
15. Malouda
Chelse
16. Adonis
Man oh man, Petr Cech echoes exactly what we’ve been saying on this blog about the whole playing the beautiful football… It seems we’ve hit the nail on the head, and the team thinks the same thing we do.
“If you play beautiful football and finish fourth like Arsenal then it is maybe nice to say you played brilliant football but you never have a trophy. Personally you don’t want that to happen and your fans don’t want it to happen either because everyone wants the trophies and the glory.”
Wow.
17. zubinj9
4-0
pizarro, malouda, joecole,lampard
18. scott_sinc
zubinj9
that’s asking for too much. given the current chelsea form, i wouldnt bet on a 4-0 win. 2-0 at best.
19. Blue Champion
Guys
SpanishFry is an Arsenal supporting mate (doesnt mean we’ll agree with him) who owns and runs a blog - Arsenal FC Blog - a very level headed gunners blog.
20. RomanHoliday
Gimme one goal
Gimme control of the game
Gimme snuff out of Birmie
Gimme a win and 3 points
Above all ……..gimme beer
21. tim_ber
undoubtedly we’ll control the game. we’ll be on top. we’ll keep their attack at bay but will we finish our chances? if yes, you can expect big win otherwise 1-0 and three points, for sure.
22. James
chelsea will won for sure…. 2-0 (malouda pizzaro)
hey guyz any news about alves????
23. coolblue
guys dont worry. it is the other blue fans who should be worrying. im not saying we’ll roll them over but we should win rather comfortably. pizarro to score his first chelsea goal and malouda wont stop scoring!
24. RomanHoliday
Roy keane has got the bean
To use and push guys he has
JM today will beat the B-blues
sans usual fracas
Liverpool is bleating already
“Champions we’ll be ” ,
Wih only one win in their pocket
Manure will preen,till their first loss is seen
And cry no…no…oh
Chelsea start slow
and then leave all below
And take the Prems like a .. ROCKET !
Aspiring punk poet
RH
25. RomanHoliday
I am for beautiful footyball
100% I say
The problem is
And shit it is
A way my team
can’t play
Instead we get cups
for all the spent bucks
least I get bragging rights
come May
26. Joe
Chelsea will win the match, I have confience in Sheva this season and if he dosent play well pizarro sounds very motivated and Malouda is a good goal scorer so might snatch one.
As for Derby, Billy Davies is a good motivator but i have to tell you they dont have a bad side, the wingers Pearson and Fagan are skillful and gave the defenders alot to do, Mears is also very skillful for a rightback and shoudlve had a penatly when he beat 3 players one cropped him but they “won the ball”. Darren Moore and Claude Davis are BIG, strong centre backs and Davis especially is very fast, Andy Griffin is also a good buy and for just 200k.
Some is motivation but the team isnt bad, they proved they can score so shouldnt be written off completeley, Billy spent his money wisely and still has more players to come in.
27. marko
hey RH man you’ve become a putbol poet! i liked it. give us more, write a poem on each match that we play. lovely man.
3-0 for us (malouda, pizarroX2)
28. skore
c’mon blues, let’s do it. i have nothing against birm but we should put 3 or 4 past them. c’mon they’ve just been promoted and if you dont score 4 against them, then who’s left? i want chelsea to have the biggest goal difference this season.
29. ss
has anyone seen this piece of news on bbc: Chelsea will make a £27m swoop for Porto’s Ricardo Quaresma if Arjen Robben moves to Real Madrid. (News of the World). anyone knows anything about it ??
30. Spanish Fry
Cheers Blue Champion. I wish I could say I wish Chelsea all the best tonight :S
31. RomanHoliday
Hey here’s one putbol poem for the road before … I hit a bar to watch the game….
A Goal for Lamps
A beer for me
A Goal from Malouda
for fans of CFC
A Goal by The Coles
in the Birminham net
Goals a plenty
Don’t you fret
ManUre to Draw
their throats be dry
May Reading have wings
Today pigs will fly
A draw for Manure I demand
Reading please do , A Sunderland
( Not my best but I hope it will suffice for the moment)
A chant by a raving lunatic Chelsea fan :
We got the balls
We got the beer
We got the goals
Wait till the final whistle , Dear ! :P
32. zubinj9
scott_sinc…
i bet u we will win by 4 goals or moreeeeeeeee
33. blue boy
the game is 1 hour away!!
34. Mourofsame
Hi Mates, any news on the starting eleven yet? Possibly Drogs will come in the second half. Sheva I hear is not ready. If kalou is ready then a Pizzaro and Kalou striking partnership will be perfect.
I would lve to see alex come in the second half to have a feel ahead of the Liverpool match.
Adonis@16, you are right. Cech has just summed up what we have been saying here all these past days. Winning is all that matters. In fact, hear what Tiger woods says- “Winning is the only thing that matters.”
35. Nihongo Blue
Is chec match fit? else keeping the pool match a week later may force mourinho to put cudacini
Joe cole will be a man to watch. I hope pizzaro will be match fit for 90 min.. he is gonna tear apart the defence… malouda to assist and pizza to score…
2-0 to chelsea.
go blues!!!
many beers on stake!!!
36. Nihongo Blue
this logo in front of the names is awesome BC!!!
cheers
37. Blue Champion
Nihongo Blue! Actually, that’s still work-in-progress. It will be on and off until I settle on that one.
38. Mourofsame
Kalou and pizzro are starting. drogs on the bench. Joe Cole and Mikel on the bench too.
39. Mourofsame
BC, I think my line up yesterday is pretty close. Just waiting to see if diarra will start ahead of Glen, then i will have acored 100%.
40. Mourofsame
ooopsssss, Glen starts. Hope he does well.
41. Mourofsame
So here is the line up.
—————————————Cech——————————————
—–Glen—————riccy———————-Haim—————–A.Cole—-
SWP———————–Essien———————-Lamps————Malouda
——————-Pizzaro————————————–Kalou————–
42. Mourofsame
Fantastic job between Kalou and louda. Louda just misses- 7th min
fantastic play being exhibited here.
43. Mourofsame
Great header from Piza from a great SWP cross. This is really promising. expansive football.
44. Mourofsame
Forsell just got a goal. Birm 1 up
45. Mourofsame
Pizaro—-Gooooooaaaaaalllllllllll
46. Mourofsame
SWP Piza combination bodes great for the season. SWP, if he continues at this rate, will put the right wing position in his pocket for the season.
47. Mourofsame
malouda—-Gooooooooaaallllllllllll- 30 min
48. Mourofsame
Super passing and slick combination leading to that goal…. mama miaaaaaa
49. Mourofsame
fantastic pass from Piza but Lamps misses a sitter
50. Mourofsame
2-2. lousy job from Glen
51. Mourofsame
BC, I don’t want to say I warned us. early days still but this guy is bad news
52. Mourofsame
referree has to be more strict. Birm is resorting to too many rough tactics.
53. Mourofsame
2-2, half time. how on earth coild this half end in a draw?
54. Mourofsame
Super ball from Piz to SWP- just misses. 47 m
55. Mourofsame
Essien—–gooooaaaaaaalllllllllllll- 49min
56. Mourofsame
Birm’s olivier kapo is a really great acquisition.
57. Mourofsame
for those who thought Kalou would be invisible this season, they had better think again. The guy is not looking bad at all.
58. Mourofsame
BC, can i modify my name? Can i now refer to myself as MourofEssien?
If cool, let me know so I officially do the switch. I want my new name to reflect the two guys who for me symbolize the spirit of Chelsea-Mourinho and Essien.
63 min, Drogs on for Piz
59. Mourofsame
68 min, Obi comes on for Essien
60. Blue Champion
MourofEssien! Please do. It’s your name!
I THING WE WILL WIN THE GAME.
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