Matches, Premier League - Written by BlueChampion on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:44 | 1,078 Views | 25 Comments | Add Comment
Reading vs Chelsea | 15-Aug-2008 @ 20:00 UK
Chelsea’s first away game of the season. Given a choice, no blue would have chosen Reading as their opponent for this occasion. It’s not that we are scared of their footballing genius or attacking might. We did not want so soon a flashback of the season-defining disasters last time we traveled to Madejski stadium, knowing that they continue their giant killing acts.
Reading still continues to ‘challenge’ the champions. Last season, it was Petr and Carlo in the space of 90 minutes and this season it was Rooney, who is now out for 2 months. There is a lot of negativity about the way they are directly or indirectly involved in such horrible injuries. I’m not saying that they do this purposefully but they just happen for (with) them. At least this would make them little apprehensive of their own behaviour against Chelsea. I really hope so.
Jose says this about the current injury situation:
The situation is the same we had in the last weekend, I have to make a decision about Essien, yes or no, maybe no, maybe yes but I have to make a decision. After that the picture is the same, Paulo [Ferreira] is back, so one more option. For the weekend a lot of people will be back, Makelele is training normal, Sheva is training normal. John Terry will start training normal tomorrow, so for the weekend only Bridge and Ballack definitely out because they come from surgeries.
Paulo is back, so Glen can take a quick walk, that is until Paulo gets nutmegged. The hot news is Daniel Alves. Sky Sports reports (safely based on some Spanish paper) that Chelsea has agreed a deal with Alves. More authentic than this news is that Alves was not part of the Sevilla’s champions league squad yesterday. That sounds nice. It all looks that it is only a matter of time before he becomes a blue.
I don’t think Jose would risk Essien for this match. Given that we have a fit and ready Mikel, I think we should protect and preserve Essien for the Liverpool match and make that match his 100th Chelsea appearance. On the right midfield, SWP should have the edge over Joe Cole, as he had a fantastic match against Birmingham. Surely there is a temptation of letting Sidwell play his ex-club, but that can happen in the second half.
In the attack, I’d start with Sheva and Drogba, and in the second half replace Sheva with Pizarro. Given Claudio’s brilliant debut, it would be a crime not to allow him any playing minutes. Alex is still not match-ready which makes Ben Haim a natural choice. There is a bunch who would like to see Tal as the right back, but I dont think it will happen for this match.
As regards how we approach this match, I think we should not lose the momentum that we set against Birmingham. Reading is a much better team than Birmingham and they’ve just drawn Man Utd at Old Trafford. With our current form (?) Reading would possibly repeat their ‘bus-park-goal’ technique to prevent us from running away with the match. But I believe this Chelsea team can unlock any defence as there is wide variety in Chelsea’s attacks - in the flanks, through the centre, long shots, set pieces - we are strong in all these areas. So, if one does not work, our players are intelligent enough to switch tactics and also succeed in that.
There is more proof than ever before, that I’m crap at fantasy league. In The Blue Champions Club, Torohi (not seen his name in bluechampions I guess) tops the table now and Mister Maysam is the runner-up (wish he could change his team title?!). Also there is this member who has anti-Chelsea name, well I dont mind as long as they are harmless and keep it under the acceptable level.
Generally, people who have made points have got it from Malouda, Gerrard, Martins, van Persie etc. Those who are at the bottom (well me including) have carefully chosen those players who would get injured so heavily that they won’t be back in August. Thanks to SquadGod, there is no such thing as relegation in their fantasy league.
BBC’s Lawro predicts that Chelsea will win 2-0 and Man Utd will draw again 1-1 with Portsmouth. If the Wednesday night’s results go this way, hip hip hurray!
P.S: For the dudes from India: Wish You A Happy Independence Day!
[tags]Chelsea, Reading, Madejski Stadium, Cech, Cudicini, Malouda, Gerrard, Martins, van Persie, Fantasy league, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Man Utd, Portsmouth, Essien, Daniel Alves, Sevilla[/tags]
25 Comments
1. gotta
2. Still Special
We should beat Reading with style and it’s better to kill them off in the first half in order to prevent any injury or damage to our squard. (These days ‘injury’ is one of the serious factors while watching the game)
hope to unlock Reading Rugby Club’s defense within the first 10 mins!
3. foreverblue
Il be happy to see all chelsea players going back to the dressing room on their own 2 feet dont want any injuries plus a victory in this match even 1-0 will do….
4. James
Hey guyz..alves signed for chelsea!!
5. James
thank u very much for the wishes..Happy indepndence day to indian fans!!
6. Jo
Alves poised to sign for chelsea!!!unfortunately…it may mean tt robben is going to RM…if this is the case….get quaresma,mourinho
7. SpecialOne
Might sound a little cocky, but this game has a feeling about a hat-trick for a Chelsea player. Hopefully it is Sheva or Pizarro. 4-0 win unless reading put 11 men behind the ball (keeper included) whereas it would probably be 1 or 2-0. Up the Chels eh!
8. MourofEssien
Chelsea have just officially denied the Alvez story. The Blues confirm interest tho.
9. SH.IBRAHIMI
0-1 or 0-2 ..
10. SH.IBRAHIMI
Yes we sign Alves for 21.5m plus 3m based on succes( 32m Euro) .. that’s what i heard
11. Nihongo Blue
i am looking forward to see sinclair getting a chance on eve of his new 4 yr contract. SWP is a definite starter may be later subbed by joe cole. i expect pizzarro to start again and score.
Reading will try to cut the supply and mid field has a daunting task ahead.hope to see a lampard typical long range goal.. We should play better on set pieces as they r gonna be crucial..
2-0 chelsea … pizzarro (header) lampard….
cheers
12. Nihongo Blue
while creating team on squadgod i realised manure r in deep shit with their strike force.. only fit striker (may not be match fit) is tevez.. pompey wont get a better chance than this…..
13. Nihongo Blue
what r u views on the tottenham disaster!!! money cant buy everything 
to early to say though…
14. Cashif
A midfield of Mikel and Joe Cole I wonder???
wishful thinking….
BC, i ENTERED MY TEAM A LITTLE LATE, WHAT HAPPENS?
15. wordlife999
happy independence day …. indian blues……
16. robben 16
i hope no one be ” killed ” agains reading !!
17. manishchandra
Guys, what’s going on Robben front…news says he is not ready to declare openly of his intention to move to Spain as demanded by Real….as a fan I have no idea whats goes behind the curtains but it is clear that Robben still has some hope to continue at Chelsea…now,is not it possible for management to accept his wage demands putting a clause which relates it to his appearances and performance…Terry was out for few months and is still out and still his demands were accepted then why not Robben’s…
Alves coming for 24.5m….if Chelsea keeps accepting such prices then there would be no end to these exorbitant demands…we need to show some resistance no matter how serious problem is though RB position is not that serious…when Terry comes Tel Baim can play as RB…
18. johnarejr
May the Reading Rugby Club be relegated to division 3! Chelsea 3 Reading 0.
19. Torohi
Love this blog- u usually talk too much sense so i don’t comment much.
Anywayz, i am so jealous of everyone who gets to watch EPL- just u wait till i get paytv foxtel by the end of this month.
Then i will start to form educated commonsense opinions like BC and i will go back to the relegation dogfight in squadgod where i belong lol
20. Adonis
Well done, Torohi… You’re doing quite well.
BC, don’t worry, I’m not brilliant at the squadgod thing either. I’m trying to change to a 4-4-2, but it’s not working. I don’t know…
I am hoping to see Shevchenko play well. He had a couple of good games in preseason, but is yet to score. I love the guy and wish him the best, may he have a hat-trick today 
But seriously, I say we win 2-0, Terry and Malouda to score.
21. manishchandra
Is Terry playing today….if yes then try Tel Baim as RB….
Sidwell in place of Lampard….
22. stimpej
is this match televised anywhere, cos i checked but it all seems to be european qualifiers
23. Anonymous
Chelsea Tv will telecast it for sure. Adonis, I don’t think Mour will risk Terry tonight. Anfield is the theathre where he will emerge. You do not change a winning team, do you, unless injury forces changes? So Glen out for Paolo. essien cedes space for Mikel, lamps rested for Siddy.
So am looking at
————————————–Cech———————————————
Paolo————————-Riccy———————-Haim———–A.Cole—-
———————Mikel——————————Sidwel————————
SWP————————————————————————-Malouda
—————————————–Pizarro————————————
—————————————————–Kalou——————————–
Drogba is rested again till second half cos we need him fully fit for the Anfield Battle, same for Lamps.
24. MourofEssien
Oooopssss, that was me @23. By the way guys, let anyone who has access to the net while watching, give us some periodic reports, in case most of the networks do not show it.
25. zubinj9
————————————–Cech———————————————
Paolo————————-Riccy———————-Haim———–A.Cole—-
———————Sidwel——————————Lampsl————————
J.cole————————————————————————-Malouda
—————————————–Pizarro————————————
—————————————————–sheva—————————
i choosed lamps coz its a prediction…tat the special one will make today…
but if i was the man…mikel would replace lamps for sure….
we gotta beat them. we gotta thump them. 3-0 for us is what i want. malouda, drogba and lampard. let’s show the reds how to do it. cmon bluesssss!
| | Add Comment | Go To Top | Back To Home | Gravatar | BC Shout | BBC Radio | Refresh |