FA Cup, Matches - Written by BlueChampion on Friday, January 25, 2008 10:36 | 924 Views | 32 Comments | Add Comment
Wigan vs Chelsea | 26-Jan-08 @ 17:15 UK
We will get to see the electric yellow jersey again as Chelsea gear up for the FA Cup fourth round against Wigan. For many seasons now, the hallmark of Chelsea’s progress in any competition has been the way they brush aside smaller oppositions. While Wigan can fancy an upset against other big teams, Chelsea would just get the job done with some ease.
I hope Avram considers FA Cup important in contrast to his views about League Cup. Avram earlier said that ‘Carling Cup is not his priority’. I don’t like when managers undermine any cup or competition. To feel so is one thing and to announce it is another. If Grant feels it is not so important for him, I wonder why he does not play the reserve team players like Arsene, who also feels the same way as Grant about this cup. I would like to respect every competition or at least not insult any competition in public even if it means nothing to me. I wonder what Grant would be saying about Community Shield!
Update: Here is Avram Grant’s clarification of his earlier statement on League Cup.
Peter Kenyon passes on his compliments to the team spirit, after the team progressed to the League Cup finals.
What a great achievement. Going to Wembley is always special but I think given what we’ve gone through, it’s extra special. The players that have performed, the players that have come into the squad, I think have just excelled and that tells you the strength we’ve got at Chelsea and what a great spirit. We’ve seen the Chelsea spirit many times in the last four years but I think this season it’s come to the fore. I think it would have been too easy this year for everybody to talk down where we are because of the players we’re missing and I think that’s a great achievement for the players, for the management and for Chelsea as a whole because I think that makes tonight’s victory just that bit more special. I think we can go wherever we want because I think the spirit’s there, clearly the team spirit’s there, and the quality of players. We’ve got real quality in depth and that’s come through tonight.
This piece from Peter Kenyon said about the League Cup win against Everton applies to the Chelsea spirit in every competition, not just the League Cup. The team is hungry to win, very hungry to win, they hate to lose, they have this fire in their belly for achieving the common goal.
It is now confirmed that Chelsea has indeed signed Franco di Santo (don’t miss the video!). It is strange that the signing of Franco has given me more joy and excitement that any of Jose Mourinho’s signings. To say that I’m extremely excited about Franco would be an understatement. I’d love to see him on the pitch as early as tomorrow.
On the squad available for this match, there are no new injuries. We would be missing the African Cup lot and the known ones like Terry, Lampard and Shevchenko. Avram is just waiting to see if Ballack can be played tomorrow. I hope he plays.
I would expect Avram to field the same set of 16 players as he did for the Everton match. Ashley Cole might play for Bridge, Ballack can come in to replace Sidwell and the rest may not change.
I won’t be overly concerned about this match for three reasons. Firstly we have this habit of dismissing the smaller opponents without breaking a sweat. Secondly, Wigan are on a free fall though the cups are different thing. Finally, at worst we would get a draw which means a replay at Stamford Bridge. I don’t adding more matches to the already congested fixture schedule would help with our squad’s injury status. But I’ll take it, if there is no other go.
We have scored 30 points more than Wigan in the same number of matches. That shows the gulf between these two teams. It should be atleast a 0-2 with no trouble at all. And hey, there is something new to disagree! Have a look at the UEFA team of the year 2007!
32 Comments
1. True Blue Fusion
2. True Blue Fusion
http://tinyurl.com/3br6pb
“Sometimes, I think my English does not come across very well,” he said. “When I remarked that it was not the major competition we compete for, I was not belittling it. You must ask Arsenal and Manchester United what they think of it, but I can assure you I take it seriously. I want to win every game, even a friendly, and we will go to Wembley with the intention of lifting the trophy.
that is what he has to say about carling cup
3. blue_victoryAUS
I don’t see how you can constantly get berated about little snarling remarks that Avram makes in his press conferences when you do the same in your blog “I don’t like when managers undermine any cup or competition”.
Anyhow we should dispose of Wigan with ease and I hope to see Anelka score his first as a Blue Boy.
4. bestboyvijay
hello all
really hope the chelsea juggernaut rolls on over wigan. we had a tough opening game last season at the JJB so hope we dont leave it till the last. Just pray the rub of the green goes our way.
hey did u all note the comments made by SAF? he says that if the board backs the manager then he can do wonders. Now i understand the secret behind AG success(a least a part of this success). he had peace of hind and could concentrate on football rather than non footballing matters….
i really pity JM in the previous saeson. he looked drained and stretched and lost a bit of spark he had in the first two seasons…hey wait a minute…i am unknowingly being draggged into a AG vs JM debate againnnnn…..phew
coming back to foot ball i feel we might come up with a creative 4-4-2 intead of a predictable 4-3-3. hope we have pizz and anelka upfront. how about rattling them even before they wake up. hit them hard in the beginning and make sure they dont recover. hope some AW rubs off AG as arsenal really get off the blocks very fast. waiting to see a creative game from chelsea as we have not seen it since the win over Man city. go blues goooooooo
5. k.drogba
———————-Cech———————–
Belleti——–Alex—–Carvaliho——A.Cole
———————-Makelele—————–
Cole——Ballack–Sidwell———Malouda
———————-Anelka———————
6. Siddharth
Chelsea Fc website has officially confirmed the signing of Santos. Hope he proves successful with us.
Anyway, about Wigan match, we should comfortably win it.
7. bluewinner
BC, did you get the latest email I sent you?
8. CaLiFoRNiCaTiOn
i want to make my point to come across to everybody.
ANELKA…is not any better than Pizarro…
ANelKa doesn’t even smile when he plays, I DONT THINK HE CAN BE A CHELSEA PLAYER>..
we already got 5 strikers….
DROGBA IS LEAVING>>>> IN MAY >>>>
either AC MILAN OR BARCELONA>>>>
he is leaving us … we should not let him use the captain bracalet anymore !!!
amen
9. BlueFan nr:1
franco di santo!! he is taller than balack and he is fast. chelsea is going back to normal, after mourinhos exit things was bit shaky but now im loving every minute. this year we are taking 4 trophies baby. avram isnt that bad when u think about it. i just hate when he talks about pretty fotball and longballs.he makes weird changes to. + he is very ugly. but else his good. i only care about the wins and thats wath he is bringing so far.
10. yeahh xD!!
———————-Cech———————–
Belleti——–Alex—–Carvaliho——A.Cole
———————-Makelele—————–
pizarro——Ballack–Sidwell———j.cole
———————-Anelka———————
i think tomorrow is claudio pizarro ’s day (i dont know what happened with malouda , he loses the ball quickly and does not support the striker ..)
11. bella
best boy:
“hey did u all note the comments made by SAF? he says that if the board backs the manager then he can do wonders. Now i understand the secret behind AG success(a least a part of this success). he had peace of hind and could concentrate on football rather than non footballing matters….
i really pity JM in the previous saeson. he looked drained and stretched and lost a bit of spark he had in the first two seasons…hey wait a minute…i am unknowingly being draggged into a AG vs JM debate againnnnn…..phew”
Yes you are being dragged into the AG v JM debate by saying that! But I agree, Mourinho looked tired and frazzled at the end and much of that I think was down to the lack of support he felt he had from the board. Grant looks happy, rested and calm and equally part of that is because he has the total faith and backing of the entire board to do his job - BIG DIFFERENCE.
Now Wigan, no shock result, a clinical, professional win for us over lower opposition is on the cards. I will miss the game more than likely but I expect another comfortable win on the cards for Avram.
12. denver
hey guys why is AG not using Ben Sahar? i think he is a really good player! he should get a chance in our up coming matches! for example against Wigan, FA cup matches and even the Carling cup finals. along with Sinclair….. and also Di santos!!
what do u guys think??
13. Michael
Sahar does seem to show a lot of promise. Twice I’ve been left with my jaw on the floor at his burst/acceleration. I hadn’t seen a Chelsea player with his sort of explosive turn of pace in quite some time.
Perhaps he will develop into a real gem. I’d give him a run-out as a sub when the defenses are getting tired and he could exploit them with his speed.
14. BlueChampion
TBF @ 2 - It is very nice of Grant that he came out to clarify what he said about Carling Cup. He certainly had to do it. I saw him say this in a TV interview and thought he made it pretty clear that Carling Cup is not important. And then he went on to field the best possible line up. Now I’m more than happy that he’s gone back and clarified his statements.
15. BlueChampion
BlueWinner @ 7 - I did not get any email from you!!
16. used2gonwatchcfc
Had Chelsea lost the match and been kicked out, he had an excuse,
hence the reason he said that before the match.
As Chelsea won and gone through to the final all of sudden the CC is important,
the next chant in the terraces will be ” YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU SAYING”.
LOL
17. used2gonwatchcfc
re Wigan I feel sorry for them another great win for chelsea against a top team .
Wigan will not have a chance in hell, besides the sooner they get out of the cup the more time their players have to concentrate and fight relegation, less matches to worry about.
I should think a 2-0 to chelsea is my prediction.
18. UEFA Team Of The Year 2007 | Blue Champions - Chelsea Fan Blog
[...] year is usually made up of 11 players and 1 coach. This has been an annual UEFA feature since 2001. Chelsea had no representation in the lists from 2001 to 2003. In 2004, we got two spots (Ricardo Carvalho, [...]
19. Ashton
@ 17
Completely agree mate! Grant said that Carling cup is unimportant, just to insure himself against a defeat to Everton. After we won, it has become important again. Did you see Peter Kenyon’s comments. It is very obvious that he himself does not give any credit to Grant. Read his comment again. Team spirit and quality of players - the only two things that stand out in Chelsea’s performance!!
On today’s match, we should win 3-0. Wigan are a pushover, nothing more, nothing less. Even Landzaat is not there for them. He’s gone to Feyenoord.
usetogonwatchcfc - mate, it would be lot easier for all of us if you get yourself a simpler nick!! lol!
20. Den
for chelsea every trophy is imprtant and exery trophy we will go all out to win
21. Den
i waqnna see something like this
—————Cudicini—————-
–ferriera–Ben-Haim–Carvalho–Bridge
————–Sidwell—Ballack———–
—-Cole————————-Sinclair
————-Di Santo–Sahar———
Belletti is suspended
22. Blues_Godson
I HOPE WE BRUSH ASIDE WIGAN WITH NO PROBLEM…….MY MIND IS NOT AT REST BECAUSE WE ARE NOT THAT GOOD IN THE LAST MATCH….I DONT KNOW WHY WE CANT PLAY CONSISTENT GOOD FOOTBALL AND I DONT KNOW WHY WE SHOULDN’T BE GIVING THE YOUNG BOYS A CHANCE…..
WE’VE FINALLY BOUGHT DI SANTO BUT I AM SURE IT WOULD TAKE AGES BEFORE HE STARTS FOR US…EVEN SAHAR IS NOT PLAYING..FOR NO REASON…
23. Torohi
@ Californication
Although im in agreeance with u over drogba, i seriously doubt anyone else other than u would believe that pizarro is the equal of anelka!
There is serious talent (and not just attitude) behind the fact that anelka has cost the most in transfer fees of all players in history!
Anelka has a lot more pace, is more creative and never loses posession cause he has quick tricky feet. Pizarro is only better in the aerial department perhaps.
So looking forward to seeing Santo play- hopefully will become a class target man for us.
KTBFFH!
24. used2gonwatchcfc
@Ashton
Ok Ashton from now on I willbe called
AGfriend.
The guy wants to marry me .
25. Mister
lol AGFriend! Why haven’t you changed your nick yet?? C’mon that nick suits superbly. Change it right away!!
26. Ashton
Small correction to what I had said earlier. Landzaat has gone to AZ and not Feyenoord.
AGFriend - Very well done. I like that!
27. israeli
Ballack’s day
4-0
today we Exploed
28. Mister
Chelsea play 4-3-2-1
1 Petr Cech
35 Juliano Belletti
33 Alex
6 Ricardo Carvalho
18 Wayne Bridge
24 Shaun Wright-Phillips
4 Claude Makelele (c)
9 Steve Sidwell
10 Joe Cole
39 Nicolas Anelka
15 Florent Malouda
Chelsea’s subs are 23 Carlo Cudicini, 20 Paulo Ferreira, 22 Tal Ben-Haim, 17 Scott Sinclair, 14 Claudio Pizarro.
29. Mister
As I type Joe Cole squanders a chance!! Should have done better!
30. Crew
i’m tired seeing chelsea being second best to a weaker team. this is shocking display by chelsea. you know how many shots we had on goal in the first half - ZEROOO. Wigan is finding it easy.
c’mon guys! step on the gas, move up a couple of gears! we should be winning 3-0 or 4-0!!!
31. Johnarejr
Is that a pitch or potato field? American stadiums have better conditions than that. No wonder Cole missed. Carvallho and Bridge have defended well. But, Chelsea has to make a productive attack no matter how many potatoes they stumble on–I mean no matter how bad the pitch is.
32. Crew
you’re right johnarejr. chelsea has not made any productive attacks and i wont blame the pitch. we need to play better. that’s it. wigan has more desire to win this match than chelsea. that’s annoying to see. normally chelsea would give its 200% while i could see us giving only 50%.
http://tinyurl.com/3ey4vu
| | Add Comment | Go To Top | Back To Home | Gravatar | BC Shout | BBC Radio | Refresh |