Chelsea host Boro on a Sunday afternoon while Man Utd and Arsenal would have finished their matches on Saturday. We should win without much fuss, ahead of our mid-week trip to Turkey. How sweet would it be to see Villa win by a stoppage time penalty against Man Utd?

The big news is that the date for the Everton away match has been preponed from 19th April to 17th April. So we have to play Wigan and Everton in the space of 72 hours. Premier League has admitted that this is necessary for TV arrangements and this is not the first time they’re doing it, nor it would be the last. While this is not the most desirable situation, I don’t see too much of a reason to cry about it. In professional football, having to play matches on a Monday and Thursday of a week is hardly unusual. Everton had to play 5 matches in 14 days last month, but not for TV reasons that time. The sad part is Everton gets 2 days more than Chelsea to prepare for this match. The brighter part is we get 2 days more than Man Utd to prepare for the match against them. Taking everything into the equation, it would still be a negative development for Chelsea but not as much as it’s made out to be.

In team news, Petr Cech might be fit but I would not put him in the starting eleven for this match. Terry is also a doubt, so is Lampard. We are playing Boro at Stamford Bridge. So if anyone is not 100% fit, I don’t have to play them. Carlo can be on goal. Alex, Ricardo, Belletti and Bridge will be the back four. I want us to play and practice 4-4-2 as much as possible, given the striking talents at our disposal. In my midfield, I will have Mikel, Ballack, Essien and Malouda. Mikel should play. Of late, we have not seen him much. You might know that I’m a big fan of Mikel. The less I see the more I’m worried about his future. I want Mikel play a more certain role with longer stretch of games. I know Malouda has not been in the best of form but we should use him in these lesser matches otherwise we might be forced to play him in the bigger matches if there are injuries.

Joe Cole has been simply sensational this year. Even in the worst Chelsea performances this year, he has always shone well. He had a role to play in most of the Chelsea attacks in the recent matches. So much that I wondered where would our chances come from if he isn’t there. I want him rested for two reasons. One is he needs rest and we need him for important matches that are coming up. The other is I want to see how we play in his absence.

In attack, I want to see Anelka and Kalou pair up. I want Drogba very well rested and prepared for the match at Turkey. Kalou has actually been very good this season. He has not played too many matches but whenever he got his chances, he has been quite good, that is, when I compare with our other strikers. Oh I almost forgot . . I’d have Sheva in the bench and give him a good half to play.

I think it could be a cool 2-0 or something. Now don’t talk about their result against Arsenal. Wenger’s team have often failed against opponents who knew how to play them. Chelsea always plays with various styles in the same match. Always plays with plan B and plan C. Knows how get the result. Always played intelligent football as a team, thanks to the man who’s getting closer to a job at FC Internazionale. We will brush aside Boro at Stamford Bridge. Not trying to be arrogant, but I don’t see anything else happening on Sunday.

Be there at BC Shout for the Chelsea vs Middlesbrough live match chat!