Matches - Written by BlueChampion on Saturday, September 27, 2008 6:01 | 990 Views | 30 Comments | Add Comment
Stoke City vs Chelsea | 27-Sep-08 @ 15:00 UK
Stoke City is not your regular newly-promoted-but-going-down relegation battler. They can give you a good fight. They have scored in every single match this season except the one goalless draw at Anfield, which was still a great result. Especially at home, they have scored 5 goals in two games. On current form though, of both teams, Stoke City might have very little hope. They must be thinking ‘we drew at Anfield, so why not against Chelsea’ but they should also know Chelsea are a different animal.
Chelsea have only let three goals so far in the premier league. One lucky drop at Bent’s feet, one deflected free kick by Robinho and one by Man Utd. Now Stoke should know what it takes to score against Chelsea. On the attacking side, Chelsea has been full of goals this season - 18 goals in 7 games so far in all competitions. We are the team in form. Stoke manager Tony Pulis knows this:
As a manager you are always looking for chinks in the armour of your opponents, but Chelsea have all the answers to all the questions you could pose. The pace and power of their team is phenomenal and when you add technical ability in abundance, you know you face one hell of a task. They’ve got bags of goals from midfield, full-backs who bomb forward and cause problems, and also someone like Joe Cole who can drop off and open you up.
In team news, we might miss Joe Cole due to a niggle. It’s good that he gets a break and we get a break from him. Let’s see who takes his place and if his contribution is more than that of Joe Cole. I would play 4-1-4-1. My choice would be Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Belletti, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Kalou and Malouda where Belletti is the defensive midfielder, Mikel is a regular centre midfielder and Kalou is the lone striker. Most probably Scolari would play 4-3-3 with Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Ballack, Kalou, Anelka and Malouda. I don’t want to see Anelka starting but Felipao would most probably start with him. Before I wind up, there are some interesting non-match news.
UEFA Cup will be UEFA Europa Cup from next season. This is much wanted facelift for this competition which does not have the glitter of the champions league. Though the major difference is because of the difference in quality of the teams that participate in these tournaments, UEFA Cup needed a better marketing strategy to make this more attractive. Now it’s got a better name, a new logo and more teams in the competition. With improved competition in every league, the Europa Cup is bound to get more exciting.
Check out this interview by Didier Drogba in the club website. This is the longest ever interview I have seen from Drogba. He talks about various things - his indifferent feeling when he joined Chelsea, his relationship with Mourinho, JM’s leaving and its impact on him, his injuries, the champions league final, his stupid red card there - everything you wanted to hear from him.
To win titles you need a leader and the leader has to be the manager because the teams always follow him. Mourinho, Ranieri, Gullit, Chelsea always had a leader, that’s what we have now and we are back on our winning track.
It’s quite obvious that he does not even utter ‘Avram Grant’ all through his interview. Sometimes, as they say, silence speaks more than words. He talks about the leadership of Mourinho and Scolari and conveniently misses that old man who managed Chelsea between Mourinho and Scolari. This whole interview is ahead of the book release “Didier Drogba: The Autobiography”. Perhaps I’ll release my own autobiography. What have I achieved to deserve one? May be, nothing much, but how does it matter?
Back to weekend fixtures. Liverpool at Goodison park could be a great match. Expect pool to drop points. Arsenal take on another bottom of the bottom half team as they host Hull. I know Hull have been sensational so far but we need to see how they perform in these difficult away fixtures against top half teams. In our match, I would predict a 3-1 win. I don’t think we would keep a cleansheet. Strangely, I’m no longer very confident of our ability to keep cleansheets. It’s ok for now as long as we score three goals. So, 3-1 it is!
30 Comments
1. Chaka
2. chelsea4life
LOLOL..Drogba back to his usual self…giving reasons for his stay…fact is that no club was ready to hire him due to his tantrums and attitude….Chelsea had a leader blah blah blah….after trying unsuccessfully to exit he must be grounded now and realize the reality that no one wants selfish players….
3. Nihongo Blue
stoke city have a good weapon - delap . His long throws are as good as any set piece in dangerous position.
look out for him…
last season we were good away from home in most matches baring a few where some sillly errors cost us the league title … hope it extends to this season as well .. win at man city and wigan already which most teams will find difficult. just dont loose points against the minnows
up the chels!!!
4. xerxesk
let Ferreira and Ivanovic start instead of Terry and Boswing, let them rest for more difficult games. Di Santo must be on the bench.
5. Jo
bosingwa and terry won;t be rested for today’s match…they were already rested in the portsmouth match….the squad will be like this
———————–cech—————————-
bosingwa—-alex——–terry—–acole—————-
—————–mikel———————–
———ballack———–lampard———–
—kalou——–drogba——-malouda——–
subs:cudicini,belleti,ivanovic,anelka,sinclair
i hope di santo will be on the bench instead of anelka though….and paim to make it in the bench too
6. BuildChelsea
@4. xerxesk ……….No need……i wouldn’t underestimate Stoke ,especially on their home turf…..i would go with our regular defensive line….Don’t want to give away silly goals due to defensive errors….Di Santo should get a little more playing time at the expense of Anelka ….
7. k/drogba
———————–cech—————————-
bosingwa—-alex——–terry—–acole—————-
—————–mikel———————–
———ballack———–lampard———–
—kalou——–drogba——-Anelka——–
subs:cudicini,belleti,ivanovic,malouda,sinclair
Stoke City vs Chelsea
0-3
8. vovka
“It’s quite obvious that he does not even utter ‘Avram Grant’ all through his interview. Sometimes, as they say, silence speaks more than words.”
well, Drogba said it in the interview above: “I think we lost a little bit during a certain period because some managers have more personality than the others.” 
9. Blues_Godson
i want to see young players used for this match…..i dont see them beating us in anyway….and way to go didier…we all knew avram wasn’t a great leader
10. Arthur
Quoting chelsea4life @ 51574
LOLOL..Drogba back to his usual self…giving reasons for his stay…fact is that no club was ready to hire him due to his tantrums and attitude….Chelsea had a leader blah blah blah….after trying unsuccessfully to exit he must be grounded now and realize the reality that no one wants selfish players….
Do you watch football? All strikers are selfish. They have to be. That’s an important quality, if they have the ability. But Drogba is one of the most unselfish strikers. He sets up so much and assists so much. He’s so great that some little stupid brat cannot belittle him.
11. owonatty
I am really surprised with the starting lineup today. It will be a good match and I am looking forward to see how stoke back four will cope with kalou, anelka and drogba. I cant wait to see another away 4-0
Chelsea are expected to line up in a 4-1-4-1 formation as follows:
1 Petr Cech
17 José Bosingwa
33 Alex
26 John Terry (c)
3 Ashley Cole
12 John Mikel Obi
21 Salomon Kalou
13 Michael Ballack
8 Frank Lampard
15 Florent Malouda
39 Nicolas Anelka
Substitutes: 40 Hilario, 2 Branislav Ivanovic, 19 Paulo Ferreira, 18 Wayne Bridge, 35 Juliano Belletti, 16 Scott Sinclair, 39 Nicolas Anelka.
12. owonatty
there is mistake in the lineup as Anelka is on the list and on bench. But realistically on the bench. I think typographical error
13. bluez!!
claudio pizarro zcore again!!
14. CJ - 16yrs Blues Fan
Another victory, another 3-points, we lead again….. for now….. C’mon HULL….U CAN DO IT!!!!
Well 2-0 is a good results for an away game against a battling Stokers.
I was not celebrating when Anelka scored (gifted by a rare Stoke defensive error) as this means that Anelka will be there in lineup again… he does not deserve a place in Chelsea… and he certainly did not show the passion for wearing Chelsea’s jersey, some may disagree but I’m sure most will feel the same….
Another great display from Mikel…. he is getting so agile and compose for a man of his age…. great play!
C’mon Scolari…. play the youngsters!!!!
15. Blues_Godson
we won the match…am happy
we didn’t give young platers chance….not happy
16. Pensioner
Well done Chelsea.
17. BAMBOO
aahha Arsenal - Hull 1-2
18. CJ - 16yrs Blues Fan
My, my….. I’m impressed with Hull, they played like the home team in Emirates… shockers. They are so organized in their defense and their closing downs…. very impressive… I honestly think that we need to get our key players back in full force before we face them, big credit to them…. Arsenal did not play badly at all.
Well we are top of the table and we are staying…. lets keep it this way!!!
19. owonatty
Arsenal lost 2-1 to Hull city.
20. CFCIR
GREAT JOB BY HULL CITY. IT IS GOOD THAT WE ARE TOP OF THE TABLE.
21. moyo
lol… I watched the arsenal game with two arsenal fans and they almost lynched me; I screamed so badly when Geovanni scored that cracker and the second goal was a priceless header.
Anyway, i am glad we got the 3 points and that is what really matters anyway. I still don’t believe in Anelka as a quality chelsea player… He should be in Liverpool or Arsenal. I was really impressed with boingwa, ashley cole and mikel. Mikel saved us at some point when he headed off the line and he almost had an assist when he made a perfect cross to lampard only for lampard to waste the chance. I believe Kalou should have played in the second half and not on the bench.
All in all, i’m glad we won and arsenal lost.
PS: C Ronaldo scored another penalty; that cocksucker.
22. johnarejr
A great result made better thanks to Hull. But, this would have been the perfect match to play the youngsters.
23. Nick
Despite Anelka being the villain for us so many times, he’s actually our top scorer this season. How ironic.
24. cancorus
Good match but not one remember, everyone played ok not really exceptional, one good thing about today was that arsenal lost, I am absolutely delighted.
25. mcurto
Quoting Jo @ 51583
i hope di santo will be on the bench instead of anelka though….and paim to make it in the bench too
Paim is not ready and wont be for some time, hes not even starting in reserves.
BTW: Next (reserves) game is “Tuesday (September 30) with a 7pm kick-off.” Does anyone know if this game is aired in any other channel besides ChelseaTV?Would like to check on the kids.
26. Chaka
ManU won via a C.Ronaldo dive.I guess the Ref is a ManU fan if not he wouldn’t have awarded ManU that Pen.Infact,its like all English Refs are ManU fans.Anyway,glad to see us back at the top of the table.The boys did well today except for some disjointed pass from Lampy and Ballack in the first half.Its like Lampy wasnt on form today.
27. macooz
Please release a book, “My blue team, in the view from stamford bridge”
i’ll buy it! 
28. Chaka
BC whats taking you time.Are you too drunk to post a match report for the Stoke-Chelsea game?On Tuesday our boys will be travelling to Transylvania,the land of count Dracula.They should be careful dont want them coming back with two pores hanging at the side of their necks.
29. Nihongo Blue
BC isnt a superman chaka. have patience !!
30. blabliblublu
all anelka haters out there rejoice………….
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/09/27/chelsea-boss-luiz-felipe-scolari-warns-nicolas-anelka-he-could-be-on-the-way-out-115875-20755658/
“It’s good that he[J.Cole] gets a break and we get a break from him”-CLASSIC LINE.Afterall Joey is no Essien or Ricky or Drogba whose injury should worry us.
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