Our home form sucks. That’s not just our opinion but that seems to be the official line as well. Even the boss and the players have admitted on our home woes. The last time we won a home league match was on Nov 1, 2008.
Over the last few weeks, right here in this blog, we have spoken at lengths on what’s going wrong, what needs to be done and how do we secure a home win. After we secure a home win, we need to start winning more often at home, and then probably make an unbeaten run at home, and probably in some seasons, we need to break our own home league record of 86 matches. So, that’s how far it is. For now, we’ve got West Brom who might come here with a ‘single-point’ programme.
If Scolari wants to turnaround the home form, there is no better team to play that West Brom. They are lying at the bottom of the league and they are the odds-on favourite to get relegated this season. On paper, you can call this a matchup between the best attack and the worst defence (except Blackburn). Our goal difference is a +29 and that of West Brom is -19. We should not have any trouble in dispatching this West Brom team. No matter which team we select, no matter who are in the bench, no matter what tactic we play, this is a three pointer.
Finally, Didier Drogba would make his first start of the season today. Scolari makes it sound like he is fit to start only today. That’s allright. I don’t expect him to say ‘I screwed up and now I’ve learnt my lesson’. Drogba starting in match does not guaranteee a goal from him, but the way I see it, certainly almost guarantees a goal for Chelsea. Because, even if he doesn’t score, he can set up attacks, assist Anelka or Lampard, draw some defenders and more importantly trouble the defenders and goalkeeper.
There is no John Terry today as he serves the first of his three match suspension due to that red card. There was a lot of discussion around that decision. I hate Phil Dowd. I just hate the sight of him on the football pitch. That aside, I thought it was a red card. No way was it a yellow. John Terry erred and Phil Dowd didn’t. Carvalho might make a return after all, probably a short appearance. With Scolari hinting that he would start Drogba, I’m very keen to see which formation he would play. You suckers, you made him drop his beloved 4-1-4-1. Now he needs to play a 4-4-2 or 4-4-2 diamond or a 4-1-3-2. I’m assuming here that Anelka starts. If Scolari is particular about the ‘players in the middle’, Anelka could find himself in the bench. Why are we even talking about the team here? No matter what, we simply gotta win!
I think we should win 3-0 or something. Much has been said and writted about our awful home form. This is a wonderful opportunity to turn around our home form, stop the wagging tongues (me) and silence the critics (me, me!). I feel sorry for West Brom that they need to be at the receiving end of a possible Chelsea onslaught.
What if . . . what if . . . we draw again? Fcuk it . . we’re winning 3-0.
Scolari and Deco
Go out of Chelsea,,, Please
Hahaha….another simple yet awesome post BC. Finally, Big Phils gonna play Didi from the beginning, cant wait for that. One thing we gotta be wary of is West Brom will park the bus, we need to somehow disfigure their defence (instead of it being concentrated near the D) and rattle through the goal, scoring plenty to boost confidence.
That said, i think we can have a deadly formation with Didi and Anelka in it together:
Cech
Bosingwa————-Ivanovic (now on fr Terry)——Alex (until Riccys back)———-A Cole
—————————————Mikel—————————————————
J.Cole—————————-Lampard—————————————- Deco
———————————-Drogba—————————————————-
—————————————-Anelka———————————————–
I love Ballack, but going by his recent form and scolari’s love for Deco, i dont think hes gonna make it in the starting XI, sub on hopefully
Wasnt drogbas first start against Stoke city away? Anyways I wouldnt be too sure of a victory, way things are going now theres no ruling out a 1-1 draw or 0-0.
====Cech=====
=Bosingwa=Alex=Ivanovic=A.Cole=
=Lampard=Mikel=Deco=J.Cole=
==Anelka==Drogba==
My pick:
4-1-2-1-2
Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Ivanovic, A Cole; Mikel; Ballack, J Cole; Lampard(c); Anelka, Drogba
-> Deco replaces whoever out of Ballack or J Cole who isn’t performing at 60 mins
-> Belletti brought in to replace an attacking player if we’re in the lead at 70 mins
-> Carvalho gets a run-out in the final 10 mins, replacing Ivanovic
Drogba starting may not garuntee a goal from him. But no one will bet against him either scoring or assisting someone else. Beating West Brom may not be much to brag about. But, if Bolton gets the 3 points from Liverpool, this match becomes very significant.
Chelsea 3-0 over Brom sounds good to me.
gd move scolari…u start drogba and drop deco…we shalll see during the match if u r a gd tactician
Great start!
1. Phil drops Deco
2. Phil plays 4-3-3
3. Phil starts Drogba and Anelka
I’m quite pleased with these things so far. Why don’t we play 4-4-2?? Why can’t we get the best out of both Drogba and Scolari? What is the need to play anyone out of position? Anelka certainly does not relish playing wide left!
Now, if things don’t go well, I now expect him realise that early enough and make timely and effective subs. May be we don’t have to see Deco on the pitch today. Don’t please bring him on for Mikel or Ballack. No.
up blues… 1:0..
Not a bad start at all! Drogs in 4 minutes. Lamps in extra. But, they just didn’t capitalize on all the time in between. Should be at least 2 more goals in the second half.
a.cole should have finished it better, or passed it off to anelka for the tap in.
J.cole is creating alot of space and drogba is doing most of the striker work with anelka down the left doing very little in terms of striking. Alex and ivanovic just dont give the same assurance as carvalho+terry but still better then others teams first team defenders. Mikel is a rock.
Surely now, Phil must understand why so many of us want Drogs to start. Even in the second half he fought well for another goal. As he was removed, so was much of the scoring threat. I won’t bash Phil for pulling him out though. It wasn’t like Brom was going to get anything going offensively. Alex and Ivonavich did a fine job today. Praying for a Bolton victory.
so Mr LFS, it wasn´t difficult to change was it?
We must better in finishing.I hope keep this way going and going.pray for liverpool draw.
Not an amazing performance by Chelsea but there were certainly few bright things that hasn’t seen in the previous games. The Fulham game coming up in couple of days, there was no need to score a whole bunch of goals.
Drogba started his first PL game and scored a very important goal in the opening four minutes which gave the players a breathing space.
Finally, Lampard scored. I am glad he did. I was a bit worried about his scoring form recently. He made such a lot of forward runs in the first half and truly deserved a goal. It will surely lift his confidence up and his form in the second half of the season will make a big difference for Chelsea. If he continues his hot form, we have a decent chance of winning a PL. It might sound ridiculous knowing that we have a pretty big squad but I really think Lampard could make a really big difference for us as he has always been.
Scolari changes his favored 4-1-4-1 formation to 4-3-3. I just hope he saw the difference and weakness of 4-3-3. It looked like Anelka played on the wide left hand in which he never seems comfortable. If Scolari is to continue to play the 4-3-3, he should sell Anelka and buy a decent left footed winger, someone like Ashley Young. There is no need of playing Anelka on that position which would be a big mistake and waste.
If Scolari sees Anelka as someone that fits in his plan, he must play 4-4-2. It is the only one he could get the best out of Anelka. Drog always plays better with supporting striker.
———————–Cech———————–
—-Bosingwa—-Carvalho—-Terry—-A.Cole—-
—-J.Cole—–Mikel—–Lampard—-Malouda—
—————-Anelka—–Drogba—————-
This is my 4-4-2. I am not quite comfortable with Malouda. He is a natural winger. I also can’t see Deco or Ballack playing on the right midfield.
Credit to Ivanovic and Alex. Both had a fine game.
I think Ashley Cole was an outstanding today. He is the man of the match.
3:0 for liverpool,fuck
you can play 433 with 2 strikers, brazil used to do it.
the trick is that its really a slanted 442 with 1 fullback doing more of an attacking role to provide width.
Slowly thats whats been happening anyway with bosingwa having much more license to attack then a.cole.
maybe having lampard–mikel–ballack in centre, with j.cole or malouda playing a wing role down the left and anelka playing a more central role down the right with drogba in the middle might work, but as it stands the current chelsea has a lot of dead weight due to the quick succession of manager changes with some players not really fitting into scolari’s style. I still think chelsea can challenge for the 1st place position but it will be a difficult attempt with liverpool improving and manU hitting their stride slowly.
Im of the opinion that j.cole should probably not get so many starts because his impact is much more in the end of the game where he can use his tricks and technique to open up play as he doesnt have the speed required to beat his man easily.
Malouda should get more game starts because he does quite a bit down the wings that opens up play and is a good crosser/passer of the ball. Deco i think looks tired because he isnt as used to the high amounts of speed in the english game as well as the fact that there is no christmas break, expect a couple of changes in the next games with maybe if we are winning sinclair and stoch featuring as subs.
Good win, but could have been a lot better, Im not being negative but did someone else catch Lampard and Drogba missing 2 clear cut chances that could of earned them both a hatrick?? … Positive news is that Scolari would not have decided to play this formation if we weren’t playin WBA. But now he can clearly see the results and hopefully he can implement on them and learn how to get the best out of everyone. I personally think Drogba should have been replayed by Kalou, we have been playing him as a winger when Kalou is a striker and if we play him in his natural position more often in a 4.4.2 or 4.3.3 by replacing either Drogba or Anelka with him then I think we can see Kalou coming into his own. Good game, the result could of been 7-0 lol but atleast were trying something new now. Liverpool win regain the top position from the looks of it, but oh well. C’mon you blues!! Chelsea4Lyf
blue-mates
I se we won the game. I didnt watch the game (had practice). anyways hope it was a nice one! Its all about the “W” ppl, yea baby
aite stay well, now its fullhams turn to get schooled
am out
ps. were can I se highlights of the game? anyone a link? tx in advance ds