That’s a near perfect weekend. For once, I saw Man Utd slip in the race and Chelsea taking advantage of the same. I love the Man Utd result thoroughly. Look at the scene – Rooney in the form of his life, Man Utd are trailing the leaders by just one point, Everton have just beaten Chelsea, Everton are missing Cahill, Arteta and Fellaini and the match is at Goodison Park. It was a cracker of a match with a fantastic result from a Chelsea point of view. Man Utd were hit not just by the result, also by their shabby performance. Their performance so poor that it must raise doubts in the minds of fans, players and the manager on their title credentials this year. But they have a group of strong individuals so I’d never take them lightly. But certainly, this is an important day of this season. Just 11 matches to go and both Man Utd and Chelsea have some high-profile encounters still left in the run.
Chelsea’s performance was just enough for the 2-0 result. With the important champions league match up mid-week, I expected Chelsea to come up only with a performance good enough to get three points. That’s exactly what they did. The scoreline doesn’t tell you how many chances Wolves had and how close they were to lead or equalise. When Petr Cech produces a man of the match performance against Wolves, we certainly haven’t had our best performance as a team. Anyway, we’ve been playing too many matches in quick succession plus we’ve been going through some bad press plus we have to play Jose’ Inter in the mid-week. These are good enough reasons to produce a not-so-flashy performance.
Why talk about performance when you have only 11 games to go? All that matters is the result, from now on. Next weekend, we are playing Man City, And, Carlos Tevez could be back by that time. Yes, Man Utd lost to Everton but that means nothing much. I see this season’s title race going down the wire. I truly mean it. Our penultimate match of the season is at Anfield. That shows much each of these 11 matches are important. Next up is Inter. You know what, I think we would get past them rather easily. Not underestimating them. I can’t, because they have a top team and a top manager. But ‘something tells me’ that we’re cruising past them. Let’s hope so.
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We should of had this gap weeks ago. We’ve been playing about in the business end of the season. Hopefully, the team is starting to appreciate it.
One of those games where ‘they didn’t get out of second gear’. Killed the game off without really trying particularly hard. In one way it is nice that the players didnt have to run themselves ragged ahead of Wednesday, on the other hand, it opens up room for complacency.
BC, wouldn’t mid you seeing what you can find out on the Ashley Cole situation, not the injury if you get me.
Looking ahead to Wednesday night, I’d be expecting a boring game. Inter are full of defensive minded players so I don’t think they’ll be attacking much. Both sides will be looking for a draw here and a win at Stamford Bridge. Im hoping we can nick a cheeky win at the San Siro. It would send a big message out to the footballing world. Im predicting a 1-1 draw.
41 hours more for the match .. I think , if we score the first goal, it will be pretty open game.. Any news on the zhirkov, injury situation. Will he start ? The player, I am missing most for these type of games is essien.ballack or john obi would be cutting the passes from sneider to eto/milito . they need to have good game. jose must have already noticed our weakness in set pieces.. we need to be working onthat also..
Abt ashey cole, i read reports that he would be put up for sale, which I think is bad, because he is best left back in the world..
Not really confident ahead of the trip to the San Siro after that performance, but hopefully we’ll grind out a 1-0 game.
Zhirkov is not travelling because of a calf problem .. Ancelloti is hoping belleti recovers or we will have Maluada playing a left back against maicon ( & balotelli)..
If Zhirkov does not go, it’s probably evened out by the news that Julio Cesar might not play due to his recent accident. Ferreira or even Ivanovic can deputize as left-back.
Lets not talk about other case of Ashley. Newspapers sound like women gossips in old days nowadays, where they talk bad about others and ruin their happy life. One day people will lose trust on reporters.
Very good video analysis of Inter from another Chelsea blog
http://www.chelseadaft.org/2010/02/video-analysis-of-inter-milans-strength.html
The travelling squad of 20 to Milan is:
(note Alax and Beletti)
Petr Cech
Ross Turnbull
Hilario
Branislav Ivanovic
Ricardo Carvalho
John Terry
Alex
Jeffrey Bruma
Juliano Belletti
John Mikel Obi
Michael Ballack
Frank Lampard
Joe Cole
Florent Malouda
Gael Kakuta
Salomon Kalou
Daniel Sturridge
Nicolas Anelka
Fabio Borini
Didier Drogba
http://www.espnstar.com/football/champions-league/news/detail/item400091/Jose-Mourinho-needles-Chelsea-/
—————-Cech—————-
Belletti/Carvalho–Alex–Terry–Ivanovic
-Ballack–Mikel–Lampard–J.Cole/Malouda-
———–Drogba–Anelka————
what about this formation??
guys we have a bit of a situation… we have no recognized LB and paulo is not registered for the competition, therefore i say:
Ricky —– Alex—- Terry— Ivano
Maicon will kill anyone that is not tactically skilled!
i think we should pack the middle based on these injuries. 5 mid fielders. then based on how the game is going.. we put in… Danny boy and kalou/Anelka
Quoting k.drogba
i see we think along similar lines…:)
i think belatti will play left back i hope we get scored draw atleast it is tough i will take any scored draw
Yes Denver
Guys, just to say, ferreira is not available, belletti is not available, bosingwa, cole and zhirkov are all injured, essien is injured. 5 man midfield is the safest option to go to.
I really cant think of what ancelotti might do or pull off. We have bruma I guess is next closest to leftback, but it is far from Ideal. We’ll play like we did against Barcelona in Catalonia.
Quoting heyjose
Quoting TruePlatinum
guys beletti is going…i think we played him at LB in the past… if so he just might slot in there.. but as i said i would try ivan to null maicon…. bruma will be man handled
My team for INTER v CHELSEA:
Big Pete
Branners – JT(c) – Riccy – Bella
Obi
Nico – Bally – Lamps – Flo
Drogs
(4-1-4-1)
Subs: Salo (Nico) & Joey (Flo)
Prediction: Inter 1 – 1 Chelsea
(Etoo, Drogs)
C’mon the Chels!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1253269/Jose-Mourinho-Im-main-man-England-Carlo-The-Special-One-taunts-Ancelotti-ahead-Chelsea-return.html
maicon really worries. On top of that add Balotelli
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1253267/John-Terry-Chelsea-beware-Here-comes-Inter-Milan-dangerman-Diego-Milito.html
Chelsea coach or not. he was the best we had till now
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1253311/MARTIN-SAMUEL-Why-Jose-Mourinho–special.html
I am just worried about the depleted defence but i get a feeling and confidence that we wouldn’t lose badly (not more than a 1 goal) at Inter, that is if we at all lose. And if we can win by a huge margin at home, then the matter is all closed. I pray that Chelsea will play well, especially the back four!
I am sorry for being dormant in here, i was away on a holiday (Saturday – Tuesday).
CHEERS!
i hope we defend very well we need to score inter will look to block drogs i have a feeling a fresh lampard might ease pressure off drogba and help us inter 1 chelsea 1 or inter 2 chelsea 2
belletti is most likely to play leftback, probably the quickest defender we have available, does hit the sweet shot once in a while
alex is abit more adventurous and skilled going foward than Carvahlo so I think he is more likely to play rightback
I think Ancelotti is going to play mostly central midfielders, he will be looking for precise passing, careful attacks and range ability as we dont have aquick team available, he needs to ensure the ball moves at a rate we always keep up with whether attacking with it or defending. Can’t quite predict the formation but wing play most certainly is not our advantage tonight, neither is speed, technical prowess is all we have. Inter Milan are a good team, but their players are not necessarily what you would consider accomplished, winning nothing but league titles. Im starting to think we are going to play 4-3-2-1. Ancelotti will be wary of squandering chances, he knows how inter play, he has experience about him. Our players know Mourinho. Hopefully we’ll have Zhirkov and Bosingwa for the next leg anyway. I have faith that the pedigree and quality of our players will shine through.
Julio Cesar is available although suffering bruising to his face.
Please, do not abandon Riccy – Terry headquarters of defending, unless it is really necessary. It is an absolute necessity in such kind of matches. Alex is the man of many qualities, but he sometimes can be sloppy at ball control and I am afraid the likes of Ibrahimovic could get something out of it. Moreover, Riccy is not fast enough nor the type of player to fill on the left or right back – and he definitely will be in the starting 11 at San Siro.
My best left-back now, with all these injuries, is Ivanovic; unfortunately, he is the best right back as well. I would use him rather on the left, as he is able to play with both legs, and let an orthodox right-foot Belletti on the right, with only defensive tasks at most parts of the game. My lineup:
Cech – Belletti, Riccy, Terry, Ivanovic – Ballack, Mikel, Lamps – Anelka, Drogs, Malouda
This is the best we have got at the moment and, most important, it is the squad full of experienced players. Please, no Bruma on the pitch unless it is 3-0 to Chelsea and 2 minutes till the end. Against Wolves he looked quite nervous and I am afraid the atmosphere of San Siro, team full of stars and Mourinho on the bench would be just too much for this youngster.
Finally, I hope we will play 4-3-3 with wide wingers for most of the match; it is a great tactics to build up a counter-attack with an aerial pass over the midfield formation and this could be just O. K. against Inter. I expect Mourinho to pull midfield back and wait for counter attacks as well, so we need to open up the space somehow. Go Blues!!!
This match is worth the wait!! I predict a very very defensive game with more than one goal difference if at all. that should work in our favour unless we play stupid.
@vovka, Ibra is in Barca!! Wake up, kid.
fuck off INTER!!!! fuck off Mourinho!!!!!