John Terry out for Sunday's game against Manchester United
by Stephen Schmidt on Feb 3, 2012 2:22 PM GMT
in Chelsea FC: Premier League
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Today just isn't a good day for John Terry. First he was stripped of the England captaincy, and then he was ruled out of Sunday's clash with United due to a knee injury. John Obi Mikel and Ramires have also been ruled out of the contest, but there seems to be a chance we'll have Frank Lampard available. Lampard will undergo a fitness test on Saturday to determine whether or not he will play a part.
This leaves a pair of interesting decisions to be made about the lineup. The first would be our back four. The official site seems to indicate that the decision at left back has come down to Bosingwa or Bertrand. If AVB doesn't feel Bertrand is up to the challenge it would leave us with a back four of Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, and Bosingwa. If AVB gives Bertrand a go it would leave us with options at both right back and center back. Personally I'd rahter just give Bossy the day off and go Bertrand, Luiz, Cahill, and Brani in the back.
The other dilemma will be in the midfield. We've already seen that Malouda should not be playing as a central mid, but if super Frank is not fit then we'll have a bit of a numbers issue to deal with. If Michael Essien is fit enough to play 90 minutes we will likely be just fine, but if not we'll likely be seeing a less than ideal midfield. I suppose the best case scenario for Sunday would be if we could run out the same 4-2-3-1 we finished the Swansea contest with.
All in all, the ACoN's timing and injury situation is going to turn this into a very nervous contest. We won't have much experienced cover on the bench even if Lamps passes his fitness test, so finishing a few chances early on would certainly be a nice change of pace. At least United are nicked up a bit as well...
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Wait...
You mean that defense that has only given up 7 goals away from Old Trafford this season? Even with a few key players out, they will manage just fine. I am anticipating a thrilling match on Sunday.
That's a very misleading stat
Firstly, their first half of the season included exactly 1 of the top 8 teams on the road. They’ve now traveled to 3 of the top 8 (Pool, Newcastle, Arsenal) and conceded 5 goals in those 3 contests. They are pounding lesser opposition away from home. They’ve yet to face a top 4 side away and have been outscored 5-3 by the 5th,6th,an 7th place teams on the road.
United are allowing 14.1 shots per game at home. They are allowing the same 14.1 shots per game on the road despite facing far easier competition thus far. They are averaging more turnovers and fouls committed away from home as well. At the moment they may have conceded less goals away than at home, but once they start traveling to better opposition they will likely see those numbers correct themselves.
by Stephen Schmidt on Feb 3, 2012 3:57 PM GMT up reply actions
Take away Newcastle
Where we were just shit from…. well the whole team played shit
And that is still a mighty impressive home record. Hell, Jones played CB against Newcastle as well if I recall correctly, and as much as I love him, he ain’t no CB just yet. Not against a striker as in form as Ba was (is)
by Sweet science on Feb 3, 2012 5:04 PM GMT up reply actions
Not saying anything at all about the home record.
Given that you’ve pretty much played all the tough games you’ll have there so far it’s only likely to get better. On the road United have not yet played against a team that scores as many goals as Chelsea has, and when they’ve faced anything close to the Chelsea attack they’ve conceded. They’ve had clean sheets on the road against QPR, Everton, Fulham, Bolton, Swansea, and Villa. While it’s good that they’re keeping clean sheets against most of the poor offensive teams, none of the group they’ve held scoreless is yet to hit 30 goals as a team on the season through 23 games.
My point is that simply looking at the away goals allowed by United is going to give someone a false sense of accomplishment by their defense when in fact they’ve been just as exposed on the road as they have been at home. They still have a ridiculously potent attack at their disposal and should probably still be the favorites come Sunday, but neither team is the defensive juggernaut that they were a few years ago.
by Stephen Schmidt on Feb 3, 2012 7:38 PM GMT up reply actions
United look extremely beatable at the moment
But Bertrand would probably be a bit intimidated starting his first premier league match (I think it is anyway) against Nani or Valencia would be a bit intimidating. Having said that he seems very capable. But Mata is rubbish defensively so Malouda has to start on left wing for me. He’s not been great this season but defensively he’s better than Mata and would provide more assistance for Bertrand. Give Mata a lot of freedom and play him behind Torres and Make sure Danny Sturridge defends well against Evra. Although I’m not to worried about Evra playing well.
I imagine United will go 4-4-2 and that will leave Mata the space behind their CM’s who are rubbish. If Essien can start play him alongside Meireles in the double pivot. Almost all of United’s attacking threat comes from their wingers so we need our full backs to be defensively strong which means I’d likely go for Brani at RB. Have Cahill and Luiz in the middle and Bertrand on the left. As long as the wingers are marked well we should be in control mostly. If we have most of the possession hopefully a bit of magic from Danny and Mata will help us win the game.
I’d actually rather play United at home than Swansea away again.
We do need Romeu for that game
by RamStamford on Feb 3, 2012 2:43 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
United always goes 4-5-1 against us at Stamford Bridge.
4-4-2 is easily dominated when the opposition plays a 4-3-3.
I think United will just sit deep and counter attack.
Most likey
Their wingers are where the threat comes from. But unlike us when they make the cross there are usually 4 or 5 players in the box to attack it.
Also the last time United played 4-5-1
They were awful
Not when Carrick & Giggs played as well as they did in the CL QF last year
by Sweet science on Feb 3, 2012 5:05 PM GMT up reply actions
Good point
Ramires is out though, he provides a lot of industry in the centre (I think he is anyway)
by Sweet science on Feb 3, 2012 5:07 PM GMT up reply actions
Essien, on his game, can provide just as much industry
Dude does box-to-box like no one else.
by FootieFromAfar on Feb 3, 2012 5:22 PM GMT up reply actions
Except for Ramires XD
Two very similar players. Combined Power and Pace. Would be amazing.
Essien at best better then Ramires
Essien is a better passer and better shooter. On his best no one can match him not even Ramires.
Essien hasn't been at his best for 3 years or so
Ramires this year has been better than Essien has at any point since 2008.
Would argue that the first two months of 2010/11 Essien were sublime
Then he hurt his foot. Then he hurt his knee again.
by Graham MacAree on Feb 3, 2012 6:24 PM GMT up reply actions
True
I just think that Ramires has been absolutely phenomenal this season-he’s scored more goals in half a year than Essien’s ever scored for us.
He’s not quite as good as the Essien from 06-08, but he’s getting pretty close if you ask me.
I love Ramires
but he’s not quite there yet. I mean, ’08 Essien was an 87 in FIFA!
by FootieFromAfar on Feb 3, 2012 6:44 PM GMT up reply actions
Sure, but Ramires has never controlled a game in the same way Essien was capable of
They’re slightly different players
by Graham MacAree on Feb 3, 2012 6:46 PM GMT up reply actions
A double pivot witht hem both in would be awesome.
Much better than Barry and Yaya
Great player
But spends as much time on the injury table as Owen Hargreaves (Well…..)
by Sweet science on Feb 3, 2012 5:29 PM GMT up reply actions
They do look beatable
just not sure we look like the team to beat them, hmm. Well, maybe at home… it might be interesting without the Chelsea home crowd getting to cheer on Terry, given these circumstances. I imagine he would have gotten some loud noise, but I could be wrong.
I’d have liked if the FA wasnt the one to make the decision about Terry, but rather Capello. I can’t help but feel it was a knee-jerk reaction to the bad press they got surrounding it, and that the Rio Ferdinands of the world feel they got their way. Well, guess they do what they feel they have to, since the trial was set so much later. But they should be well aware that if Rio gets to captain the squad, that would make for a pretty livid response as well.
Rio said he doesn't want the captaincy!
Also I doubt he will be going to the Euro’s this summer unless somebody else gets injured!I feel his England days may be over since he is nowhere near the player he used to be,he’s living on reputation at this stage!
I can only dream
And yes, stand corrected about his going after the captaincy. He’s still a toolbag, IMO.
I think he started last season
at newcastle. He picked up an assist that game. But to be honest Im not sure if he did start or not, he played though.
by The Rumor Hound on Feb 4, 2012 5:00 AM GMT up reply actions
So we don't need to guess
if JT and Ferdinand shake hands. At least, that’s something. The rest … OMG
Tor ilisar'thera'nal!
In other news
Guy Hillion (Chelsea scout) has said that he had scouted Hazard over 20 times in the last 3 years.
So how come Chelsea didn't buy him a year ago?
The Nigerian Perspective!
by Iced O on Feb 3, 2012 3:52 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
No reason for Lille to sell a year ago
They were on their way to winning Ligue 1
by Graham MacAree on Feb 3, 2012 3:54 PM GMT up reply actions
We would definitely hope to go a 4-2-3-1
The line-up will most probably be like
-——————-Cech—————-
ivanovic—luiz—cahill—bertrand
-——-Romeu—Meireles——
Sturridge—-Mata—-Malouda
-—————-Torres—————
If bertrand does not play up to standard, AVB can actually put luiz at left back, bosingwa at right back and move ivanovic into the central defence partnering cahill.
Luiz at left back may work, he can definitely provide valencia a hard time if he keeps his focus throughout the game.
The double pivot will most likely feature romeu and meireles. Essien may start if fit, and will most likely replace Romeu, if not, be sure to see Essien checking in the 60th minute.
If Lampard were to be fit, AVB can insert Lampard in the double pivot or place him in his favourite attacking midfield position and this will actually leave Mata back to the left, which is something we all do not prefer.
With Torres great goalscoring record against United, it is an obvious choice to select
Torres in the starting lineup. The midfield needs to be motivated and try to push the ball forward quickly, and be ready to find Torres’s run with through balls.
With avb desperate, he will surely be ready to try new things to secure a good result. As long as the home crowd does well, Chelsea WILL do well. Come on guys, let’s get ourselves behind them for this big game!
I'm 100% with Graham in terms of the lineup preference
4-2-3-1 with Essien and Miereles starting, Malouda and Sturridge on the wings, and Mata central. Please please please.
I’m very pessimistic about our chances Sunday morning. I know Man Utd have some injuries and haven’t been exactly on form lately, but still.
I can only hope they rise to the occasion and pull a do-or-die-against-Valencia-in-the-group-stage performance out of the bag.
All in all
Will be a very interesting match!
You really have us on lockdown at the Bridge in the league. We ain’t won there since 2002 I believe.
We could also go a very defensive look. Say...
Cech
Ivan, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand
Romeu – Mikel/Miereles
Essien – Mata – Malouda
Torres
Play deep, play compact. Try to win off set pieces and headers, or by countering. Sturridge is off form anyways, and we can always put him on for pace in the second half when Essien tires. Or possibly try Torres in the hole behind Sturridge and sit Mata. I’d rather do something United aren’t expecting at all.
Sturridge is our main goal scorer
If you want to surprise Man u lets play our Reserve Team that would be a big surprise.
Play Feruz
He’ll give Ferdinand and co. nightmares.
by RamStamford on Feb 3, 2012 7:12 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions
my lineup
drogba-sturridge
mata
malouda-lampard-essien
david luiz-cahill-oriel romeu-ivanovic
cech
william boisjoli
by William Boisjoli on Feb 4, 2012 3:59 PM GMT reply actions
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