By dixon9
January 29 2008

Tomorrow evening is all about maintaining momentum and keeping the pressure on the top two of Man Utd and Arsenal. Yes, we still have important absences due to injury or the ACN but we are the in from team in the Premier League and have been for some time by managing with our current, albeit, depleted resources. We can only give credit to our trio of Grant, Clarke and Ten Cate.

The 3 points is a must (My specialist subject: Stating the bleeding obvious).  We need to be ready to nudge up a place and eventually seat ourselves at the pinnacle of the table once there is the slightest slip from the leaders. 

We can take great heart that we are only going to get much stronger and probably increase our goal difference.  With the return of Drogba (a Drogba/Anelka partnership is a thought to behold), Essien, Lampard, Terry and even Shevchenko the future bodes well and we have the relatively unknown elements of Ivanovic to add into the mix. 

Still, “it aint broke” at the moment so we don’t have to fix anything just yet.  We can continue to manage with what we got. 

From the sides that played Everton and Wigan very recently we will be missing Belletti through suspension after picking up a yellow against Everton.  Carvalho´s suspension won’t kick in until the Portsmouth match at the weekend (be interesting to see if Ivanovic is considered fit enough to debut in that game) so the Portuguese defender will be available. 

We hoped to have Ballack back for Wigan after suffering from a slight calf strain just before the Everton match but this wasn’t to be – I really can’t see him STILL being unavailable for Reading tomorrow so he should be back. 

Shevchenko is back in training at last but I understand only for the last few days.  Could Grant spring a surprise on us and put him up front with Anelka?  It would be fascinating to watch and Malouda was playing with a slight knock against Wigan – could Grant play the favoured 4-3-3 with Anelka in the middle and Sheva out wide – or vice versa? 

For their part, Reading will be missing striker Long through suspension, midfielder Gunnarsson with a groin injury, defender Duberry (knee) and winger Kebe with a hamstring.

Sonko, Bikey and Fae are all at the ACN so they are also missing some important players.

Oster has recovered from an ankle injury.

The last time I saw Reading was at home to Man Utd where they put in a credible performance. 

Hunt will no doubt receive the reception he deserves from the Stamford Bridge faithful and we have to keep an eye on him – a lot of their play revolves around him.

Coppell tends to be very cautious away from home against the stronger teams – I can see this being a bit of a struggle at the beginning but a goal should open them up.

I reckon we’ll do this 3-0!

Our team will probably look something like this (assuming the unexpected insertion of Sheva into the team – which probably won’t happen but here goes!):

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Alex, A Cole, Sidwell, Ballack, SWP, Anelka, Shevchenko, J Cole.

Reading: Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, Rosenior, de la Cruz, Ingimarsson, Cisse, Shorey, Oster, Matejovsky, Harper, Hunt, Convey, Doyle, Kitson, Lita, Pearce, Henry, Bennett, Cox.

Momentum is the Key: Chelsea v Reading Preview

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 29/01/2008 14:07

50 Years Over 100 Years
29/01/2008 14:07

Momentum is the Key: Chelsea v Reading Preview

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Since 66
29/01/2008 19:45

Will be off straight from work - hate nite games with a passion - so booked thursday off, just as well CC final ticket day.

Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free

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dixon9
29/01/2008 22:48

Can´t beat leaving work, going into the pub and its buzzing, lok over the programme with a nice pint in our hand....


Lovely!



.



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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