By BlueBlood
February 11 2005
Thank God tomorrow is Saturday and thank God that we can get back to watching football, our 'The Beautiful Game.' After that drivel that was served up on Wednesday when our International team set up by a so-called experienced manager.....
..... I am surprised it hasn't put off the millions that follow our game for life. Tomorrow Chelsea begin a run of games away from Stamford Bridge, that do not see them return until March 19th at the earliest, with a trip to Goodison Park, the home of The Toffees, Everton. Excuse the well worn pun, but God I hope we do not come unstuck. Everton riding high in the Premiership, still confounding the critics that they are above Liverpool with points in hand and challenging for a Champions League spot, will be out for revenge after the 1-0 reverse at Stamford Bridge back in November. The goalscorer that day Arjen Robben is out. Ruled out of the game for at least two months after breaking two bones in his ankle in the battle of Blackburn. One player does not make a team, but I am the first to admit that Arjen Robben is our catalyst and the mainstay of the Chelsea team. Although Chelsea were winning before Robben made his Premiership debut, Chelsea only scored eight goals in nine games. Before Robben was injured at Blackburn, Chelsea were scoring freely with 41 goals in sixteen games with Robben contributing nine of them. And now Chelsea have gone one game and eighty five minutes since Robben scored the club's last goal. One thing every Chelsea supporter will know that with the players that our beloved JM has at his disposal he will set them up in the right way, unlike this country's International manager. Thank God Peter Kenyon failed in his attempts to bring him to Stamford Bridge. I admit that tomorrow's game which kicks off at 12.45pm to satisfy TV coverage will be a 'squeaky bum' ninety minutes. So far this season after International matches, Chelsea have dropped points. Tomorrow will be a perfect day to arrest that problem. Chelsea have no fresh injury worries and certainly no problems since the players returned to Cobham yesterday. JT is fit after pulling out of the England game last Monday. Bridgey, who also pulled out of the England game, may struggle to play at left back. Ferreira can fill that void if needed, with Glenno coming in at right back. Drogba is fit, which will give us that extra dimension in attack and Duff is on fire. Probable line up: Cech, Ferreira, Gallas, Terry, Bridge, Makele, Duff, Tiago, Lampard, Gudjohnsen, Drogba Whatever the result tomorrow, Chelsea will still be at least nine points clear at the top. TV rights and coverage have favoured that Man Utd do not play until Sunday and Arsenal do not play until Monday.
