By dixon9
March 14 2008

Normally we might assume that this fixture would be another 3 points but teams in Sunderland’s position in the league at this stage of the season have a habit of upping the anti. This will be no cakewalk but we have relatively fresh players and providing there’s no complacency or over confidence we should win this. This is an opportunity to maintain the ever increasing pressure on the top two.

Roy Keane provided a mixture of dryness and then conversely resignation in his comments during the pre-match press conference:

"We've got to believe it, otherwise we'd tell our forty-odd thousand fans not to turn up."

"We know it's going to be hard, Chelsea have a great away record and a great squad. But it doesn't matter who we’re playing, we're a big club."

"We could play as well as we can and still lose the game. All we can do is do the best we can."

I can’t make up my mind if this last comment is his attempt at giving us a false sense of security or if it was an uncharacteristic gaff? 

Frank Lampard definitely showed the right attitude:

"They obviously have a manager whose character has shown in the team, they know they are going to have to battle against us and they will do."

"It's going to be a very tough game; we don't need any over confidence."

We currently stand at 11 Premier League fixtures without defeat and we NEED these 3 points tomorrow.  Forget about the fact that Sunderland are almost down in the doldrums of the Premier League positions (just 2 points above relegation position) because they are going to fight all the way.  It would help if we went at them a bit from the off – an early goal could help that defeat psyche kick into the Sunderland players.

The one to watch out for is Kenwyn Jones.  He’s a forward with admirably qualities – not the finished article but there’s so much about him that reminds me of Drogba.  Depending on what formation we were to play next season and who comes and goes in the summer, I wouldn’t mind snapping him up.

Sunderland have a few doubts and injuries but in general are in pretty good shape fitness wise. 

Winger Edwards will probably have a late fitness test and could return since his broken leg against Derby on 1 December (seems very soon to come back?!). 

Etuhu (knee) won’t make it and one time teenage sensation Stokes (remember a few clubs fighting for his signature?) had a virus and hasn’t trained this week.

On our side Cech looks like he won’t be quite ready for tomorrow after picking up that ankle knock so Cudicini continues between the sticks.

With the likes of Jones up front for them I’d be tempted to give Alex a start in place of Terry (but how can you drop Carvalho?!!!)  – especially when you consider we wont have Cech´s height in the box either.

Is Drogba fit?  Surely he must be due a run out though perhaps we may start with Anelka again but to add a little bit more to the front line conundrum, Shevchenko is also fit. 

Would be easier if we played 4-4-2 of course (Here I go again, I know!) but that’s not going to happen.  Apart from the waste of resources up front Essien is also not at all comfortable in the holding role – he needs to be able to power forward.

Team?  No idea what Grant is going to do!  Maybe a few of the more rested players may get a look in or perhaps Grant will err on the side of caution and start with a similar side to the one that faced Derby?

(Wets finger. Holds it up to the wind…):

Cuducini, Belletti, Terry, Alex, A Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Mikel, J Cole, Anelka, Malouda.

I’ll go for a 0-2 win.

Sunderland (from):  Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Collins, McShane, Evans, Higginbotham, Harte, Whitehead, Reid, Leadbitter, Edwards, Miller, Richardson, O'Donovan, Jones, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Chopra, Prica.

Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, A Cole, Bridge, Carvalho, Ben-Haim, Alex, Terry, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Pizarro, Drogba, Shevchenko, Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Obi, Anelka, Sidwell, Ballack.

Ref:  Mike Dean (Wirral)

3 Points Needed: Sunderland v Chelsea Preview

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 14/03/2008 20:26

50 Years Over 100 Years
14/03/2008 20:26

3 Points Needed: Sunderland v Chelsea Preview

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Since 66
15/03/2008 14:54

Chelsea team:

Carlo

Paulo
Alex
JT
Ashley Cole

Ballack
Obi
Frank

Joe Cole
Didier
Kalou

subs:

Hilario, SWP, Essien, Sheva, Ricky

Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free

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Since 66
15/03/2008 17:08

Finished 1-0 thanks to a JT header who by all reports was outstanding

COME ON CHELSEA!!!!!!!

Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free

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