Two defeats in three. Ravaged by injury. Questions surrounding upper management. Now is the time to display the champion mystique.
This man has laid the marker, emerging from the rubble to offer his services in spite of pain. Pay heed. And follow him into battle, boys.
The what: Premier League, Round 14 – Chelsea v. Birmingham
The where: St. Andrews (30,079)
The when: November 20, 3pm local time (10am EST)
The how: Fox Soccer Plus (DirecTV 621, Dish Network 149)
The why: See opening graph of this post. Further, we may be in second place before kickoff. We can have none of that.
The referee: Mark Halsey
Stat 1: Chelsea have gone an incredible 165 Premier League games since they lost consecutively.
Stat 2: Birmingham have failed to score in nine of their 12 league matches with Chelsea. They have scored four goals total in those meetings.
The above may be our stats for this match. However, of more pressing concern for CFC supporters:
Chelsea have lost three matches for the first time at this stage of the season for nearly a decade. Not since 2000-01 have we dropped three so early. How did that season end, you ask? Well, we accumulated 11 losses – yes, 11 – and finished in sixth. Not to be all gloom and doom, but that’s an interesting piece of information by my account.
Brum —
Position: 18 (13 points)
League Form: LWDDLD
Team: Carr, Murphy, Bowyer, Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Gardner, Jerome, Ferguson, Doyle, Dann, Madera, Fahey, Zigic, Valles, Parnaby, Beausejour, O’Shea, Foster, Redmond, Jiranek, Phillips
Doubtful: Gardner (ankle), Jiranek (thigh), Murphy (hamstring), Taylor (shoulder)
Injured: McFadden (knee)
Suspended: None
Leading scorer: Gardner, Jerome, Ridgewell (3 each)
Quote: “What Sunderland did last week was fantastic. Chelsea are human and everyone from time to time can feel apprehension. We have to make sure Chelsea are leaving St Andrews saying it is a tough place to go. We are capable of playing to a level where the opposition feel that way.” -Alex McLeish
CFC —
Position: 1 (28 points)
League Form: DWWLWL
Team: Cech, Turnbull, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bruma, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Cole, Van Aanholt, Mikel, Ramires, McEachran, Malouda, Kalou, Kakuta, Drogba, Anelka, Sturridge, Borini
Doubtful: None
Injured: Zhirkov (calf), Terry (back), Lampard (groin), Benayoun (achilles)
Suspended: Essien (2 of 3)
Leading scorer: Malouda 7
Quote: “We want to forget Sunderland with a fantastic performance, we can play well and maintain the top of the table. The championship unfortunately does not finish tomorrow. If tomorrow was the last game then I think we would have a lot of possibility to win the title, but we have to play a lot of games again.” -King Carlo
Yuri Zhirkov is unavailable. This is significant in that we will not have to grimace as a midfield three of Ramires-Mikel-Zhirkov is woefully overrun at St. Andrew’s. Even more promising is the news that Carlo apparently will move Florent Malouda into the middle of the park. Thank you.
Still, you have to wonder if, with the injuries we have, changing the formation would be a proper option. A 4-2-3-1 seems interesting, with Ramires and Mikel in the holding roles and Malouda, Anelka and Kalou behind Drogba. Just a thought.
How about giving Danny Sturridge a run out?
Projected XI
Cech
Bosingwa-Bos-Alex-Cole
Ramires-Mikel-Flo
Anelka-Drogba-Kalou
Regardless of starting XI or formation, this side is strong enough to cope with Birmingham. We may not be in desperation mode, but a win right now is of the utmost priority. Back the boys. KTBFFH
Some Related Chelsea Posts:PL Preview: Chelsea v. WolverhamptonPL Preview: Wigan v. ChelseaPreview: Tottenham v. ChelseaPL Preview: Chelsea v. SunderlandPL Preview: Chelsea v. Arsenal
Category: Chelsea Team News, Fixtures, Match Previews, Player News, Premiership
Tags: Alex, Alex McLeish, Birmingham, Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea Team News, Didier Drogba, Fixtures, Match Previews, Nicolas Anelka, Nikola Zigic, Player News, Premier League, Premiership, Ramires« Alex, Terry face extended layoffs? Excelente | Home | Rant Box: Birmingham v. Chelsea »DAMNi rlly wanna see mceachran have a go in the first team, not just as a late sub. he excites me... in a non perverted wayMackjamSo we complain that Brazil have him on the bench then say we're going to play him ourselves? To me that is poor management.
Brace yourselves for tonight's game, especially if it's the same back 4 as last week. Going to get ugly...JackNot quite sure the club did complain. But I see your point. Either way, Alex starting - if even marginally fit - is huge for us.
Oh, minor edit: Fox Soccer Plus is channel 406 on Dish, not 149.blog comments powered by Disqus
Follow Us
England vs France liveblog! Previewing England Vs France, and Where We Stand England Squad Announced for the Friendly more news... 
Search The Offside
Related LinksChelsea TicketsChelsea FC KitsChelsea FC BettingHotels near Stamford BridgeChampions League Travel to LondonPremier League Fantasy GameMore Chelsea Links
Categories Academy NewsAnalysisAwardsBlogrollBlues on International DutyCaption ThisCarling CupChelsea GoalsChelsea LadiesChelsea LoansChelsea ReservesChelsea Team NewsCoaching NewseBay WatchFantasy LeagueFixturesFlashbackFor The ArchivesFormer PlayersGalleryGlory GoalsHumorInjury NewsKitsLiveMan of the MatchMatch PreviewsMatch ReportsOpinionPapersPlayer NewsPlayer RatingsPollPredictionsQuotesRandomnessRankingsRant BoxStatisticsThe OwnerTransfer NewsTransfer RumorsVideoVideo BlogWho This?
Send Your Tips! Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for The Offside?
Email chelsea[at]theoffside[dot]com
LATEST COMMENTS
DAMN: i rlly wanna see mceachran have a go in the first team, not just as a late sub. he excites me... in ... [read more]
Jack: Not quite sure the club did complain. But I see your point. Either way, Alex starting - if even marg ... [read more]
Mackjam: So we complain that Brazil have him on the bench then say we're going to play him ourselves? To ... [read more] Alex, Terry face extended layoffs? Excelente
jay: Hercules...i mean alex is set to start against Birmingham. Great news for our backline but I dont kn ... [read more] Alex, Terry face extended layoffs? Excelente
ph0bolus: Emelano as assistant manager? Really? Wasn't he the head scout? I can't see him adding an ... [read more] Alex, Terry face extended layoffs? Excelente
barcadonia: You guys are still by far the best team in england, and I'm sure you'll take the premiership ... [read more] Alex, Terry face extended layoffs? Excelente
Jack: Dude. What's with this consolation talk? Our status as leaders of the Premier League has been ea ... [read more] Alex, Terry face extended layoffs? Excelente
timlos: The earlier we are knocked off the top of that table the better. I'm sick of this consolation of ... [read more] MotM Poll: Chelsea 0-3 Sunderland
Mackjam: This team is an absolute fucking mess. On the field and off. Starting to have my doubts about Ancelo ... [read more] MotM Poll: Chelsea 0-3 Sunderland
ph0bolus: DAMN! Alex is out until the new year...paper thin this squad is now..
Archives Select Archive Month November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006
About The Offside | Advertise on The Offside | Privacy Policy
Top Content: England Team News | Neymar to Chelsea | Record Points for Chelsea | Chelsea Preseason | Chelsea 2011 Home Jersey | Premier League Fantasy Game
Related information: EPL Shirts | England Shirts | Arsenal News | Liverpool News | Man United News | London Travel Guide | Finding a London Hotel | Champions League Prize Money
© BootsnAll Travel Network - All rights reserved
EuropeEngland: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League One England: League Two FranceGermanyGreeceHollandItalyPolandPortugalRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyAfricaEgyptTunisiaAustraliaSouth AmericaArgentinaBrazilColombia North AmericaMexicoMLSNPSLUSLWomen's SoccerCup CompetitionsChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueCopa LibertadoresCopa SudamericanaPlayersDidier DrogbaLionel MessiMesut OzilArjen RobbenCristiano RonaldoLigue 1 ProspectsSoccer Betting | World Cup 2010
Plan Your Soccer Travels | Soccer TicketsClose X
Home 
World 
Europe English Premier League 
Chelsea 
StoreTravelScores 
England: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League OneEngland: League TwoEngland: ConferenceFranceGermanyGreeceHollandItaly PolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyUkraineChampions League | Europa LeagueClose X
No comments:
Post a Comment