PL Preview: West Bromwich Albion v. Chelsea

By: Jack | April 15th, 2011
    Tweet

Reunited. And it feels so good.

Who: West Bromwich Albion
What: Barclays Premier League, Round 33
When: 16 April, 3pm local time (10am EST)
Where: The Hawthorns (26,484)
How: Fox Soccer Channel (DirecTV 619, Dish 149)

Why: Because all that’s left in a season that has been impossible to figure out or predict is Champions League qualification. A win away to West Bromwich, undefeated under Liverpool’s man of the year, Roy Hodgson, would go pretty damn far in solidifying our place inside the top four, especially with only six league matches remaining. Yeah, there’s plenty to play far despite the morbid events of last week.

Motivation?
Judge Smails said it best. “You’ll get nothing, and like it!”

Except we won’t like it. Specifically, Roman Abramovich won’t like it. Success at Chelsea Football Club is now judged by trophies, nothing less. One without significant hardware equals failure, at least to our owner.

Perhaps more intriguing than how our owner will react to this reality is how our players will in the immediate. There’s, in a sense, little left to play for. And, consideration that the motivation of said players has been questioned on this blog more than once already this season, I feel justified in posing such a query.

We can’t get up for the opening leg of a CL semifinal, at home against Manchester United? Why then should we expect them to be focused on brushing aside West Brom? To think this side used to be one of the most resilient in world football. Furthermore, add the uncertainty of our coaching staff to the mix, and it just seems difficult to project what will happen Saturday.

Some would say they owe us the fans a performance. Those that suggest such may be right. Me, I just hope to see some drive, some fight – as if these players realize an era might be coming to an end.

Experiment
The pressure, to an extent, is off Carlo. He no longer has the Champions League to focus on, and his future, well, is out of his hands. Who knows, he may already know his fate.

Regardless, this gives CA the opportunity to explore. Experiment good sir, the options are there.

Ramires and Alex have been ruled out of the trip to the Midlands with minor injuries – this suggesting to me that Alex was rushed back for the second leg against United. Still, we have a fuller squad than we have pretty much the entire season.

Resting Ashley and Frank would be at the top of my priorities, particularly Ashley. The man has played an unbelievable amount of minutes this season. Yossi deserves a start as does Mikel. Then there’s Drogs and Nando. How Carlo decides to use Torres, after his embarrassing halftime substitution in midweek, may well tell us if he was in fact wanted by the manager. Speaking of which, there are murmurs that our French trio (Drogba included with Anelka, Malouda) has been grumbling about the Spanish acquisition. Sounds like rubbish to me, but thought it worthy of mention.

Anyway. Below is what I’d like to see. Unlikely, but it would be interesting.

Preferred XI
Cech
Bane-Luiz-EBJT-Zhirkov
Mikel
Essien-Yossi-Malouda
Torres-Drogba

Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu reckons we’re rubbish and poised for a fall: “They’re not as good at the moment so I think we can have a great result on Saturday.”

Inform him otherwise. No excuses. Expecting a solid win, boys.

From there, lock up second – yes, I said second – and move on toward the great unknown that is the summer of 2011. KTBFFH

Bonus: Carlo’s pre-match presser and Blue News, the visual editions.

Some Related Chelsea Posts:Premier League Preview: Chelsea v. West Bromwich AlbionRant Box: Chelsea v. West Bromwich AlbionPL Recap: Chelsea 6-0 West Bromwich AlbionFull time: Chelsea 6-0 West Bromwich AlbionVideo: Chelsea 6-0 West Bromwich Albion
Category: Chelsea Team News, Fixtures, Match Previews, Player News, Premiership Tags: Carlo Ancelotti, Carlos Vela, Chelsea Team News, David Luiz, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Fixtures, Frank Lampard, Graham Dorrans, James Morrison, John Terry, Match Previews, Peter Ondemwingie, Petr Cech, Player News, Premier League, Premiership, Ramires, Roy Hodgson
    Tweet « Open Thread: Where does Chelsea go from here? | Home | Rant Box: West Bromwich Albion v. Chelsea »CharlieI had a dream last night, Torres scored in bottom left corner.EBJTBrilliant line up Jack, I just hope Carlo has the balls to bench Lampard.JackSomehow I doubt it, but we can hope.arn00bTorres will probably score today, since there is very little pressure. That's when he truly thrives.arn00bThat would be a great lineup, though I'd like to see Ramires somewhere in the mix.

A 3-5-1-1 would not be bad.

Cech,
Terry, Bane, Luiz
Zhirkov, Essien, Mikel, Ramires, Malouda
Yossi
Torres.JackRamires would have easily been in my team had he not been ruled out of the match by injury. For sure.arn00bOh, I didn't know. Then I'd drop Yossi to midfield and slot 'nelks behind 'nandsie. Stickin' with the 3-5-1-1.truebluecech
ivanovic-d.luiz-terry-asley cole
mikel
essien zhirkov
lampard
benayoun
torresblog comments powered by Disqus
Follow Us

           


Harry Redknapp, England manager? (Awful writing) Is It Too Early to Get Excited About Sturridge? Denmark 1 - 2 England (Via Hamlet) more news...
Search The Offside

 



Related Links

Chelsea 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 LeagueFast FiveFixturesFlashbackFor The ArchivesFormer PlayersGalleryGlory GoalsHumorInjury NewsKitsLiveMan of the MatchMatch PreviewsMatch ReportsOpinionPapersPlayer NewsPlayer RatingsPollPredictionsQuotesRandomnessRankingsRant BoxStatisticsTacticsThe OwnerTransfer NewsTransfer RumorsVideoVideo BlogWho This?Youth News
Send Your Tips!

Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for The Offside?
Email chelsea[at]theoffside[dot]com

Archives

Select Archive Month April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 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