Chelsea next week

[Gunga Din]

i know, i know, its only the secong game for us, but with the way results shaped up this weekend, particularly with the Mancs only getting a draw, and with Rooney crocked for a few weeks, next weeks game is crucial for us. the Mancs have a hard run of games coming up, and Chelsea to me today looked poor, had Birmingham had a decent keeper they would have won that game. if we can win next week, its going to really set us up, and will hopefully give us the momentum we need to push on and maybe even try and get on a decent unbeaten run. it could even be the most important legue game we play this season, simply because it could shape our entirecampaign. we need to be well up for it, and we need to beat them.

[Herbie von Smalls]

drama queen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[psl]

A lot may depend on how we get on in Toulouse. A bad result could halt the momentum before it even builds. A win however and we'll be flying, particularly if the Mancs and Chelsea struggle away in midweek.

[Sion]

If we beat em we can go on a great run, as we play no decent team till end of October.

[lawrie]

Hate the fact that by next weekend we'll already be playing catch up in terms of number of games played

[Guest evil_billy]

I have no doubt that our "recently poor record after European games in the League" will be mentioned at least 50 times by Sky, before kick-off.

[slapnuts]

i know, i know, its only the secong game for us, but with the way results shaped up this weekend, particularly with the Mancs only getting a draw, and with Rooney crocked for a few weeks, next weeks game is crucial for us. the Mancs have a hard run of games coming up, and Chelsea to me today looked poor, had Birmingham had a decent keeper they would have won that game. if we can win next week, its going to really set us up, and will hopefully give us the momentum we need to push on and maybe even try and get on a decent unbeaten run. it could even be the most important legue game we play this season, simply because it could shape our entirecampaign. we need to be well up for it, and we need to beat them.

 

 

especially with them 2 teams having a few injurys.

 

Plus we have to start taking points off the top teams.

[Maldini]

i know, i know, its only the secong game for us, but with the way results shaped up this weekend, particularly with the Mancs only getting a draw, and with Rooney crocked for a few weeks, next weeks game is crucial for us. the Mancs have a hard run of games coming up, and Chelsea to me today looked poor, had Birmingham had a decent keeper they would have won that game. if we can win next week, its going to really set us up, and will hopefully give us the momentum we need to push on and maybe even try and get on a decent unbeaten run. it could even be the most important legue game we play this season, simply because it could shape our entirecampaign. we need to be well up for it, and we need to beat them.

 

Yeah, it's all about momentum and self-belief. If we can beat Chelsea next week we'll put the sh*ts up them and United.

[growler]

Who is the game against, and when is it made up?

[Swipe]

Who is the game against, and when is it made up?

 

It's against West Ham, but not sure when it's due to be played now.

[Gray - YPC]

A lot may depend on how we get on in Toulouse. A bad result could halt the momentum before it even builds. A win however and we'll be flying, particularly if the Mancs and Chelsea struggle away in midweek.

I think there may be some truth in there... particularly regarding the Sunderland (a) match as it'll be great if Rafa could pick his side there without having to consider the Toulouse game a couple of days after. At least the game that follows Toulouse is at home (v Derby), followed by an international weekend which hopefully may lead to a couple of our players having niggly injuries and having to pull out through 'injury'.

 

A convincing win away in Toulouse would be just what we need!!

[sean]

We win at the weekend and I feel there's a big run in us. Very positive after the weekend's showing.

[whitewidow]

Drogba didn't look too short of match fitness when he came on yesterday. And Terry likely to feature so they have a pretty much full squad to pick from.

[Woodsyla]

I have no doubt that our "recently poor record after European games in the League" will be mentioned at least 50 times by Sky, before kick-off.

 

It's the away form that in particular is shocking. Our home form after European ties has been passable.

[IgPig]

They looked to have sacrificed some of the defensive solidity. Maybe down to playing without Makalele as much as Terry being out. They've got Johnson at Rb who is poor. Essien is their best player at the moment - hopefully his injury yesterday is a bad one.

 

Be a nice game for Torres to get his first hat trick.

Edited August 13, 2007 by Post Kuytal Glow

[Bootle Buck]

John Terry could be a big factor. They are very ordinary without him. I still think we will beat them anyway.

[Sion]

I hope to God Rafa doesn't play Gerrard on the right next weekend, but think he might. I want to see Gerrard and Mascherano (if fully fit) in the middle, with Babel LM and Pennant RM. We'll probably play Riise-Mascherano-Alonso-Gerrard ... sigh.

[Stevie H]

why would anyone not want alonso to play against chelsea?

[honourablegeorge]

One striker, two side men, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano centrally.

[MFletcher]

As far as I'm aware, Terry is definitely out next week. They're nowhere near as good defensively as they have been in recent years. As someone else said, the only reason they beat Birmingham was because their goalkeeper let Pizarro and Essien's shots go through his hands. If they had played the legend that is Maik Taylor, then Chelsea could have been looking at a loss there. With Arsenal also scraping through and the Mancs drawing and losing Rooney, we have the rare opportunity to set the pace.

 

If we beat Chelsea, we have a series of winnable games coming up. Beating them would also give the team a real sense of belief that we can push on and do something this year. We have to play the other members of the "Big Four" at home in the first half of the season, which is positive for us because it will give us a better chance of taking points off them and building our tally.

 

I'm confident we'll win anyway, but I'd really like to see Kewell/Babel down the left against them. Johnson was torn apart at times by Kapo yesterday. You can imagine what Kewell or Babel would do to him if they were on form. I wouldn't be surprised to see a midfield of Babel/Gerrard/Mascherano/Benyoun (maybe with Alonso replacing Benayoun and Stevie moving right). Either way, we need to attack them and exploit their weaknesses.

 

A win against them would really set us up for the next couple of months. A good start is absolutely crucial to our chances of success this season.

[Lee W]

Too early to talk about 'going on a run', but a win is imperative and they are very ordinary without Terry, particularly in the air. Hopefully Rafa will go with Crouch and Torres, fitness permitting.

 

Let's hope Glen Johnson plays too...

[RedNik]

Too early to talk about 'going on a run', but a win is imperative and they are very ordinary without Terry, particularly in the air. Hopefully Rafa will go with Crouch and Torres, fitness permitting.

 

Let's hope Glen Johnson plays too...

 

We need to try and exploit that however, by playing either yossi or babel on the left.

 

Whats the news on Kewell anyway?

[Stevie H]

babel could tear glen johnson a new one.

[RedHarvest]

John Terry could be a big factor. They are very ordinary without him. I still think we will beat them anyway.

Agree with that - Carvalho looks muck without Terry alongside.

Thought we looked the most defensively solid out of the "big four" over the weekend.

 

SW Phillips looked lively too - really hope it's Arbeloa on the left.

[IgPig]

Whats the news on Kewell anyway?

 

His legs have fallen off

 

3-4 weeks.