Would fancy Cisse's pace against the centrebacks!... Still a tough one against them in that formation...
When Torres plays we tend to be far more fluent and get more goals. Sturridge, Meireles and Malouda have goals in them too.
Plus you get about 10 more mins playing time because Drogba isnt rolling around on the ground all game every time someone breaths on him!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Hutchinson Retired through injury and came back which is impressive. I think he may have played in the League Cup game a few years ago.
I wonder if the fact that the Chelsea starting 11 is going to be difficult to guess will make our preparations tricky. DL's suggested team shares only 4 players with the suggested team by The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/27/squad-sheets-chelsea-qpr
We need to go for 3 points. End story. Go for 3 may get 1. Go for 1 probably get None. Been saying that all season Pork its now the only way 3 games left lets do it ... What do you do? ... 2-0 Chelsea
I can't see it myself. The Guardian has basically gone with the same team that started in Barcelona. I'd be amazed if significant changes weren't made bearing in mind Wednesday's big game with Newcastle and the Final on Saturday.
I'm amazed the Newcastle game, given it's importance, has been scheduled for the Wednesday before the Cup Final. That said, you'll need the stronger team for that game if you really are going for 4th place...
It was the only time they could do it. It was scheduled for the 14th April but as we were in the semi it got pushed back, can't be played the following week as our league game w/Liverpool got pushed back to that date as both teams made the final.
If I was a Cheski fan, which i am not, I would be really upset about that.. But I assume you don't mind Necastle beating you to 4th place because you think you will get the Champions League place on the "its my ball" rule
I am more upset about the fact that we play on the Wednesday yet Liverpool get their game on the Tuesday which gives them a day extra rest. Once again, our opposition in a semi/final is handed a huge advantage. If truth be told, I would much rather have played the game today at 3pm and not be able to watch it than have it on Sky 1.30pm Sunday. The only reason Sky wanted to show it was to see if JT-Anton would shake hands, that's done we know it isn't going to happen, their sole reason for televising the game has now evaporated. I still want 4th, If we win the CL I don't want us to be in there undeservedly like Liverpool were, I can see why they'd want the holders in it but it's a harsh rule IMO. I'd be devastated to see Newcastle finish 4th.
You know what DL. I've never been a great believer of the 1 extra day rest excuse origionally invented by Wenger and fergie (surprise). Do you really believe that RDM will have the players doing shuttles and the beep test in that lead up, or wil he in fact have light training and tacticall practice. Also, thier fitness is not an issue at this part of the season so dont they paly a full match every day at training anyway? Bobmid will put me right on most of this, but my guess is that for a professional athlete at peak fitness, the extra day hing is not much but an excuse thrown around by negative managers. no players are going to gain an extra 0.5 secs over 100 metres or anything significant. If anything, I'd guess its mental fatigue? i could be completely wrong an i stand to take bobmid's word on this one. So bob....what is the real story?
Oddball you seem to have a mental block. There's a difference between saying what you HOPE will happen and what you think WILL happen. Hope that clears that up old chum.
I definitely think it makes a difference. Not just mentally but physically. I used to do Swimming on a Monday, Tennis on a Thursday and then football on the Saturday and it tires you out, especially Swimming. Once I dropped the swimming I felt much fresher for Tennis and Football. It's not just about training but also about tactics. For instance we played Spurs Sunday 6pm, that means Monday is one day rest then you only have the Tuesday to go through drills and tactics etc for Barcelona. So you have one day prep instead of two or more. Napoli were playing Friday Nights so effectively had from Sunday-Tuesday/Wednesday to prepare for CL games.
Link gives me hope: "On 16 July 2011, Hutchinson came out of retirement after recovering from his knee injury and played 45 minutes for the Chelsea reserves in a 6–1 loss to Crawley Town."
