City play CSKA in Russia on a poor pitch so that should give us a little advantage. We do not have as many outstanding individual performers as Arsenal currently do but I believe we are playing better collectively as a team and it's encouraging to see how well we are defending at home. Bayern are the best team we will face all year but City are probably a distant second ahead of Arsenal, United, Liverpool etc. We've struggled massively against City in recent meetings and have been overrun by their midfield but to be fair Benitez's cowardly tactical displays against them in all three meetings last year didn't help. City have shown a bit of frailty away from home and they still do not keep clean sheets on the road. This is a game we should be looking to win and looking to making a real statement of intent in what is really our first real test of the season in a game we aren't necessarily expected to win. Score draw seems the obvious outcome but anything other than a loss will be positive. Arsenal are near certain to win and you'd expect United and probably Liverpool to win as well. Winning here would definitely cement our place as strong title contenders.
Can't wait for Sunday. The Schalke result should instill great confidence in the lads. Even though they had injuries they are a top 6 Bundesliga team and i have to say they can create some atmosphere there. Getting the early goal is the classic way to deal with that and we are beginning to see Mourinho's work coming through. J.T. is back to his best and not being involved with England is Chelsea's gain. I feel City are the main threat to us this season. Where they will really come into their own is January and February when injuries and suspensions kick in and they can bring in top class replacements....unlike Arsenal,Liverpool or Spurs. All the more important to put down a marker on Sunday. Come on the Chels !
Very good time to meet City, we are starting to put things together and City not settled yet by any means. Always worried when YaYa Toure plays, he just seems to shred us and then over run our midfield. Maybe it's our turn to return the compliment, maybe he'll have an off day, maybe we'll just click and pound them ???? Ours to lose this time, think we'll get the points.
Agree with you naas and CP but I feel we will kick on in January ourselves. The very best teams improve after. January whilst the also-rans tend to fade and drop off. We have a more winnable fixtures January - May then we do August - December I feel. Southampton (A) Hull (A) Man U (H) West Ham (H) Man City (A) Newcastle (H) WBA (A) Everton (H) Fulham (A) Tottenham (H) Villa (A) Arsenal (H) Palace (A) Stoke (H) Swansea (A) Sunderland (H) Liverpool (A) Norwich (H) Cardiff (A) So the home games get tougher but the away trips aren't as daunting. For City it's the opposite. I'd rather have that to be perfectly honest, especially as the games will come thick and fast.
Got a good feeling about this, My line up would be: Cech Ivan Cahill Terry Cole (Bertrand if not fit) Ramires Lamps Hazard Oscar Mata Torres Can see one of Schurrle/Willian playing though.
massive game for us we have underperformed recently against city at the bridge great performance last night and we need to push on and lay down a marker in the prem City are our biggest rivals (although the gooners are slightly worrying) but they are looking beatable 3 points would go down a treat and send a warning out to our rivals
Think Aguero will be too quick for JT, and we will see Luiz and Cahill paired, other than that can't fault your selection. Willian , Schurlle and Mata should all feature sometime.
Man City dont seem to be that comfortable on the road! We seem to be coming to the boil quite nicely at the moment and I dont think we could have picked a better time to play them COYB!!!!
Don't like playing city atm but with Garcia in defence we have a real weak link to try and expose. Midfield will be key as will be controlling Aguero...which I think Luiz is best suited for.
Terry should play. I'd like to see this line up: Cech Ivanovic Luiz (Or Cahill) Terry A.Cole (Azpilicueta if Cole is injured) Ramires Lampard (Or Mikel) Hazard Oscar Schurrle (Or Mata.....or Willian) Torres
No chance of Garcia playing,Kompany could've played last night but wasn't chanced because of the pitch I suspect we will line up Hart Richards Kompany Nastasic Clichy Milner yaya Fernandinho Aguero negredo silva Will be getting into euston at midday on Sunday,any tips on where away friendly pubs near the ground are?
Pellegrini has ruled Kompany out of the game now. You not think he'll put Richards into Centre Back and Zabaleta at Full Back? Garcia is a liability.
We owe City a good kicking, since our results against them havent been good of late. Perhaps know we have a Manager with an ounce of tactical nous, we may be able to beat them. I have a feeling both teams will score but there wont be loads of goals. Im thinking a 1-1 or a 2-1 either way.
Then it's time to feed Kompany a Lasgane They will probably advise you to go to Earls Court mate, plenty of pubs up there. City fans tend to be welcome down here. It's only Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and your nearest and dearest that aren't
Was in the queens market I think it's called last week before the west ham game,it was like being an extra in Deliverance 2 Apart from being called fackin northern monkeys at the bar,they were ok with us being in there With Kompany ruled out its a real chance for Chelsea to get at us,pity the waiter isn't still in charge as he'd have parked the bus like he did last year Be interesting to see the performances of Fernandinho & Ramires with the Brazilian coach apparently attending as they fight for the World Cup DM spot Take a draw without question
If you want a good laugh, and an "unusual " Chelsea pub, try the Sporting Page off Fulham Rd. Champagne on tap, Chateau Rothschild the house red !!!!!! That said, friendly crowd, loads of hooray henrys, many time warp still "living in the 60s" types, clapped out Porches and Mercs illegally parked.Cricket and Rugby dominate here, but once visited, not to be forgotten quickly. The customers are the show.
I live in alderley edge,it's full of tits like that in the bars here Slug & lettuce outside Fulham Broadway seems to be where everyone's heading so may give that a go
