Stoke view on Chelsea game

I saw this on the Oatcake by a certain gentleman called Barnaby Harrison posting on a Chelsea website!

I don’t really like you lot, it has to be said. I find your ground hugely over-priced, your atmosphere sterile (even Jose knows it), your fans classless and lacking in humour, and your team full of moral cesspits. Oh, and then there’s the whole ‘buying success’ thing with Roman’s roubles.

However, we’re not really on your radar, so why would you care?

As far as Monday is concerned, I can only hope we turn up in the way we so often have against the big boys at home in recent years. The Brittania is not the fortress it once was (losses to Burnley, Villa and Leicester already) but the Arsenal game proved that we still mix it with the best. Essentially, I’m not expecting anything but I know we’re capable of pulling off a result.

Long-term injuries to Odemwingie and Moses have left our attack lacking, I can’t help but feel. You know all about the latter of course, and I hope we can make his move permanent next month. He’s been excellent for us and has offered us some of the pace we lacked under Pulis and even last year. Odemwingie is vastly underrated, a really clever player who knows where the onion bag is. Our topsy-turvy start to the season could have been so much better if we’d had that pair fit the whole time,

Under the circumstances though we’ve done alright without them. Crouch continues to look a class act, but can be hugely ineffective against strong, physical centre halves, which worries me ahead of Monday. Walters (jokes aside) loves games against top teams, and more often than not he raises his game.

Playing him with Crouch leaves us slightly devoid of pace, but as Arnautovic and Assaidi are hardly ripping up trees, he remains our best option on the right. Diouf, a striker who has been used on the left recently, has bags of pace but also the touch of a brick wall, and the jury’s still out on his finishing. I’d like to see him given a run of games up front; his attributes are not being utilised in the best way at the moment.

That leaves our only real flair player in Bojan. He’s been a joy to watch since early November and has been the best player on the pitch on several occasions. It’s been many years since Stoke have had a player with his level of natural ability and talent (some would go as far back as the great Alan Hudson). He’s doing things which few other players are capable of, and we’re very lucky to have him. He has a special knack for finding space, and the end product is excellent.

However, I don’t think Mourinho will be as naïve as Wenger was in letting him run riot. Even Crystal Palace did a decent job of marking him out of the game, and if Matic stays tight to him you’ll be able to reduce his impact on the game.

The two central midfielders pick themselves at the moment, (it should be N’Zonzi alongside Cameron) which leaves the defence. Shawcross is top quality, and I’ll use this chance to say that he should be starting for England alongside Cahill, no debate. If Hodgson picks Chambers (after his nightmare against us the other week) over Shawcross in the next England squad then I give up.

The other three have all been in and out of the side at various points, and fail to convince me on a regular basis. They have the odd storming game but sometimes look like Championship fodder. The main concern for me is if you put Hazard up against Bardsley, who tries his heart out but gets found out by the better wingers. Bolasie certainly had the beating of him at Selhurst Park last week.

I’d then expect Pieters to play at left back, with Wilson partnering Shawcross in the middle. Begovic, the best keeper in the league last season as far as I’m concerned, has looked out of sorts in comparison this time round but still produces some stunning saves. He’s got the ability to play for anyone in the world, and that’s not being deluded. We’re not the Geordies in that regard. However, his consistency this season hasn’t merited a big move. Suits us I suppose as he’s still a great asset to us.

Despite inevitably Arctic conditions, I’m really looking forward to Monday and think it could be a cracking game. Oh, and try and sing something original/amusing for a change, we won’t just be there ‘to see the Chelsea.’ You may pay our benefits, but we waste your taxes.

Enjoy the game

Barnaby Harrison,

 

Hmmm thanks Cris...what stands out for me is - he cannot spell Brittannia

 

Neither can you, Nick!

 

PP...irony mate irony