Sorry, couldn't resist. Where are you AL..? We need a Chelsea match thread and you're on a roll. If AL fails to appear before tonight [let's say 9pm] the next in line of the match threaders can take his place. Hence, you can be called AL. Geddit..? OK, it's a stretch. Match comments can start here if you want and then a mod can merge it. LOOK BELOW. He responded..!
You call, and I answer TSS. Sorry about the delay in starting the thread, but I'm not used to following up on a previous match thread because we never usually win! So, we return to league action at Stamford Bridge, fresh from a rather fun looking team building trip to Switzerland, and 11 days without competitive action. No excuses for tiredness then, or indeed any gloves... It has been a tricky spell for us, scoring just twice in our last 6 league games, but hopefully our narrow win against Palace last Tuesday was the kick start we need to find our goalscoring touch again. Although, we face the toughest test away to the league leaders on Sunday. I suppose it is difficult to know whether this is a good time to play Chelsea. They were poor in their Champions League exit on Wednesday, albeit PSG were superb, and the question is whether they will be downbeat on the back of that, or whether they will bounce back with a vengeance. Money on the latter, I say. We have nothing to lose in this one really, as we are expected to get nothing, and wouldn't have penciled in anything from this at the start of the season, but you never know in football. If we can get the first goal, then we may be able to nick something. Spurs play United on Sunday too, so anything will be a bonus to make up ground on those guys. This one is live on Sky Sports on Sunday, and is a 13.30 kick off, for those who didn't already know. Last six games (League): Chelsea (1st) - WDWWDW Saints (7th) - LWDLLW Referee: Mike Dean Team News: Chelsea: Matic returns in the league from suspension, although looked tired last night. Look to have a fully fit squad barring any knocks picked up vs PSG. Saints: Toby returned to the squad vs Palace, and could start. Rodriguez and Mayuka still out. My Saints XI: -----------------------Forster----------------------- -----------Yoshida --- Fonte---Alderweireld------------ Clyne----Davis----Schneiderlin----Wanyama----Bertrand -----------------Pelle----------------Mane----------------- Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Saints
Costa is well overdue being shown a red card - how he hasn't been shown one yet I do not know (his 3 game ban was imposed on video evidence). Hope it's this game.
Saints: 30 Sirigu 05 Marquinhos 02 Thiago Silva 32 David Luiz 17 Maxwell 24 Verratti 08 Motta 14 Matuidi 27 Pastore 10 Mané 09 Cavani
I'm not expecting any inroads to be made on the top 6 this weekend, despite Chelsea having played on Wednesday. Still, anything would be a nice bonus. Where I do expect us to start getting in there is when we play the opposition further down the table and our rivals are playing each other. But we must solve our scoring problem or we will stay where we are.
Would be a chortle, and maybe even a guffaw, if our travelling fans did something baby-related on Sunday. Wearing bibs, or taking cuddly toys with them etc. Failing that, maybe a rendition of the timeless dance-floor filler 'Baby', by Justin Bieber.
Thanks, v helpful after working 12 days straight including 4 days over 12hrs. We don't all have time to spend every minute on bbc sport.
Sorry I'm just a little cranky after a long stint. I'm not always up on current affairs and it can make you feel stupid when you don't know something obvious to others.
Lovelocum, I find the best way to make the time pass during a long shift, is to occassionally take a sneeky peak at the BBC Sport site, in order to keep up with current affairs.
