please log in to view this image VS please log in to view this image Afternoon blues, I for one am dying to get this game over with. Napoli away is definitely our most difficult fixture this season so far imo and mostly down to our recent performances I am not feeling Confident AVB had said in the post-match interview from the Birmingham game that it's a different situation altogether and the mental preperation will be completely different from that game leading into this one, and that tension and emotion comes into play a lot more. Here is an interesting read http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17090993 These guys are gagging for this game, I'll bet more so than any of our players. Which is why my prediction is 2-0 Napoli. I am hoping we can get an away goal but we're not scoring for toffee at the moment. My predicted line up is this one (AVB's choice): please log in to view this image I think he will foolishly start Bosingwa AGAIN and probably take off Mata for Malouda or something inept like that. My own suggested line up : please log in to view this image I would love Terry to play but looks like he won't make it, I've read rumours AVB will start him no matter what but I doubt they're true. If Terry doesn't play then Lampard should play and I'd stick Mata out on the left and put Lamps in the middle for Meireles in that case. Let's hope we do the Premier League proud and get as far as possible being the only English team in the best club comp in the world KTBFFH!!
My team is as follows. please log in to view this image I think if Torres / Cole / Malouda get into the team, we will be struggling. kalou choosen wide down to the fact he looked aight in ACON.... and with the quality we have he deserves a chance at the very least. He has talent he just does idiotic stuff sometimes and is very frustrating. If we put the squad i picked out we will win.. anything diffrent and we will struggle.
Good choice, Kalou looked quite bright when he came on the other day but we've all seen him come off the bench and do it before then start the next game like a complete fool. Love the midfield but I can't see AVB trying it, Meireles will start imo.
And i agree with all your comments lol.... such a sad day when fans could probably do his job better, or it at least seems that way. I do like meireles, but i think he is more effective against lower oppositions and gets lost on a bigger stage.
I'd love to see this but can't see him changing the system please log in to view this image Admittedly 5-3-2 is dated but I think it would work really well. Anyone disagree?
It's the same formation Napoli play apparently too lol, just looked it up. What a coinkydink. please log in to view this image
Neutralise Hamsik with Ramires, man mark Cavani and Lavezzi to death, park the midfield and defence, and we may get a shot at a 1-0 victory our way.
Chelsea team vs Napoli -----------------------Cech------------------- Ivanovic---David Luiz---Terry---Bosingwa -----Ramires---Essien---Meireles----- Sturridge--------Drogba-----------Mata Subs: Turnbull, Cahill, Bertrand, Mikel, Lampard, Malouda, Torres.
No not confirmed yet. That's just the first XI I predicted AVB could field. Think Terry has a chance of playing. But Cole is still out injured. So Bosingwa will play at left back. Also you are right Torres has been dropped to the bench.
think it'll be: - cech bos ivan Luiz Cole Essien Ramieres Lampard Mata Drogba Sturridge Terry is struggling to be fit but Cole should make it. 100% he'll start with Drogba!! 2-1 Napoli. Really not fancying this!
I have a feeling JT could be at worst on the bench --if not playing! AVB is playing his cards very close to his chest!
I do fancy it.... Really hope Cole does not start.. Why am i the only one who can see how poor he is?
My advice would be don't open up the team for 70 mins.. then try to score a goal in the remaining 20 mins. A 1-1 draw is good enough to progress in the next round.
I agree but I think we need his experience tonight. Napoli play wide with their full backs so he shouldn't be as exposed as he usually is.
If we can keep them at bay for the first 30 minutes or so we can then start to have a go at the end of the first half and do the same in the second. We will have spells no doubt it's just whether we can cut out errors and make the most of our chances. As much as I'm willing Nando to come good, we need a big Drogba performance tonight.
What do you make of this? Apparently AVB left a piece of paper with his team for tonight in the hotel and italian media picked it up. http://api.ning.com/files/Q-nLjCYTT...dbgrQURJBkcr0tgcPS7HhJyBwF9w/avbteamsheet.jpg Someone within the hotel has taken photographs of his notes and passed the images to Italian media, undermining the coach and his selection for tonight's crucial game against locals Napoli. It appears to show that Didier Drogba will not be starting the game and that Gary Cahill will. Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Meireles, Ramires, Lampard, Sturridge and Mata are the remaining outfield players. The authenticity of the leak is not known but, according to La Gazzetta, Napoli's coach is already planning to counter the selection.
