CHELSEA v STOKE CITY - MATCH THREAD

[fortressbritannia]

I'd like to see a similar team that finished the match against Norwich with the exception of Jones, the 2 upfront are going to have to run the channels against Chelsea quite a bit and Jones didn't do that once against Norwich even whe we were under the cosh.

Begovic

Wilko Huth Shawcross Wilson

Pennant Whitehead Whelan Etherington

Walters Jerome

Bench: Sorensen, Shotton, Upson, Palacios, Delap, Fuller, Crouch

With Walters and Jerome upfront its gives us plent of movement, pace and energy which could be helpful for us on the counter attack with jerome especially when Luis goes on one of his attacking runs there should be quite a bit of room for him to work with.

Prediction Chelsea 2-2 Stoke.

[casper113]

i can see some big changes for this game, tp might be looking at resting a lot for the liverpool game. i think liverpool game is much bigger so out will come the reserve side.

2-0 chelsea

[Staffsoatcake]

Some pace uo front against Terry wont go amiss.

[fortressbritannia]

Mar 8, 2012 10:37:01 GMT Staffsoatcake said:

Some pace uo front against Terry wont go amiss.

Terry's injured its likely to be Cahill and David Luiz at the back

[Deleted]

A return to the Valencia system would be nice:

Begovic

Shotton
Huth
Shawcross
Wilson

Whitehead
Whelan
Palacios

Walters
Crouch
Etherington

But it will no doubt be the tried and tested away formation:

Begovic

Wilkinson
Huth
Shawcross
Wilson

Shotton
Whitehead
Whelan
Etherington

Walters

Crouch

[dexter97]

Is Wilko fit? If not, I can see him continuing with Shotton at RB and JP on the right, but resting Ethers (following his comments in the press earlier in the week about protecting him).

I'll have a little imaginary flutter on:

Begovic

Shotton - Huth - Ryan - Wilson

Pennant - Whitehead - Palacios - Walters

Jerome - Crouch

[tomsviews]

Begovic
Wilkinson - Shawcross - Huth - Wilson

Shotton - Whitehead - Palacios - Arismendi - Walters

Crouch

Subs
Sorenson, Upson, Etherington, Whelan, Jones, Jerome, Fuller

1-1
Crouch and Torres.

[Deleted]

m.wilson still makes me nervous especially his passing

[oasis]

I would like to see something similar to Valencia away....the pace up front but a more solid defence. We should attack their defence, they're shit...especially Luiz and Cahill!

Cue Walters and Crouch up top, with walters dropping in to def......Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Oh and a goal for Luiz, Cahill and three for Torres! Inevitable

[JoeinOz]

Unsoiled sheet

[y_oh_y_delilah]

Mar 8, 2012 23:30:53 GMT JoeinOz said:

Unsoiled sheet

So pleased to hear you've solved your bed-wetting problem Joe!

[thfc6061]

Lawro's Prediction for Chelsea v Stoke City

The daft thing about Chelsea is that basically it is their owner Roman Abramovich's money which keeps them going, and it is Roman Abramovich's decisions which keep knocking them back. What I really want to know is who Abramovich listens to, because whoever is giving him advice is not giving him good advice.

After seeing how the Blues have hired and fired managers in recent years, it was inevitable that Andre Villas-Boas would be sacked but Abramovich has just made a rod for his own back.

Abramovich's next appointment is a massive appointment for Chelsea but a few of the bigger names seem to have already distanced themselves from the job and you can understand why because why would you want to go there just to get sacked after six months?

So there are some big decisions to be made at Stamford Bridge but, as far as this game goes, Chelsea should be fine. Stoke have now won two in a row after their little slump. They are a handful but I still cannot see them getting anything here.

I think Roberto Di Matteo will rally the troops and one of the better things Abramovich has done in recent weeks is to address the Chelsea players and tell them they are playing for their places and their futures, so get on with it.

In all honesty, that was something Abramovich should have done it three months ago because that was when Villas-Boas needed it.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City


Here are all of Lawro's 2011-12 Premier League predictions, together with how the League Table would look like if his forecasts were correct...

www.myfootballfacts.com/Mark_Lawrensons_Predictions_2011-12.html

[Deleted]

Walters and pace in the same sentence must be a first where as walters 1 every 20 is. A bit closer

[Deleted]

Having said that I would play him tomorrow if it meant I didnt have to endure him at anfield.but we know he will unbelievably start. Both

[Los Alfareros]

Fortunately I have been called into work tomorrow, which spares me the agony of having to watch it in the pub with my two Chelsea loving mates.

Saying that, for some reason I am strangely optimistic of getting something out of the game, but then again I have been drinking steadily for seven hours.

See you all on here tomorrow at six.

[darksideofthemoon]

Mar 8, 2012 10:39:00 GMT fortressbritannia said:

Mar 8, 2012 10:37:01 GMT Staffsoatcake said:

Some pace uo front against Terry wont go amiss.

Terry's injured its likely to be Cahill and David Luiz at the back

I understood that Terry is returning for this game....I think they're hoping that the new coach and his return will get them back on the road again!

Sh*t I'd love to see us beat 'em!!

[podolipotter]

Will it be a 70-30 possession game once more? Will we lose to two scrappy goals? Or will we go out there with an attacking frame of mind and smack em with two quick goals - and then lose?
Either way, I just hope that the team somehow draw out some praise from the pundits and the media rather than contempt at our lack of flair. Lets play a bit of football for a change, regardless.

[musik]

Difficult one.

I might buy this one - Internet tv subscription - since tv isn't showing any football today here, not even from the Championships. Instead they focus in icehockey.

Chelsea 2 - Stoke 0, or something else.



mobile//:musik

[cozmick]

4 - 0 Chelsea, move along, nothing to see here.

[Stephen Frys' Ring]

From Stamford Bridge in my time machine...Rics' last minute winner was a cracker and well deserved....ooooppsss sorry not use to this time travel malarky.

Oh well,get on the 2-1 away win folks with Fuller to score anytime (nudge nudge wink wink) ;D

[denfcdk]

Come on, Potters!!!
Difficult...
but what about 1-1 in London?!

[th05]

GOARRRRRRRRNNNNNN STOKE!!

[pulismaskreplica]

Strangely optimistic - I think we'll get a point today 1-1.

Begovic
Woodgate
Huth
Shawcross
Wilson
Shotton
Whitehead
Whelan
Walters
Crouch
Jerome

[stokienorthants]

Could I borrow that machine of yours to get tonight's Lottery numbers?

[smigchop]

4-51/ 4-3-3 for me today

Bego
Shotton ShawX Huth Wilson
Palacios Whitehead Whelan
Jerome Ethers
Crouch/Jones

[RMSCFC]

Venue:
Stamford Bridge

Capacity:
41,837

Chelsea
Manager:
Roberto Di Matteo

Stoke
Manager:
Tony Pulis

Possible Teams:

Chelsea
Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole, Lampard, Ramires, Meireles, Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Stoke
Sorensen, Huth, Woodgate, Shawcross, Shotton, Whelan, Wilson, Whitehead, Etherington, Walters, Crouch.

[ihaveadream]

Chelsea 1 (A Loveratcheatingdivingpremadonnascummer) Stoke 2 (Conroy, Eastham, Jones, Fuller)

[Caerwrangonpotter]

Salif bags a 90th minute bullet header to win the game..........maybe

[Deleted]

right then, enough of the relgation battle, let's concentrate on the push for the Euro places

Looks a sunny spring day in Landan ... So nice I think our mascot has nipped off for a sunbathe

[JoeinOz]

John Terry. A block of mediocrity.