carvalho probably out of first leg

[Guest kopkin]

looks like their defence is fooked. ballack may be out as well (oh well there had to be some bad news)

they're going to want to protect their back four now so i'm guessing shevchenkowill be dropped (double damn) and their team will be

 

cech

ferreira

terry

boulahrouz

bridge

swp

makele

lampard

mikel

cole

drogba

 

we're due a win at the bridge, i reckon.

[Herbie von Smalls]

wouldn't be surprised if some of these injuries/omissions were part of mourinho's kiddology ahead of wednesday's match. shame they backfired today

[Guest Banjo]

cech

ferreira

terry

boulahrouz

bridge

 

I'd hardly describe that as fooked.

 

Cech and Terry are as good as anyone in those positions. Ferreira a good player and Bridge has been playing better than Cole throughout the season.

 

It's going to be tough game.

[Nebraska Red]

i would not believe a word coming out of Stamford bridge for the next few days.

 

whoever they put out will present a huge challenge for us, not just from the playing stand point, but also a mental one.

 

any kind of scoring draw, or a win of course, will do me. i reckon it's vital we do something we do not do too often at the Bridge, score a goal, or more than one.

[Guest Portly]

If Boulahrouz plays for them, it will be good news for us, in my opinion. He's extremely clumsy and liable to pick up yellow cards.

[SkippyjonJones]

I don;t f***ing care who f***ing plays for them. we are gonna beat them like a rented mule.

 

its all about passion and desire and we still have more than them.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

I don;t f***ing care who f***ing plays for them. we are gonna beat them like a rented mule.

[fyds]

Essien is suspended and Ferreira is kak. As for the rest - we'll see.

[Maldini]

Diarra has been playing RB for them recently

[magneto]

Where does Mourinho say Carvahlo is out? I only see one link and its from Tribalbulls***.

[psl]

Where does Mourinho say Carvahlo is out? I only see one link and its from Tribalbulls***.

 

He said it in his BBC interview but I don't believe him for a second.

[Swagger]

i would not believe a word coming out of Stamford bridge for the next few days.

 

Neither will Rafa.

 

Rafa is far too clever and experienced to fall for Mourinho's little mind games. He knows Chelsea's strengths as well as their weaknesses inside out.

[Benitez]

looks like their defence is fooked. ballack may be out as well (oh well there had to be some bad news)

they're going to want to protect their back four now so i'm guessing shevchenkowill be dropped (double damn) and their team will be

 

cech

ferreira

terry

boulahrouz

bridge

swp

makele

lampard

mikel

cole

drogba

 

we're due a win at the bridge, i reckon.

 

 

why are you guessing Shevchenko will be dropped? It's only in Europe he's actually done anything of note for them. He didn't start yesterday, probably for that very reason.

Edited April 23, 2007 by Benitez

[Leo No.8]

Remember Mourinho saying 'we knew the team they'd play for a month before' after we beat them at Anfield when both Terry and Carvalho were out - this is pretty obviously an attempt to put some questions in Rafa's head about which team to play.

 

Personally I don't think it'll make any difference either way - apart from that game Rafa has gone consistently with Crouch up front on his own and a man in the hole behind him against Chelsea, it was only when they had no centre halves at all he played two up top.

 

It has been Garcia with some success in that hole more often than not, but I think it'll be Gerrard this time. I can see...

 

Reina

 

Finnan Agger Carra Arbeloa

 

Alonso Mascherano

 

Pennant Gerrard Gonzalez

 

Crouch

[Mike]

no way he'll play gonzalez ahead of riise

[Lee W]

....

Edited April 23, 2007 by Lee W

[psl]

I'd be absolutely amazed if Riise didn't play. He plays in all the big games and has a great scoring record both against Chelsea and in the Champions League.

[Mondavi]

Remember Mourinho saying 'we knew the team they'd play for a month before' after we beat them at Anfield when both Terry and Carvalho were out - this is pretty obviously an attempt to put some questions in Rafa's head about which team to play.

 

Personally I don't think it'll make any difference either way - apart from that game Rafa has gone consistently with Crouch up front on his own and a man in the hole behind him against Chelsea, it was only when they had no centre halves at all he played two up top.

 

It has been Garcia with some success in that hole more often than not, but I think it'll be Gerrard this time. I can see...

 

Reina

 

Finnan Agger Carra Arbeloa

 

Alonso Mascherano

 

Pennant Gerrard Gonzalez

 

Crouch

 

didnt he play kuyt/bellamy at the bridge in the league this year ?

 

 

I can see Bellamy playing to try and stretch them in the away leg. Crouch with a man in the hole for the home leg if we get a draw or victory on wednesday.

Edited April 23, 2007 by Mondavi

[magneto]

Chelsea will see our left-full back role as our weakest link.

[Falconhoof]

Chelsea will see our left-full back role as our weakest link.

 

But not as weak as Geremi at RB for them.

 

In fact, if he plays Arbeloa there, which I think he will, then its not a weak link at all. He's looking like a very strong player. Why do you think it'll be a weak link ?

Edited April 23, 2007 by Graham

[Leo No.8]

I'd be absolutely amazed if Riise didn't play. He plays in all the big games and has a great scoring record both against Chelsea and in the Champions League.

 

Sorry, my mistake.

 

Meant to put Riise in there on the left just forgot him for a moment, it'll definitely be him and rightly so.

[Stevie H]

carvalho will play.

[Cunny]

carvalho will play.

 

 

yup! nothing more certain...

[Bailo]

Don't believe Jose for a minute about Carvalho. Cost him big time yesterday though. Think he was enviously (in a weird way) looking at our ability to rest players on Sat and tried a little experiment himself.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

carvalho will play.

 

Has there been any comments on his injury, only saw this from the Times

 

With Chelsea centre-back Ricardo Carvalho ruled out due to a studiously unspecified training-ground injury

 

Smells like sweaty b*ll*cks to me !