Just when things feel like they can’t get any worse, they inevitably do. One nil down to Spurs last weekend and Mikel hobbled off injured, two nil down and three substitutions made, Drogba starts limping.
It’s been much the same this week. Initially reports suggested that Essien might be ready to make a comeback in this weekend’s vital game against Stoke, but the club later quashed that rumour by confirming he almost certainly won’t play again this season. Similarly the prognosis on Mikel looked promising initially, with the club suggesting he was just ‘a doubt’ for Sunday. Soon afterwards came the news that he may not play against this season either.
Chelsea now look alarmingly short of options in the defensive midfield role, but hopefully Ballack or Deco should be able to do more than a good enough job against a team who shouldn’t enjoy long spells of possession.
In defence there is mixed news, too. Ashley Cole, arguably Chelsea’s best player of the season until his untimely injury in early February, is fit to return and Ivanovic suffered no ill effects after his strong second half showing against Spurs. John Terry however, will of course miss the Stoke game.
And it is the Chelsea captain’s absence that Stoke are most pleased about. Potters’ coach Mark O’Connor is in a bullish mood, saying “I don’t think they’ve got other players of his (Terry’s) ability. They’ve got players coming in of a good standard but I’m hoping they’ll miss him and we can exploit that. There’s a belief within our squad that we can get something at Chelsea.”
If Chelsea play anything like they did against Spurs, he might just be right. But Chelsea have responded well to bad results over the last few months, and there is a marked difference between the team’s results home and away. At Stamford Bridge the Blues have won a massive 84% of games (albeit including some awkward performances, against Bolton for example) scoring nearly three goals a game on average. Away from home, Chelsea have won just 50% of their matches.
Utd will win against Spurs on Saturday (it’s telling that Spurs haven’t won away from home against a ‘big four’ side in 66 games – yes, 66 games), so a repeat of Chelsea’s two wins so far this season against Stoke is a must. If Chelsea don’t get a result, it won’t be because of the defence – Ivanovic is just as capable as Terry when countering long throws and balls into the box - it will be because the players put in another insipid performance. Chelsea need to give an explosive performance early on and set the tone for the match, to avoid the run-in jitters that will otherwise inevitably follow.
Please Ferreira should not play again for chelsea, better play Belleti or Bruma.
Posted by: Osita Collins | 23 April 2010 at 15:06
Osita - I agree that Ferreira had a mare against Spurs in the first half, but prior to that I think he's been very good for the games he's played. Just think he was caught out against Bale who was too fast and mobile for him. Against more 'straightforward' players I reckon he's ok.
Beletti - he hasn't been around for a bit. So if not Ferreira, I reckon go with one of the youth players.
Posted by: bridgeviews.co.uk | 23 April 2010 at 15:15
Just to mention that Ferreira coped fine at left back the last time that we played Stoke in the FA Cup. Bale was in exceptional form and the problem against Spurs was that Paulo was not sufficiently backed up by the rest of the defence.
Sunday NEEDS to be a win. We all know we should never rely on Spurs, but I still harbour hopes for a draw at Old Trafford. If United beat both Spurs and Sunderland away (a difficult place to go this year), then we need to win at Anfield. Ugh.
Posted by: Chris | 23 April 2010 at 15:34
JEFFY BRUMA REPLACING TERRY, AND IVANOVIC STARTING AT THE RIGHT BAACK WILL BE OK. YURI REPLACING MIKEL WHILE BALLACK TAKING THE HOLDING MIDFIELD ROLE OF MIKEL. DROGBA AND ANELKA BOTH START, MALOUDA AND LAMPARD COMPLETING THE STARTING ELEVEN WILL BE FINE AGAINST STOKE,,, UP DA BLUES
Posted by: JOEPH IBEM OKE | 23 April 2010 at 16:12
so chelsea: chech, ivanovic,A. cole, Ballack, Alex, Brumma, Yuri, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Malouda. we will beat stoke surely.
Posted by: joseph ibem oke | 23 April 2010 at 16:17
I seem to recall that Belletti played well in the midfield holding role earlier in the season, before getting injured. He's also more of a goal threat than JMO. John Mi' gives away a lot of freekicks - and we don't want to do that against a team like Stoke.
Posted by: Capleton | 23 April 2010 at 17:39
Mikel being injured is a blessing...the man is the most unimproved player at CFC. and a major liability in most games that he plays.
Why does everyone seem to hate Ferreira so much. he is one of the most undervalued players CFC have ever had.
Posted by: Paul Hunter | 23 April 2010 at 21:47
Please Ferreira should not play again for chelsea, better play Belleti or Bruma.
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Most ridiculous comment ever!
And how many times has CFC lost with Ferreira playing?
Posted by: Bridge | 24 April 2010 at 10:43