Team v Chelsea

[BringBack_leGin]

RB is interesting and whoever Harry goes for will show who he views as first choice.

Corluka links better with Lennon and he's the better defender of the two in terms of positional sense and reading of the game but he lacks Hutton's pace and agression. Indiviudually Hutton is much better going foward too but again Corluka's understanding with Lennon probably enhances Lennon's performance somewhat and the balance of the right side, given Lennon's ability to help and cover his full back, might be better.

Interesting choices....

I used to think this, but I think the way players link together has far more to do with form and time together than anything else. EG: Hutton, when he first joined, was on form, but Lennon was not, and they didn't link. The next two seasons saw Charlie and Lennon both on form for the most part and looking great together. This season started with both Charlie and Lennon off form and looking dreadful together, while now that Hutton and Lennon are both on form, and have had a run of games together too, they are actually linking well. Lennon comes in for Hutton to overlap all the time, while Huttons passing is improving and he's putting in a fair few good balls over the top of left backs for Lennon to dart onto. It's working basically.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Gomes
Hutton Gallas Kaboul Ekotto
-------Palacios--Sandro
Lennon------Modric-----Bale
----------Crouch



But I think it will be Palacios and Modric in CM, with Crouch and Defoe up front.

You think Sandro should be thrown out there in a game like this? I'm not so sure, although I would certainly want someone else alongside Palacios but with JJ/Hudd injured we are a bit stuffed.

 

[danielneeds]

_____________Gomes____________

Hutton___Gallas___Kaboul_____BAE

Lennon__Modric___Palacios___Bale

______Defoe_____Pavlyuchenko___

 

[beats1]

Harry's not that stupid to start pav and defoe, playing 2 strikers who cant hold retain the ball :-|

He wants the win the game not lose. Should be the same team at liverpool

Err we beat a better chelsea side last season with Pav and defoe starting

 

[Wellspurs]

I'd go with this team too. With them having Lampard back and everyone bigging us up for this game (including Drogba) I can only see one result a Chelski win. They will be so up for this game after their recent results, and any time we are expected to win we manage to mess it up. However if we do get a result it will prove just how far we have come on as a team. COYS

Lampard is out and I think he would have been a real filip for them so fingers crossed a Spurs win.

 

[danielneeds]

Err we beat a better chelsea side last season with Pav and defoe starting

Exactly. Crouch is the sort of match up Terry craves, someone who is actually slower and less mobile than himself.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

You think Sandro should be thrown out there in a game like this? I'm not so sure, although I would certainly want someone else alongside Palacios but with JJ/Hudd injured we are a bit stuffed.

With JJ and Hudd out it's sink or swim time for Sandro IMO. We just can't keep getting away with having such little tenacity in the team every week. And I still fervently believe that Modric is far more use in their third than ours.

I'll whisper this so as not to be accused of writing him off, which I'm not, but I haven't been exactly blown away by Sandro (and wasn't exactly blown away with what I saw before he came), but I'm all for giving the bloke a fair crack as he hasn't looked hopeless either and he does have good experience and international experience for Brazil.

 

[double0]

.................Gomes
Corluka Dawson Gallas Assou-Ekotto
....Lennon Palacios Modric Bale
Pavluychenko Defoe

 

[pablo73]

Gomes
Hutton Gallas Kaboul Ekotto
-------Palacios--Sandro
Lennon------Modric-----Bale
----------Crouch



But I think it will be Palacios and Modric in CM, with Crouch and Defoe up front.

I cannot get my head round this team selection. Chavski are there for the taking, looking incredibly shakey at the back, so let's go one up top with Crouch? That would be the answer to terry's prayers. Got to go Defoe & pav up front, take out Sandro and then that's the team. They are there for the taking.

 

[ShelfSide18]

With JJ and Hudd out it's sink or swim time for Sandro IMO. We just can't keep getting away with having such little tenacity in the team every week. And I still fervently believe that Modric is far more use in their third than ours.

I'll whisper this so as not to be accused of writing him off, which I'm not, but I haven't been exactly blown away by Sandro (and wasn't exactly blown away with what I saw before he came), but I'm all for giving the bloke a fair crack as he hasn't looked hopeless either and he does have good experience and international experience for Brazil.

It's certainly the way I would want to set up, if JJ and Huddles were fit it would be an obvious team selection, I just don't think I want Sandro chucked in there on such an occasion, and I can't see Redknapp playing him in a month of sundays. As you say it would be sink or swim, but Chelsea will be well up for this and will probably aim to start quickly so Sandro would have to be right on his game and pick up the pace quickly - sorry, I just think that would be asking for trouble.

 

[spurs_viola]

....

I'm going to go for the team similar to the one we played when we spanked them last season.

Gomes
Corluka Dawson Gallas Ekotto
Lennon Modric Palacios Bale
Defoe Crouch​

...

I think your memory played tricks here - Crouch was an unused sub in that vital game, and it was Pav who actually was very involved throughout that match, setting up Bale for the decisive goal: (from Official Site match report) "The second goal was always going to be vital and Bale was there to deliver. This time, Pavlyuchenko played the perfect pass in behind Ferreira and Bale got onto the ball, cut inside the full-back and drilled home with his right foot."

 

[tony_parkes]

Gomes

Corluka
Dawson
Gallas
BAE

Lennon
Palacios
Modric
Bale

Crouch
Defoe

I prefer Charlie to Hutton, they both have strengths and weaknesses but I feel more confident defensively with Vedran in the side.

 

[walworthyid]

I think your memory played tricks here - Crouch was an unused sub in that vital game, and it was Pav who actually was very involved throughout that match, setting up Bale for the decisive goal: (from Official Site match report) "The second goal was always going to be vital and Bale was there to deliver. This time, Pavlyuchenko played the perfect pass in behind Ferreira and Bale got onto the ball, cut inside the full-back and drilled home with his right foot."

Despite being unable to hit a barn door with a banjo Pav was magnificent in that game, probably his best for us. I think we should just pick the most effective team we have with the only real issue being Crouch or Pav. I'm really not sure on that one at all. Pav's movement could cause them problems but Crouch is a very good foil for someone getting in and around him.

Difficult one, but I think that ultimately it is going to be about Lennon and Bale winning their battles. If we can pin them back we will create chances and we will win. They are slow and predictable and although you can never be sure against a top side like them, I feel that we have reached the level now where we will look at the points rather than the opponents. It's just another biggish game where points are on offer.

 

[ChristianBaler]

I used to think this, but I think the way players link together has far more to do with form and time together than anything else. EG: Hutton, when he first joined, was on form, but Lennon was not, and they didn't link. The next two seasons saw Charlie and Lennon both on form for the most part and looking great together. This season started with both Charlie and Lennon off form and looking dreadful together, while now that Hutton and Lennon are both on form, and have had a run of games together too, they are actually linking well. Lennon comes in for Hutton to overlap all the time, while Huttons passing is improving and he's putting in a fair few good balls over the top of left backs for Lennon to dart onto. It's working basically.

Well said, Hutton's done nothing wrong since he's come in. He'll get the start ahead of Charlie.

 

[BelgianBrownie]

Chap on COYS (not a regular poster nor recognised ITK) suggesting Gallas is out and Kaboul not ready.

Anyone heard anything?

 

[guy]

back to daws and bassong then! Ive got no issues with that quite frankly

 

[Mr Pink]

Chap on COYS (not a regular poster nor recognised ITK) suggesting Gallas is out and Kaboul not ready.

Anyone heard anything?

Re Gallas
How the hell could that be the case unless something has happened late this afternoon or early evening - which is extremely unlikely.

Kaboul is availabile, so we have been told...

 

[Mr Pink]

I think your memory played tricks here - Crouch was an unused sub in that vital game, and it was Pav who actually was very involved throughout that match, setting up Bale for the decisive goal: (from Official Site match report) "The second goal was always going to be vital and Bale was there to deliver. This time, Pavlyuchenko played the perfect pass in behind Ferreira and Bale got onto the ball, cut inside the full-back and drilled home with his right foot."

Didn't Bale start that run from deep, like near the half way line or just over it?

It was hardly an incisive pass as the Chelsea defence were organised when Bale was coming on to them...hardly a cracking assist.

That said Pav was very involved but couldn't finish anything off, should of had a hatrick.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I cannot get my head round this team selection. Chavski are there for the taking, looking incredibly shakey at the back, so let's go one up top with Crouch? That would be the answer to terry's prayers. Got to go Defoe & pav up front, take out Sandro and then that's the team. They are there for the taking.

It's certainly the way I would want to set up, if JJ and Huddles were fit it would be an obvious team selection, I just don't think I want Sandro chucked in there on such an occasion, and I can't see Redknapp playing him in a month of sundays. As you say it would be sink or swim, but Chelsea will be well up for this and will probably aim to start quickly so Sandro would have to be right on his game and pick up the pace quickly - sorry, I just think that would be asking for trouble.

Like I said, Sandro has yet to get me jizzing, but I'm not concerned with the blokes temperament, he's played in massive games and won the S American equivalent of the Champions league.

Chelsea have been on a bad run, but not playing badly and this is a game they will be massively up for. Get him and Palacios in there all wound up for battle and let them earn the right for Modric, Bale and Lennon to do their stuff.

Personally I'm fucking sick of this benevolent lottery shit we've been playing. It's not just about personnel though, we have got to start changing the way we approach games.

 

[BelgianBrownie]

Re Gallas
How the hell could that be the case unless something has happened late this afternoon or early evening - which is extremely unlikely.

Kaboul is availabile, so we have been told...

Exactly my thoughts :up: (and the thoughts of most on COYS).