Monday 30 September 2013

Match Preview: Tottenham Vs Chelsea




WHEN: Saturday, September 28, 2013. 12:45 UK TIME

WHERE: White Hart Lane, London, England

With back to back wins in all competitions after two consecutive losses, Chelsea have responded well to the crisis jibes. 

Against Swindon, the boys could have scored more but inadequate clinical ability meant they had to make do with two goals against an underdog team that performed decently well and tried causing them problems.

Chelsea will now travel once again, this time to White Hart Lane and play derby rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham have lost only one game this season, against Arsenal in another derby. Chelsea beat Tottenham 4-2 last season at White Hart Lane.

TEAM NEWS

Marco van Ginkel got an unfortunately nasty injury in the last game, he will be unavailable for at least six months. With the exception of Kenneth Omeruo, Tomas Kalas and maybe Ramires (who Mourinho says is a doubt but will be part of the squad).


PREDICTED LINEUP

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There are not many more difficult jobs than predicting Jose Mourinho's starting 11. In the eleven I chose, only Gary Cahill started against Swindon town.

Just like most Chelsea fans, I believe Fernando Torres deserves to start. Jose Mourinho once suggested that MOTM in a game will start the next but only Samuel Eto'o didn't play during the week of the three strikers.

The trio of Schurrle-Oscar-Hazard are almost sure to start but there's a chance Juan Mata displaces Andre Schurrle. "Mazacar" fans might need to wait a little longer. Jose Mourinho was pleased with Mata's overall contribution against Swindon.

Ramires is an injury doubt, Marco is out, Essien played very well for 90 minutes against Swindon. Mikel-Lampard is the most likely partnership in midfield. I won't be surprised if Jose opts for Mikel-Essien pivot. 

KEY PLAYER: OSCAR DOS SANTOS


Oscar has arguably been Chelsea's best player this season. He scored Chelsea's opening goal of the season and in the Uefa Champions League too. He also scored what some may call a fluke goal against Fulham in his last appearance.

Jose Mourinho gave him a break, he wasn't included in the squad against Swindon town. His time off is set to pay dividend against spurs. Oscar will come up against countryman and National teammate Paulinho. 

Oscar has decided games in his short time at Chelsea, under Jose Mourinho he has decided even more games. If your manager says you are his No. 10, that's a huge responsibility and that makes him my key player for this one.

Chelsea bench: Mark Schwarzer, David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta, Michael Essien, Willian, Juan Mata, Fernando Torres.

A PEEP INTO THE ENEMY'S CAMP


My first real attempt to give an opposition scouting report, inspired by WAGNH. I hope I don't get you bored.

It's a London derby, derbies are generally difficult games anywhere in the world. Chelsea have had the upper hand over Tottenham in the past but it's a derby so all that goes into the bin.

Spurs have had a better start to the season, they have conceded only one goal so far (the fewest in the division) while Chelsea have conceded two goals. But then it's a London derby, so form goes straight into the bin.

Each team will have to rely on what they can do on the pitch and not what they already did. While the abilities of the players will be a deciding factor, Andre Villas Boas and Jose Mourinho will be the huge deciding factor. Who will get his tactics right? Who will motivate his players better? 

Andre Villas Boas has moved on from his rigid 4-3-3 formation, he at least learnt that at Chelsea, you owe us that one Andre! Tottenham now operate in the same shape, 4-2-3-1. 

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Tottenham have had a good start, sitting on second position on the league table with same points with league leaders, Arsenal, But just like Chelsea, they have struggled for goals. Spurs have managed just (5) goals this season, one goal less than Chelsea have managed.

Their defence has been solid so far, conceded just one goal so far, one more than Chelsea. Their pivot pairing of Dembele and Paulinho is still growing. Both players are very energetic, Dembele especially has an insane work rate. Both of them will be ready to mark Oscar out of the game, the little Brazilian will need lot of help from Eden Hazard and Lampard especially. 

Villas Boas just like Jose Mourinho is yet to find his best attacking trio. He has made more use of inverted wingers who can cut inside and shot or create. Eriksen has impressed so far, he can create scoring opportunities if allowed to and can score wonder goals too. Mikel Obi will need to track and out-power Eriksen, If Obi gets the better of Eriksen, Frank Lampard will get enough freedom to get forward and help Oscar out. Eriksen looks the safest of my projected 11.

Roberto Soldado is more of a goal poacher who wants the ball in the box so he can pounce on it. Gary Cahill has to take his blocking skills along and John Terry will need to keep an eye on him. Soldado won't cause much problems in the air... He has scored two penalties this season, no goal in open play, none of Chelsea's strikers has scored in the Premier League this season. 

Chelsea wingers won't be facing the toughest possible battle this season. They therefore will have no excuse not make things happen. Eden Hazard, I'm looking at you!

PREDICTION: Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea



The two teams scored ten goals in 180 minutes last season but both teams have become very miserly this season. I believe this is the sort of encounter, a single goal can decide. And so I just tilted my head in a Chelsea fan's direction.

Brilliant football expected and wastefulness in front of goal also expected. Maybe one of Chelsea's defenders will decide this one.

Monday 23 September 2013

Tactical Preview: Swindon Town Vs Chelsea



So, we can at least be happy we are back to winning ways after home victory over Fulham. The match against Swindon will be a chance to get a winning streak started and be in good shape for our upcoming London derby.

Swindon Town are unbeaten in League and cups this season and Chelsea are yet to win a match away from home this season. Chelsea had difficult games away from home, traveled to Goodison Park and Old Trafford, drew the latter and lost to Everton.

Predicting the lineup is easier than ever, Jose Mourinho basically revealed who will start after saying those who didn't play against Fulham will play. Fans will be most endeared to this fixture because of Juan Mata.

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It's important for a true leader to remain on the pitch, if you don't start John Terry, Frank Lampard or Petr Cech, that's dangerous no matter your opposition. 

Jose Mourinho wants Juan Mata to adapt to the right wing role and track full backs, that's why we will most likely see Kevin De Bruyne start behind the striker. I told you before, Oscar and Kevin De Bruyne are the players with the traits Jose wants from his No 10.

If Juan Mata plays well attacking wise but doesn't do well defensively, we might revert to 4-3-3 but that will mean our Juan returns to the bench against Spurs.

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With a 4-3-3 formation, Juan Mata gets enough protection from the hardworking De Bruyne but I know Mata will want to prove to Jose Mourinho he can play the way he wants him and still be effective.

In the end, I agree with the manager that every player must learn to play without the ball. That's something Mata has been forgiven of by his previous managers but he's still young and will only be a better player this way.


Friday 13 September 2013

Lampard's amazing IQ score makes him a "genius"




Chelsea's veteran midfielder Frank Lampard took an IQ test in 2009 that put him in the bracket of Geniuses. 

Lampard recorded an amazing score of 150 which is not far behind well known wizard, Albert Einstein who had a score of 160. 

Every Chelsea player took the test at that time, the owner of the company that was in charge of the test was stunned by Frank's unbelievable score, "Frank Lampard scored one of the highest sets of marks ever recorded by the company doing the tests, And higher than me."  

We have not heard of many confirmed geniuses in football, Chelsea and their fans can be proud of Frank Lampard. If you didn't know, you now do! Frank Lampard is a genius!!!

Source: METRO

Match Preview: Everton Vs Chelsea




WHEN: Saturday, September 14. 2013. 17:30 UK Time

WHERE: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, UK

Referee: Howard Webb

It looks like forever since we watched our Chelsea play, thanks to the frustrating and much hated International break. 

Chelsea will now travel to Goodison park for their second away Premier League fixture of the season after that goalless draw at Old Trafford. 

Both Chelsea and Everton have had change in management, both teams are unbeaten too in the Premier League this season, Chelsea (2-1-0) and Everton(0-3-0). While Everton are looking to win their first match of the season, Chelsea will want to win their first match on the road. 

TEAM NEWS

Many Chelsea fans would have forgotten there's a certain Tomas Kalas around, he's the only player sure to be unavailable for Chelsea.

Both Oscar and Eden Hazard are believed to have had knocks away on international duty but the former played 30 minutes against Portugal while Eden Hazard too has returned to full training. Nice lads!

New Chelsea signings Willian and Samuel Eto'o are also in line for their debut appearances for the club. Jose Mourinho confirmed that the latter will surely play a part.

PREDICTED LINEUP

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I have a feeling Jose Mourinho will be making much use of the players who didn't go on international duty. They remained at Cobham so they should be more prepared than the players who traveled. 

I know Gary Cahill has been very good this season but I opted for JT-Luiz because John Terry didn't travel and I believe David Luiz is a better defender. I also feel this is the best time to introduce Cesar Azpilicueta into the team this season, he will come up against Leighton Baines but he has done that before.

My pivot pairing of Marco van Ginkel and Ramires was a difficult decision. I feel van Ginkel deserves his chance and Ramires has arguably been our best pivot player this season ( I speak not of that silly tackle at Prague). John Mikel Obi was man of the match for Nigeria against Malawi but it's just Nigeria maybe. 

The attacking trio has to be the most difficult to choose (Thank God I'm not Jose Mourinho). If Eden Hazard and Oscar actually had injury scare on international duty, I think there's no need to rush them back into the team. Kevin De Bruyne is the player I actually dropped, tough! And for the Juan Mata loyalists, I think there's almost no chance he won't start tomorrow, No chance!

Oh! Demba Ba is still a Chelsea player?! I almost forgot! I personally don't want to see him anywhere near the bench. Fernando Torres or Samuel Eto'o to start almost definitely, the two were with Jose Mourinho during the international break. I believe Jose Mourinho would have had a good look at them and made his decision. I still think Torres, he scored last time out!

KEY PLAYER: JUAN MATA


Chelsea's best player in the last two years, Juan Mata is almost inevitably going to start tomorrow. Jose Mourinho suggested he was tired but that was before the international break. Pictures of training sessions even suggested he was the leader during training. 

Everyone knows what Juan Mata can do, he has been doing it and he can continue against Everton this weekend. The little Spaniard is exceptional with the ball at his feet, he can create and he can score goals! 

Juan Mata can be the standout performer at Goodison Park this weekend. Let's hope Jose doesn't ditch our hope!

Chelsea bench: Mark Schwarzer, Branislav Ivanovic, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Oscar, Kevin De Bruyne, Samuel Eto'o. 

PREDICTION


Chelsea to completely outplay Everton and put the match beyond doubt about 20 minutes before the final whistle. 

A clean sheet at Goodison Park looks hard but if anybody can, it has to be Jose Mourinho's army.

Everton 0-3 Chelsea