Chelsea Build Up

[Pablo]

Terrified? What have we got to be scared of?

Nervous? Yes, of course, it's the biggest game we've had since the last one (they are all ****ing massive now), but we have nothing to be scared of.

Chelsea struggle to score goals and only have an OK record away from home. We score goals for fun and have a mega home record. Nothing to be scared of at all. They'll be tough to beat, but unlike City I'm not sure they have the players to rip us apart if they have a great day.

They're a good side, with a pretty good record against us in previous years. That said I realise they probably have more to fear about playing us than visa versa in terms of personnel.

The fear of course comes from what it would mean to lose the game. This is our most likely loss of all the remaining games IMO so that scares me a little.

I must say though that after seeing them play last night, and the subsequent injuries they've picked up, I don't fear them as much as I did a day or two ago. They look very average and if we're on song again it should be another glorious result for us!

[dom9]

thanks Sarb.

[smither]

- tried to think of a witty reply, but couldn't

Something something, Tom Werner, something something Lebron James, something something Space Jam 2.

[PTP]

Jose Mourinho threatens to field weakened team against Liverpool - but how does it compare to full-strength side?

If Jose Mourinho plays a completely different team against Liverpool than the one he will pick to face Atletico Madrid, just who will be in the respective line-ups?

Jose Mourinho's claim that he will ask Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for permission to surrender the title to Liverpool is sure to upset Premier League and Manchester City chiefs.
Having lost goalkeeper Petr Cech and captain John Terry to injury, and Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel to suspension for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid next week, Mourinho wants to field a B-team at Anfield.

Mourinho said: "I would play with the players who are not going to play Wednesday."

On the basis of that quote, Telegraph Sport have drawn up the two teams Mourinho will have in mind for the Liverpool and Atletico games.

Mourinho team v Liverpool

Hilario; Tomas Kalas, Andreas Christensen, John Obi Mikel, Nathan Ake; Nemanja Matic, Marco van Ginkel, Mohamed Salah, Frank Lampard; Andre Schurrle; Demba Ba

Mourinho team v Atletico

Mark Schwarzer; Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole; Ramires, David Luiz, Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard; Samuel Eto’o

i'd be pleased if he picked that team in bold - it's still not a bad side.

I'd suspect though that one of ivanovic/cahill will surely start against us. It's a risk, but it would be suicide if they picked that back four.

As i said earlier, if Ramires does get a suspension from the FA i really wouldn't be surprised to see mourinho go mad and pick a team like that as his way of protest.

[meffin]

Jose Mourinho threatens to field weakened team against Liverpool - but how does it compare to full-strength side?

If Jose Mourinho plays a completely different team against Liverpool than the one he will pick to face Atletico Madrid, just who will be in the respective line-ups?

Jose Mourinho's claim that he will ask Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for permission to surrender the title to Liverpool is sure to upset Premier League and Manchester City chiefs.
Having lost goalkeeper Petr Cech and captain John Terry to injury, and Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel to suspension for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid next week, Mourinho wants to field a B-team at Anfield.

Mourinho said: "I would play with the players who are not going to play Wednesday."

On the basis of that quote, Telegraph Sport have drawn up the two teams Mourinho will have in mind for the Liverpool and Atletico games.

Mourinho team v Liverpool

Hilario; Tomas Kalas, Andreas Christensen, John Obi Mikel, Nathan Ake; Nemanja Matic, Marco van Ginkel, Mohamed Salah, Frank Lampard; Andre Schurrle; Demba Ba

Mourinho team v Atletico

Mark Schwarzer; Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole; Ramires, David Luiz, Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard; Samuel Eto’o

Could you imagine our attack against that defence! We'd score double figures

[PTP]

Something something, Tom Werner, something something Lebron James, something something Space Jam 2.

if we were to play in outer space....do you think we would play on Astro-turf?

[smither]

if we were to play in outer space....do you think we would play on Astro-turf?

That's better

[kingfunk]

3G esus wept..

[Pablo]

I think they will make one or two changes, but that back four in bold is laughable Zero chance.

Their whole tactic will be around keeping it tight and counter attacking so I think it will be a back 5 of Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill and Cole. Anything weaker than that and we would destroy them.

Even with a few rested they will have a very, very strong side out against us.

[Fredo]

**** on a stick.

[wavydavy]

Tony Cascarino reckons he'll field an understrength XI.

[Sarb]

This game is just huge


Struggling to cope with the magnitude of it. Stakes are just massive

[Sarb]

Tony Cascarino reckons he'll field an understrength XI.

Cascarino talking ****. Its all aimed at making players complacent

[Darkon]

Mind games - just to shift focus from an under performing team and take pressure away from the last chance at a title shot on Sunday. Now it's about fixture planning rather than sub-par Chelsea's last chance.

They will come with a strong team on Sunday, no way are a pro team with a squad like Chelsea's throwing it away like that.

[Cormack74]

Cascarino talking ****. Its all aimed at making players complacent

He's also said JM wanted prem games moved in future to benefit all English teams not just the chavs.