Stoke v Chelsea: A game we cannot afford to lose.
It's simple this afternoon it really is. If Chelsea are to have any chance of putting up a challenge for the Premier League title this s...
https://www.chelseadaft.org/2013/01/stoke-v-chelsea-game-we-cannot-afford.html
It's simple this afternoon it really is. If Chelsea are to have any chance of putting up a challenge for the Premier League title this season, we simply cannot afford to lose against Stoke this afternoon. If we do, then we have to be realistic here and focus on finishing in the top four to get back into the Champions League next season!
Stoke is always a hard game as we saw earlier in the season. They make life difficult for you, work hard and pose their own threat and at the Britannia this afternoon, the crowd will get right behind them as usual.
Tony Pulis has been outstanding in my view. He brought them into the Premier League and made sure they survived first and foremost. Ever since they have, he has slowly but surely improved his squad every year and now have become a side that is looking to cement their place in the top ten with a view to pushing hard for even higher. It's important to realise what a remarkable job he has done there.
Pulis is tactically astute also and he will have one or two tricks up his sleeve this afternoon against Rafa Benitez who lets be honest, has been found out against QPR and Swansea in recent weeks.
As for Benitez and Chelsea, well what can you say? After a season that promised so much, it has literally fallen apart lately and we need to buck the trend as soon as possible.
Wednesday for me was the final straw and I had to rant on here about what has happened to our season and to Fernando Torres. Like I said in my post, I had been a supporter of Torres from day one but Wednesday was a turning point for me.
Since then, we have heard that he had a stomach bug... I will leave you guys to have an opinion on that but I don't buy it for one second. It's damage limitation from Benitez if you ask me.
Moving on to today and if we are to pick ourselves up and get our season back on track then it starts here. It's all well and good creating 23 chances on goal like we did the other night, if you can't put a single one in the back of the net with the players we have, you do not deserve to win the game.
We can talk about performances for as long as you like, football is a results game and at Chelsea Football Club it's important that we all remember that!
Today, I expect Petr Cech to make his long awaited return to the starting eleven. Sorry Ross Turnbull, you do not have the presence or awareness of Cech and we need him back starting today.
According to Rafa, it's too soon for JT to start in this one but I am not so sure. I would put him in, move Ivanovic out to right back (nothing against Azpiliceuta) and play Cahill next to him. Stoke are a big and physical side and we need as many of the hard men playing today.
David Luiz and Frank Lampard could start (I believe) today in midfield for the same reason. Ramires to drop to the bench to save his legs for the second half.
Eden Hazard and Juan Mata to continue as normal but I would like to see Marko Marin being given a go out wide today. Whether or not Rafa decides to go with him or Ramires out wide is another thing.
It's a no brainer up front, Demba Ba to start with Torres on the bench.
I need Chelsea to be up for the fight today, up for a challenge, to get stuck in to win the ball and then to use it wisely. We need Mata and Hazard on the ball as much as possible looking to link up with Demba Ba. If we create chances, we need to take them without question or we will be punished!
Come on Chelsea, sort this shit out and give us the right result this afternoon!
Find your Chelsea tickets at Viagogo!
Carefree & KTBFFH!
Stoke is always a hard game as we saw earlier in the season. They make life difficult for you, work hard and pose their own threat and at the Britannia this afternoon, the crowd will get right behind them as usual.
Tony Pulis has been outstanding in my view. He brought them into the Premier League and made sure they survived first and foremost. Ever since they have, he has slowly but surely improved his squad every year and now have become a side that is looking to cement their place in the top ten with a view to pushing hard for even higher. It's important to realise what a remarkable job he has done there.
Pulis is tactically astute also and he will have one or two tricks up his sleeve this afternoon against Rafa Benitez who lets be honest, has been found out against QPR and Swansea in recent weeks.
As for Benitez and Chelsea, well what can you say? After a season that promised so much, it has literally fallen apart lately and we need to buck the trend as soon as possible.
Wednesday for me was the final straw and I had to rant on here about what has happened to our season and to Fernando Torres. Like I said in my post, I had been a supporter of Torres from day one but Wednesday was a turning point for me.
Since then, we have heard that he had a stomach bug... I will leave you guys to have an opinion on that but I don't buy it for one second. It's damage limitation from Benitez if you ask me.
Moving on to today and if we are to pick ourselves up and get our season back on track then it starts here. It's all well and good creating 23 chances on goal like we did the other night, if you can't put a single one in the back of the net with the players we have, you do not deserve to win the game.
We can talk about performances for as long as you like, football is a results game and at Chelsea Football Club it's important that we all remember that!
Today, I expect Petr Cech to make his long awaited return to the starting eleven. Sorry Ross Turnbull, you do not have the presence or awareness of Cech and we need him back starting today.
According to Rafa, it's too soon for JT to start in this one but I am not so sure. I would put him in, move Ivanovic out to right back (nothing against Azpiliceuta) and play Cahill next to him. Stoke are a big and physical side and we need as many of the hard men playing today.
David Luiz and Frank Lampard could start (I believe) today in midfield for the same reason. Ramires to drop to the bench to save his legs for the second half.
Eden Hazard and Juan Mata to continue as normal but I would like to see Marko Marin being given a go out wide today. Whether or not Rafa decides to go with him or Ramires out wide is another thing.
It's a no brainer up front, Demba Ba to start with Torres on the bench.
I need Chelsea to be up for the fight today, up for a challenge, to get stuck in to win the ball and then to use it wisely. We need Mata and Hazard on the ball as much as possible looking to link up with Demba Ba. If we create chances, we need to take them without question or we will be punished!
Come on Chelsea, sort this shit out and give us the right result this afternoon!
Find your Chelsea tickets at Viagogo!
Carefree & KTBFFH!
