“Lose here and lose the title!” It has become the mantra on the Chelsea training ground. One title run is up and now the Blues see a possible end to a second. The Gunners, on the other hand, see a chance to move 9 points clear or drop to only 3 points up and a battle at the top. Here’s to the Red and White and space at the top!
Ranieri, despite continued critcism in the media and at home, will more than likely play yet another line up. Chelsea have all the talent and positions covered two deep. All they need is to develop that team concept and chemistry. The experimentation should be reserved for the training ground, not on match day. Ranieri continues to work the squad rotation philosophy and it looks as it may spell the end of his career at Chelsea.
The squad rotation problem seems no more evident than in Adrian Mutu. He has amazing skill and a dominant work ethic. His vision and ball control are outstanding. The problem seems he does not work well with JFH and they don’t compliment each other. Eidur Gudjohnsen and JFH have been the most lethal scoring tandem in the league two years running. They compliment each others skills and work together to find scoring opportunities. Mutu’s scoring has been from defensive errors (see Lehmans poor clearance last weekend), or sheer individual effort. I propose that having a scoring tandem is far more important than one striker having to work the offensive by himself.
Sometimes I feel so bold as to try and describe ways of beating the opponent. I guess it would not be a stretch to say….”Give the ball to REYES!” His 2 goal FA Cup debut was a thing of beauty, but also illustrated the best means to beat the Blues. Pat Rice was heard over and over saying, “go to the ball.” Attacking the ball then putting in aggressive pressure. The Gunners were not successful until the second half when they took the ball towards goal with deliberate force. Charlton had the same success when they pressured the Chelsea defense with a deliberate lack of respect that netted them 4 goals. This must have match is played at Stamford Bridge, a hard place to pressure and show a lack of respect. Play to win Gunners, play to win.
ArseAm Predicts: Chelsea a like a wounded animal right now. You must show that type of creature respect. Nonsense. You put a bullet between its eyes and end its misery. Chelsea 1 - 3 Arsenal.
5 Responses to “Chelsea, League match, preview”
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February 20th, 2004 at 12:59 pm
The mind games have started already if you read Keane?s comments about the Title is yours to lose and now Chelsea are at it as well. The master of all mind games ?Sir Alex?
just added his comments. This week is all about Chelsea and if they lose they are out of the run but with Arsenal Win, Draw or Lose we will be in the title chase so far as we have a good run in April. 8 games with any replays and as far as I am concern the title win be decide in April of this year.
One good thing is Gilberto will be fit to play his defensive football since that is how this game will be won in the middle.
Arsenal to win 2-0.
February 20th, 2004 at 1:52 pm
Should be another tough game. It’ll be interesting to see how Reyes performs now he’s had the confidence boost from last weeks goals. By the law of averages our great run against Chelsea has to come to an end sometime but I just don’t see us losing at the moment and the worse result I see here is a draw. However If we play to our full ability this should be a win and an end to Chelsea’s challenge for this season. Also let’s hope for no more injuries leading up to next Tuesday’s CL game.
February 20th, 2004 at 4:16 pm
how can you called that to** sir. He cross the line with his comments here. way of football into the clubs financial business. Muppet.
he should put his only house in order first b4 they move to Tampa.
February 20th, 2004 at 4:18 pm
Sometimes in life people can get very desperate but SAF just lost the plot. I believe as a manager you have the right to comment about your opponents. But to talk about their financial issue is as low as it gets. This is not the first nor will it be the last crap from SAF. This man is called ?Sir? of the British Empire. What a Muppet and tosher with a fu##king IQ of ?2.
Back to this weekend Arsenal to win by 3 clear goals. By pick for this game
Lehman, Lauren, Toure, Campbell, Clichy, Ljumberg, Vieira, Edu, Pires, Bergy, Henry
Subs: Gilberto, Reyes, Stack, Cygan, Bentley any thoughts?
February 20th, 2004 at 6:38 pm
No Duffer or Crespo for chelsea- you could be forgiven for thinking they’re there for the taking again. If Bergkamp and Henry are fit to start as i believe so then lets go for an attacking 4-4-2 formation, with no crespo they may remain poor offensively and mutu can’t hit a barn door from five yards.