Closed Chelsea v Fulham

[Strike 7,489]

This game starts at my usual wake up time, I wake up to Liquidator. Bite it .

f*** you Aussies. this is like the 3rd or 4th game not aired here

[Jase 43,479]

Desperately need a win tonight. No league wins in last 5(D3 L2) and have won just 2 of last 9 games in all competitions(W2 D3 L4). And here are some stats:

1. Chelsea have won just 50% of their last 12 Premier League meetings against Fulham - W6 D6. The last 3 have ended in draws.

2. Last time Chelsea beat Fulham was in November 2010 where a header goal by Essien gave the Blues a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

3. Chelsea have kept just 2 clean sheets in 11 Premier League home encounters against Fulham, conceding 12 goals(and scoring 21).

Also if anyone is interested, here's how this season league London derby mini league has looked so far:

[Strike 7,489]

Desperately need a win tonight. No league wins in last 5(D3 L2) and have won just 2 of last 9 games in all competitions(W2 D3 L4). And here are some stats:

1. Chelsea have won just 50% of their last 12 Premier League meetings against Fulham - W6 D6. The last 3 have ended in draws.

2. Last time Chelsea beat Fulham was in November 2010 where a header goal by Essien gave the Blues a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

3. Chelsea have kept just 2 clean sheets in 11 Premier League home encounters against Fulham, conceding 12 goals(and scoring 21).

Also if anyone is interested, here's how this season league London derby mini league has looked so far:

weren't we in a wretched run before beating fulham in 2010? need to win this now. Benitez era should take off soon or the pressure will only build and it's not good for the team if the fans are clamouring - "Benitez out" rather than cheering for the team

for the sake of the team i hope they thump fulham and that the fans go quiet on the benitez bashing

[Krypt 241]

weren't we in a wretched run before beating fulham in 2010? need to win this now. Benitez era should take off soon or the pressure will only build and it's not good for the team if the fans are clamouring - "Benitez out" rather than cheering for the team

for the sake of the team i hope they thump fulham and that the fans go quiet on the benitez bashing

Yep we need a win and we need it badly. We are starting to forget what it feels like , i would take a scrappy 1 -0 win with it coming off Torres's arse cheek.

[Rambo 1,729]

So who's coming in for Mikel? Or are we playing with a different formation....

[Zone 290]

So is this game being televised in any country???

Fox Soccer will broadcast it here in L.A so you'll get good links.

[underdrog 18]

So who's coming in for Mikel? Or are we playing with a different formation....

Mikel not playing ?

[underdrog 18]

i agree, but i think better say this ramires and mikel is good off the ball, mikel on shielding & covering and ramires pace & running but both are bad when got the ball lack of vision, lack of pass technically and yes, they causes the trio needs to always drop deep to collect the ball need another and better player on passing skill to feeding the ball and build up attack from deep position

hopefully rafa have spotted that!!

[Leif 6,006]

Hmm.. think I'll have a Subway with this game.

Whenever we play a derby or we're against a big rival, I make sure I either have a Subway, or a steak/chicken pie.

Already had steak pie for lunch.

[elsjusz 10]

I think we won 2:0, maybe Marko Marin playing in this match? Rafa can give chance Islam (maybe 10 min? )

[Corner 456]

I wouldn't be too surprised if he rested two of 'Mazacar'. Benitez has talked a lot about Oscar so I would expect him to maybe rest Hazard and Mata. I'm expecting Romeu to play too. Maybe Romeu and Mikel alongside each other as Ramires isn't exactly the best passer and we're more than likely going to have a lot of the ball in this match.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Romeu + Mikel is too defensive and annoying because it will mean Mikel trying to play further forward, and he fucks up a lot doing that.

[Jase 43,479]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjzH-knlqaI&feature=plcp

[Corner 456]

Romeu + Mikel is too defensive and annoying because it will mean Mikel trying to play further forward, and he fucks up a lot doing that.

That's true.

But I reckon it would be different with Rafa giving the players less freedom. Romeu and Mikel would hopefully be more disciplined and leave the adventurous stuff to Mata, Oscar and Hazard... or whoever happens to be playing in the three behind the striker.

[bluesman2610 1,417]

i find romeu moves up the field a lot more when playing in the dm role than mikel does.. as well as we all know he def does play faster and trys more adventurous passes in to the front four attackers..

from watching him in how much he has played for chelsea he is def a fan of one touch passing in the middle to get around the opposition midfield which is something i think we are missing in our pivot..

[mickaaa7 10]

cech

azpi-----iva-----luiz-------bertrand

---------romeu-------ramires-----

mata---------oscar-----------marin-

------------moses--------------

[Corner 456]

cech

azpi-----iva-----luiz-------bertrand

---------romeu-------ramires-----

mata---------oscar-----------marin-

------------moses--------------

Is that tonight's line-up?

[Milan 17,957]

I am looking forward to the game so much! I've had enough of studying and doing works this week, bring me Chelsea!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Bah, excuses. What if Chelsea beat eveyone 5-0 without Mikel?

Mikel is a good player, a very good player but to say he is the most imporatant is insane. It seems there is no middle ground when it comes to Mikel, he is either the worst or best player on the team.

Obviously we don't have a "most important player", I was exaggerating to make a point just like you exaggerated calling my exaggeration insane because at times Mikel is our most important player in a certain match or spell in a match.

[Ankit 3,176]

Michael Ballack is at the Bridge today!