Closed Sunderland v Chelsea

[Special Juan 27,421]

Dowd......the man who likes to be named man of the match!!!!

[Reddish-Blue 2,344]

Match Appointments

Referee: Phil Dowd. Assistants: M Perry, D Bryan. Fourth Official: S Attwell.

We've only lost three times in the league (in the past 10 years) with Phil Dowd as referee

We lost against United (A), Spurs (A) & Wigan (A)..

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/chelsea-fc/schiedsrichterdetail/verein_631_384.html

[Special Juan 27,421]

If he is selected I would really like to see Hazard grab this game by the scruff of the neck and take it to Sunderland, he has been good this season IMO and it's about time he slipped into gear and pulled a team apart.

Now please.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Not an easy game, I read above.

Then whom are Chelsea gonna beat if not Sunderland ?

A clean sheet I expect too.

Have you been following Sunderland under ex blues man Gus Poyet?

They have gone from relegation fodder under DiCanio to a hard working, well disciplined side - it won't be an easy match.

They are on the up - and we are a little inconsistent.

If we get the first goal - we should kick on and win - but if they grab an early lead it might be a tough game resulting in a draw. Gus will be motivating his players massively, could even be a Red Card in this game...

Look at Hull vs Liverpool last weekend?

The EPL offers no easy games - that's why the league generates the most money globally - every game is hard to call.

So this air of 3 points and clean sheet is bordering on delusional...

It's a war, we have to fight every battle and I'm with WeHateScouse - scrappy 1-0 win will do...

[The only place to be 11,313]

Have you been following Sunderland under ex blues man Gus Poyet?

They have gone from relegation fodder under DiCanio to a hard working, well disciplined side - it won't be an easy match.

They are on the up - and we are a little inconsistent.

If we get the first goal - we should kick on and win - but if they grab an early lead it might be a tough game resulting in a draw. Gus will be motivating his players massively, could even be a Red Card in this game...

Look at Hull vs Liverpool last weekend?

The EPL offers no easy games - that's why the league generates the most money globally - every game is hard to call.

So this air of 3 points and clean sheet is bordering on delusional...

It's a war, we have to fight every battle and I'm with WeHateScouse - scrappy 1-0 win will do...

Exactly, and December is a time when it's just about the points on the board. Performances and goals scored really don't matter.

I'd take 1-0 wins all this month and be very happy.

As for the team

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpi

Mikel Lampard

Ramires Oscar Hazard

Torres

I'd go for the same as the West Ham game, but I can see Jose maybe going with something a little different.

[Special Juan 27,421]

Exactly, and December is a time when it's just about the points on the board. Performances and goals scored really don't matter.

I'd take 1-0 wins all this month and be very happy.

As for the team

Cech

Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpi

Mikel Lampard

Ramires Oscar Hazard

Torres

I'd go for the same as the West Ham game, but I can see Jose maybe going with something a little different.

Is Oscar ok to play?

[The only place to be 11,313]

Is Oscar ok to play?

He said he was after the match, but I'd watch for something more official. I could quite imagine Mata retaining his place anyway or maybe even Willian coming in for a more 'energetic' presence in that spot.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Jose Press Conference Notes:

David Luiz not fit still, but hoping he returns soon so he can rotate the centre half partnerships.

Eto'o back training with the team. He could play.

Oscar will NOT play tomorrow.

Reiterates that Azpi is playing very well. Cole is fit and could play either of the next three games. Says a left back with a right foot is 'not a problem'.

Jose: "There is a lot to play for in Dec and Jan, we will see if one of the top six opens a real gap (at the top)." #CFC

No contact with Romelu Lukaku. Says he could 'say whatever he wants' with regard to possibly staying at Everton. 'Maybe its a new rule in football for every player to decide their future at the end of the season'.

Jose: "Eden Hazard is doing his job and working hard to improve certain qualities of his game. He's learning and I'm happy with him." #CFC

When asked about January comings and goings- 'No', and then 'You never know'. Usual stuff from Jose.

Jose: "In my career I've only finished first and second and if I'm not there I don't feel comfortable." #CFC

There ya go guys!

[Special Juan 27,421]

He said he was after the match, but I'd watch for something more official. I could quite imagine Mata retaining his place anyway or maybe even Willian coming in for a more 'energetic' presence in that spot.

Are you going mate?

[Pizy 18,368]

Have a feeling Le Arse will start to slip up soon enough. Of the utmost importance that we get all 3 points against the likes of Sunderland and Stoke.

My preferred team tomorrow:

--------------Torres-------------

Schürrle----Mata----Willian

---------Mikel------Ramires--------

Cole----Terry-----Cahill----Iva

--------------Cech--------------

[nadavTKL 1,787]

----------------Ba-------------
Hazard------Mata----Willian
---------Mikel------Ramires----
Cole----Terry-----Cahill----Azpi
--------------Cech--------------

[The only place to be 11,313]

Are you going mate?

No. Wish I could but this time of year is just a nightmare for midweekers. It's fortunate that the Christmas matches are either at home or pretty local.

You taking your little'un to his first away match is going to be special though. I'm getting to that point where mates are taking their kids to their first matches and it's such a special thing (although the cost of those little kits is extortionate). A mate of mine brought his to his first England match at Twickenham a few weeks ago and brought a new meaning to the phrase 'wetting the baby's head'.

Trying to think who my first away day was against....got a feeling it might've been Leeds or maybe Arsenal. The lesson from this - take photos because memory's aren't what they used to be.

[Special Juan 27,421]

No. Wish I could but this time of year is just a nightmare for midweekers. It's fortunate that the Christmas matches are either at home or pretty local.

You taking your little'un to his first away match is going to be special though. I'm getting to that point where mates are taking their kids to their first matches and it's such a special thing (although the cost of those little kits is extortionate). A mate of mine brought his to his first England match at Twickenham a few weeks ago and brought a new meaning to the phrase 'wetting the baby's head'.

Trying to think who my first away day was against....got a feeling it might've been Leeds or maybe Arsenal. The lesson from this - take photos because memory's aren't what they used to be.

Yeah will sure get some photos, I will post some here after the game. My boy is Chelsea daft, and I mean daft, plays FIFA constantly, wears the kits, drinks drinks from his CFC water bottle, Chelsea bed covers, curtains and CFC lunch box for school

Fun times, I will keep an eye out in the future if I see you are going to any away games and if we are both going I will meet you for a pint, may even buy you one.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yeah will sure get some photos, I will post some here after the game. My boy is Chelsea daft, and I mean daft, plays FIFA constantly, wears the kits, drinks drinks from his CFC water bottle, Chelsea bed covers, curtains and CFC lunch box for school

Fun times, I will keep an eye out in the future if I see you are going to any away games and if we are both going I will meet you for a pint, may even buy you one.

Sounds like a plan.

Strangely your kid sounds a lot like me....like, me now. Nice to see him being raised properly. Honestly despite my faltering memory, every time I go to matches I get taken back to me and my old man walking from Chelsea Embankment (when you could actually park there) to the Bridge. It's a really special thing and away days are even better....unless it's Millwall away and mounted police end up on the pitch.

Cherish it

[Barbara 15,149]

There are two matches Arsenal are bound to lose points this month: City away (dec 14th) and Mourinho home (dec 23rd)

That's why it's so important for us to do well in those matches now because on the 23rd we could have a real chance to be at the top of the league.

They also have some tricky matches against Everton home (dec 8th) and Newcastle away (dec 29th).

I think we left the trickiest behind us with Southampton and I hope we play well against Arsenal and Liverpool. I just wish Mourinho didn't approach those two games defensively as he did with ManUtd and Tottenham. We took risks in the League Cup match against Arsenal, even if they were missing some key players (so were we).

That's why doing well tomorrow, Saturday and then against Crystal is so important. We should approach those three matches as the most important in the month because they're the ones that can provide us with chances to end the year the top of the table. That's the one thing preventing ManCity from leading the table right now. They had losses against teams from the bottom half of the table away and if they lost it's because those teams can challenge. So we take them seriously, but also treat them as finals. Then it's in our hands against Arsenal to grab that top position.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Torres to start this one and then bring in Ba for Stoke.

Ba's pretty much the perfect #3 striker, offers something completely different.

[AndersonBLUE 819]

And Hull are sky high on confidence right now, let's hope they give Arsenal a run out

[Soul Caliber X 27]

This is not aired in India, not even on delay. Star Sports have six channels and they only show three matches. annoying.