Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham

[Henri 115]

Same start team, Never change a winning team.

[Madmax 9,219]

Mikel has to start. If anyone in that midfield deserves a place, it's him.

Hopefully we wrap this up in the first half itself and then give some match time to Benayoun, Alex and Torres.

[jteezy 39]

Our last games with Birmingham suggest this will be a low-scoring game. get ready for some frustration!

Drogba needs to start this! Benayoun could help too, he's very creative

[Madmax 9,219]

Our last games with Birmingham suggest this will be a low-scoring game. get ready for some frustration!

Drogba needs to start this! Benayoun could help too, he's very creative

Haha yeah I remember that one - they nicked one off a mistake by us on a long ball (Bowyer I think) and then defended for 80 minutes with us having 15 or 20 shots.

I agree about Benayoun too, but I doubt Carlo will change a winning team, and if he does, how will he fit him into our 4-3-3.

[jteezy 39]

Good point! Seems silly to change winning formula (as you say), especially with our attacking success at the Hawthorns!

Let's hope Ashley Cole and Drogba continue this form!

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

If Arsenal draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane and we win, we'll be going 2nd even if we win 1:0. We're level on goal difference at the moment.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

If Arsenal draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane and we win, we'll be going 2nd even if we win 1:0. We're level on goal difference at the moment.

All very true. Let's hope we don't screw it up then!

..Who am I kidding, of course we will

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

It will be a case of picking a team that will either try to use physical force to break their defence down (Drogba, Essien, Lampard) or using creative passing and running of defenders to try and unlock thier defensive lines (Benayoun, Ramires, Torres), so take your pick.

Bear in mind last time we tried to use more physical tactics and were unlucky not to get something out of a stern rock solid Birmingham line.

[Madmax 9,219]

Bear in mind last time we tried to use more physical tactics and were unlucky not to get something out of a stern rock solid Birmingham line.

It's interesting that you say that because after I made my last post about not changing a winning team, I thought about the exact same thing you did and I wondered if playing Torres from the start wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. They get a lot of men behind the ball and 3 out of their first choice back 4 are centre halves (Ridgewell is played at left back) so physicality would something right up their alley, but maybe pace in behind isn't.

[magicrico 175]

Same 11 should start, Torres to come on if we are doing well.

[Ray. 217]

I think Ancelotti should start Torres, after all he did score on Saturday (OK OK, I know it was ruled offside), but I think it will give him the motivation to score more Don't think he should play for the full 90 minutes, but just enough to score a hatrick

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

All very true. Let's hope we don't screw it up then!

..Who am I kidding, of course we will

If I'm honest with you, I've got a feeling that we will win against Birmingham. Let's face it, Foster had the game of his career and we must have had the worst game. We had so many shots on target, few super saves, few bad misses, posts, bars, crossbars - we saw everything in that game, so that makes me believe we can do it this time, and we will be playing at the Bridge. What I'm not confident about though is that Tottenham might roll over and Arsenal pick up 3 points, now that would be typical wouldn't it? Let's hope all that "derby talk" and Arsenal's woes have gotten to them!

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Alex & Ramires still out. Ivanovic is doubtful.

[Krypt 241]

Alex & Ramires still out. Ivanovic is doubtful.

Looks like bossy will get a game then... i think he will start with Drogba.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Then we will most likely see:

Cech

Ferreira - David Luiz - Terry - Cole

Mikel

Essien - Lampard

Anelka - Malouda

Drogba

Relatively unchanged from Saturday, with Ferreira coming in for Ivanovic.

[eldo 868]

What I'm not confident about though is that Tottenham might roll over and Arsenal pick up 3 points, now that would be typical wouldn't it? Let's hope all that "derby talk" and Arsenal's woes have gotten to them!

Why would Spurs roll over?

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

If Carlo starts Torres, that's a big f*ck you to Drogba imo. The way Drogba is playing there is no way Torres should get a start ahead of him. An in-form Drogba is better than any Torres.

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

Why would Spurs roll over?

It just happens. Teams like Stoke play against us like Real Madrid but they tend to be absolute rubbish when they meet our rivals. (take Fulham-ManU game as an example)