Is this the best time to play Chelsea? I don't know if there is ever a good time, but with their injury problems since the international break Signor Ancelotti may have to field a weaker side. Not that a weaker side is a bad one at mega-rich Chelsea as we will most likely see at Stamford Bridge tomorrow afternoon. This is the game where it is most unlikely for us to get anything, as Chelsea probably have the best home record of the last five years in this league.
Petr Cech hasn't seen a ball in the back of his net at the Bridge since a first half Stephen Hunt put Hull one nil up (Chelsea later won 2-1 thanks to Didier Drogba) on the opening day of the season. with all the best strikers in the league failing to make their mark there, maybe it's Sylvan Ebanks-Blakes' chance to show the league what he is capable of. They've only scored 16 in their six home games, nothing compared to our 5 at home, 7 away or 12 in total. The main threats of the Chelsea line-up, messrs Lampard and Drogba, are both out! Didier Drogba has hit 9 goals in the league so far, behind Fernando Torres only in the goalscoring charts, and has provided his team-mates with 8 goals aswell. Frank Lampard had a slow start for his high standards in terms of scoring, but with 4 goals in the last three games he looks set to continue his run of 20 goals every season. Like Drogba, he has also set up 8 goals, which means the two of them have been involved in atleast half Chelsea's goals. Terry and Cole (Ashley) will both be having late fitness tests which means even if they do play, they won't be fuly fit which gives us a bit more reason to be optimistic.
Zubar and doyle will be having their own late fitness tests, Doyle played 120 minutes on wednesday and will be pretty distraught after the events which occured. Ronald picked up a hamstring strain after a training the other day which means he is a doubt.
Jody Craddock has recently found his dusty old shooting boots, with 3 goals in his last 2 games (not to mention an own goal). Not half bad for a centre back. When he scored at Stoke it was his first Premier League goal for over 5 years, which actually took place at the Bridge....
Everyday I would hear of a new injury, each one giving me a tiny bit more hope to be squashed tomorrow. If we played like we did against Arsenal for the opening 25 minutes, for the whole game, then we can cause an upset. Harrass them from the start and fustrate their team like we can, then it won't be as big a scoreline as you might expect.
Probable line-up
Hennessey
Zubar/Foley
Craddock
Berra
Stearman
Edwards
Milijas
Castllo
Henry
Kightly
SEB/Keogh
Doyle might not be fit or Zubar so Foley could fit in at right back with Keogh (don't be surprised) or Ebanks-Blake getting a start.
Maybe Milijas can provide the goals from set pieces, somewhere chelsea have been hurt by teams though they look like they may have fixed that.
Whatever the score, cheer on the Wolves!!
Don't really want to predict a score and this is top of the league we are playing, so don't expect any points for the Wanderers. If we do cause an upset, I will be going on about it at school for a very long time. Remember stranger things have happened, like when we beat Chelsea 7-1 on March 15th 1973 (or 74) on Willie Carr's debut.
