2008/09 0-1
2007/08 0-4
2006/07 1-4
2005/06 1-3
Sorry to start with that list but it is important, critical in fact. Chelsea are no weaker this year; we are. Chelsea come into the game relatively injury free, we don't. Chelsea have Drogba and Anelka, we have Franco and...er nobody. Chelsea have Lampard and Bollocks and Joe Cole, we have Parker, Kovac and Collison; Chelsea have Ashley Cole, we have Ilunga. Chelsea have a right back, we have Faubert or Spector. See where this is going?
On Boxing Day we play the most important game in our club's history since that game at Old Trafford when Tevez scored his improbable winner; and sadly we have nobody of Tevez's ability now. If we lose or draw against Pompey, nothing and no one will save us. It is absolutely crucial that we field our strongest, fittest team in that fixture. See where this is going?
Let me give you a nightmare scenario: on Boxing Day, Zola finds himself without Upson, Parker and Franco because of injuries or a red card picked up against Chelsea. See where this is going?
Try as I might, I cannot come up with a team or tactics that will enable us to even compete with Chelsea today. We played Manchester United minus their defence and still contrived to lose 4-0; what chance do we stand, therefore, against a close to full strength Chelsea, charged up by our idiot boo boys attacking Lampard and Terry? Against Birmingham, we barely managed a shot on goal. Against Bolton, we made basic errors all over the pitch and handed victory on a plate to our relegation rivals. See where this is going?
I am sorry, but Wolves showed us the way in midweek. Ahead of such a crucial fixture, dare we risk Upson, Parker and Franco? Who will play up front against Pompey if Franco is injured? Who will lead the team if Parker and Upson are unavailable? Where would be the sense in risking them in chasing a losing cause?
Chelsea will win whatever team we field. If I was Zola, I would have my eyes squarely on Pompey. Sod one game at a time. Of course, defeat against Chelsea will see us bottom of the table for Christmas and that will mean relegation without an even greater escape than our Tevez inspired escape, but defeat at home to Chelsea would not be to blame for that, defeat at Bolton was responsible for that. We cannot afford to lose against Pompey.
Team
Green - Spector, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga - Faubert, Kovac, Noble, Collison - Diamanti, Stanislas
Can that team avoid defeat? No. Will any team Zola picks avoid defeat? I doubt it. But this side would guarantee that we would have Franco, Upson and Parker available for Boxing Day - unless, of course, they don't fancy playing because their futures are elsewhere!
PS Before you yell abuse, I would gladly eat Humble Pie for my Christmas dinner if Zola picks and inspires a side to beat Chelsea. But if Franco and Upson limp off and we lose anyway, how will you feel?
5 comments:
AH! You want us to do a Mick McCarthy on them!
Yep. Wolves play Burnley today. Which ever way it goes, one of our main rivals will inch closer to 38 points. Three points against Pompey are worth more than three against Chelsea anyway!
We have to challenge for every game and against any team we play. This is the Premier League for Christ's Sake! What are you saying? I know we were hopeless in the last few games. But what is hurting more than anything is not the lack of skill in our side but the lack of commitment. Picking a weaker team (and personally I am not sure what is weaker or stronger anymore) will not change anything other than reinforcing the defeatist attitude and lack of self belief which is currently spreading faster than Swine flu.
I am sorry HF. I disagree with you this time. I would not bet my house on West Ham winning today, but just think if we can have a positive result what it would do to our confidence. We should give it our best shot and play to win. Any other way would not be the West Ham way. This is why I don't support Wolves and I always supported West Ham. Don't take that away from us. We can still hope. Miracles happen in football; and this is the type of miracle we need to set us off to another great escape. If we fail, then we would have failed doing it our own way. Not by selling our soul. I am happy Sears is coming back in January. I think he has great potential and can help in our revival.
In Cyprus, I support APOEL. The total worth of all the players in the APOEL team is less than the value of Lampard! No one fancied APOEL scoring twice and getting a positive result at Stamford Bridge. APOEL had a very crucial game to play against OMONIA the following weekend which could have determined the Champion this year. They did not field their second team, perhaps they were a little lucky too, but the fact that they went for it and scored twice against a very strong Chelsea team helped their cause far more than if they were to follow your advice and keep their best players for a match that "mattered". I say let’s go for it, give it our best and we can beat the mercenaries from South Kensington. We did this may times before and we can do it again. It will be 11 against 11, plus they will have to play in our ground in front of our supporters. We cannot concede home games to anyone!
i see where you're coming from but if we put out a weakened team and capitulate at home there may be little confidence for boxing day. we're in the mire either way perhaps.
What do I know?
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