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The Mail Bag

Can we beat Chelsea ?

Looking ahead to the Chelsea game though we have a problem as we are without any of our first-choice creative midfield players. When we played Chelsea rcently it seemed as though we set out our stall for a draw in the first half and Chelsea completely overran us. The second half saw us attack them and eventually we got the goal we deserved. Given that Arteta, Pienaar and Osman will be missing on Tuesday I am wondering who we have that can allow us to attack them. If we sit back and go for the draw then sooner or later they will open us up but I don't feel too good about relying on the all too often disinterested McFadden or the past it cheerleader Gravesen to lead the cavalry either.

The game is the first of two so hopefully we can undo any damage that is done in the first leg, with a larger pool of players (hopefully) to choose from in the second leg, but I think the main thing giving me any reason for hope now is the fact that Chelsea have several key players missing as well. I think full strength Chelsea would beat our best hands down but how will our makeshift team do against their makeshift team? This could be a great occasion for the likes of Hibbert and McFadden to stand up and prove all of us doubters wrong.
Kieran Kinsella, Gainesville, Fl Posted 06/01/2008 at 02:50:09

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Lee Armer
1 Posted 05/01/2008 at 23:25:19

Anyone know if drogba is available for our 1st leg game as he was on the bench today???

Brendan George
2 Posted 06/01/2008 at 07:22:01

Maybe we need to "park the bus" outside their goal at Stamford Bridge and whoop them in the second leg!!!

No, but seriously, it is going to be a tough game and we need to be at our very best, now that we are without our most potent three players in the midfield. it is our most important game of the season to date. I still believe we can beat them!

Brian Hill
3 Posted 06/01/2008 at 07:38:26

Lee Armer,

According to the BBC match report of Chelsea v QPR Drogba is leaving for the ACN today (Sunday).

Boris Gamble
4 Posted 06/01/2008 at 07:54:49

I am actually worried about Shevchenko. i know he has been a flop since coming to England but lately he has regained a bit of form and really stepped up in Drogba?s absence and if he is fit on Tueday i can see him hitting the back of the net

Ray Roche
5 Posted 06/01/2008 at 09:31:26

I cant honestly see us beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and the big worry is in the home leg at the end of January we are going to be without Yobo, Yakubu and Pienaar and that is not going to do us any favours whatsoever.. On Tuesday we will be without Pienaar and Arteta which means we will not have any creative influence and Gravesen does not look like he has the legs for it anymore, I wouldn't be to confident of him running around like Pienaar does.

All in all it's been a good League Cup run but I think Chelsea is going to prove to difficult a nut to crack at the end of the day, we must take a score draw at least back to the second leg in my opinion. Any defeat is going to leave a lot of work to do with a limited number of players to choose from.

I dont know if anyone elese will agree with this either but I would start with Valente ahead of Baines on Tuesday. Baines did not look anywhere near match-fit and his confidence looked a bit fragile because of the injury, his distribution was not good enough and I would put Valente's experience in there against Chelsea. Valente for me has played well when he has been in the team this season.

Brian Waring
6 Posted 06/01/2008 at 10:17:54

The big difference between Chelsea’s makeshift team and our makeshift team Kieran,is that there’s will still contain plenty of quality.

Paul Jones
7 Posted 06/01/2008 at 10:33:01

I don't think we can rely on McFadden. He doesn't look interested. We can't rely on Gravesen as he is past it.

I am very nervous about Tuesday now, especially after the debacle yesterday; we will struggle to be a creative force without Pienaar and Arteta. I think our best option is to play for the draw at the Bridge. I hate having to say this, but it may be our only option. Expect to see Phil Neville back in midfield alongside Carsley.

Allan Hobbs
8 Posted 06/01/2008 at 11:18:48

I thought Pienaar would be available for Tuesday?

Still no joy on the OS re tickets Gavin.

Gavin Ramejkis
9 Posted 06/01/2008 at 11:21:25

Allan I despair of the OS regards ticketing and am lucky enough to have relatives who go to the box office for me or I go myself before or after a home game, only suggestions would be know anyone up here that could get them and get them to you on time or a tout at the match, if as was suggested against my pricing post the demand would be low you could get in down there. Heard Pienaar has been called to fly today by South Africa so he won’t be here for a few weeks now.

Allan Hobbs
10 Posted 06/01/2008 at 11:31:05

Think Im gonna have to chance it and see if I can get in on the night - I’m not a million miles from there anyway so could potentially get down there pretty early. The OS ticketing is wank - it lets me sign into the site but wont let me sign into the ticketing section. It wont even let me or my missus re-register!

Tony Hawkins
11 Posted 06/01/2008 at 11:49:49

My expectations are high so I’m going with a hopeful yes, we can win however it is tempered with how many absenties we have in midfield.

I’d like to think we can beat Chelsea however it will be a close fought couple of games.

Joe McParland
12 Posted 06/01/2008 at 13:29:20

Allan, I?ve had so many problems online with tickets I now resort to phoning, seems to work every time.
I?m in Scotland and the tickets have always arrived on time with one exception where I had to pick them up at the Box Office.
Hope this helps mate, Good Luck in getting to the game.

Terry Smith
13 Posted 06/01/2008 at 13:40:25

Moyes has got to be tacticaly spot-on for Chelsea away. I am confident we can get a goal & I am confident we can win at Goodison

Paul O'Hanlon
14 Posted 06/01/2008 at 15:29:38

It might not be the worst thing in the world not having our most creative talents available. Whilst I?d always prefer to have Arteta, Pienaar and Osman in the team, playing away at the Bridge in the first leg might be best suited for grafters.

Howards Kendall was talking this week in the Echo about our last two legged Semi-Final, against Bayern in ?85. Due to injuries to Sheeds and Gray he was forced to play ?lesser? players in Richardson and Harper. They both played their part and we came away with a 0-0. More of the same on Tuesday please!

Jay Harris
15 Posted 06/01/2008 at 16:29:49

Paul the only difference is we dont have a Richardson or Harper now and Chelsea are a million times better than that Bayern Munich side.
Our only hope is Manny (if he is match fit and signs) and A N Other who we will hopefully get in before Tuesday.
If we dont have beefed up midfield I fear the second leg may be academic by Wednesday morning.

Mike Oates
16 Posted 06/01/2008 at 16:23:56

I cant see how we can go to Chelsea with any other plan other than to defend - Moyes just doesnt have a choice . There isnt any creativity without Arteta,Osman and Pinnear. After the Oldham game I cant see Moyes trusting Gravesen and McFadden - both cant keep the ball moving at the pace of game Moyes wants. Gravesen always wants at least 2 touches before he offloads it with all the grace of a synchronised swimmer and McFadden vcant,doesnt and will never look up for the easy pass - even his goal against Middlesborough was the wrong choice initially - he should have passed to Yakubu and not Johson.

I quess that the team Moyes puts out will be
Howard
Hibbert , Yobo , Lescott , Valente
Neville, Carsley , Jagelka
Cahill
Johnson , Yakubu

We wont be able to pass it around Chelsea so it will be one of defending , and getting the ball up quickly (some would call it hoofball) and hoping it will break for us.

Prediction 1:0 to Chelski , and hoping to God that Arteta and Osman available/fit for the 2nd leg.

Paul Quinn
17 Posted 06/01/2008 at 16:50:46

Allan Hobbs - re tickets - tickets are on general sale at Stamford Bridge upto 5pm on Tuesday.

Obviously no tickets for the "away" corner but there were loads of blues dotted around Stamford Bridge for the PL match in November and no trouble.

I was in the West Stand and was leaping up and down when Cahill equalised - there was no trouble.

Danny Smith
18 Posted 06/01/2008 at 19:05:25

I was at the game allbeit in the Chelsea end (mate had a spare ticket) and Chelsea played us off the park. How we got anything that day I dont know!

I fear for us on Tuesday after Saturday's game and just hope we get a draw to take back to Goodison ? then we have a chance! I think the African Nations Cup might have a bigger effect on us than youu might think. Faddy and AJ together don't work... plus no Arteta. I don't mean to put a downer on it but I saw the chelsea game and they missed some shocking chances. COYB....