And Yet Another Test for Grant
By Since 66
March 29 2008
After Saturday's games Chelsea know what they have to do against Middlesbrough on Sunday. Utd won 4-0 and Arsenal won 3-2 after being 2-0 down and having Diaby sent off for a straight red card. Super Frank & JT are expected to play after their excesses with England during the week. Super Frank didn't play due to illness & JT was substituted after being injured with a slight hamstring strain.
In fact JT rang up the live show on Chelsea TV on Friday night and gave an 'exclusive' to his availability. Chelsea's only concern is the fitness of 'keeper Petr Cech and the signs are good that Petr will make a return on Sunday. With Utd and Arsenal winning today a win is a MUST tomorrow. The stats of games between Chelsea and Middlesbrough are no in doubt that Chelsea will win but we do have Avram Grant in charge. Middlesbrough is a big game and a massive test for Grant and Chelsea and Grant has failed the majority of big 'tests' Last week Grant got 'lucky' against Arsenal and thats only because his previous substitution's record have been rubbish. The stats against Middlesbrough at the Bridge are as follows: Chelsea wins: 35 Middlesbrough wins: 5 Draws 13 Goals scored: Chelsea 101 Middlesbrough: 39
This match, shouldn´t really be a test under normal circumstances - if it was Man Utd, Arsenal etc then fair enough although, admittedly, at this stage of the season nearly every match is important. We have Grant at the helm and due to past experiences this season we just don´t have the confidence.
Fair play to Grant - he got it RIGHT last week against Arsenal but we need to see a bit more of that before the confidence meter starts shooting up.
Boro can be a well organised side so it should be a toughish game and due to yesterdays results a slip up will cost us dearly.
At this stage of the season, with the CL fixtures about to converge, the pressure increasing and the distances between the top 3 being relativey narrow we could well see a game of musical chairs over the next few weeks - going to be tense stuff!
SWP and Malouda would be due a game but I´m wondering if Grant wants to take a chance on them with Joe Cole and the slightly improved Kalou playing well.
We´ve got Fenerbahce this week so if JT is 95% rest him and play Alex - wont happen though.
No doubt we´ll start 4-3-3 but I wonder if Grant will change it to 4-4-2 if required like last weekend? Would be good to see Drogba and Anelka combine again.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate:
"You know if you go to a big club like Chelsea you won't get any presents there and you can't expect any help off the referee.
"There's more pressure on the referees from the top clubs because if they make a decision against the top four clubs it will be in the media a long time.
"If they make a decision against us it will maybe be in the regional papers.
"I think they think twice before giving a decision against a top four club and once before they make a decision against us. But that is just human nature because of the spotlight."
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.