Stoke City Preview: A Tough Game In Prospect
COME ON CHELSEA
By Since66
September 11 2009
So we are back. The boring international break is over until the next one (Saturday 10th October and Wednesday 14th October..... YAWN, YAWN) and Chelsea travel to the Potteries to take on Stoke City at the raucous Britannia Stadium. Last season Chelsea won 2-0 up there and although it will be a difficult game, there is no reason why Chelsea CANNOT extend their 100% unbeaten start.
Chelsea travel with an almost full-strength squad.
Deco is ruled out after suffering a calf injury in Portugal's midweek game against Hungary and despite coming off injured for England U21s, Daniel Sturridge travels.
The news on Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira is extremely encouraging.
They both played in a practice match this week, their second since returning to full training and 'Anco' said on the condition of multi-million pound signing Yuri Zhirkov, "At the moment we don't think that he needs surgery.
"He didn't play with the national team because he wasn't fit enough but he is improving. He is working with the team and next week we have to control his body and if he improves, he can start to play matches."
Of Stoke City and the famous Rory Delap throw (designed and patented by the late great Ian Hutchinson), 'Anco' said, "I have not seen this before, it is a fantastic throw-in and is a new situation (remember last season, Chelsea prepared and Delap was injured) for me.
"It is very, very dangerous. For sure we have to take counter measures but our aim is to go to Stoke to play football. It will be more difficult but that is our objective.
"Now arrives a very important period for us because next week starts the Champions League (PAH, PAH, PAH) and we have a lot of matches with the Carling Cup and important matches in the Premier League against Spurs and Liverpool before October.
"After this period we will know better how our season can be.
"Chelsea has started very well but this is the past, we have to think about our next opponents Stoke and then we have to think Porto."
LAST SEASON'S RESULTS:
Away: Chelsea won 2-0
Home: Chelsea won 2-1
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:11:20:00:15 by Since 66.
Quite heartening that we have been playing the football we have also without Zhirkov - I expect him to really add to the side when he is eventually 100% fit.
Good point re Hutch - I was fortunate enough to see him play and there was usually a cheer when he ran over to pick the ball up for a throw into the opposition penalty area.
Anyway...
You´re quite right - This will be a tough game.
"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.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:12:10:44:59 by dixon9.