Away to Chelsea, preview
Game 4 of Operation Christmas, and the toughest of the bunch. Chelsea have not been the all-singing all-dancing champions of previous seasons, and are further undermined by John Terry’s absence, but their version of an injury crisis and our version of an injury crisis are two very different things.
So they’ll be using some of their fringe players. Whisper it, but Mourinho has never managed to find trustworthy defenders for times when Terry is away, and this is our chance. We could’ve beaten them at the Cottage, Diop heading wide at 0-0 when well placed, and a win today is not out of the question. If Carvalho and Ferreira are at the centre of the Chelsea defence again we will have chances.
The big worry is Drogba, doubly so because I think Zat Knight could handle him in the air. Bocanegra and Christenval are not big enough for this though, and Franck must help out here, being arguably our best remaining aerial defender. It’s a bit worrying, but at least Robben and Cole are out, players who might prove too tricky for us. If the game’s reduced to a battle of wills and half-chances we have a chance.
Collins John will step in for the suspended Helguson, which isn’t a bad thing. He has a chance to rise to the occasion and cement his future at the club (clubs will enquire in January, I’m sure), so let’s hope he takes it. The word is that Roma’s Montella is to arrive on loan, so Collins needs to impress while he can.
In all I have a funny feeling about this, perhaps because Howard Webb (who refereed us to victory over Arsenal) is in charge. Or we could be slaughtered, but like I say, I have a strange feeling. Time will tell if it’s something to do with all the Marmite I ate yesterday, or something more soothsayerish altogether.
COYW!!
