League Cup preview: Newcastle United v. Chelsea
Wednesday, 20 December 06, 12:38 PM · Comments (11)
Jose Mourinho will rest several players but has told Newcastle not to expect an early Christmas present.
Mourinho said: "I'm going to rest some players, that's obvious. People think we have a massive squad but it is not true. Our squad is very short and at this moment we have some problems.
"We have a game to play at Wigan next weekend and then Reading so for these three games I am going to make some changes.
"We are in the quarter-finals so we are not going there to give a present to Newcastle and an easy game. We go there with some fresh players so some of the boys can rest, but I hope we can get a result."
Wayne Bridge, Paulo Ferreira and Shaun Wright-Phillips will all be hoping to start. John Terry and Carlo Cudicini are doubtful and unlikely to be risked in any case.
Glenn Roeder will give late fitness tests to Nolberto Solano and Emre, while Damien Duff is set to face Chelsea for the first time since his summer move to St. James' Park. He is expected to play left-back as replacement for another Chelsea old boy Celestine Babayaro who is suspended.
The Magpies gave a good account of themselves in last week's Premiership game at Stamford Bridge, eventually succumbing to a late Didier Drogba goal. Despite the defeat, they showed enough evidence to suggest that they can give Chelsea a run for their money at St. James'.
In other news, Mourinho has issued an apology for insinuating that Andy Johnson was a diver following the Blues' 3-2 win against Everton at the weekend.
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Yeh we can give you a good game, but you don't lose many - I just hope the growing unrest of your reserves is shown by a can't care less approach, rather than fighting for places. Please under estimate us as we are a lowly bottom half of the league club
I agree Nick, although I would maybe plump for Kalou on the right, and maybe give Essien a rest (Mikel perhaps?).
Personally I was very pleased to hear Mourinho has had the good grace to apologise to AJ after his rather far-fetched comments on Sunday. It is becoming too easy for eager interviewers to lead him into the trap of putting his foot into it, by using leading questions. I normally agree with most of what JM says, but this time not. AJ is a top player and has scored numerous goals for the past few seasons. Hopefully he will start doing the same for England next year.
I'm going away for a while now and probably won't have access to a pc for a while. So an advanced 'Merry Christmas' to all, and thanks to all contributors to this wonderful blog again this year! Keep up the great work!
And Macca . . . with your full strength team out (ie. any eleven players except Bramble!), along with home advantage, our weakened team must be clear underdogs tonight . . . go easy on us please ;D
Nick
Agree about the team selection.
Really hope Sheva plays with both Robben and SWP or Kalou (I supect the latter) so that he can have some chances in front of goal. There is little point in playing the guy and hoping he can get some form whilst hoofing the ball over the top and expecting him to chase away from home in essentially a reserve side.
I fancy a good game tonight, with Chelsea being very quick on the break. I think 3-1 to us.
Does anybosy know how long Carlo is out for? Hilario is scaring the life out of me. Feel very sorry for Cudicini as he has had his opportunity what with Cech's unfortunate injury and yet he has managed to get himself injured twice also. I fear the result will be that Jose buys another keeper in January and Carlo moves on.
Up the Chels!
SuperDrog saves us again. :)
Player of the Season?
Here's the Didier Drogba goal from the Newcastle Carling Cup game:
Didier Drogba Goal
11 Comments · Add yours
This is a match that I would really not like us to lose, as it looks potentially dangerous: some key players missing, some rested, Newcastle players just returning from injury, away to a place where we always seem to have some trouble...
We're not going to get an Everton-style comeback this time if we slip up. Therefore, it's important that we perform from the start, something we've had trouble doing for the past few games.
I'm relatively comfortable with our defensive changes, providing Boulah doesn't play for the other side like he did on Sunday.. If Drogba and Shevchenko play, I'm not worried about our attacking power either. The midfield for me is a key worry however. SWP needs to prove himself.
It's going to be close, but I think we should just scrape a victory. If we get a comfortable win in the end, then I'll be pleasantly surprised.
If Wright-Phillips starts, I'd like to see Robben on the other wing and Sheva up the middle - give him the opportunity to get on the end of a few crosses. Wright-Phillips can knock in some good balls when he's on his game. Give Drogba a rest, or bring him on if needed.
My selection: Hilario; Bridge, Carvalho, Boulahrouz, Ferreira; Diarra, Essien, Lampard; Robben, Wright-Phillips, Shevchenko.
That ought to do it.