It was a match that was supposed to give Chelsea the chance to close on Manchester United in the race for the title, but thanks to the Red Devils getting the result they needed at Ewood Park earlier it leaves Chelsea very little to play for other than pride and the desire to give their home fans a good result to close their home season down with.
Newcastle are in much the same boat as Chelsea in terms of having little to play for. Safety is assured and the highest we can aim for now is a spot in the top ten, however unlikely it may look at this juncture.
To do that we’ll probably need to take something from Stamford Bridge, but given the fact that they have won their last six home games whilst we have won only one of the last eight away games it’s fair to say that getting any form of result looks unlikely, especially when you consider our injury list. More on that later though.
As for team news, as ever I’ll start with the home team. Carlo Ancelotti will be without Jose Bosingwa for the match tomorrow as he is ruled out with a knee injury. Other than that the Italian has no injury or suspension concerns ahead of the match. Fernando Torres will be recalled to the team with the main question being who will be left out to accommodate the Spaniard.
I’ll pass on trying to guess that, but I do know they lined up with the following team in their recent defeat to Manchester United:
Chelsea: Petr Cech, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, David Luiz, Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Solomon Kalou, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda.
In stark contrast to Chelsea’s near-clear injury list, Newcastle could practically field an entire team from their walking wounded. The latest casualties are Kevin Nolan and Steve Harper who join Alan Smith, Leon Best, Danny Guthrie, Dan Gosling, James Perch, Mike Williamson and Hatem Ben Arfa on the treatment table. Chiek Tiote will not feature after being left out to stop him starting off next season with a ban after collecting 14 yellow cards already. One more and he would face a three match ban.
That leaves us down to bare bones and will mean that we are going to see some of the fringe players and youth players in action. If it was up to me I’d put Ryan Taylor on tea duty and pick a football team that looks a little like this:
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez, Joey Barton, Michael Richardson, Shane Ferguson, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands.
I’m only picking Shola and Lovenkrands as I believe that is who will play regardless. The midfield is a different matter though and is open to interpretation so I’d quite like to see who you guys think should play.
Despite that 4-3 cup win at Stamford Bridge earlier on in the season it’s been 25 years since we last won there in the league. Andy Thomas scored two and Pedro got the other in a 3-1 win back in 1986.
The two sides have met 131 times in the league. Chelsea have won 52 of those games compared to Newcastle’s 44 victories.
If Chelsea score first they will probably win as they have failed to lose a match from a winning position all season. Add to that the fact that Newcastle have only scored three second-half goals since that 4-4 draw with Arsenal at the start of February and you can see we are going to face an uphill battle.
I’d love to see us sneak a point, or even a cheeky win, but I really can’t see it. I think we could get a humping in all honesty as injuries, tiredness and lack of concentration all take their toll on the away side. Still, the Toon Army will be there in numbers again so I expect nothing from the game other than a committed performance.
Howay the lads!
@batty
My Facebook was playing up but aye I saw your photo and you’re right, you are greyer but not by much. Good to put a face to the name.
My huge hope for the season now is to finish above the mackems! Oh the joy! 😛
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
I would like to see something like this
———————-Krul
Simpson—-Saylor—-Collo—-Enrique
Raylor————Barton———–Fergie
———–Jonas———–McLovin
————–Strolla/Ranger
Different system, bit of width and push Jonas forward to try and run at Terry who can be a bit slow turning
raffo(Quote)
I just spotted dennis wise in the FA CUP FINAL on stream. 😯
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Bobby – I reckon a win against West Brom would guarantee us being above them lot 😀
toonsy(Quote)
i dont reckon we will need another point too finish above 5under1and 😉
batty(Quote)
Would like to see
Krul
Simpson-Saylor-Colo-Enrique
Jonas-Raylor-Barton-Fergie
Shola-Ranger
With maybe Smith coming on later to replace Taylor if he’s been poor? Or maybe a youngster. As far as I can see our only real chance is to hold them and hit them on the break, wouldn’t mind seing us battle for a 0-0 to be honest.
NewkieBrown(Quote)
does every1 like me cap on the pic
Army69(Quote)
get in aberdeen £680 😆 😆 😆
batty(Quote)
Army – Yes, now send it in so I can raffle it off as a prize 😆
toonsy(Quote)
🙄 toonsy hes sendin it me 1st so i can try in on 😆
batty(Quote)
God I hate Stoke 👿
toonsy(Quote)
lol u wud seriously put jackie milburns england cap in a raffle comp when its auctioned at 15k lol?
Army69(Quote)
toonsy not as much as me 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿
batty(Quote)
Army – No, but I’d sling it on eBay 😉
toonsy(Quote)
halfers toonsy 🙂
batty(Quote)
60/40 😆
I see Bobby has asked me to be his Facebook friend. I think he wants to be part of the night night club 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Ding Ding………….How ya doing toonsy ❓
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
gareth barry for a player of limited ability has been very lucky to have had the career he has had
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
toonsy ok get the cap of him 🙂 bobbys a good lad 🙂
batty(Quote)
butler how you doing 🙂
batty(Quote)
get innnnnnnnnnn 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
batty(Quote)
NSFW:Wayne Rooney Shaved Chest Hair. 😯 😯
http://cdnmo.coveritlive.com/media/image/201105/phpiiamcxcjcei.jpg
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
batty,
Good, watching the cup final, citeh winning 😆
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
my household are mancity fans for the day tgs 🙂
batty(Quote)
Stoke really are an ugly side. Think back to our home game it was an awful afternoon of entertainment.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Batty,
You live in a house 😯
I thought you lived in a cave somewhere in Jesmond Dene 😆 😆 😆
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
tgs bobby knows where i live ask him 😉
batty(Quote)
Stoke = Hoof Hoof
toonsy(Quote)
hoof huth hoof 😆
batty(Quote)
Was Shay Given on the bench?
toonsy(Quote)
@TGS
Batty doesn’t live in a cave in jessy Dene! He lives in a cave though! 😛
@Toonsy
I’ll join the nighty night club if you join the morning wide awake club. 😆
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bolletelli = Bonkers!
Stuart79(Quote)
Balotelli – I’ve been **** all season, can I say that 😆 😆 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Bobby – I’ve been looking at the hours I’ll be working…… I reckon I’ll be part of both 😆
toonsy(Quote)
I suppose Given can say he’s won something now.
Stuart79(Quote)
What was it Balotelli said in the interview ?
Batty so Bobby is your friend now ? I send him a request a week ago and he still hasn’t accepted me 😀
Toonsy yeah super Shay was on the bench
Big Dave(Quote)
Finally get to see man city in UCL…
Can’t wait to see RM VS. MAN CITY. 😈
thats the true battle of riches,galaticos vs galatico wannabes. 🙄
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Joe Hart is mint.
We are gonna shuffling.LMAO. 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Dave – Look at 33. That’s what Balotelli said 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Bolletelli’s english is pretty good for a young Italian who’s supposed to be an ignorant waste of space.
Stuart79(Quote)
Toonsy 😉
Has Shay played this year ?
Big Dave(Quote)
@big Dave
Did you send me a f’book request ❓
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Stuart they were interviewing Mancini earlier and his English is 20 times better than that walter Capello
Big Dave(Quote)
Bobby I told you I would 😉 but dont feel bad mate if you dont want to accept I understand 😀
Big Dave(Quote)
@big Dave
I remember getting one but I didn’t know who it was. Try again.
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Do you think Shay regrets leaving us. ? ❓
Bobby Shinton number 9(Quote)
Bobby I think he misses the regular games, but I think he was sick of the **** at the Toon 😉
I sent you another
Big Dave(Quote)
dave bobbys a nosey fcker 😆
batty(Quote)
🙄 pot and kettle comes to mind 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
AOD why did hart have too make a save 😕
batty(Quote)