Chelsea 2-0 West Ham Utd (26/12/14)

[SRXT]

Can't stand Mourinho or this ****ing team. What I wouldn't give for a victory. :arry:

[Hambrosia Stu]

I'd be happy enough for us to go there with some 19th century football in mind......
We're gonna be on the back foot a fair bit, and if you offered me the 0-0 we got last season I'd take that right now

However, whilst I do think we should be training with 9 outfield players behind the ball, we do have a different string to our bow, compared to last season. That is, the pacy counter-attacking football option.

If we are going to leave only one player upfield, I wouldn't go for Carroll. I'd go for someone with pace, who can pull them about a bit. I'd pick Sahko or Valencia, ahead of Carroll (who's a great option to throw on for the last 10-15 minutes, to cause total carnage if we're in with a shout...)

So I'd be inclined to go with the following:-

Adrian
Jenks Reid Tomka Creswell
Noble
Song Kouyate
Downing
Sakho Valencia

Which to my mind, as excellent as Carroll has been since his return, has been our best line up so far this season.
Defensively solid, yet capable of hitting anyone on the counter.
My only dilemma would be whether to start Amalfitano, to further strengthen our midfield, kind of in Sahko's position, with either Valencia or Sahko leading the line

[Benny the Ball]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but the much talked about 85/86 season was the last time we were top 4 at Xmas.

Chelsea away that year must have been the result of the season, with a 4-0 win.

Now wouldnt that be a nice Xmas prezzie!

BtB

[persona non grata]

FYI - Boxing Day there's no District Line running from Embankment on down.

[chykken]

Wouldn't have a problem if Tomkins picked up a 5th yellow and missed the subsequent Arsenal match, only in that it would fit the ban into the jam-packed xmas fixture mix where squad rest/rotation would be beneficial.

[Pepin]

Adrian
Jenks Reid Tomka Creswell
Noble
Song Kouyate
Downing
Sakho Valencia

This.
Exactly this.

From stamford bridge to Upton Park................

[Harry Hound]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, but the much talked about 85/86 season was the last time we were top 4 at Xmas.

Chelsea away that year must have been the result of the season, with a 4-0 win.

Now wouldnt that be a nice Xmas prezzie!

BtB

I'd love to see Sam play Valencia Carroll and Sakho, get us 3-0 up by half time then bring CC on to score the fourth and really give it back to them for all the stick they've given him over the years.

[Row X]

FYI - Boxing Day there's no District Line running from Embankment on down.

How the hell are we gonna get there then? Surely they have to lay on trains when the football is on?

[Knighter10WHU]

How the hell are we gonna get there then? Surely they have to lay on trains when the football is on?

Advice is to go to Earls Court and take the 20 minute walk to Stamford Bridge.

[morganwhu]

Why is everyone putting Noble in their team, is he back and ready to play?

[Tin Hat Matt]

I would love us to get something out of this, I just can't see it. I've got a feeling this is the game which will mark the beginning of our decline this season. We'll lose 2-0. Still top 4 after that, but with Arsenal next and ACON looming I can see us dropping permanently out of top 6 by the end of January.

West Ham's 2300th game in the top flight. Make it unforgettable boys and girls.

[stu1]

Why is everyone putting Noble in their team, is he back and ready to play?

I read somewhere Allardyce said he was hopeful that Noble would be back for the Chelsea game, others have probably heard the same.

[Hammertapp]

They haven't got Lampard to fall back on for a guaranteed goal any more.

We should relish this game. Chance to show what we're really worth.

COYI!

[Westcliffspur]

As a neutral I strongly fancy West ham to get a draw at Chelsea. Stewart Downing is in superb form and Andy Carroll can hurt anyone. I have been incredibly impressed with West Ham.

I may even have a wager on 2-2.

[NW5hammer]

They haven't got Lampard to fall back on for a guaranteed goal any more.

We should relish this game. Chance to show what we're really worth.

COYI!

That's all I care about, too. His miss in the last minute last season was a sign that the jinx might be over. And the haven't got anyone else like Torres who needs to end a dry spell. I think this team can defend better than last year's, and we've got something to hit them with on the break. Still think we'll get beat 2-0 but we have reasons to believe...

[knock-knock]

This is as good a chance as we'll ever have while Chelsea are a billionaire team, the lads are all in the form of their lives and this would be a great chance to close the gap and live in dreamland a bit longer.

I honestly see nothing more than a draw at absolute best though, Mourinho knows what he's doing regardless of anyone's opinion of him, they have a plethora of world class talent and they will want to increase that gap between themselves and ManC again.

They are not unbeatable but it's a big big ask, I'm more concerned about us having a proper go at Arsenal and putting some ground between us and them. If we are to stay in our lofty position, beating the teams below you is key, and Arsenal will be around or in the top 4 come May.

[Aceface]

The first goal should just be to get into halftime level.

An early goal to them would be a pretty hard proposition to overcome - there's no-one better in the biz at holding onto a 1-0 than Mourinho

[thejackhammer]

The first goal should just be to get into halftime level.

An early goal to them would be a pretty hard proposition to overcome - there's no-one better in the biz at holding onto a 1-0 than Mourinho

The same can be said of Allardyce at 2-0. Storm into a two goal leader early doors and the three points are guaranteed with Big Sam at the helm!

[ageing hammer]

I see Sam going back to 5 man midfield for this respect the point etc..

----------------------------------------Adrian
------------Jenks -----------Reid---------- Tomka---------- Creswell
---------------------------------Noble------------------------

--------Song------------ Kouyate---------- Nolan------------

----------------------------Downing


----------------------------Carroll


What I would prefer is :

Adrian
Jenks Reid Tomka Creswell
Noble
Song Kouyate
Downing
Sakho Carroll

[RyanWHUFC]

-------------Adrian
Jenko--Tonks--Reid--Cresswell
-------Kouyate--Song
-------------Downing
Sakho-----Carroll------Valencia

Power, pace, creativity, strength. Come on you ****ing Irons, the West Ham express train is going to come steaming through Stamford Bridge and we're going to take them apart on the way through. 3-1 to us!