Chelsea v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Chris Smith]

Once again another "Top" Team which I dont think are currently all that, I include in that list Man Utd, liverpool and Arsenal.

There's an argument to be made for the other 2 but 14 wins from 18, 45 points and a plus 33 goal difference suggest that rumours of Manu's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

[cdbearsfan]

I wouldn't be amazed if we do a Blackpool/Wolves and rest loads of players ahead of the Swansea game. Think this site might explode if we do though.

[Rick_avfc]

im going for a Chelsea win: 2-1.  Mata,Drogba and Albrighton for us.

Line up i'd go for is

                 Guzan
Hutton  Dunne   Cuellar   Warnock
             Petrov  Clark   
            Ireland OR Bannan
Nzogbia                       Gabby
                   Bent           

[Concrete John]

Is Hutton available or still banned?

[Aston Manor]

Not sure whether he is banned or not but I wouldn't change the back 4 after a rare clean sheet.

[Rick_avfc]

Is Hutton available or still banned?

He will be available as you only serve one match ban for 2 bookable offences.  He missed the stoke game so will be available for the trip to Chelski

[Concrete John]

I'd play him then and revert Carlos to CB.

Given the threat Stoke pose it made sense to play three CBs and have Heskey playing also, but now we should try and get back to the team that played so well against Arsenal as much as possible.

[mrfuse]

Once again another "Top" Team which I dont think are currently all that, I include in that list Man Utd, liverpool and Arsenal.

There's an argument to be made for the other 2 but 14 wins from 18, 45 points and a plus 33 goal difference suggest that rumours of Manu's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

I take your point but I think they've been very lucky so far, worst central midfield that i can remember in their recent history our game against them showed how poor they and we were!...although Jones is a good player I do class him as a defender. I hope Clark can be our own version

[TheSandman]

I wouldn't particularly like to see Mata vs. Hutton.

[paulcomben]

I wouldn't be amazed if we do a Blackpool/Wolves and rest loads of players ahead of the Swansea game. Think this site might explode if we do though.

Impossible since there are no viable replacements.

[TonyD]

Go at em with the 2nd half team we played at the Arse game.   That way we stand a chance of at least a point.  Comprimise and we will lose and play shit.  They are not the Chelsea team of a couple of years ago.  Resting players to face Swansea is a disgrace.  Don't start thinking like AM!!

[Steve R]

Once again another "Top" Team which I dont think are currently all that, I include in that list Man Utd, liverpool and Arsenal.

There's an argument to be made for the other 2 but 14 wins from 18, 45 points and a plus 33 goal difference suggest that rumours of Manu's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

It's not every year you see them slumming it in the EUFA cup, and its not as if they were playing in a group of death in the EC.

Their domestic record is more a reflection of an overall decline in PL standards than anything.

[l_mckay]

going for a 3-1 Chelsea win

[Legion]

[SoccerHQ]

Think we'll lose this 2 or 3-0.

Can't see us creating much down there and despite their problems, Sturridge, Mata and Drogba will cause our defence loads of problems.

Not too bothered as long as we beat Swansea. Beating them and losing at the Bridge gets us more points anyway than two battling draws....not that McLeish will see it that way.