Chelsea v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[The Villan On The Wirral]

3-0 Chelsea

I can't see us scoring

(ever again)

[Chris Smith]

...


Yet Chelsea and Arsenal who are still in the CL are beneath them in the league so I'm not sure that argument stacks up.

The original assertion was that they're "not all that" in this league when results and the table show something entirely different. I think the drubbing by Man City has clouded everyone's thinking.

The actual strength of the best league in the world would be a discussion worthy of it's own title, rather than in a soon to be buried match thread.
 
Qualify or otherwise I wouldn't take Chelsea's or Arsenal's performances - home or abroad - as anything of a benchmark of quality.

The original assertion was 'not all that'; adding 'in this league' merely supports the notion of a very poor PL generally.

They've looked very ordinary in quite a few games this season, including the one a VP.

If they really are 'all that' I'm glad we won't have to face Basel or Benfica any time soon. 

Right, so you don't take Arsenal or Chelsea's CL performance as a benchmark but you do take Manu's. There is no arguing with that sort of flexible logic.

It's not their best team ever but it is better than the one that won the league last season and despite Man City wining all the plaudits they are neck and neck with them.

[JUAN PABLO]

3-1 chelsea .   Torres , you just know it

[JUAN PABLO]

and Heskey is out ......

[Concrete John]

Hutton is available again, isn't he?  I'd go with:-

Guzan (when is Given back?)

Hutton
Cuellar
Dunne
Warnock

Albrighton
Clark
Petrov
Bannan
N'Zogbia

Gabby

Although I think 4-5-1 is the way to go against Chelsea, I'd be tempted to play Bent if fit for Bannan in a 4-4-2.

[barrysleftfoot]

  If Herd and Bent are fit.


   Guzan...looking good

  Hutton.....better than he is given credit for, not the brightest but generally his pace can make up for his mistakes.
  Cuellar....much better than Collins
  Dunne...ok but needs replacing asap.
  Warnock....no body else.


  Herd and Clark as defensive midfielders, Clark for me a future captain, both have energy, and try to keep the ball.Could be a good partnership.


  Gabby, on the right.Cashley Cole can't handle him, Ireland in the middle, the only player at the club who really knows how to play off a foward, and N'Zog on the left.

 Bent up front.


Play that team, and i believe we will give a good account of ourselves.

[Chris Jameson]

and Heskey is out ......

Damn, yet another opportunity missed for him to answer his critics in the best possible way.

[Apyadg]

and Heskey is out ......

Damn, yet another opportunity missed for him to answer his critics in the best possible way.

I can't think of a better way for Heskey to answer his critics than by missing the game.

[JD]

and Heskey is out ......

A win for Villa then.

[pauliewalnuts]

i really think we'll miss Emile.

[TheSandman]

Yeah. Noone to laugh at.

[eamonn]

He scored a header in that barnstorming 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge last season (New Year's Day was it? How come we always play these ****** around this time?) and played well at Stoke the other night. Can't believe I'm saying it but I think we could very well miss Gentle Ben tomorrow.

[supertom]

If falling over was an art form, Emile Heskey would be the Michaelangelo of it.

[Mister E]

He ... played well at Stoke the other night.

You think so?! He had the touch of a rapist and pass-quality of a one-legged gumby but - apart from that - I'd have to agree with you.

2-2 today.

[Eigentor]

i really think we'll miss Emile.

You're right. Every good thing he does, goes unnoticed, and every mistake is jumped upon. (Of course, part of the problem is that some of his mistakes are very eye-catching.)

As for today, I think a draw is on the cards: 1-1.