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Match Preview: Chelsea Vs Newcastle United
Match Info:
| Kick-Off:
Saturday 19th November 3.00pm |
| Venue:
Stamford Bridge |
| Referee:
Mark
Halsey |
Match Preview By Ally
Campbell (17 November 2005)
We head to Stamford Bridge for the annual stuffing, but this time
we go with a bit more confidence than usual. The last two seasons
have seen humiliating 4-0 and 5-0 defeats, but we have won the last
4 fixtures and we’re on a nice run. The international break got in
the way as ever, but I fear this is a bad time to play Chelsea. They
have lost their last two games and Abramovich has apparently set up
an enquiry as to why they lost! A backlash awaits us I fear...
Injuries/suspensions
Bad news came the other day as Steven Taylor is ruled out for up to
10 weeks with a dislocated shoulder. Awful news for the club and the
player, he has really established himself as a first choice defender
and it’ll be hugely frustrating for the lad to sit out and watch.
Bramble is a certain replacement at centre-half.
Luque isn’t quite fit for this one, we’re told it’ll most likely be
the Everton game next weekend. I’m not hugely bothered about this
one, obviously it would be to our advantage to have a quality player
against Chelsea but if he’s not ready then it will be utterly foolish
to risk him. He’ll come back when the time is right.
Elsewhere Dyer is still out, and so are Shearer and Carr after hernia
surgery. Ameobi and Ramage will step in. Incidentally, it would be
the third season running that Shearer misses out at Stamford Bridge.
Lee Bowyer returns from a knee injury also.
United squad:
Given, Ramage, Babayaro, Boumsong, Bramble, Parker, N'Zogbia, Emre,
Clark, Solano, Owen, Faye, Elliott, Harper, Chopra, Ameobi, Bowyer,
Brittain.
Chelsea Squad:
TBC...
How should we approach this game?
This is arguably the toughest game of the season, away to the Champions
who are desperate for revenge on anyone who crosses them. Chelsea
aren’t unbeatable however, despite being a terrific football team.
They have strength all over the park and on the bench and are a daunting
prospect for anyone, but recent results have showed that they aren’t
as invincible as they’d like to make out.
Terry and Gallas are, clearly top class defenders, but in Michael
Owen we’ve got a top class striker to run at them. In recent games
they seemed to have panicked when the likes of Rooney and Bellamy
have just ran at their defenders, Owen needs to do this to frighten
them. I’m not huge fans of their full backs (Del Horno and Ferreira),
I think they are the weakest point of the team. Nobby and N’Zogbia
need to try and take advantage of this and get some quality balls
in the box for the strikers.
We have the makings of a good team and we seem to be gelling quite
well, with Emre and Solano we have two quality creative players and
that’s what is needed against Chelsea. They’ll play with 3 central
midfielders to our 2, so a precise through ball is perhaps all that
is needed. Emre can provide this, although he won’t have an easy day
with Makelele breathing down his neck!
Chelsea have a few players missing themselves, Drogba is suspended
and Crespo is injured. Normally that would be great news, but I happen
to think that Gudjohnson is better than both of them. He’s a terrific
player with great technique, touch and vision. He’s ran rings around
us in the past and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him do it
again!
Not to worry, the most important thing about this game is to be confident
and just go for it. Most people are expecting us to lose, but so long
as the players go out there thinking we can get a result then we might
be surprised. The rest of the country will be egging us on to win
this one to make the title race a bit more appealing.
Key Players
Newcastle:
In Michael Owen we’ve got a big player who always seems to perform
on the big stage. Exactly what we need for this game. Chances are
we won’t create too many clear cut chances, but any slight opportunity
of a loose ball in the box and Owen is likely to hit it, 9 times out
of 10 it goes in. We can’t afford to be wasteful against Chelsea,
and as he showed against Argentina last week, even in a quiet match
he can still pop up and be decisive.
Chelsea:
For Chelsea, they’ve got so many quality players I don’t know where
to begin! Frank Lampard would be my key player for them though. He’s
a top, top player and to be top scorer in the league from midfield
is a brilliant achievement. Man Utd seemed to manage to keep him quiet
the other week, they got tight on him and didn’t allow him to play
his game. Scott Parker will know his game very well after his spell
in London, so hopefully he can try and sniff out any danger before
it happens.
Verdict
It's our toughest game since August, and we’ll have to be at 100%
in order to get a result. If I'm being perfectly honest I’d say we’ll
lose, but I might as well be a bit optimistic and go for a 1-1 draw.
Come on lads give us something to cheer about!
Likely Lineup
Pre-Match Reaction: Shay Given
"Chelsea is always a tough place to go, and I think we have given
too many silly goals away in our last couple of visits to Stamford
Bridge.
"But we're going there full of confidence. We have lost just one of
our last nine games so we're looking forward to the game.
"Chelsea are a fantastic team with some fantastic players, but as
a player you want to test yourself against the best and that's what
they are at the moment."
Pre-Match Reaction: Jose Mourinho
"Michael Owen and Newcastle were major protagonists in the transfer
window and the scenario was perfect for both of them.
"A Real Madrid striker who was also an important player and automatic
choice for the English national team. His previous club, Liverpool,
in the picture and Newcastle in search of success.
"Newcastle bought him for £17 million and there were 20,000 fans there,
going mad at his unveiling. Everything was perfect.
"Also, because they were in the market for Owen, they were also able
to sign Albert Luque from Deportivo La Coruna, another great player.
"Those signings showed the potential of the club and the ambition
of their dealings."
Chelsea Vs Newcastle Head To Head
| Comp |
Chelsea
Wins |
Draws |
Newcastle
Wins |
| League |
47 |
32 |
43 |
| FA
Cup |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| League
Cup |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
55 |
35 |
46 |
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