The Big’un part 1.
Both Chelsea and Fulham have gone three consecutive games without losing, CFC three wins and FFC 2 wins and one draw. I would presume that Chelsea feel they have a score to settle besides the fact that they don’t want drop any points in the race for the title. None expected us to beat them back in March and I’m pretty sure not many people think we stand a chance tomorrow. Especially since we are by far the team with most injuries in the premiership at the moment and Chelsea can feature pretty much any player they want besides Ballack (suspended) and Joe Cole (knee). We have to make do with out Boa Morte, Christianval, Bullard, Elrich, Pembridge and Elliott. We might also have to spare Bouba Diop…
As always the ‘special one’ has made a few comments prior to the game. Unusually enough he hasn’t made any “strage” claims so far, he’s even given credit to the fighting spirit of Fulham from previous games and acknowledged the fact that Fulham takes the derby seriously. He branded it; Fulham’s World Cup!
Chris Coleman seems to back up that sentiment:
- “We’re not going to get into Saturday’s game thinking we’ll get a hiding. We want to get something out of this,” he said.
- “It’s a derby and they’re the champions. We have to have the belief we can take something from the game.
- “It was a sweet victory because we hadn’t beaten Chelsea for years. The way we beat them was pleasing as well.
- “It was a great atmosphere – the best I’d seen for 10 years. It was a great feeling and there will be a full house.
- “We have a depleted squad but I’m still looking forward to it. The players are looking forward to it.
- “A result for us against Chelsea would be massive psychologically.”
To be frank, the only way we’ll get anything from this game is if every player shows the same commitment as they did away to Spurs last Sunday and fight the way they did back in March. This time we will, on paper, field a weaker side than last time so if there’s ever been a game where I feel we need something extremely special it’s this one.
It is very hard to predict the starting eleven for tomorrow, but here is my guess:
Niemi
Rosenior – Knight – Pearce – Que
Volz – Brown – Papa – Routledge
John – McBride
Subs: Runström, Timlin, Zakuani, Lastuvka, Helgusson
At 4 pm (GMT+1) we will know for sure. I know there will be a lot of emotions racing through my mind before kick-off. We’ll be at O’Learys in Stockholm, Where will you be?
*quotes from: PA Sport
COME ON CHELSEA!!