Four Games in Eight Days

By 40 YEARS A BLUE
December 24 2005

We maybe entering the season of goodwill and copious amounts of food and drink but spare a thought for the hundreds of professional footballers throughout the land that are being asked to play four games in the space of eight days.

NO!! I won't. They get paid well enough and when they took up their chosen careers they knew what they were letting themselves in for!! Me. I am just so looking forward to the festival of football that will be on offer - starting Boxing Day and ending somewhere on Monday 2nd January before, if you are one of the lucky ones like me, not having to return to work until the next day.

Chelsea's festive season kicks off at home to Fulham where our visitors have only won twice at The Bridge in thirty attempts. Last season's outcome was a 3-1 win to Chelsea. The Special One gave the players two days off after the Arsenal victory to which Frank went to Zurich to find himself runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year. Didier Drogba came tenth.

After Fulham its Man City away, one of only two teams to beat Chelsea in the League since The Special One took over the helm at Stamford Bridge. Then next Saturday, Birmingham City are the visitors to Stamford Bridge and then forty-eight hours later Chelsea travel across to the East End where no doubt Super Frank and Joey Cole will be greeted with a 'warm' reception from the mass singers of the 'Stick the Blue Flag' song. So looking forward to that!!!!

With the exception of the Fulham and Birmingham games, there will be live scores, news and updates on the message board starting Wednesday night at Man City. Incidentally the Fulham and Birmingham games are 1pm kick offs and beware that on New Years Eve (the London Underground are taking strike action. Respect to Bob Crowe and Bobby Law. NOT!!!!!!)

Unless there has been a severe outbreak of an unknown virus at Cobham, I expect JM will pick his strongest eleven for the first of the four games - with the exception of Duff, Johnson, Bridge and possibly Robben who didn't train yesterday - so lets see how I get on this time

Chelsea:

Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho, Gallas, Makelele, Lampard, Essien, Cole, Drogba, Wright-Phillips

Fulham, led by one of the Premiership's brightest managers Chris Coleman, do appear to be struggling with injuiries. Steed Malbranque has a hamstring injury. Diop (ankle) and John (hamstring) and Morte (knee) are all struggling.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to wish every reader, moderator, supporter of any football club and message board poster and to all your families:

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!