Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Chelsea v Newcastle Utd
By Tyne-Talk August 24 2012
Newcastle United travel to Stamford Bridge tomorrow for the days late kick off, on the back of a great start against Spurs last weekend and European draw on Thursday night. Chelsea, however host on the back of two consecutive Premier League wins.
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo is expected to be without captain John Terry (neck) and Marko Marin (hamstring), whilst David Luiz (knee) is expected to return.
Newcastle, who made 9 changes to their first team in midweek will assess the fitness of Cheik Tiote (calf), Demba Ba (shin), Fabricio Coloccini (thigh) and Shola Ameobi (hamstring). Haris Vuckic also missed out in midweek due to injury.
Whilst Chelsea played in midweek, their game on Wednesday gives them a huge advantage over Newcastle, who played in Greece on Thursday and will be recovering from the trip. Whilst Pardew made many changes, he was forced to play Papiss Cisse due to the lack of options, proving that players are needed to bolster the side. James Perch was the only other player to play both the opening game of the season and in midweek.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will be expecting his players to pin down Chelsea’s summer signing Eden Hazard who has made quite an impact in his first two games at the club. Fernando Torres goal against Reading is also unlikely to have gone unnoticed.
The game is live on ESPN with Kick Off at 5.30pm.
Fact: Newcastle United’s win in May earlier this year was their first league win at Stamford Bridge since 1986.
Fact: Chelsea haven’t kept a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge since April.
Chelsea
Newcastle United
2
Played
1
6
Points
3
2
Won
1
0
Lost
0
0
Drawn
0
6
Goals Scored
2
2
Goals Conceded
1
Match Preview/Stats/Thread: Chelsea v Newcastle Utd
Posted by: TyneTalk (IP Logged)
Date: 24/08/2012 20:19
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If I had been the manager, I would certainly not have fielded an under-strength team in the Europa League match in Greece last week.
If I had had to choose between an under-strength team in the Europa League match, or against Chelsea yesterday, I'd have preferred to field an under-strength team against Chelsea.
I was sure we'd lose to Chelsea.
Others may disagree with me, and that's their right, but it's my right to say what I think, and I think we shoudl have prioritised the Europan match over a Premier League match that we had only a tiny chance of winning.
2nd half we played some decent stuff HBA looked lively, 1st half unfortunatly was a let down, but to be fair against Hazard this season many teams are going to struggle, he was class.
I absolutely hate Chelsea with a passion but believe this season they will be top 3 along with Man U and Citeh. The rest between 4-7th is going to be close and were again in with a shout which is damm good imo.
I thought we played too strong a team in the european match, if Tiote was a doubt for Chelsea i would have kept Perch fresh for the chelsea game, it was too big a game to have Anita getting his first start!
What has happened to Ferguson and Abeid i was sure we'd have seen them atleast on the bench for the european game!
Anyway back to Chelsea, Hazard and Mata were world class and Torres looks like he's getting back to his best so any team is going to struggle with them the way they played in the first half, saying that had we got our game plan right we could have got back into the game in the second half!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:27:09:03:37 by mentalman.
Ferguson is injured, I believe. If memory serves he didn't go to Greece because of a minor tweak of some sort. Too bad as he apparently looked very good for NI earlier this month.
Nick-I completely agree. I would have named an at least half-strength side for the Greek match. If we can get a 3-0 win there then the tie is effectively over and AP has lots of options for the return. As you say we were never likely to beat Chelsea anyway.
Sad thing is Chelsea were there for the taking. But 4-4-2 was never going to work. Oh well, truth told I would have taken 2 points from these first two matches. Roll on.
I feel the team he picked in the european match should have got the victory by atleast a couple of goals, it wasnt the wrost team.
Matu and Hazard destroyed us in the centre of midfield, but when Ben Arfa moved in the CM he looked just as good on the ball.
I think this needs to be put down as a bad in the office, it hasn't been the perfect start with Spurs and Chelsea. I think Villa maybe a tough game especially with the poor start they have, as Lambert will be sending a rocket up them not to let it happen again
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