Monday, December 12, 2011

Nouvea Riche on a Monday Night

After a relatively uneventful Premiership weekend, Sky in their infinite wisdom have chosen to move the biggest game of the round to Monday night.

One suspects it is a bigger game for Chelsea than it is for Manchester City and the onus will certainly be on them to win the game in front of their home fans. Whether they are capable of doing so however is far from certain.

City's form in the league this season has been irresistible whilst Chelsea's has simply been erratic or possibly even just plain poor. City will go into this match full of confidence knowing they have the attacking tools to dismantle most sides in Europe. The likes of Aguero and David Silva are players of the very highest calibre whom could both step into the Barca side and the supporting cast is not bad either. If Mancini decides to be positive - he isn't always in away fixtures - then Chelsea could have serious problems on their hands.

AVB is enduring a tough start to his reign with a team that is neither here nor there. The established old guard isn't quite what it was and the new arrivals are seemingly not ready to take their place either. Despite a seeming resurgence in his form during previous months, AVB has lost faith with Torres and with David Luiz having hand grenades strapped to his ankles (not literally Jamie Redknapp) there are many selection dilemmas for the Portuguese to ponder.

Terry and Cole will certainly start but Frank Lampard it appears is being eased out gradually so there can be no surety of his presence. Drogba that reliable battering ram who is also so much more seems be the player currently in favour up front and one would expect him to start. Chelsea will want a forward with whom the ball will stick as they could face large spells of possession from City's midfield.

Despite their contrasting fortunes in the Champions League, one would expect City to have the edge in confidence going into the game and for that reason they have to be favourites for the match. Stamford Bridge is far from the fortress it used to be and one suspects that AVB would take a point ahead of the match, the writer of this blog certainly would - No Nonsense.

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