I think if we make it about individual duels we'll get picked off because 1 to 11 they will win more.
We have a better 1 to 11 now.than an in relation to 2008. And the Chelsea 1 to 11 back than on paper compared to hours was far superior. Cudicini Beletti Carvalho Terry Bridge Wright-phillips Ballack Essien Malouda J Cole Anelka We had injury issues and also Nyatanga and Macken were cup tied and Bobby Hassell had to play central midfield
From memory i think our line up was Steele Van Homoet Souza Foster Kozluk Devaney Howard Hassell Campbell-Ryce Odejayi Ferenczi
Ferenczi twatting the post early on after beating JT. Orrr my days. We smashed them that day, it was a strange one. At Anfield I expected us to lose, and every time they came forward I expected them to score but at home against Chelsea I never once felt worried, despite Chelsea being a far better side than Liverpool. Anfield is a special place though, maybe I got stage freight.
How many of these would make our starting line-up today? Would Odd job be more effective than Chaplin or Freiser playing alongside Woodrow?
I think, on current form, if any individual is going to give us a whipping it will be Hudson-Odoi. His speed of pass and move, if on the top of his game, will be a hell of a lot for us to deal with. I can certainly see Mads & Co taking one for the team if he starts on fire. On a separate subject, my garden lawn is frozen solid - and I mean solid. It stays cold tomorrow in the forecast, I hope we have tested the undersoil heating prior to switching it on in earnest.
I was working in the USA for 2 weeks so was unable to go, instead I found an Irish Bar in Manhattan and spent the day drinking with a Kiwi and watched the game, I fell off my stool when we scored, bought everyone in the bar a drink and almost got my head panned in by a huge Irish-American construction worker who "didn't like the English" - despite me pointing out to him I was more Irish then HE was!! Happy days
I'm in a minority I reckon, but overall I thought Odejayi was a good footballer. Strong, quick, physical, and actually quite good with the ball at his feet. The problem was his finishing. He was a rabbit in headlights in front of goal, and I think a lot of that was a mental thing. His confidence was clearly shot, and you could see it in his body language.
I actually agree, but unfortunately for him, finishing is kind of important in a striker. His confidence may have been shot with us, but if his goals per game ratio is anything to go on, it wasn’t great before he joined and didn’t improve much as he dropped down through the leagues.
What Simon Davey did, to his great credit, was go at them. Unless Chelsea were playing the top few teams they were used to the opposition retreating and trying to break them down. We played with two wingers and two battering rams up front. And Bobby Hassell who put his face in front of everything that day. This wasn't a backs to the wall effort like at Liverpool, we were the better team. I haven't got a lot of time for Simon Davey, but he got it right that day.
Chappers has been great player for us but currently out of form. I am not convinced he will start! I reckon Big Val will go with forward line of Freiser, Woodrow and Dike. Freiser as defensive forward, Woodrow spearhead of attack, and Dike as the battering ram come goalscorer/provider! Odejayi was battering ram in our last famous cup victory against Chelsea, could Dike be that man to step into spotlight? Hope so. Our tempo and intensity could unsettle Chelsea but we need to convert chances when we get them, and hope to got we don't get caught on the counter playing with high line. I am also hoping Walton returns in goal. For me he has done enough to be number one. His command of area, rush out, and communication with defence put him ahead of Collins for me. Few defensive mix ups when Walton has played and Walton has not been on the wrong end of high score (yet).
