CHELSEA vs West Ham

[chelsea91]

What: Barclays Premier League
Who: Chelsea (2nd, 36pts) v West Ham United (16th, 18pts)
When: Sunday 14 December, 2008, Kick-off: 16.00
Where: Stamford Bridge, London


Warm Welcome

East London meets west on Sunday afternoon as Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham United travel across the capital to take on Chelsea.

Of course this will be the first time that Zola has returned to Stamford Bridge as a manager and he is likely to receive a warm welcome having spent seven years at the club, where his performances ensure he is widely recognised as one of the club’s greatest ever players.

However, the Hammers’ boss will need to be at his inspirational best if his side are to claim any points at Stamford Bridge, in what will be their second London derby of the week.

The Irons’ are currently enduring a miserable spell of form. They sit only three points clear of the drop zone and have won only one of their last ten games.

Furthermore, they travel to Stamford Bridge in the knowledge they have lost four of their last five London derbies.

Their record at Chelsea is also poor, having lost their last six Premier League games to the Blues; yet they will be boosted by the fact that they recently returned from Anfield with a hard-fought point and will be hoping to go one better at the Bridge.

Problems At Home

However, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side have looked uncharacteristically vulnerable at home in recent weeks, which should inspire some optimism in the visitors.

After Liverpool wrecked the Blues’ 86-game unbeaten home run, the west Londoners have looked a little uncomfortable at the Bridge and have lost two of their last four home games.

However, Chelsea do possess an excellent record against the Hammers. They have done the double over the Upton Park side in the last two seasons and have not dropped a point to their London rivals since 2003.

No Plan B

After beating CFR Cluj in midweek to confirm their qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League, Scolari’s starting line-up should prove interesting reading on Sunday.

Didier Drogba came off the bench to score a sumptuous winner against Cluj and now that his three-match coin-throwing suspension has been served, Scolari must decide whether the striker warrants an automatic start.

With Chelsea stuttering, the Blues’ boss has been vocal that his side have lacked a plan B and also insisted he wants to sign a striker in January.

As Nicolas Anelka is the league’s leading scorer, he is unlikely to be dropped, and Big Phil must decide whether it is finally time to unleash the Drogba/Anelka partnership on the Premier League.



FORM GUIDE

Last Five Results

Chelsea

Dec 09: Chelsea 2-1 CFR Cluj
Dec 06: Bolton 0-2 Chelsea
Nov 30: Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal
Nov 26: Bordeaux 1-1 Chelsea
Nov 22: Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

West Ham

Dec 08: West Ham 0-2 Tottenham
Dec 01: Liverpool 0-0 West Ham
Nov 23: Sunderland 0-1 West Ham
Nov 15: West Ham 0-0 Portsmouth
Nov 08: West Ham 1-3 Everton


TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

The Blues’ have been boosted by the news that Ricardo Carvalho and Juliano Belletti are nearing a return, yet the game comes too soon for both players and they may be joined on the sidelines by Florent Malouda who has a hamstring problem.

However a, fit-again and suspension-free Didier Drogba may start and if so is likely to partner Nicolas Anelka up front with Saloman Kalou the man most likely to miss out.

Possible Starting XI: Cech, Ashley Cole, Terry, Alex, Bosingwa, Deco, Mikel, Ballack, Joe Cole, Drogba, Anelka.

West Ham

With goals a problem, Zola may be tempted to change his front man, and therefore there may be roles for David Di Michele, Diego Tristan or Freddie Sears.

Elsewhere Lee Boywer is an injury doubt but Matthew Etherington and Jack Collison make the squad.

Possible Starting XI: Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Mullins, Parker, Faubert, Cole, Bellamy.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea – Didier Drogba

Having completed his three-match suspension and after making a goalscoring appearance as a substitute against Cluj in midweek, Drogba must have forced his way into Scolari’s thinking.

Whether the Ivorian starts or begins on the bench, he is likely to be involved at some point, and he may prove the tonic for Chelsea’s stuttering home form.

West Ham – Scott Parker

Scott Parker endured a fairly miserable spell at Stamford Bridge, making just 15 league appearances in his 18 months in west London.

However, having returned from injury he is enjoying life at Upton Park and with the Hammers’ struggling, his experience and drive from midfield will be much-needed if Zola’s men are to get anything out of this game.



PREDICTION

Chelsea have been less than convincing at home in recent weeks yet West Ham’s dismal form suggests they are unlikely to cause a stir across town.

The Hammers are struggling in front of goal whilst Chelsea boast the league’s topscorer in Anelka and are also able to welcome back Didier Drogba.

Although Zola will be desperate for a result against his former club, the Blues look likely to inflict more misery on their former favourite.

Chelsea 1-0 West Ham

[chelsea91]

This is a great opportunity to go top after Liverpool slipped up against Hull..

[Missing Post Count]

Chelsea are the only team yet to concede a headed goal this season.
Nicolas Anelka has scored 99 Premier League goals.
The Blues have only won two of their last seven Premier League home games.
Chelsea have won the last four matches in all competitions against the Hammers at Stamford Bridge, three of them 1-0.
Former Hammer Joe Cole scored in both meetings against West Ham last season.
Didier Drogba has scored three goals in five Premier League starts against the Hammers.
The last time that Chelsea lost to West Ham at Stamford Bridge, Gianfranco Zola was on the scoresheet for the Blues in September 2002.
Chelsea have won the last six league games against West Ham.
Chelsea have fired in more shots on target than any other team (105).
West Ham are unbeaten in their last three on the road and have kept two clean sheets in a row.
Chelsea fans have been know to write their clubs name in uppercase letters on football forums despite there being no reason to.

[chelsea91]

Still another 15minutes away this game.. Looking forward to it big time!! Cant it just start

[ronaldo07]

i hope west ham get a point from this game - altho the chance is very slim

COMEO N WEST HAM .. COME ON BELLAMY !!

[Missing Post Count]

I hope they take all three.

[ronaldo07]

i hope west ham get a point from this game - altho the chance is very slim

COMEO N WEST HAM .. COME ON BELLAMY !!

WEST HAM 1 nil UP !! but should that goal stand ??
COME ON HOLD IT !!

[totsreds08]

finished 1-1. bellamy and anelka on the score sheet. green was on fire and possibly motm

[Salpigidis]

lol at chelski

[povman_2009]

Still another 15minutes away this game.. Looking forward to it big time!! Cant it just start

Guess you don't feel so excited anymore,

[# 9]

green should have been england number 1 long ago, and should be there now. hes an awsome keeper one of the top in the epl now.

[FT9]

arrgggghhhhhh farkenhelll
chelsea played no where near well enough lampard took about 7 strikes from fair distance outside the box and they all got blocked!! as well as deco whose shots came off the heads off the hammers defence
the crossing was pretty shit too
in the first half lmost all of the play went through the right flank with bosingwa attempting to get the cross in but he was very well matched for pace by ilunga and he defended very well
second half play switched over to the other side with A.Cole but he couldnt penetrate either
Alex was out played by C.Cole, alex was just pushed aside way to easily on numerous occasions by cole who had a few very good opportuntities to sink chelsea late on but couldnt hit the target

in the end it was a pretty average chelsea game to watch but west ham stood up to the challenge and gianfranco zola's team posed a great threat to ours!

[ronaldo07]

im good in prediction hey ..
even got the goal scorer right
im a happy man now ..
cant believe after we get 1 point, we r still at the same position !!

[# 9]

im good in prediction hey ..
even got the goal scorer right
im a happy man now ..
cant believe after we get 1 point, we r still at the same position !!

if 1 of the big 4 draws, they all have too its like a script

[ronaldo07]

im good in prediction hey ..
even got the goal scorer right
im a happy man now ..
cant believe after we get 1 point, we r still at the same position !!

if 1 of the big 4 draws, they all have too its like a script

biut looking at the opponent, u would have to say that our 1 point is more worth it

[pires7]

Spurs were 17th at the start of the round :?

[Ronnie]

green was man of the match against liverpool too. he always saves his best for the bigger teams. in my opinion a great keeper and yeah should probably be the england number one

[chelsea91]

Cant believe it, I dont understand why big teams cant win when they have too.. Deco kept losing the ball a fair bit, Lampard was just shooting from anywhere but the difference was Drogba.. At the half time break Big Phill brang on Drogba and it changed everything, Chelsea looked much more dangerous going forward and they had the option of just bombing the ball long and Drogba would control the ball and feed the likes of J.Cole, Lampard and Deco even though they didnt have much of an inpact.. Overall poor result and more points dropped at the Bridge!

[ronaldo07]

i always said that, green is better than robinson and james .. james is good, but not as consistent as green ..

and when was the last time all epl big four get the draw at the same time ?

[hellas_08]

WELL DONE west ham

unlucky no to get all three points

[Le King]

great result for pool and ourselfs...
i jst had a look at chelsea remainin 20 games or so, and they got it tuff, they still gotta go 2 villa park, old trafford, andfield, white heart lane and the emirates

[sparrow]

great result for pool and ourselfs...
i jst had a look at chelsea remainin 20 games or so, and they got it tuff, they still gotta go 2 villa park, old trafford, andfield, white heart lane and the emirates

and St James' Park

[ozzie owl]

Was hoping for a West Ham win.

[ronaldo07]

and manutd will vs all the big 4 teams at home

[M-B]

COME ON U IRONS!!!!!

Great result.

[chelsea91]

great result for pool and ourselfs...
i jst had a look at chelsea remainin 20 games or so, and they got it tuff, they still gotta go 2 villa park, old trafford, andfield, white heart lane and the emirates

Yeah I just had alook now because you brang the topic up and it is going to be tough.. Hmmm oh well see how we go

[Hawkesy]

the irons

I hope Zola didn't get that "warm reception" it would prove once and for all that the old chelsea is dead and buried.

[Missing Post Count]

finished 1-1. bellamy and anelka on the score sheet. green was on fire and possibly motm

Scott Parker. That guy was everywhere.

[ronaldo07]

and he's ex-chelski player