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It's match day so I guess it's time for the thread. With the unfavourable scores yesterday we see ourselves 6 points behind Arsenal and only 2 in front of the Rags, a team we've been having a good chuckle at of late. Is this a must win or is it a mustn't lose game?

From the Beeb (seem a little negative towards us):

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

•Manchester City's only win in their last 15 trips to Chelsea was a 4-2 success in February 2010 when Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy both scored twice for the visitors (W1, D4, L10).

•City failed to score in 10 of those 15 matches and last season's corresponding fixture ended goalless, with Rafa Benitez suffering a hostile reception from Chelsea's supporters throughout his first game in charge of the club.

•Manchester City have won seven of the last 10 meetings in all competitions (W7, D1, L2).

•In three seasons in Spain, Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid beat Manuel Pellegrini's Malaga five times out of seven in all competitions, losing just once and scoring 24 goals - including 7-0 and 6-2 home wins.

Chelsea

•Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League home games - winning 11 - since a 1-0 defeat by QPR on 2 January.

•They have won all four home games this season and Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in his 64 Premier League fixtures at Stamford Bridge (W50, D14).

•The Blues have not conceded more than one goal in a Premier League match this season.

•Mourinho's side have won all four matches in which they opened the scoring.

•Samuel Eto'o scored the first Premier League goal by a Chelsea striker this season in the 4-1 victory over Cardiff last weekend.

•Midfielder Oscar has already scored four league goals this season, as many as he managed during the entire 2012-13 season.

Manchester City

•City are the first team to score 20 Premier League goals this season.

•The 3-1 victory at West Ham last weekend was their biggest Premier League away win since December.

•It was also only City's fourth win in their last 12 Premier League away games (W4, D3, L5).

•They have lost twice from winning positions this season, a record only matched by Crystal Palace prior to the weekend fixtures.

•Sergio Aguero has scored in three league matches in a row; he has never scored in four successive league games for Manchester City.

In the Beeb preview it also says Demechelis is out with a knee injury, I thought Pellers said only Kompany was out?

Could be:

[center]Hart

Zabs - Garcia - Nastasic - Kolarov

Fernando

Nasri - Toure - Silva

Dzeko - Aguero[/center]

is this the official thread ??

Anything is fine but no Garcia at CB please ... Chelsea will exploit that fully!

Nigels Tackle wrote:is this the official thread ??

Sorry mate, I tried waiting for you to start it. You can start your own if you want ;-)

It's always official when it's got ***s in it.

A win today would set us up nicely for Norwich at home next, with Liverpool and arsenal playing each other next week.
But I am very worried about our defending.

Skysports news are reporting demichilles is not match fit. I just hope he uses richards at cb and not slow motion.

The question is, will Pellers change the system or does he go with what we already know? Maureen will have looked at the Bayern game and with their quality in midfield could well employ the same tactics.

I done the match preview for this and i posted it in match previews. Is this right? Or should i have started a thread?

Breks wrote:I done the match preview for this and i posted it in match previews. Is this right? Or should i have started a thread?

Start a new topic mate otherwise nobody will see it. Give it a few stars as well: ***Chelsea v City Official Preview***, or something like that.

Beefymcfc wrote:Start a new topic mate otherwise nobody will see it. Give it a few stars as well: ***Chelsea v City Official Preview***, or something like that.

Ok cheers will do

Breks wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Start a new topic mate otherwise nobody will see it. Give it a few stars as well: ***Chelsea v City Official Preview***, or something like that.

Ok cheers will do

Couldn't see you name on the site so was just about to post it for you.

Now hurry up, we're all waiting.

Beefymcfc wrote:The question is, will Pellers change the system or does he go with what we already know? Maureen will have looked at the Bayern game and with their quality in midfield could well employ the same tactics.

It's not that easy to suddenly change tactics like that.Chelsea tried a high line and pressing with AVB and it was a disaster. Bayern are brilliantly coached and well practiced at what they do. Chelsea do have some top midfield players I know so it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top in that area but it's going to be about defences for me.

City are playing some great stuff at the moment and we must hope that we can breach their defence and score goals but they will be thinking the same.We know our defence isn't looking solid and if we keep Garcia in it's a frightening prospect.Maybe today he looks at Micah at right center back and a possible counter to Torres who could possibly have a field day with his pace and aggression.

Since when has Kompany not been back in contention for a place today? What have I missed?

I m just afraid of Garcia again at CB ,I can't see Chelsea will not use that to the full extent .

Alioune DVToure wrote:Since when has Kompany not been back in contention for a place today? What have I missed?

Pellegrini's press conference where he confirmed only Kompany not available. The rest of the press conference was a complete joke as all they seemed to want to do was stir things up with Mourinho. Pellegrini was having none of it.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:The question is, will Pellers change the system or does he go with what we already know? Maureen will have looked at the Bayern game and with their quality in midfield could well employ the same tactics.

It's not that easy to suddenly change tactics like that.Chelsea tried a high line and pressing with AVB and it was a disaster. Bayern are brilliantly coached and well practiced at what they do. Chelsea do have some top midfield players I know so it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top in that area but it's going to be about defences for me.

City are playing some great stuff at the moment and we must hope that we can breach their defence and score goals but they will be thinking the same.We know our defence isn't looking solid and if we keep Garcia in it's a frightening prospect.Maybe today he looks at Micah at right center back and a possible counter to Torres who could possibly have a field day with his pace and aggression.

I agree mate and think that our achilles heel is our defensive set-up (including players). Maureen usually only plays one upfront and utilies the wad of talent he has in the midfield. With the likes of Hazard, Oscar, Mata and Willian it's going to be difficult keeping them quiet so from our point of view it has to be attack is the best form of defence and get them running backwards instead of coming onto us.

I am more than confident we can score, not so confident that we can keep them out. I'd accept a draw if you'd hand that to me now but I do have this sneaking feeling that we can come away with all 3.

Douglas Higginbottom wrote:

Alioune DVToure wrote:Since when has Kompany not been back in contention for a place today? What have I missed?

Pellegrini's press conference where he confirmed only Kompany not available. The rest of the press conference was a complete joke as all they seemed to want to do was stir things up with Mourinho. Pellegrini was having none of it.

They must hate Pellegrini.

He just doesn't join in with the bollocks at all. Just gives them a tired, can't be arsed, glance & carries on talking about football.

If Garcia starts the pub tv is getting smashed !

6-2 to City if Pellegrini picks the right team and a Negredo hatrick ! You heard it here first ! ;-)

City64 wrote:If Garcia starts the pub tv is getting smashed !

6-2 to City if Pellegrini picks the right team and a Negredo hatrick ! You heard it here first ! ;-)

Would love that but never gonna happen. Chelsea have yet to even concede 2 in Prem this sesaon & Mourinho is a safety first manager