Premier League - Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion

The two sides were at either end of 2-0 scorelines the weekend previous in the Matchday 10 fixtures. Chelsea fell to their first defeat in 9 games and after a run of 6 wins on the spin as they crashed to a 0-2 defeat to Newcastle United at St. James' Park, while West Brom triumphed 2-0 over League strugglers Crystal Palace at the Hawthorns to claim their first victory since their shock 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford over a month ago.

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The corresponding fixture between the two sides last year was a relatively tight affair, settled by a solitary goal scored just under a half an hour in by Demba Ba to hand the Blues a valuable 3 points in their quest for a Top 4 finish.

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West Brom boss Steve Clarke, of course, is a veritable Chelsea legend, having played for the club for the bulk of his career. Spending 11 years at the West London outfit, Clarke won 3 major trophies in the '97 FA Cup, the '98 League Cup and the '98 Cup Winners' Cup, and made 421 appearances in total, placing him 8th in the club's all-time appearance chart, sandwiched in between Blues hero Kerry Dixon, whom he finished his Chelsea career with just 1 appearance more than, and Petr Cech, who is now a few dozen ahead of the Scot and surely many more to come.










Clarke is also, of course, José Mourinho's former assistant at Chelsea during the Portuguese's first spell at the club. Together the pair oversaw a glory-laden period resulting in 2 League titles, 2 League Cups, and an FA Cup. This will be the first time apprentice faces mentor, and the Scot will doubtless be relishing the opportunity to use everything he's acquired against one of the main men he learned it from.

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Injured for Chelsea is Fernando Torres, after the Spaniard limped out of training early in the week ahead of Chelsea's Champions League clash with Schalke, while Victor Anichebe and former-Blue Nicolas Anelka are among those doubtful for the Baggies.

Let's go out there and get a win!

I imagine we'll see:


We're still in second so it's not the end of the world but we need to close the gap and Arsenal do not have an easy schedule so let's take advantage of that.

No Hazard again?


Highly unlikely. Especially as José has said tonight he'll be back with the team at the weekend.

Well then dropp Willian for Hazard.

And Mata?

I don't think Mata will start, He'll probably be subbed on.

Probably

I forgot Anelka is back in the PL :p

I haven't even heard anything about him!

He is hardly the player he once was anyway.

First he took a break for the death of his agent then he was "ill", so no surprise he hasn't been terribly heard of as yet. Not to mention the point Kick brought up - he's just not that good anymore.

Working with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea opened my eyes, says Steve Clarke:
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/working-with-jose-mourinho-at-chelsea-opened-my-eyes--steve-clarke-8921997.html
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"Certainly Mourinho was one of my mentors. It was good for me at that time in my career. He gave me good ideas, showed me a different way to work."

"A way of working which was more global. You could do everything on the pitch within the training session: the tactical, technical, physical, psychological. More contact, more possession, more technical exercises with the ball. There was less separate running, more strategic running."

Nice article that's worth reading beyond the quotes I posted.

Hopefuly we can contain the force of nature that is Shane Long

fatman123 wrote:Hopefuly we can contain the force of nature that is Shane Long

Isn't his name Sean Lang?

Scott Sinclair doubtful for West Brom trip to his former club Chelsea:
The winger could be joined on the sidelines by fellow ex-Chelsea man Nicolas Anelka for Stamford Bridge clash
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-brom-team-news-scott-2689458

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho an admirer of Clarke's focus:
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes the extra work Steve Clarke took on as his assistant provided him with the perfect preparation for life as a manager
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9015318/chelsea-boss-jose-mourinho-an-admirer-of-clarkes-focus

"We have stayed in touch but have not been speaking about our jobs directly."

"He had a good experience with me but he had a good experience during his playing career. He was always very focused and very organised."

"In other cases for sure he was more than an assistant coach, he was in control of training sessions and match preparation so he had very good experience and when he became a manager for the first time he was very well prepared."

"I knew he would do very well and I'm so happy with that. He knows that every match he plays I am with him and wishing that he wins, but tomorrow is obviously not the case."

"I'm of course very happy to meet him, before and after the match it will not be the same thing to play against Steve than against any other manager."

West Brom boss Steve Clarke hails former mentor Jose Mourinho...and reveals the Chelsea gaffer called him asking if he needed tickets to Saturday's clash for his family:
West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has expressed gratitude to former mentor Jose Mourinho ahead of their Premier League meeting on Saturday
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9014526/premier-league-west-brom-boss-steve-clarke-admits-jose-mourinho-changed-him

"I learned more with him than with all the other coaches put together who I'd worked with."

"Fortunately, I developed a good relationship with him. We still talk, not every day, but regularly, be it about certain games, certain players or our families."

"That's why I say to Jose that he should continue his good work and I thank him for the help he's given me."

"Jose sent me a text this week asking if I needed any tickets for the game, which was nice of him."

"I haven't seen him for well over five years. So it will be nice to catch up with him face to face rather than just little text messages."

"I said before that Chelsea is a big part of my career. I was there for a long time as a player and as a coach. But I have to be selfish and this weekend is about West Bromwich Albion for me."

Jose

I honestly think there is no excuse for not getting the three points tonight.

2am kickoff ill try be up for it but no promises

also watch yourself when you talk about my man Kick

WEST BROM XI: Myhill; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Brunt; Long

CHELSEA XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, JT, Azpi; Ramires, Lampard; Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Eto'o


SUBS: Schwarzer, Cole, Luiz, Mikel, Mata, De Bruyne, Ba

So Cole dropped in place of Azpi. For the second match in a row, at that. Interesting.


Penny for Bertrand's thoughts...

Yeah I noticed too.

Mata is left on the bench, AGAIN. Lampard & Ramires starts, AGAIN.

Mulumbu rendered impotent by a Lampard free-kick...