Roma Vs Chelsea

ShoulderChip

Champions League
Kick off 7:45

(From the Guardian)

Team news Chelsea are without Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole but, well, look at the hardship: Alex and Wayne Bridge come in.

Roma (4-6-0) Doni; Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Panucci; Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi, Pizarro, Totti, Vucinic.
Subs: Artur, Taddei, Loria, Riise, Julio Baptista, Tonetto, Menez.

Chelsea (4-1-4-1) Cech; Bosingwa, Terry, Alex, Bridge; Mikel;
Joe Cole, Deco, Lampard, Malouda; Anelka.
Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Drogba, Ferreira, Kalou, Belletti.

Whistler Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)

Things that are much less fun than they used to be and as such should be the subject of serious questions, in parliament if necessary Peep Show, Anderson, Curb Your Enthusiasm, hangovers. And the Champions League group stages.

Once a source of legitimate interest (remember the group of death involving Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United in 1999? Or Barcelona, Arsenal and Gabriel Batitstuta a year later), the first and now only Champions League group stage really is a complete waste of space: a mind-numbing combination of familiarity and formality. For Chelsea in particular, it has become no more taxing than having to write their name on the sheet for the last 16.

Here's how easy the Champions League group stages are for Chelsea. They haven't conceded a goal for 711 minutes, since David Villa scored in the Mestralia in October 2007; they've only conceded one home goal since September 2004; and they haven't lost a truly live game since November 2005*.

If they win tonight – and they should against a Roma side who have lost five in a row - they will qualify for the knockout stages. In fact all four English sides could qualify this week, with 33 per cent of their games to spare. The greatest club competition in the world... is probably now the Uefa Cup, isn't it.

Gonzovision

Almost a great ball from Malouda there. Playin well so far. Roma are again keeping almost all there players behind the ball.

Gonzovision

Very very soft goal. JT was asleep.

Gonzovision

Great ball by Mikel , shocking finishing from Malouda.

Gonzovision

Belletti on for Cole and Drogba on for Maouda

Peyton Manning

I heard estebancambiass was called up to the bench for Roma. Will be interesting to see if he gets a game. Been great for Ireland anytime ive seen him.

Gonzovision

Damn 2 down

DenMan

Vucinic, just heard on RTE. 20 yds+ out. Must have been a great goal. Big surprise that. Supposed to have been heavy rain in Rome earlier today.

CHD

We have gone 4-4-2, end to end stuff. Get a goal in next ten mins we can get a result.

Gonzovision

DenMan wrote: »

Vucinic, just heard on RTE. 20 yds+ out. Must have been a great goal. Big surprise that. Supposed to have been heavy rain in Rome earlier today.

Decent enough goal alright.

Gonzovision

FFS Mikel. We're getting hammered

CHD

Been a while since we have been thrashed, if they give up we are gona get thumped.

3-0

chalad07

Second goal was decent alright, first was soft.

First time we've conceded more than 2 in one game since Scolari,

Edit: ****, 3

JæKæ

Vucinic is top class

Gonzovision

JT with 1 back

Gonzovision

Jesus Christ that was a ridiculous decision

Peyton Manning

To be fair, he should have gotten a second yellow ages ago..

Mitch Connor

that may be (haven't seen any of the game) but getting a second yellow for taking a free quick? If it is as soft as it sounds I'd be going mental at the ref.

Peyton Manning

John Arne Riise warming up for Chel.........I mean Roma.

chalad07

Archimedes wrote: »

John Arne Riise warming up for Chel.........I mean Roma.

We've a chance!

Gonzovision

Bad result and poor all round tonight. Not the end of the world though. We should still win the group with a win in Bordeaux. Expecting much better against Blackburn.

CHD

Wonder if theres many Chelsea fans there, mini riot on the cards!

EDIT: Hope not obv

Gonzovision

There was fighting in the crowd earlier.

jackdaw

Still top the group .... a home win will be vital against Cluj though ... that away game against Bordeux could be tricky with them on 6 pts with Roma ...


edit ... can't believe a certain other team got a penalty in like the 14th minute of injury time .. undeserved penalty too ...

jesus will their luck ever end ??

... again I could say some things .... anyway I'll say Saviour Clouds Uniting Me !

Peyton Manning

jackdaw wrote: »

Still top the group .... a home win will be vital against Cluj though ... that away game against Bordeux could be tricky with them on 6 pts with Roma ...

WTF? You seem.......composed.....!?

jackdaw

yes im a bit distracted with this US election ...

podge79

flipping heck didnt get to see the game and just saw the scoreline... wtf? what happened? play well or rubbish?

Xavi6

JæKæ wrote: »

Vucinic is top class

Pfft couldn't do it against McShane.

Bubs101

I think it'squite clear that for the rest of the season we will never get a result against a top 4 team from any decent country. We struggled to beat Roma 1-0 at home and that was the brightspot

Soby

Bubs101 wrote: »

I think it'squite clear that for the rest of the season we will never get a result against a top 4 team from any decent country. We struggled to beat Roma 1-0 at home and that was the brightspot

Ye Big Phil for the sack:pac:

growler

not the end of the world but we're clearly having problems against any kind of organised defence, we could easily have been 2 up in the first 25 minutes with both deco and lampard having good , long range efforts saved.

Daft goal to give away to Panucci, sound asleep it would seem. Malouda continues to waste every (ish) chance he gets and Anelka is his usual semi-stoned self.

well done roma, they played exactly as expected : defend and hit on the break. Am wondering if Scolari is a bit over confident , we seem to have only one way of playing and that's all out attack, leaving us vulnerable against more organised sides.

oh well, still top of the league, should still beat Cluj, if Bordeaux are as even half as bad at home as they were at the bridge we'll easily beat them.

deco's red was daft, and such a crying shame to see pool get a penalty in the last second when someone had the temerity to get in the way of gerrards wwf inspired leap into the box, grrrr.

Mr Alan

jackdaw wrote: »

can't believe a certain other team got a penalty in like the 14th minute of injury time .. undeserved penalty too ...

jesus will their luck ever end ??

1: wrong thread.
2: 2nd/3rd minute.
3: obsessed.
4: Rob Styles.

Galvasean

Mad how Chelsea went from having the best defense in the Champion's League to the shambles they were last night.

And Julio Baptista, where has he been hiding? :eek:

iregk

ShoulderChip wrote: »

Once a source of legitimate interest (remember the group of death involving Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United in 1999? Or Barcelona, Arsenal and Gabriel Batitstuta a year later), the first and now only Champions League group stage really is a complete waste of space: a mind-numbing combination of familiarity and formality. For Chelsea in particular, it has become no more taxing than having to write their name on the sheet for the last 16.

Here's how easy the Champions League group stages are for Chelsea. They haven't conceded a goal for 711 minutes, since David Villa scored in the Mestralia in October 2007; they've only conceded one home goal since September 2004; and they haven't lost a truly live game since November 2005*.

If they win tonight – and they should against a Roma side who have lost five in a row - they will qualify for the knockout stages. In fact all four English sides could qualify this week, with 33 per cent of their games to spare. The greatest club competition in the world... is probably now the Uefa Cup, isn't it.

You were saying?

On a serious note I haven't seen the game yet as I don't have setanta. I did see the goals however and for the first I must say Terry was caught fast asleep and left rooted to the spot. 2nd goal was class and well worked from Roma. 3rd Jon Obi got caught out. Mistakes but they happen. We are still top of the group and should make it through. No trophies are handed out in November.

Jackdaw I'd also say if you want to have a go at Liverpool take it up in their match thread, leave this one for Chelsea discussion.

jackdaw

Bubs101 wrote: »

I think it'squite clear that for the rest of the season we will never get a result against a top 4 team from any decent country. We struggled to beat Roma 1-0 at home and that was the brightspot

Well Roma are doing **** at the moment in Seria A