Chelsea v Shakhtar Donetsk Sky Sports 4

GavRedKing

Group reads like this.

Team - Pts

Shakthar - 7
Chelsea - 4
Juventus - 3
Nords - 1

Tonight is a very important game for Chelsea and I'd go as far as saying a must win at home to Shakthar.

Judging on the previous game to Juventus and the away game in Donetsk then Shakthar have a very good chance of taking at least a point here.

Cole is out for us while Donetsk are still unbeaten in all comps this season.

Team I'm going to go with it is :

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Cech

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Ivan

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Luiz

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JT

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Bertrand

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Mikel

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Ramires

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Mata

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Oscar

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Hazard

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Torres

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Chelsea have an impressive home record in the UCL, losing 5 of 88 while winning 61 of those games.

Given what Chelsea have to do and how the team usually performs at home when the chips are down I'm going to say we'll take it.

JT should come back at the expense of Cahill but I wouldnt be surprised to see JT dropped on the eve of the Liverpool game this weekend.

For me its going to be, Chelsea 2 - 1 Shakthar.

hots

Tonight is the first actual must-win of the season for me... and I'm worried. We've looked outstanding in some games yet against swansea and shaktar away just showed a lack of drive and I hate to say it but we don't look ready to lose JT (purely for captaincy reasons now though).

I'm hoping our plastic flag brigade will give the team a gee up tonight and after a tight game we'll get a 3-2 win. (and while I have the crystal ball we'll have Mata, Oscar and Luiz as scorers ).

Caveman1

If last season has taught us anything, its that Chelsea always turn up in the big games, we've been good this season too against all the top teams. Shakhtar away is an extremely difficult fixture, I'd expect a completely different game tonight, although we will need to be focused at the back because Shakhtar are a tricky side. I'm going to be optimistic and say 3-1

what a day

Im gonna go with your line up Gav. I really Hope Mata comes through this game and is ready for the pool game too. we should look to give him as many breaks as possible and play Moses in his absence. Mata is an outstanding player and if he has a good game tonight we will win. 3-1 Chelsea.

RikkFlair

Sky Sports 3 no? United match is on 4 (according to sky player)

GavRedKing

RikkFlair wrote: »

Sky Sports 3 no? United match is on 4 (according to sky player)

Could be, I clicked on Sky.com and it said SS4 so thats where I got my info from.

Not to much of a big deal either way, I'm sure people will flick between the Sky channels if they cant find us. :pac:

GavRedKing

what a day wrote: »

Im gonna go with your line up Gav. I really Hope Mata comes through this game and is ready for the pool game too. we should look to give him as many breaks as possible and play Moses in his absence. Mata is an outstanding player and if he has a good game tonight we will win. 3-1 Chelsea.

Best case scenario is to be comfortably winning with 20 minutes to go so we can take Mata/Hazard off for a break.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

what a day

Would be nice if either Marin or Piazon stepped up to the plate and pushed Hazard/Oscar for a starting place. Bring Mata off as soon as we can and rest him for the weekend, then Marin/Piazon comes on an runs a muck scores like Oscar plays liike Mata.........i can dream any way.

thebison

The game is also on Setanta Sports 1 (or so I was told yesterday)

Have to agree with What a day. Mata is our best player and probably the best midfielder in the country at the moment.

Still waiting for Torres to have a "big moment". It's long overdue IMO!

Will I Amnt

RikkFlair wrote: »

Sky Sports 3 no? United match is on 4 (according to sky player)

It's on Sky Sports 4 through the red button match choice along with the rest of the nights games.

GavRedKing

thebison wrote: »

The game is also on Setanta Sports 1 (or so I was told yesterday)

Have to agree with What a day. Mata is our best player and probably the best midfielder in the country at the moment.

Still waiting for Torres to have a "big moment". It's long overdue IMO!

0-0 away to Arsenal, who opened the scoring?

thebison

GavRedKing wrote: »

0-0 away to Arsenal, who opened the scoring?

Hmmm

Maybe you’re right but I’m thinking more like a time where we were under the cosh and Torres popped with a great performance as well as moment.

Fair enough he scored the opener, but during that Arsenal game he also had a chance to make it 2-0 when he was 1 on 1 with the keeper but he fluffed his lines.

GavRedKing

Anytime we've been under the cosh this season we've failed, Shakhtar away, Atletico Madrid are the most notable ones I can remember and as a team we were shocking in both games.

I still think that chance in the Arsenal game was a penalty, still though he won the free kick that led to the 2nd goal so that for me was one of his best games for us.

On to tonight, everyone needs to put in a big performance, Luiz & Mata both having late fitness tests. Luiz wont be missed as much as Mata though.

GavRedKing

No training tonight so free to watch the match. Happy days.

RichT

This appears to be The Chelsea starting eleven........

Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, David Luiz, Bertrand; Mikel, Ramires; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres

Terry on bench :eek:

Sgt Pepper 64

RichT wrote: »

This appears to be The Chelsea starting eleven........

Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, David Luiz, Bertrand; Mikel, Ramires; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres

Terry on bench :eek:

Thats our best team TBH maybe JT
We need a fast start and to be awake from the off!

Chancer3001

henrikh mekhitarian

keep an eye on this guy

RichT

Chancer3001 wrote: »

henrikh mekhitarian

keep an eye on this guy

...... and if your reading this David Luiz, that doesn't mean wrestle him to the ground in or around the penalty box first chance you get!!

Barr

Tough opposition tonite. They looked a well drilled outfit on the away leg.

Hope for a win though

Caveman1

From twitter

Its understandable that Terry is rested tonight he had a long flight back from Chicago after accepting the Presidency of the United States

Crann na Beatha

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the_monkey

I'd appreciate any decent stream , also anyone know of a pay service
that lets you access your teams matches reliably ?

i'd be willing to pay, so sick of shiity streams...

thanks

Sgt Pepper 64

Did Ray Wilkins just say that Torres has had only 3 shots in 3 european games? :eek:

Nuri Sahin

Lol, oh dear. Some goal to concede.

Torres, 1-0.

What a player.

Sgt Pepper 64

wow that was lucky - should have scored the first chance though!

growler

was still swearing at Torres for messing up the chance when he goes and scores !! get in there , I forgive you !

Shakhtar look rampant.

Meglamonia

Balls.

Sgt Pepper 64

Juve lead 1-0

Nuri Sahin

Some hilarious defending and decision making at times from both teams. Could end up four a piece quite easily by full time.

Sgt Pepper 64

now thats a goal!

Sgt Pepper 64

You just felt that something was going to happen when Mata crossed it

Barr

What a fcuking goal

Chancer3001

hows that guy I mentioned playing?

Heinrik Michikitryian (or however the hell you spell it)

Barr

Just what Chelsea needed - what a great game of football

Yakult

From a neutrals pov its been a nice game of fooball, hope it continues!

homer simpson

I've gone from loving Luiz's style of play last season at times, to cringing every time the ball is near him, unless he is hitting a free kick.

Thank god for the Shaktar Keeper...

Barr

Luiz has been very poor first half and lucky not to give away a goal. He looks a real liability atm.

Nuri Sahin

Great goal, the ball from Fernandinho to Srna was a beaut. 2-2.

Suryavarman

Great start to the second half :rolleyes:

Barr

Why oh why do u bother to shoot Mikel

Aidric

Nice!

Meglamonia

Yessssss get innn!Come on Chelsea!!

Well done Moses you beaut!

Sgt Pepper 64

Moses = Super Sub

the_monkey

GET IN!!!!!!!

Suryavarman

We left that one late. Well done Moses!

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

the_monkey

From BBC

Crackle

Good game. Shocking defending mind, but exciting.