Stoke v Chelsea Match Thread

Forgot about this game.

Nice way to kick off the holidays

13th v 1st

Team news

Stoke's Bojan Krkic is expected to be fit after picking up a hip injury in last weekend's draw at Crystal Palace.
Marc Muniesa has recovered from the hamstring problem that kept him out of that match, while Stephen Ireland should have shaken off a knee injury.

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is likely to return after two matches out with a muscular injury.
Didier Drogba and Kurt Zouma are fit after recovering from knocks sustained in the League Cup win over Derby.

Confirmed teams


Stoke XI: Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; Cameron, Nzonzi; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Crouch

Chelsea XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Diego Costa.


Stoke subs: Butland, Huth, Whelan, Wilson, Adam, Diouf, Assaidi.

Chelsea subs: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Ake, Oscar, Schurrle, Drogba

Kerrigooney

A rainy Monday night in Stoke.

GavRedKing

Honestly expecting a draw hope im wrong and we get the win of course but its going to be a tough game.

GavRedKing

Joses on about the ref all week.

GavRedKing

GavRedKing wrote: »

Joses on about the ref all week.

What's the history there?

GavRedKing

rarnes1 wrote: »

What's the history there?

With Swabrick? (Sp?)

None i can think of but he said in the press conference it needs a big ref to be brave when the crowd starts getting on his side. Something to that effect.

kfallon

2-0 Chelsea, Costa to score at least 1

GavRedKing

kfallon wrote: »

2-0 Chelsea, Costa to score at least 1

Stoke have no clean sheets in 10 games i think i heard but theyre still very dangerous so i think score draw.

kfallon

GavRedKing wrote: »

Stoke have no clean sheets in 10 games i think i heard but theyre still very dangerous so i think score draw.

You're just a pessimistic fan :P

GavRedKing

Decent start anyway.

Lovely elbow in the ear on a cold night

GavRedKing

Yaaaay :pac:

GavRedKing

Cesc with his 12th assist of the year in the league

Johner

Get the **** in. JT.

Gits_bone

Stoke, what ****e play.

GavRedKing

Thats a foul on willian imo.

Dempsey

Willian is too soft for a lad his size

IrishIrish

Dempsey wrote: »

Willian is too soft for a lad his size

All 5'8 or 5'9 of him?

Some start

GavRedKing

rarnes1 wrote: »

Some start

Ya stoke caught cold. Decent interchange so far too.

GavRedKing

GavRedKing wrote: »

Cesc with his 12th assist of the year in the league

That's pretty mental in 17 games tbh

Dempsey

IrishIrish wrote: »

All 5'8 or 5'9 of him?

He's not slight though

GavRedKing

rarnes1 wrote: »

That's pretty mental in 17 games tbh

There was a few frees and corners.

Id guess about 5 or 6 without knowing properly.

Johner

rarnes1 wrote: »

That's pretty mental in 17 games tbh

Missed one game as well.

GavRedKing

Thats costa getting booking for revenge at some stage anyway

tayto lover

rarnes1 wrote: »

That's pretty mental in 17 games tbh

Should be at Arsenal :mad:

GavRedKing

Thats something cech wont do.

Come through a crowd anymore. Well done courtois

GavRedKing

tayto lover wrote: »

Should be at Arsenal :mad:

Ye had yere chance

GavRedKing

Costa starting already :rolleyes:

GavRedKing

That f**king bardsley :mad:

Johner

Dirt, pure dirt Bardsley. Horrible player and ****e.

GavRedKing

Thats a horrible tackle. He has no intent to play the ball.

Thats a disgrace.

Gits_bone

John Terry up straight away in the referees face :rolleyes:

GavRedKing

Give the ball to Hazard all day and get him sent off.

Good save

Johner

Great save.

Lucas Hood

Should be off. Reminds me of challenge James Morrison made against Ronaldo years ago for Middlesbrough.

GavRedKing

Gits_bone wrote: »

John Terry up straight away in the referees face :rolleyes:

Ya.....like the stoke players

Johner

****ing hell I hate stoke.

Gits_bone

Chelsea are the worst for crowding the ref.

GavRedKing

Gits_bone wrote: »

Chelsea are the worst for crowding the ref.

Ya. Id imagine they are alright. Right after one of there players gets kicked into the stands.

Horrible players alright.

Johner

**** sake ref.

GavRedKing

Jose will love that from the ref.

Dempsey

The referee wants a stoke jersey

Crackle

Why, as a ref, would you run into an area likely for the ball to be passed into like that? ****ing hell.

Gits_bone

GavRedKing wrote: »

Ya. Id imagine they are alright. Right after one of there players gets kicked into the stands.

Horrible players alright.

How about letting the ref ref the game rather than trying to influence him as always?

Crackle

Gits_bone wrote: »

John Terry up straight away in the referees face :rolleyes:

Any comment to make about the foul preceding it?

Gits_bone

Crackle wrote: »

Any comment to make about the foul preceding it?

Even the commentator on NBC (Who also commentates on sky) is saying Chelsea are wrong and to let the referee go at it.

GavRedKing

Gits_bone wrote: »

How about letting the ref ref the game rather than trying to influence him as always?

he did ref it.

he booked him

They had no influence at all.

Id be worried if they werent rushing to the aid of their team mate.

SantryRed

Gits_bone wrote: »

How about letting the ref ref the game rather than trying to influence him as always?

What team doesn't try influence the ref?

GavRedKing

Crackle wrote: »

Any comment to make about the foul preceding it?

Chelsea fault, hazard got in bardsley way

Gits_bone

GavRedKing wrote: »

he did ref it.

he booked him

They had no influence at all.

Id be worried if they werent rushing to the aid of their team mate.

The aid of his team mate? Hazard was rolling on the ground, Terry ran straight to the ref looking for a red. He tried to influence him. If he wanted to let the referee ref it he wouldn't need to run into his face.