Chelsea v West Ham, 12.45pm SS1

Hammer Archer

Chelsea XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa.
Chelsea Subs: Cech, Filipe Luis, Zouma, Ramires, Drogba, Mikel, Schürrle

West Ham XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Cresswell, Collins, Reid, Noble, Kouyate, Nolan (c), Downing, Carroll, Valencia
West Ham Subs: Jarvis, Sakho, O'Brien, Amalfitano, Jääskeläinen, Cole, Song

12 months ago, West Ham slipped into the relegation zone on Stephen's/Boxing Day with just 14 points. They'd then go on to ship 11 goals in two cup games against Nottingham Forest and Man City leading to further calls for Sam Allardyce's head.

Then at the end of January, West Ham somehow kept Chelsea (who had 72% possession and nearly 40 shots) at bay to bag a priceless 0-0 draw at the Bridge. José was not impressed, branding it "19th Century football" while obviously not seeing the irony in having said "I think boring is a team that plays at home and cannot score a goal" a month previously after an awful 0-0 away against Arsenal. West Ham then went on to win the next 4 games to pull clear of relegation and finish the season in a comfortable 13th.

But what a transformation this season. New recruits like Sakho, Song and Valencia have helped us play great football and manage 31 points and +10 goal difference so far leaving West Ham in a dizzying 4th at Christmas. Stewart Downing has also been like a new signing.

But this will be the toughest game of the season without a doubt. Chelsea have won all 8 home games while scoring 20 and conceding just 3. Indeed, Sam seems to be focusing more on the next few games against Arsenal and West Brom having left Diafra Sakho and Alex Song on the bench. James Tomkins looks to have been unable to recover from a hamstring injury against Leicester.
For Chelsea, Eden Hazard was their only injury worry but he starts.

Prediction: Sam to "sacrifice" this game in the hope of getting a win against Arsenal in two days time. 2-0 to Chelsea.

Cantona's Collars

super_furry

Whatever about Sahko, I don't get West Ham dropping Song. He's been by far their best player this season in my eyes.

Hammer Archer

super_furry wrote: »

Whatever about Sahko, I don't get West Ham dropping Song. He's been by far their best player this season in my eyes.

Eye on the Arsenal game I think. Doubtful if he'd be able for two full games in two days. Kouyate isn't a bad replacement for him I think. Also, I wouldn't see him being as effective as he has been given we're likely to have very little possession.

super_furry

That West Ham jersey is class.

Will I Amnt

Officials are missing a lot here.

AdamD

How does the linesman not see that handball? Utterly incredible

Hammer Archer

Looks like the officials owe José a Christmas present so far.

GavRedKing

Weve missed 2 sitters so far.

Terrible finishing

Lucas Hood

Dave plays left back so well for a right footer.

AdamD

This ref

GavRedKing

Good tackle poor call from oliver

Hammer Archer

Great tackle by Collins gets him a yellow :rolleyes:
Obviously tackling isn't allowed at Stamford Bridge.

super_furry

West Ham will be blessed if they get into the break level.

GavRedKing

Get in JT :pac:

LuckyGent88

Well deserved goal

super_furry

Jinxed it.

GavRedKing

Well done costa.well deserved goal too

GavRedKing

A dive no card.

:rolleyes:

Hammer Archer

Really poor defending.

vicwatson

We like winning from behind

Hammer Archer

GavRedKing wrote: »

A dive no card.

:rolleyes:

A Chelsea fan complaining about diving :pac:

GavRedKing

vicwatson wrote: »

We like winning from behind

Sunderland done it last year after 2 gifts so its possible.

GavRedKing

Hammer Archer wrote: »

A Chelsea fan complaining about diving :pac:

Considering weve got yellows for dives that were fouls ya id complain.

Costas got 2 yellows for diving after getting caught twice
All i want is consistency.

GavRedKing

Costas doing very well getting too much time on it though

citytillidie

AdamD wrote: »

This ref

This ref is bad just as we seen at the weekend between Liverpool and Arsenal

Hammer Archer

Costa has dived already and got a free so, yes, I'd like consistency too. Ye have blatantly handled the ball twice as well and no free was given.
Michael Oliver has previous when favouring Chelsea.

GavRedKing

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Costa has dived already and got a free so, yes, I'd like consistency too. Ye have blatantly handled the ball twice as well and no free was given.
Michael Oliver has previous when favouring Chelsea.

Costa dived? When?

GavRedKing

A lot of half chances being wasted.

Could easily cost us.

Hammer Archer

Kouyate's "foul" a while before the goal. He knocked the ball too far and threw himself to the ground.

Gits_bone

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Kouyate's "foul" before the goal. He knocked the ball too far and threw himself to the ground.

For someone who "loves the physicality" he sure does like going down easily.

GavRedKing

Blatant penalty.

me89

9.5 for that dive

AdamD

That's a yellow all day long

Mushy

Ivan should be booked for that!

GavRedKing

1-1 on "soft fouls"

Oliver is a poor enough ref.

Easiky could have been 2 or 3 cards for diving.

LuckyGent88

Another dive from a chelsea player. Seriously need to cut diving out of football.

Otherwise, superb performance by chelsea. Matic, hazard and fabregas are a joy to watch.

Hammer Archer

Oh look. Another dive. And no card.

GavRedKing

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Oh look. Another dive. And no card.

Makes it 1 - 1 so after valencias one.

Its weird seeing costa breaking up trouble though :pac:

Pudsy33

GavRedKing wrote: »

Blatant penalty.

:pac: his feet where in the air before Carroll arrived.

Andersonisgod

Its other-wordly football at the Bridge. The rapid fire passing, those delicate, deceptively incisive passes and movements, stick a blaugrana jersey on this team and you may not notice the difference. Today Chelsea are delivering a late Christmas present to all those who love football.

Hammer Archer

Lucky to be only 1-0 down. Need Nolan and Carroll off for Song and Sakho.
But it really frustrates me that Chelsea have so much quality in their team and could walk the league on football alone yet still see the need for the ridiculous diving and playacting.

Barr

Chelsea playing some great football today. Can’t see West getting anything from this. Terry and Hazard have been immense so far.

GavRedKing

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Its other-wordly football at the Bridge. The rapid fire passing, those delicate, deceptively incisive passes and movements, stick a blaugrana jersey on this team and you may not notice the difference. Today Chelsea are delivering a late Christmas present to all those who love football.

At 1-0 its still an open game. Lucky west ham are waiting for the easier game on the 28th

Turtyturd

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Lucky to be only 1-0 down. Need Nolan and Carroll off for Song and Sakho.
But it really frustrates me that Chelsea have so much quality in their team and could walk the league on football alone yet still see the need for the ridiculous diving and playacting.

It's surprising that people would expect different with Mourinho in charge.

GavRedKing

Barr wrote: »

Chelsea playing some great football today. Can’t see West getting anything from this. Terry and Hazard have been immense so far.

At 1-0 i wouldnt say that. Its very easy to get a break of the ball.

Andersonisgod

GavRedKing wrote: »

At 1-0 its still an open game. Lucky west ham are waiting for the easier game on the 28th

True it's still competitive, it shouldn't be but it is. I suppose Big Sam will say what's the point in having a squad if you don't rotate when needs be but obviously they have a better chance getting something from the next two games than this one.

GavRedKing

Turtyturd wrote: »

It's surprising that people would expect different with Mourinho in charge.

Considering West Ham started it i suppose you can only react to what youre playing against.

GavRedKing

Andersonisgod wrote: »

True it's still competitive, it shouldn't be but it is. I suppose Big Sam will say what's the point in having a squad if you don't rotate when needs be but obviously they have a better chance getting something from the next two games than this one.

Weve missed a sitter and two easy chances for costa and cahill.we should be out of sight but we're not so its going be a tough 45mins.

Barr

Hope Chelsea come out the blocks with the same intensity second half and kill the game off early.

Ordinary man

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Its other-wordly football at the Bridge. The rapid fire passing, those delicate, deceptively incisive passes and movements, stick a blaugrana jersey on this team and you may not notice the difference. Today Chelsea are delivering a late Christmas present to all those who love football.

They are winning by 1 goal - a tap in scored by a defender. Hardly other-wordly. It's another functional performance. Chelsea are not a ferrari of football, they are an octavia - a bland, consistent, reliable outfit designed to win not entertain. Trying to overhype them just makes you look silly