I am going to write this preview twice. Not because I'm insane but because I believe there are two ways we can approach this game.
The Optimistic View
Tommorow we travel to Stamford Bridge in an attempt to get something from this game. Even if it's just a performance. The task is a big one but not impossible.
Chelsea have looked lacklustre recently having been soundly beaten by Middlesbrough, struggling for forty-five minutes against the mighty Colchester United and then also lost to Barcelona mid-week after being ran ragged by Ronaldinho and co. so they're going to be a bit knackered whereas we'll be totally refreshed having not had a match for two weeks. It's possible that we're playing them at a great time because of their relatively poor form so if we can go there and frustrate their crowd then picking up something is not impossible.
We're likely to match Chelsea by playing the same formation as them with a lone striker and two wide men which should hand Koroman his Premiership debut and no doubt he'll be relishing the prospect of playing his first game against the best team in England. Tricky winger Wayne Routledge will likely partner him on the other wing. The commited Davis and classy Mendes should partner an eager to impress Andres D'Alessandro in the centre of midfield and on his day will give Makelele problems.
A lot has been made of the pitch but that shouldn't be a problem for us seeing as our home pitch isn't exactly immaculate but as shown on Wednesday it's playable and I'm sure the professional attitude of our players will not let this minor issue get to them.
If we go to Chelsea believing we can get something then during Chelsea's current blip we might be able to take advantage of it and pick up a result.
The Pessimistic View
Tommorow we travel to Stamford Bridge in an attempt to keep the score down to 3-0 so our goal difference doesn't get worse than Sunderland's. The task is pretty much impossible given how bad we are away from home.
Chelsea have been unlucky recently having had a one-off game when they were beaten by Middlesbrough, they then hit back against Colchester United running out 3-1 winners and they even scored an own goal to help the League One minnows. Chelsea lost to Barcelona mid-week after going down to ten men for a challenge that never looked like a sending off so they're going to be out for revenge with a point to prove whereas we'll be lacklustre having not had a match for two weeks. We're playing them at a terrible time because though they've not been great, we are by far worse than them so if we can go there and not concede in the first minute it will be a great achievement for us.
We're likely to "match" Chelsea by playing the same formation as them with a lone striker and two wide men which should hand Koroman his Premiership debut and no doubt he'll be daunted by the prospect of playing his first game against the best team in England. Frustrating winger Wayne Routledge will likely partner him on the other wing. The overweight Davis and wasteful Mendes should partner an Andres D'Alessandro in the centre of midfield who has only had one good game since he's been here so Makelele will no doubt eat him for breakfast.
A lot has been made of the pitch and that will be a problem for us seeing as we like to play the ball on the ground (apart from Griffin who just hoofs the ball back to the opposition) therefore if we weren't underdogs enough already Chelsea have an even bigger advantage now. It's a major issue for us.
No doubt we'll be facing a full Chelsea backlash tommorow and we'll get played off the park so we should be sitting in the stands praying that Yakubu can do his old mates a favour and stick a few past West Brom tommorow. We know that 2-0 to Chelsea is a good result for us tommorow.
For the record, if you do fancy Pompey for a win tommorow the odds are 16/1 so get down the bookies!
The Optimistic View
Tommorow we travel to Stamford Bridge in an attempt to get something from this game. Even if it's just a performance. The task is a big one but not impossible.
Chelsea have looked lacklustre recently having been soundly beaten by Middlesbrough, struggling for forty-five minutes against the mighty Colchester United and then also lost to Barcelona mid-week after being ran ragged by Ronaldinho and co. so they're going to be a bit knackered whereas we'll be totally refreshed having not had a match for two weeks. It's possible that we're playing them at a great time because of their relatively poor form so if we can go there and frustrate their crowd then picking up something is not impossible.
We're likely to match Chelsea by playing the same formation as them with a lone striker and two wide men which should hand Koroman his Premiership debut and no doubt he'll be relishing the prospect of playing his first game against the best team in England. Tricky winger Wayne Routledge will likely partner him on the other wing. The commited Davis and classy Mendes should partner an eager to impress Andres D'Alessandro in the centre of midfield and on his day will give Makelele problems.
A lot has been made of the pitch but that shouldn't be a problem for us seeing as our home pitch isn't exactly immaculate but as shown on Wednesday it's playable and I'm sure the professional attitude of our players will not let this minor issue get to them.
If we go to Chelsea believing we can get something then during Chelsea's current blip we might be able to take advantage of it and pick up a result.
The Pessimistic View
Tommorow we travel to Stamford Bridge in an attempt to keep the score down to 3-0 so our goal difference doesn't get worse than Sunderland's. The task is pretty much impossible given how bad we are away from home.
Chelsea have been unlucky recently having had a one-off game when they were beaten by Middlesbrough, they then hit back against Colchester United running out 3-1 winners and they even scored an own goal to help the League One minnows. Chelsea lost to Barcelona mid-week after going down to ten men for a challenge that never looked like a sending off so they're going to be out for revenge with a point to prove whereas we'll be lacklustre having not had a match for two weeks. We're playing them at a terrible time because though they've not been great, we are by far worse than them so if we can go there and not concede in the first minute it will be a great achievement for us.
We're likely to "match" Chelsea by playing the same formation as them with a lone striker and two wide men which should hand Koroman his Premiership debut and no doubt he'll be daunted by the prospect of playing his first game against the best team in England. Frustrating winger Wayne Routledge will likely partner him on the other wing. The overweight Davis and wasteful Mendes should partner an Andres D'Alessandro in the centre of midfield who has only had one good game since he's been here so Makelele will no doubt eat him for breakfast.
A lot has been made of the pitch and that will be a problem for us seeing as we like to play the ball on the ground (apart from Griffin who just hoofs the ball back to the opposition) therefore if we weren't underdogs enough already Chelsea have an even bigger advantage now. It's a major issue for us.
No doubt we'll be facing a full Chelsea backlash tommorow and we'll get played off the park so we should be sitting in the stands praying that Yakubu can do his old mates a favour and stick a few past West Brom tommorow. We know that 2-0 to Chelsea is a good result for us tommorow.
For the record, if you do fancy Pompey for a win tommorow the odds are 16/1 so get down the bookies!