Official 2012/13 Premier League thread

[Ant]

Everton fans cheering "What times your hearing?"

[Nerf]

Martin Skrtel - Right Winger.

[stokeriño]

Chelsea team: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Lampard ©; Oscar, Mata, Moses; Ba

Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Cahill, Terry, Ake, Benayoun, Torres

No Hazard or Terry...great.

In fact, no Hazard (or Mikel) even on the bench. Wonder why.

[Nerf]

Fellaini at it again the dirty cunt.

[Nerf]

Well... at least we didn't lose.

[Hobo]

That was dull, as dull as the 'battle for sixth' should be. Not West Ham dull though.

Everton were happy to for a draw, Sturridge/Coutinho/Henderson all showed some poor decision making.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Decent lineup for us, tough to understand why Hernandez isn't starting when you take everything into account, but other than that no real complaints. Lindegaard in goal, bit of a surprise but that's fine. Expect Giggs out on the left, where he's played his best football this season, with a midfield three of Anderson, Cleverley and Jones sitting in behind them and doing a job on Mata.

[stokeriño]

The central pairings of Ivanovic/Luiz and Lampard/Ramires are probably our least reliable in both aspects. In that sense it's a concern.

If we win today it will be amazing. Otherwise with regards to 4th place it doesn't really make any difference if we draw or lose. Confident of smashing Spurs on Wednesday all the same.

But as to this afternoon, we shall see.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Chelsea team: Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Lampard ©; Oscar, Mata, Moses; Ba

Subs: Turnbull, Ferreira, Cahill, Terry, Ake, Benayoun, Torres

No Hazard or Terry...great.

In fact, no Hazard (or Mikel) even on the bench. Wonder why.

Hazard with an ankle injury isn't it? Sure I read that somewhere. Quite a miss as he's been dangerous for the most part when we've played you this season.

[stokeriño]

It seems it might be an injury, but if so then it's odd that it took an age for him to get taken off after he knocked it on Thursday.

Well, I say "odd"... Naturally Rafa had to wait for one of his pre-determined substitution windows. ¬_¬

[Ant]

How long is Hazard out for

(he asks hoping it rules him out for next Saturday)

[stokeriño]

Chelsea website confirms Hazard is out with a "tight calf".

[brenchill]

Poof.

[stokeriño]

I think it's Benitez code for "Spurs".

[stokeriño]

Huh. Didn't realise that you now only need 5 appearances for a PL winner's medal.

Two fluffed chances for Ba in the early going...although the second probably wouldn't have made it through even if he'd connected.

[stokeriño]

Jonny Evans foul not given...good start.

Ugh, Moses. Really?

[stokeriño]

I probably don't make mention of it enough, but Azpilicueta is very, very good.

[brenchill]

Dave*

[Starvinho]

0-0 HT. Not bad, we were starting to look more dangerous towards the end. Anderson seems to be having one of his good games despite missing a good chance.

[stokeriño]

Concerned for the second half as United have tonnes of attacking options from the bench and we have very little.

I would bring Cahill or JT on for one of Moses or Oscar and shuffle everything around to push Luiz into midfield and Ramires out to the forward three.

(Thinking about it, JT for Moses. Will never happen though.)