Yesterday I had this article all planned out. Confidence was high. It was looking like there would be no better time to play Chelsea. They had just lost to West Brom and were on a run of three wins in twelve games. Champions League qualification was beginning to look difficult and that would be the priority. Added to the fact that we could have won the first match and had lost just once at home all year, there were reasons for optimism. There was a home game against Leicester awaiting the winners. Then I heard that they had sacked Andre Villas-Boas.
There are few clichés in football more reliable than ‘New Manager Effect’. The recent dressing room squabbles will be forgotten and players who weren’t going the extra yard will suddenly be going two. Unhappy players under the old regime will now have a spring in their step. Even Wolves got a good result at Newcastle after changing manager and they really are hopeless. Why could you not have waited another couple of days Roman? You could have beaten a poverty stricken Championship side like us even with AVB. The effect only lasts a couple of games so why not save it for Napoli.
Adding to our problems is the news that most of our first choice defence will be unavailable including our goal scorer from the first match, David Murphy. All the new signings are ineligible so they won’t be able to come in and fill the holes. The team could probably do with a shake up after a couple of disappointing results so we could see the likes of Rooney, Zigic and Gomis come in. One player who will be itching to play is Nathan Redmond who will want to make up for his poor effort when put through at the end of the first game. There’s little point trying to analyse Chelsea’s team as whoever Roberto di Matteo picks it will still be packed with quality and will have cost one hundred times more than ours.
So hopefully those that have bought a ticket will enjoy the night and it won’t be too cold. I’d like to see us having a good go at them even though the odds of an unlikely victory have lengthened. For those who can’t go it’s on ITV from 7:30 although I wouldn’t bother tuning in until kick-off time as they are unlikely to mention us at all in the build up. At least we’ll have the TV money to help pay a few bills whatever happens. My prediction,
Blues 0 Chelsea 4 – Two for Lampard, Two for Torres.
C’mon you Blue Boys
I think Chelsea will come out all guns blazing and with Birmingham having key players missing and with no left back in particular, its a massive ask to win the game.
When you said “Chelsea in the cup again” I thought you were referring to this – http://www.britishpathe.com/video/birmingham-v-chelsea
That result for us as a lower division club was as likely as us beating Arsenal a few weeks before in the 5th round. We went on to lose to the baggies in the semis but back then it was a great run for a club not doing much of anything else.
Cheer up. Que sera the result tomorrow, I hope the injured get the necessary rest to be back sooner and we can all focus on the Championship. Meanwhile, this home game is a (new lease on life) opportunity for our young and “lower division” players to seize and surprise the hell out of these grumpy old diva Chelsea pensioners who would most likely rather sit this one out.
CH has practiced a policy of rotating the players for games like this and while I have been a doubter it has been very successful.
I am looking forward to watching one of the few games shown on TV this season and hope this time that they cannot focus on Chelsea’s woes because of our dominance and determination.
Have to confess I have no great expectations for this game. Chelsea have to be favourites but I hope your pessimistic forecast of 0-4 is not correct. However, if we defend like we did against Forest and Derby it will be!