EPL - West Ham United v Chelsea
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Premier League Preview: West Ham United - Chelsea
Two Italians go head to head as Zola meets Ancelotti.
Gianfranco Zola - ChelseaMay, 2003. The last time West Ham United were victorious over Chelsea.
However, given Chelsea's current form, perhaps this is the right time for West Ham to pick up that elusive win.
The Blues ended a win-less streak against Portsmouth on Wednesday night thanks to a late Frank Lampard penalty.
Carlo Ancelotti will have been pleased with the amount of chances the Blues created despite passing up far too many opportunities for his liking.
But what the Italian doesn't want, or need, is a poor run of form in the lead-up to the Champions League showdown with Inter Milan.
Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho would love to be able to swan into town at a time when his old side are once more harking back to the days when he was leading them.
Keeping the Italian-Chelsea connection is Chelsea favorite and current West Ham manager Zola, whose worry at the moment is fighting relegation.
Though in saying that, the Hammers have proven to be able opponents against London rivals thus far this season; many will remember Arsenal throwing away a two-goal lead in the East End not too long ago.
This could be one of those encounters that has the punters wavering over at the bookies. A result for the favorites should certainly not be odds on for this one.
FORM GUIDE
West Ham United
Dec 12: Birmingham 1-0 West Ham United
Dec 15: Bolton 3-1 West Ham United
Dec 05: West Ham 0-4 Manchester United
Nov 28: West Ham 5-3 Burnley
Nov 21: Hull City 3-3 West HamChelsea
Dec 16: Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth
Dec 12: Chelsea 3-3 Everton
Dec 08: Chelsea 2-2 APOEL
Dec 05: Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
Dec 02: Blackburn Rovers 3-3 ChelseaTEAM NEWS
West Ham United
West Ham have defender Matthew Upson and striker Luis Jimenez back injury, but Kieron Dyer (hamstring) joins Carlton Cole, Valon Behrami, Zavon Hines (all knee) on the sidelines.
West Ham United (probable, 4-4-2): Green; Spector, Da Costa, Upson, Ilunga, Collison, Parker, Kovac, Stanislas, Franco, Diamanti.
Chelsea
Didier Drogba returns after missing the win over Portsmouth, and Ricardo Carvalho is expected to replace Alex in defence, with Joe Cole coming in for Deco.
Chelsea (probable, 4-1-2-1-2): Cech; Ivanovich, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Mikel, Deco, Lampard, J Cole, Anelka, Drogba
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham United – Matthew Upson
The central defender returns from injury, and much of the focus will be on him after reports on Friday suggested London rivals Tottenham Hotspur are set to test West Ham's resolve with an £8 million bid. A stunning performance at the back against Chelsea may just push him closer to the exit door.
Chelsea – Frank Lampard
The England midfielder may have been on the scoresheet on Wednesday after converting the late penalty, but Lamps was the main villain as far as passing up chances go. A man of his pride won't take a second game of missing chance after chance though, and at a ground where he isn't exactly a fans favorite, he'll be doubly determined to ensure he puts one away.
PREDICTION
Chelsea aren't exactly the Premier League's form side just now, but compared to West Ham they're flying. It's a sticky fixture for them and one many will be looking for them to slip up in again, but with players coming back they should have enough to pull through and further their title ambitions.
Prediction: West Ham United 0-1 Chelsea
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west ham dun have to win, a draw will be enough for me. if chelsea were to draw tommorrow, its a mere 4 points gap, not a big gap to chase.
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Why start this thread..... i want to watch ManU Vs Fulham !!!
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friend you ok anot?
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west ham scored
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if west ham hang on for a win, its only 3 points gap lol
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Chelsea always surprise me with their most shittest performance.
Awful shit -
Ref trying to make something out for the "red" sides of top 3.
Denied 5 stone wall penalties to Chelsea & gave one dubious one to WH.
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villa and arsenal are coming on very strongly. its the most open epl in recent seasons. united might not hang on to second spot for long if their defensive crisis is still unabated. scally come next may villa is the one winning the epl title lol, that would be great isnt it.
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I hope west ham win. zola doesnt deserve this. I hope he wont be sacked if west ham continue to hover around the bottom.
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TBH, I think Kalou was denied a PK as well as the handball.
I am not surprise if Chelsea lose or draw this match. -
i agree.
zola had shown that he can do it as a manager, maybe not as well as his time as a player, but he is not a bad manager at all.
given west ham situation, he finished pretty well last season.
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Originally posted by Y_Shun:
TBH, I think Kalou was denied a PK as well as the handball.
I am not surprise if Chelsea lose or draw this match.it was a handball, chelsea deserve a penalty, but well, soccer is like that luh.
full of this kind of stuffs.
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either chelsea come out strongly and score a few goals in the second half or chelsea continue their pattern in the first half and west ham hang on for a much needed win.
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i dont think chelsea will makan one more.
ancelotti confirm give one hard talk during hard time, all the nbcb in italian language will start to come out
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lol but the english dun understand italian language what, but wilkins know as he played in italy before. maybe he can help translate it.
but ancelotti know how to use foul english words like f you understand and god damn you what lol
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i think arh, the only problem that spurs and aston villa will have to overcome is how well they can manage to keep their winning streak, and for how long.
to be one of the better teams around in europe, they have to keep winning and not get complacent once things start to go their way.
but uh, somehow i think that even if they get into top4, they wont be a match for powerhouses like real madrid, barcelona, inter milan
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just now saw zola and ancelotti sharing talking during half time and he and wilkins sharing a hug at the dugout. how warming it was to see 2 managers talking to one another nicely.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
lol but the english dun understand italian language what, but wilkins know as he played in italy before. maybe he can help translate it.
but ancelotti know how to use foul english words like f you understand and god damn you what lol
i think ballack will tell drogba,
knn, this ahsiao think he who, only know how to smoke at touchline, now want act. he then nbcb.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
just now saw zola and ancelotti sharing talking during half time and he and wilkins sharing a hug at the dugout. how warming it was to see 2 managers talking to one another nicely.
of course luh, zola had a great time at chelsea.
he is something like 'bobby robson' of chelsea
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what the f, penalty to chelsea
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wtf retake the penalty lol. wtf taking pk again what a joke sia
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wah this lampard, sharp shooter sia, 3 times taking pk 3 goals sia lol.
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worst referee.
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lol ref funny