K/O Time: 15.00
Venue: Stamford Bridge
TV: No UK channels (Internet Streaming)
Last Result: Chelsea 4 (Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Essien, Shevchenko) Norwich 0
Stamford Bridge, FA Cup Fifth Round
Saturday 17th February 2007
Norwich Absences: Wes Hoolahan (Doubtful, Hamstring), Daniel Ayala (Doubtful, Knee), Elliot Ward (Out, Knee), James Vaughan (Out,Knee)
Chelsea Absences: Michael Essien (Out, Knee), Petr Cech (Out, Knee), Daniel Sturridge (Suspended), David Luiz (Out, Thigh)
My Chelsea Line-Up For The Match:
New signing Mata should be drafted straight into the team to add the creativity and pace down the wings that we need, with Malouda keeping his spot on the left after an impressive performance against West Brom, I am a firm believer that we need a creative midfielder, as the midfield has really lacked spark this year, thats why Benayoun would be preferred over Lampard, who for me has been disappointing this season. Ramires and Mikel have been solid this season, and deserve to retain their spots in the team. After Alex's poor show last week, Ivanovic would be my preference as he's been solid in pre season and has never let the team down, and in his preferred position of centre back. Bosingwa has been great this year so far, adding a lot more width and pace on where Ivanovic couldn't.
Danger Men
Juan Mata
All eyes will be on the £26m new man on Saturday. After setting Valencia alight with his pace and creativity, either on the wings or 'in the hole' behind the strikers, if he starts on the wing against Norwich he should give Chelsea the width and flair that they have lacked this season, and should partner well with our other Spaniard, heres hoping he doesn't get his initial stage fright as well!
Wes Hoolahan
The creative link in the high tempo Norwich team, he provides the strikers with the balls they need to score, and if they can't, he can score goals for himself, with 23 goals in 110 games at Norwich, if Hoolahan can get on top of the physical Chelsea midfield, Hoolahan could leave the Chelsea defence with a problem all afternoon.
Prediction: Norwich like to play high tempo, with full backs marauding up the lines and a midfield diamond that can provide for their forwards. Playing like this at Stamford Bridge is a risk, and with them being unlikely to get too much possession to play with, their weak defence could be on the end of a big result if Chelsea play the way that André Villas-Boas knows they can, rather than the way that they are currently playing, a lot hinges on the width of the wings and the creativity from midfield, if these come out on top, so will Chelsea by a big margin Chelsea Win 4-0
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