BLUES
Southend are huge underdogs for the third round clash at Stamford Bridge but the team he puts out will be giving everything to cause what would be one of the greatest ever upsets in the history of the competition.
Speaking to the Southend Evening Echo Blues boss Steve Tilson said: "We know the odds are firmly stacked against us but we aren't going there to just make up the numbers and roll over. We are going to give it everything we've got and try and make things as hard as we can for them. Whatever happens, it's going to be an excellent day for the club and we're going to make good money from it which is superb as well. But we want to try and make it as memorable as we can. Every game we play we want to win and it's same even if we're playing Braintree Town in a pre-season friendly or Chelsea in the FA Cup."
Tilly also believes Southend will be boosted by a lack of pressure against their illustrious hosts who are currently second in the Premier League: "It's a free game for us and we have nothing to lose. Stamford Bridge is an amazing place to play and it's just going to be brilliant for us all. We want to put on a good show and we've got almost 6,000 fans going to the game so we want to make them happy too."
Those supporters are among those waiting to discover the strength of the Chelsea side in action. However Tilly is not too concerned on who they eventually decide to select and is relishing the opportunity though. He is looking forward to coming up against Phil Scolari who has managed both the Brazil and Portugal national sides.
He continued: "It doesn't make much difference because they have a big squad full of world class players. Whoever they send out it will be a formidable team and we know we are going to be in for a real test. It will be great (to meet Scolari) and of course I will try and have a chat with him. Whether or not he will be able to understand my kind of English is a different matter."
Possible Southend XV111; Mildenhall, Sankofa, Clarke, Barrett, Herd, Francis, McCormack, Christophe, Stanislas, Revell, Freedman. Subs: Joyce, Grant, Moussa, Betsy, Barnard, Walker, Laurent.
From all at TLG; Happy 27th Birthday on cup day Clarkey!
Personally, I would play Barnard instead of Revell but I feel Tilly really believes Alex adds some strength upfront, he dosen't! The Blues manager may recall Betsy and return Francis to right back, but I'd keep Simon away from any defensive duties.
For those who are meeting in the White Horse on Parsons Green the choice of over 30 draught beers could ease the pain of what could be a long afternoon but a goalless first half hour or even just one down at half time and, well, it is the Cup.
Whatever the score, as we proved at Doncaster, if there is one set of supporters who can meet triumph or disaster in 90 minutes and treat those two impostors with a good song and the best conga in the land, it's Southend's.
Just watch those steps in the Upper Stand, it's a long way down!
OPPOSITION
England under-21 defender Michael Mancienne will make his first start for Chelsea in their FA Cup clash with Southend.
Mancienne, who was called into the full England squad for the friendly with Germany in November, comes into the side following his return from a three-month loan spell at Wolves.
Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari will rest a number of players for tomorrow's third round clash with the League One side.
Captain John Terry and midfielder Michael Ballack are suspended while Jose Bosingwa is carrying a slight knock. Defender Alex and winger Florent Malouda are out with hamstring problems.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech will also be rested as Scolari includes youngsters Lee Sawyer, (crap!), and Jeffrey Bruma in the squad.
Here's a table we don't get to show too often. Enjoy.
| Latest match Tuesday, 30th December 2008 | Pld | Home | Away | Overall | Pts | GD | |||||||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||||||
| 1 | Liverpool | 20 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 35 | 13 | 45 | +22 | ||||
| 2 | Chelsea | 20 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 40 | 9 | 42 | +31 | ||||
| 3 | Manchester United | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 10 | 38 | +19 | ||||
| 4 | Aston Villa | 20 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 22 | 38 | +11 | ||||
| 5 | Arsenal | 20 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 23 | 35 | +10 | ||||
| 6 | Everton | 20 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 25 | 32 | +2 | ||||
Chelsea's fit-again defender Ricardo Carvalho knows his team must respect Southend on Saturday. The centaral defender looks set to return to the side after recovering from knee and hamstring problems and especially with both Terry and Alex out.
He spoke about the respect his side his team must have for their opponents, even ones 55 places below them in the league ladder: "I want to win at home on Saturday but you have to play serious and respect the other team. It is a big day for Southend and you have to prove you are better, you have to run as hard as they do and you have to play with the ball because you have more quality. Sometimes teams run a little bit more than us, they run like crazy and it is difficult - but when our quality comes through and you prove you are better, normally it is 1, 2, 3-0. So let's see how it happens this time against Southend. The game will be difficult in the first 20 minutes and you have to play serious and play better than them to score goals.
PREVIOUSLY
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REF
The man in the middle is Stuart Attwell from Nuneaton.
In 15 games this season he has given out 45 yellows and 4 reds. He is so popular he has his own Wikipedia page!
Attwell has also been included in the Select Group of referees for the 2008-09 season. This gives him the opportunity to referee on the English Premier League, and means he will be employed full-time by the Professional Game Match Officials Association. On 25 June 2008, he was promoted to the list of top flight officials in the Premier League, after just one season in the Football League. This made him the youngest ever Premier League referee at 25 years of age. On Saturday 23 August 2008, he made his Premier League debut when he refereed Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City, the game finished 1-1 with goals from Jason Roberts and Richard Garcia, and one caution to Ian Ashbee of Hull City.
It was confirmed on December 20th 2008 that Atwell, along with referee Andre Marriner, would be asked to join the international list of referees for 2009.
Within six minutes of his first Championship game between Sheffield United and Blackpool game, Attwell made a match-changing decision. Blackpool's Ian Evatt was adjudged to have committed a professional foul on Sheffield United's Billy Sharp, though replays show that there was no contact. Attwell sent Evatt off and awarded Sheffield United a penalty (which was saved by Blackpool keeper Paul Rachubka). Blackpool manager Simon Grayson questioned the Football League's decision to put such an inexperienced referee in charge of such a high pressure game. Fansites after the match dubbed Atwell a 'buffoon'.
Things did not get much better for Attwell in the following weeks. In the FA Cup 3rd Round tie between Swansea City and Havant & Waterlooville, Atwell was accused of not being able to control the players by Swansea manager Roberto Martínez.
On 20 September 2008, Attwell refereed a game between Watford and Reading at Vicarage Road and allowed a goal to stand which had actually gone four yards wide, much to the bemusement of all players and fans present on the day - despite the fact Attwell was merely following the decision of the linesman. The goal quickly became known as 'the ghost goal'. It was ruled that the game would not be replayed as this would set a dangerous precedent for reversal of refereeing decisions. It reopened the debate for goal-line technology, though this looks like being a long way away, as FIFA have cancelled the goal line trials it had in place the beginning of the 2007-08 season.
On 2 November 2008, Attwell refereed a game between Derby County and Nottingham Forest. He disallowed two Derby goals in the final few minutes (the second of which was ruled out for a push, a decision which particularly incensed Derby manager Paul Jewell), booked 8 players and issued a straight red to Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan in a match that many Derby fans did not consider particularly dirty. Derby boss Paul Jewell was especially vocal in his dismay at Attwell's performance, accusing the 25-year old official of 'losing control' of the game and 'robbing' the Rams of a victory. The press furore around his display saw Attwell called in for a meeting with Referee's Chief Keith Hackett, and consequently axed from the following weeks fixture list, though he was reinstated to the position of fourth official for Hull City vs Bolton Wanderers.
Days after the game Derby manager Paul Jewell said that a member of the Football Association had contacted him and told him that the second goal should have stood.
FIXTURESTottenham v Wigan, 20:00.
Saturday, 3 January 2009 - (all 15.00 unless stated);
Arsenal v Plymouth, Birmingham v Wolverhampton, Cardiff v Reading, Charlton v Norwich, Cheltenham v Doncaster, Coventry v Kidderminster, Forest Green v Derby, Hartlepool v Stoke, 13:00, Histon v Swansea, Hull v Newcastle, Ipswich v Chesterfield, Kettering v Eastwood Town, Leicester v Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient v Sheff Utd, Macclesfield v Everton, Man City v Nottm Forest, Middlesbrough v Barrow, Millwall v Crewe, Portsmouth v Bristol City, Preston v Liverpool, 17:25, QPR v Burnley, Sheff Wed v Fulham, Sunderland v Bolton, Torquay v Blackpool, Watford v Scunthorpe, West Brom v Peterborough, West Ham v Barnsley.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Gillingham v Aston Villa, 13:30, Southampton v Man Utd, 16:00.
Monday, 5 January 2009
Blyth Spartans v Blackburn, 20:00.
League One
Saturday, 3 January 2009 - (all 15.00);
Brighton v Northampton, Carlisle v Walsall, Colchester v Tranmere, Hereford v Leeds United, Huddersfield v Oldham.
BET
Chelsea (1/9) Draw (8) Southend (28)
I got a shock when I saw Chelsea at only 4/1, have they not seen our recent form, then I saw it was to win the whole damn thing!
For all the footy odds starting with the F.A. Cup go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/fa-cup.
WEATHER
The ground has been transformed in recent years with three sides of the ground being re-built. The completion, at one side of the pitch, of the attractive looking West Stand in 2001, means that Stamford Bridge is now an impressive sight. A far cry from the Stamford Bridge of old, which was largely open with one huge three tiered stand, the East Stand, being at one side of the pitch. This stand, opened in 1973, has been retained and the developers have taken advantage of the fact that the 'old' Stamford Bridge was oval shaped and stretched the new stands right around the ground filling the corners, so that the ground is totally enclosed. The team dug outs are located on this side of the stadium.
Both ends are two tiered, with the North Stand now renamed the Matthew Harding Stand in memory of the man who did so much to transform the club. Below the roof of the Shed End, is a Police Control Box, which keeps a look out over proceedings. The new West Stand is a superb three tiered affair having a row of executive boxes running across its middle, the type of which you are able to sit outside. Its roof is virtually transparent, allowing more light to reach the pitch and gives it a unique look.
Away fans are located in the South East corner of the Shed End, rather, where the normal allocation for league games is 3,000 tickets, with fans located in a portion of the upper tier of the Shed End Stand and the whole of the lower tier. If Clubs elect to take only 1,500 tickets then, fans will be located on the East side of the stand in both the upper and lower tiers. For cup games the whole of the Shed End can be allocated. The view from this area of the ground is pretty good and the refreshment areas and concourses were modern and new looking. There are televisions on the concourses, showing amongst other things at half time, highlights from the first half. A range of Shire Foods and pasties is on offer, including the Chicken Balti Pie and roll over hot dogs. Alcohol is also available with bottles of Budweiser on offer at £3.
There was a good atmosphere within the ground with the stewards fairly laid back. If seated in the upper tier it can be difficult to go up and down the steps of the stand as they were quite small and there were steps between each row. Please also note that the whole stadium has now been made a no smoking one, this includes the concourses as well as the seating areas.
TRANSPORT
For information on getting to the game by all forms of transport including times, prices and maps, go to Last Call to Chelsea here: www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=EDW4&id=424847
For the best pubs to visit and grab something to eat go to Last Orders in Chelsea here: www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=EDW8&id=424848
HISTORY
Stamford Bridge 1905, has covered ends now which will please DoDtS
Chelsea were founded on 14 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook), opposite the present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards. The club's early years saw little success; the closest they came to winning a major trophy was reaching the FA Cup final in 1915, where they lost to Sheffield United. Chelsea gained a reputation for signing big-name players and for being entertainers, but made little impact on the English game in the inter-war years.
The 1960s saw the emergence of a talented young Chelsea side under manager Tommy Docherty. They challenged for honours throughout the decade, and endured several near-misses. They were on course for a treble of League, FA Cup and League Cup going into the final stages of the 1964-65 season, winning the League Cup but faltering late on in the other two. In three seasons the side were beaten in three major semi-finals and were FA Cup runners-up.
In 1970 Chelsea were FA Cup winners, beating Leeds United 2-1 in a final replay. Chelsea took their first European honour, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph, the following year, with another replayed win, this time over Real Madrid in Athens.
The late 1970s and the 1980s were a turbulent period for Chelsea. An ambitious redevelopment of Stamford Bridge threatened the financial stability of the club, star players were sold and the team were relegated. Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan element among the support,
which was to plague the club throughout the decade.
In 1982 Chelsea were, at the nadir of their fortunes, acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of £1, although by now the Stamford Bridge freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning the club faced losing their home. On the pitch, the team had fared little better, coming close to relegation to the Third Division for the first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put together an impressive new team for minimal outlay. Chelsea won the Second Division title in 1983-84 and established themselves in the top division, before being relegated again in 1988. The club bounced back immediately by winning the Second Division championship in 1988-89.
Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the team to victory in the League Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1998, the FA Cup in 2000 and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2000. Vialli was sacked in favour of another Italian, Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup final and Champions League qualification in 2002-03.
In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football club. Over £100 million was spent on new players, but Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was replaced by Portuguese coach José Mourinho. Under Mourinho, Chelsea became the fifth English team to win back-to-back league championships since the Second World War (2004-05 and 2005-06), in addition to winning an FA Cup (2007) and two League Cups (2005 and 2007).
In September 2007 Mourinho was replaced by Avram Grant, who led the club to their first UEFA Champions League Final, in which they were defeated in a penalty shoot-out by Manchester United. Grant was sacked days later and succeeded by Luiz Felipe Scolari in July 2008.
(Thanks to the all the usual suspects for their help with this article.)