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DEEP IN MY HEART
Middlesbrough vs. Chelsea, 20th October 2007, The Riverside Stadium, Premier League
James Keen
A blessing or a curse? A lot of our lads have had two weeks away from competitive football and now is the time when all could go wrong or all could finally go right.
Several of our players have been in international action. Tuncay got a couple of full run-outs for Turkey, which should prove useful, and Downing and Taylor were with different England sides.
But the best thing that has come from the international break are the injuries to John Terry and Ashley Cole, severely weakening the Chelsea backline. The time off seems to have made Didier Drogba miss Jose even more, and now he's pining for a move away from our smokey capital.
Perhaps he should move to the Boro? The heart of the North-east, the blue planet's number one place to visit in England don't you know!
And before I get properly started, I'd like to say f*ck Location, Location, Location - that programme is a poncy southern disgrace! No matter how bad Boro is, it's not as bad as Hull!
Ahem. Moving on.
There have not been many good times to play Chelsea in recent years. They've been an incredible winning machine since Jose Mourinho took over, but with the unrest since his departure, and a lack of Premier League goals in the whole of September, this really is a genuine chance for the Boro.
Add to this is the fact that Boro are the only side to have beaten Chelsea twice during Mourinho's reign and you've got a recipe for an upset.
Boro are in the middle of a bad run, and Chelsea have just turned their form around with three wins and a draw in the last four across all competitions. And so it's the type of game Boro are likely to win. Our results aren't predictable, but our performances are. We raise our game against the best and lower it against the worst.
We see the return of Mido and Dong-Gook to the squad this week, although the latter is something I fear rather than embrace. But with Mido playing up top and Tuncay playing behind, we should see a more attacking and fluent Boro side than the one we saw at Manchester City.
The balance wasn't quite right two weeks ago and it told. When we attacked we didn't have enough in terms of experience and strength to harass the City backline. Craddock and Hutchinson tried but never really kept the back four busy.
O'Neil continues to impress with his work ethic and endeavour, and Downing continues to be one of our better performers. Now if we can just get Rochemback and Boateng playing together and playing well then we could have a decent side.
Chelsea have got some stars and some impressive danger men. But they have had a week of unrest and should they lose to Boro, their ready-made excuse will be that they've been distracted and the squad is split.
Malouda looked good at the beginning of the season, but soon faded and now Wright-Phillips has become their main attacking threat, pushing down the right to good effect.
They've got Lampard and Sidwell in the middle, both of whom like to go missing when things aren't going right, but they also have Michael Essien back who is an immense footballer and will add steel to the Chelsea midfield.
A lot will hinge on whether Drogba plays or not. He is a big man and a big threat. But after his week of moaning and whinging, Avram Grant may decide to rest him and give Shevchenko a run out.
If that happens then Boro will have to be careful as Sheva will be looking to prove a point. Drogba though may not be focussed and our best chance may be if he doesplay.
Chelsea will probably go with a 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation and look to put pressure on Boro's full backs. Young and Taylor should have enough to keep them under control however.
Our main issue in defence is finding someone to compliment Woodgate. Pogatetz did it last season and Robert Huth could be a great player alongside him. We haven't got those options yet.
Riggott was immense two years ago and we need to make him into that player again.
Saturday's game will be tough and it will be a battle. But it is the type of game that Boro often come out of smelling of roses and with a renewed (and often false) sense of greatness.
It's a game where we need to be united. A game where we need to be together. While the Chelsea fans sing Mourinho's name and the players mourn his loss, Boro should be pulling for the same cause.
The fans should sing Southgate's name, the players should bleed for their team-mates and their club and the whole of Teesside will be able to raise two fingers up to the southern press and send their pride and joy packing back to London, tails between legs and tissues firmly in hands.
We are the Boro, we are the people, we are the pride of the North East.
C'Mon Boro!
The Outcome: A narrow one either way. But my heart tells me a 2-0 win is ours whilst my head is saying Chelsea may be too strong and therefore 1-0.
Last Season: Middlesbrough 2-1 Chelsea, 23/8/06, Premier League, (Pogatetz, Viduka)
Boro Form (most recent result first): LLLDLW
Chelsea Form: WWDWLD
Probable Teams:
Boro: Schwarzer, Young, Taylor, Woodgate, Riggott, Boateng, Rochemback, O'Neil, Downing, Mido, Tuncay.
Chelsea Cech, Ferreira, Belletti, Carvalho, Ben Haim, Sidwell, Lampard, Essien, Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Shevchenko
Man to Watch: Wright-Phillips
RETURN TO DEEP IN MY HEART INDEX HERE
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