FA CUP FINAL :
CHELSEA FC v/s EVERTON FC
Date: Saturday, 30th May , 2009
Time: 15.00 BST / 19.30 IST
Venue: The New Wembley, England.
Capacity: 90000
Telecast: Match will be shown live on Sony Pix.
Here we are …Counting Down to the Final Event for THIS SEASON..!!
Yes, I m talking about the FA CUP FINAL..!!!
CHELSEA and EVERTON are the TWO teams who have worked REEAAALLLY hard to get into this Final…Both of them deserve the CUP but as the LAW stands, We will have only ONE winner..!!! And to Assist you in getting to know this Fixture better, I am providing a full fledged PREVIEW!!!! the effect of FC BARCELONA lifting the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE wears down from our minds, lets have an ANALYSIS of both the teams.
Yes, I m talking about the FA CUP FINAL..!!!
CHELSEA and EVERTON are the TWO teams who have worked REEAAALLLY hard to get into this Final…Both of them deserve the CUP but as the LAW stands, We will have only ONE winner..!!! And to Assist you in getting to know this Fixture better, I am providing a full fledged PREVIEW!!!! the effect of FC BARCELONA lifting the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE wears down from our minds, lets have an ANALYSIS of both the teams.
Firstly we will analyze the so called “STUBBORN” EVERTON side.
EVERTON FC
Under the guidance of the ever so SUPERB DAVID MOYES, this EVERTON team would love to round off their GREAT season by lifting the COVETED CUP for only the 6th time in their HISTORY. This team has played Good football all over the season (Have no doubts about that..!!! Though they might not play as BEAUTIFULLY as ARSENAL do, but their style has its own Beauty..!).
Probable Eleven:
Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott, Joseph Yobo, Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville, Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, Marouane Fellaini, Louis Saha,
SUBS: Jo, James Vaughan, Dan Gosling, Da Silva, Nuno Valente, Jose Baxter, Jack Rodwell.Probable Eleven:
Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott, Joseph Yobo, Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville, Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman, Marouane Fellaini, Louis Saha,
This Everton line-up looks pretty strong with the likes of Yobo and Lescott. It has got the experience coming in with of Neville, Saha and Cahill whereas Osman, Fellaini and Baines bring in the Freshness and creativity. Their bench contains many SUPER-SUBS who have won them games that they would have otherwise Drawn.
Tactical Point Of View:
EVERTON would surely go for a 4-1-4-1 line-up considering CHELSEA’s attacking prowess, with Phil Neville sitting just in front of his Defenders to assist them to cope up with CFC. Cahill and Fellaini would take turns to go forward with Saha. On the other hand, Osman, Cahill / Fellaini and Pienaar would bring a lot of energy in Mid field with their High Work rate. Also, David Moyes has brought in to the side a great ability to get Compact as a Unit which makes it difficult to break them down..!!
EVERTON would surely go for a 4-1-4-1 line-up considering CHELSEA’s attacking prowess, with Phil Neville sitting just in front of his Defenders to assist them to cope up with CFC. Cahill and Fellaini would take turns to go forward with Saha. On the other hand, Osman, Cahill / Fellaini and Pienaar would bring a lot of energy in Mid field with their High Work rate. Also, David Moyes has brought in to the side a great ability to get Compact as a Unit which makes it difficult to break them down..!!
STRENGTHS :
The main strength for Everton would come from Set Pieces(OBVIOUSLY..!!!). With the Aerial presence of Fellaini, Cahill, Lescott and Yobo, you could bet on them to score from a set-piece..!!! They would also be pretty happy to rely on Tim Howard who proved his goal-keeping abilities against MAN UTD in the Semis.
WEAKNESSES :
Their main weakness lies in their inability to cope with a swift Counter Attack. And with
Chelsea looking very sharp while Counter-Attacking, Everton will have to watch out..!!
Chelsea looking very sharp while Counter-Attacking, Everton will have to watch out..!!
INJURIES :
Phil Jagielka, Ian Turner, Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe, A Yakubu.
This is probably the WORST injury Crisis that manager David Moyes might have had over the years. You can clearly see THREE BIIIGGGG players in Jagielka, Arteta and Yakubu sitting out of the team when the manager needed them the most..!!!!
This is probably the WORST injury Crisis that manager David Moyes might have had over the years. You can clearly see THREE BIIIGGGG players in Jagielka, Arteta and Yakubu sitting out of the team when the manager needed them the most..!!!!
GOAL SCORERS :
Osman, Lescott, Cahill, Arteta, Fellaini, Saha and Gosling have scored 1 goal each..!
ROAD TO GLORY :
3rd Round
Macclesfield Town 0-1 Everton
4th Round
Liverpool 1-1 Everton
Everton 1-0 Liverpool
5th Round
Everton 3-1 Aston Villa
6th Round
Everton 2-1 Middlesbrough
Semi Finals
Everton 0-0 Man Utd ( Everton win 4-2 on penalties )
3rd Round
Macclesfield Town 0-1 Everton
4th Round
Liverpool 1-1 Everton
Everton 1-0 Liverpool
5th Round
Everton 3-1 Aston Villa
6th Round
Everton 2-1 Middlesbrough
Semi Finals
Everton 0-0 Man Utd ( Everton win 4-2 on penalties )
TRUMP VISION :
Louis Saha seems to have found his Goal-scoring touch almost just at the Right time and Mr.Moyes would expect him to Deliver the Guns against CFC as well..!!!
Now, let us have a look at the mighty CHELSEA side..!!!
CHELSEA FC
Under the Inspired guidance of Interim Manager GUUS HIDDINK, (“GOLDEN GUUS” as they fondly call him..!!) this Chelsea side are surely more than a Force to reckon with. And this being Hiddink’s last game in charge of Chelsea FC, the players would surely want to bid him a HAPPY FAREWELL..!!! CFC have found a New Life ever since Hiddink took over. Also as all of us football fans out there agree that CHELSEA should have made the trip to The Stadio Olimpico (and WON it as well..!!!) for the UCL finals rather than FC BARCELONA, there will be a lot of FIRE in the minds of the players. That itself could provide enough inspiration for a win, Let alone everything else..!!
Probable Eleven:
Probable Eleven:
Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Alex, Jose Bosingwa, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba.
SUBS : Salomon Kalou, Branislav Ivanovic, Ricardo Carvalho, Jon Obi Mikel, Franco Di Santo, Deco, Juliano Belleti.This is such a strong Chelsea line-up that you can bet your life on them to win. There is Experience all over the team in which the youngest player stands at 26 years..!! ( and for those who din’t get it, its Petr Cech..!!). All the players in the starting Eleven could be termed as Match winners..!! Their bench is also stashed with Millions of Rupees worth of Match winning Talent.
Tactical Point Of View:
Chelsea will certainly play with a 4-2-3-1 line-up which has been so very successful ever since Hiddink took charge. Essien could be handed the responsibility of shadowing Tim Cahill, a job which he performed very efficiently against STEVEN GERRARD in the 1st leg of their UCL semi final. Lampard would join Anelka and Malouda forward with Ballack holding Midfield alongside Essien. Drogba would be the lone ranger up front but as we all know that on his day he can give even the best of the defenders Sleepless Nights..!!
Chelsea will certainly play with a 4-2-3-1 line-up which has been so very successful ever since Hiddink took charge. Essien could be handed the responsibility of shadowing Tim Cahill, a job which he performed very efficiently against STEVEN GERRARD in the 1st leg of their UCL semi final. Lampard would join Anelka and Malouda forward with Ballack holding Midfield alongside Essien. Drogba would be the lone ranger up front but as we all know that on his day he can give even the best of the defenders Sleepless Nights..!!
STRENGTHS :
Chelsea’s main strength lies in their Attack. They have an attacking force which could wreck havoc in the opposition defence. Alongside, Hiddink has added to it a Swift Counter Attack..!!! That surely does make a deadly combo..!! Chelsea also boast of great Aerial presence in the form of Drogba, Alex, Terry and Ballack. And that coupled with the Superb deliveries of Lampard, makes a deadly Strike Force. So, don’t be surprised if you see CFC scoring off a Set-piece..!!
WEAKNESSES :
Chelsea’s main weakness lies in the fact that they themselves are VERY Vulnerable against Set-pieces. Maximum no.of goals conceded by Chelsea have been through Set Pieces. With Everton looking Very Strong on Set-pieces, the Chelsea players will have to be very Careful..! Another Surprise entry into their Weakness list is Petr Cech. He had a horrible game against Sunderland last week and Everton would be hoping that he goofs up at the big event as well..!!!
INJURIES :
Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira (Does this guy even play for CFC now???!!!), Joe Cole. Big name players out injured for Chelsea but Hiddink has struck gold with the available players and he wouldn’t mind playing the same..!!!
GOAL SCORERS :
Anelka has scored 4 goals, Ballack has scored 3, Drogba, Lampard and Kalou have scored 2, Alex and Malouda have scored 1 each..!
ROAD TO GLORY :
3rd Round
Chelsea 1-1 Southend
Southend 1-4 Chelsea
4th Round
Chelsea 3-1 Ipswich
5th Round
Watford 1-3 Chelsea
6th round
Coventry 0-2 Chelsea
Semi Final
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal
3rd Round
Chelsea 1-1 Southend
Southend 1-4 Chelsea
4th Round
Chelsea 3-1 Ipswich
5th Round
Watford 1-3 Chelsea
6th round
Coventry 0-2 Chelsea
Semi Final
Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal
TRUMP VISION :
This definitely has to go to Michael Essien..!! He has been in fine form scoring STUNNING goals in important games and he will look to bring in that Midas touch with him into this all-important finale..!!
The game will be refereed by….
(CFC fans can RELAX…its not Tom Hening Ovrebo..!!)
Mr.Howard Webb.
(CFC fans can RELAX…its not Tom Hening Ovrebo..!!)
Mr.Howard Webb.
This is gonna be one CRACKER of a game guys..!! And though the bookies would favour Chelsea to win it, nobody would even DARE to write Everton off it..!!!
And as I end this Preview (…FINALLY…whew..!!!), I am leaving you with some Mouth Watering Facts about these two teams..
• Everton have won the FA cup 5 times in the past whereas Chelsea have taken the trophy home 4 times.
• Everton last won the FA cup in 1996, beating Man Utd 1-0.
• Chelsea last won it in 2006, beating Man Utd 1-0..!!!
• The last 3 fixtures between these two have ended in GOAL LESS DRAWS..!!
• Everton last won the FA cup in 1996, beating Man Utd 1-0.
• Chelsea last won it in 2006, beating Man Utd 1-0..!!!
• The last 3 fixtures between these two have ended in GOAL LESS DRAWS..!!
Waiting for a great game and anticipating a nervy finish to it..!!!
My Prediction – Chelsea 2 - Everton 1 (90 mins..!)
I don’t think Everton will roll over but Chelsea certainly seem to have too much for Everton to contain..!!!
My Prediction – Chelsea 2 - Everton 1 (90 mins..!)
I don’t think Everton will roll over but Chelsea certainly seem to have too much for Everton to contain..!!!
chelsea have had a much easier rosd to the final than Everton.
Having slain two of the big four on the road to the final ,doing it a third time will be ideal for Everton.
Meanwhile...after disappointment in UCL Chelsea want to lay their hands on the FA Cup.
My prediction Everton 2-1 Chelsea
yeah chelsea hav had an comparatively easier road bt every1 of d top 4 had their chances n che was d first n d only 2 pounce upon. having no silver wear dis yr would surely disapoint che so che would like 2 grab d fa cup n send d GOLDEN GUUS with A SILVER WEAR.......... thanks guus 4 everything