Ancelotti to Drop Chelsea Experience?

Rumours have emerged after Carlo Ancelotti's press conference ahead of Chelsea's home game with Blackburn that the Italian might drop the out-of-form Michael Essien and Didier Drogba in favour of youth players Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge, who both impressed in last weekend's demolition of Ipswich Town in the FA Cup.

With the Londoners out of sorts in the league and Blackburn having won their last three, the game is sure to be high tempo, but Chelsea have a fantastic record against Blackburn, particularly at home, and I have them down to win the game in this week's predictions.

It would be a huge shock, in my eyes, if Drogba in particular was left out, given he was the Premier League's top scorer last season and hassles defences even when he doesn't play well.

There's been some speculation over who will start up front, but Ancelotti can't afford any slip ups.

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It would be a huge boost for Blackburn if the Ivorian's name is missing from the team sheet and Chelsea can't afford to hand away any advantage with the way their playing.

A loss of form from the striker would seem a good reason to drop him, but surely if they are to muster any title challenge, Drogba has to be playing and he has to find his form.

That might only come with game time and surely there are enough goals in a Chelsea side for whom Nicolas Anelka hasn't scored in the league since they travelled to Blackburn in October.

Similar might be said of both Florent Malouda and Frank Lampard, although the England international has been injured, who have both scored only once in the same time period.

You would think that this form, which has seen Chelsea take seven points from the last 27 available, only 10 less than they lost in the whole of last season.

Maybe Ancelotti has something up his sleeve, or maybe he's been told to change things by Roman Abramovic, who has been strangely quiet since Russia won the 2018 bid, despite the manager saying they need to buy a centre back.

Perhaps that centre back could be someone of the stature of Christopher Samba, who will again skipper Rovers today despite criticising the club's new owners, Venky's, and their lack of communication with the players.

Florent Malouda had a fantastic start to the season but, like several other Chelsea players, has gone off the boil over the last month.

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It will be interesting to see how the Stamford Bridge crowd react to the introduction of youth tomorrow, if the gaffer decides for it, which I don't think he can afford to with his job seemingly on the line amongst the managerial chop and changing in England's top flight.

It's been some time since the Blues really clicked in the league and tomorrow is a fantastic chance to re-start their season and really turn it on.

Will Drogba start later? What will the score be? Please discuss below.

United Top at Christmas

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We've had the last game before Christmas and it could have been Manchester City top of the pile for the first time at this time of year since 1929.

A victory would have sent City one point clear of their near neighbours, who have a game in all of their title rivals after their last two away games were called off because of the weather.

Instead, after a 2-1 loss to Everton, it is Manchester United, unbeaten from the start, who top the pile heading into the second half of the season, when they usually start to set a higher gear.



Santa couldn't bring a place top of the league to Manchester City for Christmas.

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Last season, the Red Devils picked up 48 points after Christmas and only lost to Everton and Chelsea, both away.

Interestingly, Chelsea picked up 3 less points after accumulating defeats to Manchester City, Everton and Tottenham.






Chelsea couldn't beat Spurs at the end of last season, but still won the title by 1 point.





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A repeat of that would surely see United crowned Premier League champions come May for the 12th time.

Surely Arsenal won't be able to keep up with that form, given they have a re-scheduled tie with Chelsea to play, along with a double header against Spanish Champions Barcelona. Those three fixtures alone, in my opinion, could end Arsenal's season.

Despite the Gunners sitting in second, only two points off United, they fail to perform in the big games. If their home form had been good this season, they might have been way clear already, even with defeats to Chelsea and United.

Defeats to Newcastle, Tottenham and West Brom peg you back and, if they are to be realistic title challengers, Arsenal need to make their possession count and create chances, something which has been missing of late with captain Cesc Fabregas injured, despite the re-juvinated form of Samir Nasri.



Arsenal's Champions League loss had a spiralling effect on their league form last season.

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I don't see Arsenal as contenders on any front this season, but success in the Carling Cup would come as a welcome relief to Arsene Wenger, who hasn't won a trophy in 5 years.

It might not be the greatest trophy, but it's a trophy, providing his side aren't distracted by their pending trip to Spain.

Chelsea haven't been the same this season but, with Frank Lampard returning, the midfielder might inspire better things form the London outfit.

That's not forgetting that Carlo Ancelotti's side have to face United twice in the next 5 months.

It is those games that will decide whether the Premier Legaue trophy stays on London or moves North once again.

One thing is for sure, an advantage going into Christmas is one worth taking advantage of.