English Premier League – Match Preview: Chelsea versus Blackpool
If there was ever was a David versus Goliath match on the up-coming weekends round of English Premier League matches, it is Chelsea versus Blackpool. One team, which has just got promoted to the English Premier League, while the other are the current champions
of England.
Blackpool are the “David” in this encounter, as they have not had any past English Premier League experience and are playing in their first English league season in well over forty years.
Even before the season started, pundits and experts had lined up the Seasiders for relegation. Before even a single match was kicked off, Blackpool were being seen as a team which had nothing to offer to the English Premier League, a so called waste of a
spot amongst the elite of English football.
Their start to the season has proved otherwise. Blackpool are here to stay if it is up to them. Blackpool F.C belong to the city of Blackpool which is not at all famous for its football.
Traditionally Blackpool has been viewed by the English as a tourist resort, somewhere one can go for a reprieve from troubles of the world. This year the Tangerines have turned their city into a football paradise but when their team visit’s London to face
Chelsea, the men in orange are set to step into h**l fire.
In their first league game of the season, Blackpool comfortably achieved a rather unexpected win over Wigan Athletic, since then Premier League teams have started taking Ian Holloway’s men seriously. The 4-0 win against Wigan might be considered as a one
off result but in their last match in the English Premier League, Blackpool defeated Newcastle United by a couple of goals.
Blackpool have already been given a glimpse of how volatile a club’s life can be in the English Premier League as in their second match of the season, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal shipped six past the fragile Blackpool defence to inflict a rather humbling win
on the minnows. Blackpool’s standout player in this year’s League campaign has been their captain, Charlie Adam.
Adam was part of the PFA’s Team of the year for the Championship season 2009-2010. Many believed that Blackpool’s midfield man would be out of his depth in the English Premier League but the veteran playmaker has held his own so far and is expected to lead
his team against Chelsea.
Alternatively, after thrashing MSK Zilina by a score line of four goals to nil, Chelsea will be looking to rest some of their first team stars against Blackburn. The match that takes place at the Stamford Bridge has been a fortress for Chelsea in the recent
changes as the Blues hardly give up anything easily on their home turf. So far this season, Chelsea has resumed their fantastic form which saw them blitz to the Premier League title in the 2009-2010 season.
Carlo Ancelloti’s men have already scored six goals on two occasions this season and anything less than an emphatic win against Blackpool will be considered a blip in their high flying form. With Arsenal and Manchester United on their heels already, Chelsea
will be looking to maintain their winning start to the season by making it five wins in a row as they take on Blackpool.
It is quite possible that youngsters such as Mikel, Ramirez and Kakuta will get a run out against Blackpool at the weekend but Ancelloti is without his main man Frank Lampard. The English national team midfielder is absent due to an injury.
One will be tempted to back Blackpool due to their away form this season if this match was against anybody else other than Chelsea. A strong win is expected for the Blues as they look to retain their English Premier League title.
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