<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/200px-Chelsea_FC.svg_.png"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-8697" title="Chelsea_FC.svg" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/200px-Chelsea_FC.svg_-150x150.png" alt="" width="105" height="105" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Stoke_City_FC.svg_.png"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-9143" title="Stoke_City_FC.svg" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Stoke_City_FC.svg_-150x150.png" alt="" width="105" height="105" /></a></div> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>CHELSEA FC </strong><strong>v </strong><strong>STOKE CITY FC</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Stamford Bridge, London</p> <p style="text-align: center;">28 August, 2010, 7:25 PM IST</p> . Few clubs have started any season as disappointingly as Stoke City have started this season. If the twin losses to Wolverhampton and Tottenham haven't given Tony Pulis a splitting migraine, the troubles courtesy a roster of injuries, a mutinous goalkeeper and a certain critical Frenchman will not be making things any easier for him. Things couldn't have been better for his Italian counterpart who manages a Chelsea side currently on a roll. <div style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">The champions of last season, and favorites this time around too, are yet to drop a point this season - a feat unmatched by any of their opponents. While two games are too few to base the outcome of an entire season on, it is the manner in which Chelsea has swept past lesser sides that has the rest of the league sitting up and taking notice. The World Cup woes and fatigue have well and truly been brushed aside, and the Blues look like extending their impressive winning streak at home against a woefully unprepared Stoke City side.</p> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/tony-pulis-stoke-2010/image/9575609?term=tony+pulis" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" title="Tony Pulis Stoke 2010-11" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9575609/tony-pulis-stoke-2010/tony-pulis-stoke-2010.jpg?size=380&imageId=9575609" border="0" alt="Britannia Stadium Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur (1-2) Premier League 21/08/2010 Tony Pulis (Stoke) Manager Photo Roger Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="310" height="325" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>No love affair with that Frenchman</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/08/26/2089097/arsenal-manager-arsene-wenger-warns-referees-to-watch-out">Arsene Wenger has done his image in Staffordshire no favors</a>, by lambasting Stoke City for their alleged overtly physical style of play. The Frenchman, who is the pastmaster of delicate football, is aghast at the long-ball and hard-nosed tactics employed by Pulis' men. The highly-publicised comments could not have come at a worse time for Stoke City, as the last thing they needed now was their on-field endeavors coming under the microscope. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that Stoke won't be finding themselves at the receiving end of the referee's generosity, on Saturday. Couple that with the 7-0 whipping they received at the hands of Chelsea, last season, and things dont look too bright.</p> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>By the sidelines</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Carlo Ancelotti's side is bustling with fit and raring-to-go stars, with Jose Bosingwa the only long-term casualty in Chelsea FC's ranks. However, the Portuguese has resumed training and should be fighting for a place in a few weeks.<a href="http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2136889,00.html"> Ivanovic, on the other hand, may not feature this weekend due to an injury</a>. Stoke, on the other hand, will have to do without the services of the injured Mamady Sidibe, while Dave Kitson and Liam Lawrence are expected to join Portsmouth. Asmir Begovic who is on the radar of several high-profile clubs, will probably be given the cold shoulder by Pulis even if he offers to play.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Pulis might consider himself very fortunate if Kenwyne Jones shakes off a knee niggle in time for the game, as he could do with a boost in offense. Jones' presence, along with that of fellow newcomer Jon Walters, may not exactly bring a smile to Tony Pulis' face, who can be expected to go in with a defensive setup to counter a rampaging Chelsea.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Possible Starting Line-Ups</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Chelsea FC - Cech, Terry, Cole, Ferreira, Alex, Lampard, Ramires, Essien, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><img class="aligncenter" style="border: 0px initial initial;" src="http://this11.com/boards/128294159212470.jpg" border="0" alt="Football Fans Know Better" width="242" height="371" /></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Stoke City FC - Sorensen, Collins, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham, Wheland, Etherington, Delap, Whitehead, Walters, Jones.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">TheHardTackle's PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR</span></strong> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span> </span></strong><em><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/didier-drogba-chelsea-2010/image/9549974?term=didier+drogba" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" title="Didier Drogba Chelsea 2010-11" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9549974/didier-drogba-chelsea-2010/didier-drogba-chelsea-2010.jpg?size=380&imageId=9549974" border="0" alt="Stamford Bridge, Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion, Premier League 14/08/2010 Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates his hat-trick Photo Marc Atkins Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="260" height="338" /></a></em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Didier Drogba (Chelsea FC)</span></strong></span></span><span style="color: #000000;"> </span> </em><span style="color: #000000;">Having scored 3, and set up 4, of Chelsea's last 12 goals, it would be foolish to bet against the powerful Ivorian making a huge impact. Stoke's defense will have to bring their A-game if they are to withstand what will inevitably be a blistering assault from Chelsea's spearhead.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION</span> </strong><em>Chelsea 4-1 Stoke City</em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">TheHardTackle's BLAST FROM THE PAST</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong> </strong> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="480" height="385" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gd4Dsnaf4hM?fs=1&hl=en_GB" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="385" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gd4Dsnaf4hM?fs=1&hl=en_GB" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>