[NoSkillz]

Tue. February 4, 2025

Barclays Premier League
Dover (17-4-3, 55 points, 2nd) vs. Chelsea (15-8-2, 53 points, 3rd)
Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK

Betting Odds: Dover: 5-4 (Favourites) Draw: 11-5 Chelsea: 7-4
Past Meetings: 3W 4D 8L

This is a pretty significant match today and we look to gain a measure of revenge for an early season 3-2 loss in London against the Blues. Chelsea were just shocked this weekend by League 1 side Coventry in FA Cup play but that was their first loss in 18 games across all competitions. They play close to the vest and have a league high 8 draws in Premier League play. They are still led up front by veteran striker Romelu Lukaku but he only has 11 goals this year.

We’ll go with a pretty full strength side today but will be sitting Paul Moses today in favour of Andy Broomes. Moses hasn’t scored in his last three matches so we’ll hold him out until the weekend. We’re still missing captain Salim Loucif, who is en route back to the club after Algeria got eliminated from the African Nations event. Emerson will start in his place. Control mentality at home as slight favourites.

Dover: 4-4-2 Control
GK - I. Wilke
D - Renato Gaucho, C. Contreras, R. Hamon, Emerson
M - A. Bamba, B. Raab, Jose, G. Bolis
S - A. Broomes, Chiquinho
Bench - Rafinha, M. Mutesa, N. Cairney, A. Rocca, M. Pedersen, G. Allan, P. Moses

Chelsea are in a tight 4-4-2 diamond formation with Lukaku and Tony Nijhuis up front. Luis Carballo is always dangerous at attacking midfield and Rafael Romo is in goal - he’s always excellent against us. We need a good performance today for the home supporters!

7’ - Chelsea take advantage of an awful giveaway by Renato Gaucho and eventually cross a ball into the area. Lukaku heads it into the corner of the net but the assistant’s flag is up. Offsides - NO GOAL!

HALFTIME - Poor half from our club, as Chelsea hold 53% of possession and shots are dead even at 6 each (1 shot on target for both clubs). I’m angry here - we need to get up for these games and we’re not playing well.

57’ - The team is motivated but we continue to produce little. I take out Andy Broomes and bring in Paul Moses while also moving Benedikt Raab up to AMC to try to promote some more offence.

74’ - We move to an attacking formation.

83’ - Double substitution, as we bring in Andrea Rocca and Mads Pedersen, taking out Jose and Arsene Bamba. We move back to our flat 4-4-2 with a control mentality.

Yawn.

Dover 0 - 0 Chelsea
Goals -
Assists -
Man of the Match - Ingo WIlke (8.3)
Other Dover Notables - Emerson (7.2), Rayane Hamon (7.1), Claudio Contreras (7.3), Renato Gaucho (7.4)
Attendance - 23,000 (Sell-Out)

We end up with only 47% of possession but outshoot Chelsea 12-8 (3-3 on target). What a snoozefest! No wonder Chelsea draw so many games!

-- In other match ups, United win 2-1 over Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle SHOCK Man City 3-0 and Arsenal can only manage a 1-1 draw against Burnley.


BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE - STANDINGS
(ALL TEAMS HAVE PLAYED 26 GAMES UNLESS NOTED)

1. Manchester United - 61 points (after 25 games)
2. Dover - 56 points (after 25 games)
3. Chelsea - 54 points
4. Manchester City - 52 points
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5. Sheffield Wednesday - 45 points
6. Arsenal - 45 points
7. Newcastle - 45 points
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Reserves Update

-- In a simply astonishing performance, we get two hat tricks FROM THE SAME PLAYER, as Manuel Lugo scores SIX GOALS in a 10-1 win over Chelsea’s reserves! Perfect 10.0 rating for that game! Neil Cairney scores twice and we get singles from Felix Hernandez and Alberto Velazquez. Superb!



International Update

-- We have 22 (!!) players called up for international duty next week.



Premier League Update

-- Once again, we have a Sunday game so we are able to watch the Saturday matches from the comfort of our homes. Chelsea gets back on the winning track with a 2-1 win over Everton, Newcastle win 1-0 over Derby, Arsenal win by the same scoreline over Huddersfield, City win 3-0 over Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday draw 1-1 against Middlesbrough. Chelsea move into 2nd place over us after their win but we have two games in hand.



Dover U18 Update

-- Man we keep rolling with our kids, as they throttle Brighton 9-1. Superstar prospect Alberto Velazquez adds three more goals to his ridiculous total this season and Felix Hernandez scores two of his own, as does Neil Evans. We get singles from Eneko Remirez and Freddie Laird.



Next Up

-- We head to Blackpool to face the relegation favourites in Premier League play.