[NoSkillz]

Sat. October 1, 2022

Barclays Premier League
Chelsea (5-0-1, 15 points, 3rd) vs. Dover (5-1-0, 16 points, 1st)
Zola Stadium, London, UK

Betting Odds: Chelsea: Evens (Favourites) Draw: 11-5 Dover: 11-5
Past Meetings: 1W 2D 6L

The past record looks ugly but after starting 0-0-6 against them, we are undefeated in our last three matches against Chelsea. The Blues are playing well but were modest spenders in the transfer window, with one big splash made on Sevilla's AML/ST Tony Nijhuis, a Dutch international who was purchased for £16.5 million. He has three goals in six games so far. They are getting balanced scoring out of the gates and they have many dangerous players throughout the lineup, including last year's big signing Miguel Sousa, a MR and veteran striker Romelu Lukaku.

We will be coming up on an international break next week so we can safely go with a full lineup today, knowing we have a two week rest. Shanon Andrea is back to full training after stubbing his toe last week but won't dress, as he's still a bit tired. So Said Henni will be back in the starting lineup alongside Chiquinho. We'll go with a counter attacking mentality on the road and as underdogs.

Dover: 4-4-2 Counter
GK - I. Wilke
D - R. Gaucho, C. Contreras, R. Hamon, S. Loucif
M - A. Bamba, N. Cairney, A. Rocca, G. Bolis
S - S. Henni, Chiquinho
Bench - D. Traore, K. Zagos, G. Fanfoni, Mancini, G. Allan, Z. Bardi, P. Moses

Chelsea are in a 4-4-2 DM formation (4-2-3-1) with Lukaku alone up front and Luis Carballo in behind. Newcomer Nijhuis is on the left flank and Sousa is on the right. Rafael Romo is in goal. Lets play well for the travelling supporters today!

10' - It's mostly Chelsea in the early goings and after a weird exchange between Andrea Rocca and Rayane Hamon gets intercepted, Lukaku gets loose and has a go at goal that's stopped by a diving Ingo Wilke.

25' - No real chances on either side, as Chelsea seem to be dominating possession but can't break us down. We get loose on a counter and Rocca sends it up to Henni. He hesitates as he nears the penalty area and shoots a weak shot that Romo easily saves.

28' - Chelsea midfielder El Arabi with a great, low shot from outside the area and Wilke makes a brilliant save.

39' - Chelsea have possession and midfielder Villa passes to Carballo. He takes a perfect, curling shot from outside the area that goes into the left corner of the goal past an outstretched Wilke and Chelsea have a lead. That's a sublime finish on an innocent looking play - lots of skill there. CHELSEA GOAL 0-1

HALFTIME - This is the first time in a long time that I can say we're being dominated. Chelsea are holding 59% of possession and a huge 14-5 (5-1 on target) shot advantage. We obviously need to change tactics here and we'll go to a control mentality for the start of the second half.

47' - We have a breakdown and Nijhuis is in all alone but he hits the post and Wilke grabs the rebound and hold on.

51' - We an inexplicable mess today. Lukaku gets a rocket of a low shot off, forcing Wilke into a great save then on an innocent cross into the box, Claudio Contreras isn't paying attention and the ball almost deflects off him into our net.

55' - We get a great chance with Chiquinho but his low blast is saved by a diving Romo.

57' - Chiquinho forces a turnover and we have a 2 on 2 break. His shot is saved and just as Henni is about to put in the rebound, a Chelsea defender tackles it away.

58' - We're starting to take the game to them a bit, as Rocca sends a great long ball up to Henni. He's has half a step on the defender but his shot is once again saved by Romo.

68' - Bamba is exhausted so I take him and Chiquinho out and in come Paul Moses and Zoltan Bardi. Henni moves into left midfield.

70' - Moses with a great rush up field and his cross is right to Andrea Rocca but his left footed shot is once again saved by Romo. That was our chance!!

71' - Moses again after a great pass from Henni and he storms in and Romo again is up to the task.

74' - Yellow card for Salim Loucif.

81' - Moses AGAIN is robbed by Romo, who has been sensational in this half. Moses had a clear cut opportunity there. Damnit!

83' - Graham Allan is on for a tired Said Henni. We move to an Overload mentality.

88' - Give and go between Moses and Rocca results in Rocca shooting just wide into the side netting.

90'+1 - Moses with a rocket from distance but it's right at Romo.

A much better second half but we can't beat the excellent Rafael Romo and we suffer our first defeat of the year.

Chelsea 1 - 0 Dover
Goals -
Assists -
Man of the Match - Rafael Romo (Chesea GK - 8.8)
Other Dover Notables - Ingo Wilke (7.9)
Attendance - 57,568

Again a much better half but Chelsea deserved this win. They held 58% of possession and outshot us 20-17 (7-9 on target).

-- Newcastle shock Liverpool 2-0 and United can only manage a draw against Middlesbrough. City win 2-0 over Sheffield Wednesday and move into first place, with Chelsea taking over second. We are in third and Arsenal and Tottenham also move up after wins.



BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE - STANDINGS
(ALL TEAMS HAVE PLAYED 7 GAMES UNLESS NOTED)

1. Manchester City - 19 points
2. Chelsea - 18 points
3. Dover - 16 points
4. Tottenham - 15 points
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5. Arsenal - 15 points
6. Manchester United - 14 points
7. Sheffield Wednesday - 13 points
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Dover U18 Update

-- We defeat MK Dons U18s 3-2, with goals scored by Joshua Stokes, Ben Patterson and Lyubomir Kunchev.

-- Fine young midfield prospect Emmerson Harvey suffers a torn groin (OUCH) and will miss around six weeks of action.



October Board Confidence Update

-- The board are very pleased with my overall leadership of the team. The main positive is our 6-0 win over Burnley and the only disappointment is the departure of Youssouf Sylla.

-- We make a profit of £459,000 last month.



International Duty

-- We have 18 players called up for international duty. 14 of the players gain caps, including Steve Reed & Paul Moses (England U21), Kostas Kalfas (one goal for Greece U21), Lyubomir Kunchev (Bulgaria U21), Chiquinho (with four goals in two games for Belgium), Daniel Traore & Arsene Bamba (Ivory Coast), Neil Cairney & Graham Allan (Scotland - Allan scored two goals), Said Henni and Salim Loucif (Algeria - Henni scored two goals), Giorgos Gesios (one goal for Greece), Zoltan Bardi (a hat trick for Hungary) and Mwemere Mutesa (Rwanda).



Dover Reserves Update

-- Behind SIX goals from Zoltan Bardi, we win 8-2 over Reading's Reserves. Also scoring for Dover are Ben Patterson on a penalty and we also benefited from a Reading own goal.

-- Wayne Rooney had two assists in the game but got hurt. He'll miss a week with a bruised rib.



Injury Update

-- In addition to Rooney's injury, we get some good news and some bad news. First, reserve GK Louis Read returns to full training after missing eight weeks with a dislocated shoulder. However, we also get word that young DC Mohamed Lamine Yilmaz strains his back during a workout session and will miss the next four weeks of action.

-- Crap. Now we find out that Paul Moses pulled a hamstring while playing for England's U21 team and he will miss three weeks. Geez.



Dover Reserve Team Update

-- With the two weeks in between "real" games, we have a second reserves game and this time we lose 2-0 to Arsenal's Reserves.



Next Up

-- We are finally back in action, hosting Reading in Premier League play.