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1 min: And we're off. Newcastle get us going, kicking from left to right, attacking the Matthew Harding Stand. McEachran's on the ball straight away, indulging in a bit of tiki-taka in midfield before his attempted pass through to Cole is cut out. Sky have managed to pick the two least interesting games of the day to show live, but finally this match has a bit of relevance for Sky - it's a chance for them to show Chelsea in their NEW KIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a bold line-up from Ancelotti, a nod to the future, with Fernando Torres starting and the new Jack Wilshere, Josh McEachran, in midfield. McEachran is meant to be the real deal, although my colleague Tom Bryant points out that he could get blown away by a gust of wind at any moment. Four of the old guard, Essien, Drogba, Mikel, Malouda, are on the bench, while David Luiz is still on the naughty step after last week's disaster at Old Trafford. As for Newcastle, they have a youngster of their own in midfield, Shane Ferguson. I've never seen him play, but apparently he's a left winger. More interestingly, Carl Cort's Shola Ameobi's brother, Sammy, is on the bench.
The stats aren't particularly favourable for Newcastle. Although they won at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup in September, they haven't won here in the league since a 3-1 victory in 1986. They've also been on the end of some right hammerings in the Roman era too.
Pre-match emails.
"Bit harsh to call Mourinho a raging galoot I'd say," says Robin Hazelhurst. "If Chelsea are looking to replace Ancelotti now, then they be interested that Grant could be available again, and he at least got them to the final of the Big Cup. Although I understand that fans of his current club are loving his work and would be very sorry to see him go." Don't test me. Not today.
"Is there anything good about coming 2nd instead of 3rd in the Prem?" asks Edward Taylor. "In terms of money, Champions League draw, anything?" You do get more money if you finish second, but other than it's all about being first loser.
"Why is there a MBM of this Chelsea/Newcastle dead rubber but not of the fabulous Helicopter Sunday aka last day of the Scottish Season!?!" blasts Ryan Dunne. "Frank Lampard supports the Glorious Glasgow Rangers you know ( whilst a Hammer like yourself surely has a vague interest in Celtic's fortunes?))" Scottish football is in disgrace, that's why.
So this is a total waste of time. This time last week, Chelsea harboured realistic hopes of going into this game in first place, but with Manchester United wrapping up the title yesterday, they now find themselves with nothing to play for, unless the race for second really grabs you. It's end-of-term time at Stamford Bridge then. Maybe everyone should just stop pretending that this really matters and stick a DVD of Gladiator on instead. (That still happens, right?)
But wait! You wouldn't want to miss what most probably will be Carlo Ancelotti's last appearance at Stamford Bridge, would you? I don't know. It's a strange thing when a manager who won the double last season - and not to mention two Champions League titles with Milan - is now judged not good enough on the basis of one dodgy season. A dodgy season in which they look finishing second in the league, one place behind the most successful side in the history of English football. Clearly rebuilding is needed at Chelsea; the side has to be manufactured to get the best out of Fernando Torres next season, but surely Ancelotti's record demonstrates that he deserves another chance to get it right. The decision to trust in the youth players last summer backfired during their horrible run in the winter, but that was a call from upstairs. True, Chelsea's displays in the domestic cups were miserable. They have also disappointed against Manchester United and Inter in the Champions League, which perhaps contributed more to Ancelotti's likely dismissal, but it stands to reason that a manager who has won the competition twice probably knows how to win that competition. If Ancelotti does go, Roman Abramovich will have seen off him, Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari and with the exception of one raging galoot on that list, there are some big names right there. Maybe it's not them, Roman. Maybe it's you.
There's always someone worse off than you though which is the mantra I repeat to myself every morning, afternoon and night and Chelsea could always have Mike Ashley running the show. Now there's a man who makes some interesting decisions. I suppose we have to give him some credit for Newcastle's fine season though, even if the decision to sack Chris Hughton still looks ludicrous. It's easy to forget this now, but back in December, everyone was expecting Alan Pardew to take Newcastle straight back down. In that context then, Pardew has done a remarkable job since taking over, overcoming a dubious Toon Army and turning up at training one day to find Shefki Kuqi standing where Andy Carroll used to be.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole; Ramires, McEachran, Lampard; Anelka, Benayoun, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, David Luiz, Essien, Drogba, Mikel, Malouda, Ferreira.
Newcastle (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique; Gutierrez, Barton, Ryan Taylor, Ferguson; Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands.Subs: Soderberg, Smith, LuaLua, Ranger, Tavernier, Kuqi, Sammy Ameobi.
Referee: Lee Mason.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/15/chelsea-newcastle-live-score
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