Chelsea vs. West Ham United: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape London Derby
Chelsea are unbeaten on Boxing Day during Roman Abramovich's reign, but the west Londoners have incurred one post-Christmas blunder in recent memory.
On 27 December 2010, in a London derby vs. Arsenal, the Blues lost 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium. Ironically, three of the four goalscorers from four years past will likely be playing at Stamford Bridge on Friday, when Jose Mourinho's side play host to West Ham United.
Branislav Ivanovic was Chelsea's goalscorer in December 2010, and the Serbian has been likewise attack-minded this year—in large part due to Mourinho's summer signings. One of the Portuguese's acquisitions gave the Blues numerous problems over his Arsenal tenure, but he has since left England and come back, finding his home with Chelsea.
Cesc Fabregas has been a revelation in 2014/15; the Spanish international has been directly responsible for 14 of Chelsea's 38 Premier League goals. It would seem his £27 million fee from Barcelona this June was legal thievery.
Alex Song was first on the scoresheet four years ago. Leaving Barcelona on loan this summer, the Cameroonian midfielder has given a terrific account of himself thus far at West Ham—aiding Sam Allardyce's squad in their valiant, albeit surprising, quest for European football. Given the task of corralling creative midfielders, Song's presence on Boxing Day should prove vital for the visiting Hammers.
Injuries and Suspensions
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Starting all of Chelsea's 17 Premier League matches, Eden Hazard's place vs. West Ham United is shrouded in doubt. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder is Jose Mourinho's best footballer, and his loss for any extended period would be felt.
Taken off the pitch early vs. Stoke City on Monday, Hazard was said, via Chelsea's official Twitter account, to be suffering from ankle pain: whether a knock, sprain or something more serious the public has yet to find out. Walking off the Britannia pitch under his own power, however, provides some hope Hazard will feature on Boxing Day.
If, indeed, the Belgian is sidelined, Andre Schurrle is a more-than-capable "No. 2;" the German would certainly be eager to start his first EPL game since 5 October.
Tactics
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After shooting the football 39 times at West Ham United's goal to no avail, Jose Mourinho, following his side's 0-0 draw in January, called out Sam Allardyce's team as playing "football from the 19th-century," via The Guardian's Dominic Fifield.
Responding in an affable way to Mourinho's comments, Allardyce said: "I don't give a s---e, to be honest."
Last season, West Ham went to Stamford Bridge knowing they could not play open, expansive football. They did a job and took home one point. This season will be different, if only slightly.
Still not wanting to open the floodgates, the Hammers would be apt to rinse and repeat last season's game plan but, sitting in fourth place, Allardyce should release the handbrake sometime in the second half—provided Chelsea fail to crack their defensive code early.
Squad Rotation
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Jose Mourinho matched Stoke City's physicality on Monday, leaving players like Oscar and Filipe Luis out of his team. With three matches in the next week, and Manchester City lurking in the background, squad rotation for the Blues is a must.
Eden Hazard may be unavailable on Boxing Day, thus counteracting the Belgian's absence with the two Brazilians could be plausible, as they represent fantastic offensive options in their respective positions.
Another rotation casualty may be John Obi Mikel. Playing well vs. Stoke, Mourinho could find minutes for the Nigerian against West Ham, but playing at home there seems every incentive to replace Mikel's presence with an attacking option.
Having West Ham and Southampton to close December and Tottenham on New Year's Day, it should be presumed all available members of the Chelsea squad will play at least once; luckily for Mourinho, every option at his disposal has quality.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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