Chelsea FanCast on Love Sport Radio – the only 100% Chelsea show on the radio! Stamford Chidge and Jonathan Kydd join Johnny Burrow to look back at a the wins against Fulham in the Premier League, Dynamo Kiev in the Europa Cup and look ahead at a potentially tough fixture against Wolves this weekend.
Dom Fifield, the London Football Correspondent of The Guardian joins us on the phone to talk about the news that FIFA has denied Chelsea’s request to freeze the transfer ban while they appeal against the punishment handed out. Does this mean Chelsea will be unable to sign players from this summer’s window or will the ban ultimately be delayed as it was for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid? Will the ban mean Chelsea will have to blood their youth players and how safe is Sarri in his job?
Chelsea supporters were frustrated with Sarri’s team selection against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday night, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi left on the bench, But with Pedro on fire and a stunning Willian free kick Chelsea strolled through to win 3-0. Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoi combined well to score the third so was Sarri right to bring them on late in the game or should they have started? With a 3-0 lead to take in to the second leg, is the tie done and dusted?
Chelsea made hard work of beating neighbours Fulham last weekend, in part due to the fatigue of the players after a touch week but it also revealed the conundrum for Sarri in whether to defend deep but not create or press high and pose more of a threat but looking vulnerable defensively. At least Jorginho and Higuain, his main Sarriball disciples both found the back of the net.
Wolves beat Chelsea 2-1 back in November and are a dangerous side, so can we expect Sarri to start his tried and tested line up, many of whom got a rest on Thursday. How should Sarri set up – high press or defend deeper? With the battle for top four now back on is this a must win game for Chelsea and what would it mean for Sarri should they lose?
This week’s opposition view is with Harry Mansell from the Wolves 77 Club and we has this season exceeded his expectations? Does he worry that Espirito Santo will get poached? Who have the stand out players for Wolves been this season and which Chelsea players does he think will be the threat to Wolves on Sunday? Finally we ask Harry how he sees the match going and get a score prediction out of him.
To wrap up we give our predictions for the Chelsea v Wolves match, relive some memories of past matches against Wolves and answer this week’s Chelsea FanCast Quiz: Who played for both Chelsea and Wolves.
Plus a plug for your vote for Chelsea FanCast as best podcast in the Football Blogging Awards! Vote here:
Chelsea Fancast is broadcast on Love Sport Radio every Friday from 7.00-9.00 pm. LOVE SPORT is a London radio station and is broadcast on 558 AM and on London DAB along with numerous digital channels. You can listen from anywhere in the world. You can visit lovesportradio.com to listen live to the station and of course you can download LOVE SPORT apps in the android and IOS app stores. You can also listen to LOVESPORT radio through Radioplayer and TuneIn.
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