Football FanCast columnist Mark Bryans looks ahead
to the first instalment of Super Sunday and wonders if Portsmouth will finally
bring an end to Chelsea's dominance at the Bridge.
Chelsea's second Portuguese era will be well
and truly ushered in when they take on Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge. With Luis
Filipe Scolari in the dugout and Deco pulling the strings out on the pitch the
Portuguese influence has returned to the Blues. Portsmouth would have chosen
this as the fixture to avoid on the opening weekend of the season and
Chelsea's formidable home record tells you just why.
Having said that Scolari would have surely
wanted to face less stern opposition in his first competitive game as Chelsea
boss. Despite his reputation the jury is still out on whether he was the right
man to replace the unfortunate Avram Grant. His pedrigee is without question
but he has not managed a club side in so long, and has never managed a European
club side. Will this hinder him as he looks to get Chelsea back to the top of
the Premier League tree?
Portsmouth meanwhile have been busy in the transfer market and Harry Redknapp's charges enter the season in high hopes. Real quality has been added to the squad down at Fratton Park and Pompey surely have an outside chance of breaking the stranglehold of the ‘top 4' on the Champions League spots. If that is the major target of the season then this first game will be a true test of Portsmouth's ability. A yardstick to measure how far they are away from the elite clubs in the league, and Redknapp will want his side to give a good account of themselves, hopes of a point may not be fantasy.
Chelsea's main worry comes in attack where Nicholas Anelka is the only out-and-out striking option. Didier Drogba and Andrei Shevchenko are injured and Salomon Kalou is on Olympic duty so the Frenchman will be hoping to carry his good preseason form into the game. Glen Little, Noe Pamarot, Sean Davis, Linvoy Primus and David Nugent will all miss out for the visitors, but Kanu may be feature.
MY PREDICTION: Chelsea 1 - 0 Portsmouth
Who'd want to be a ref anyway? All that stomping around, shouting and getting angry – and that's from the players and supporters.
So what happens when an amateur star-studded football team tries to play 11-a-side without a ref?
About the same as what happens to any football game played without a ref – chaos and farce.
The FA Respect video kicks off their campaign to stamp out dissent in football; highlighting the important job the referees do; encourage more people into the game but also bringing to light the level of abuse that takes place on and off the pitch.
Featuring England Manager Fabio Capello, top referee Howard Webb and ex-pros and footballing celebrities, including Mark Bright and Les Ferdinand.