Chelsea vs. Manchester United

[S.E.Arising]

vs.

Premier League
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Stamford Bridge
KO: 16:00 UK time

[se7en]

Chelsea's left back is in for a tough afternoon

[Speedy]

Who will be their left back? Bosingwa or Ferreira I'd guess? Valencia should have some fun anyway. Hopefully Rooney and Nani are back. Guess we'll find out off Fergie tomorrow about that and the goalkeeping situation.

[JSNFRMN_MUFC]

I can't imagine AVB will have enough faith in Bertrand. I imagine it'll be Bosignwa with Ivanovic or someone at RB.

Think we'll probably see the same sort of side that has beat Chelsea many times recently.

Amos (De Gea); Rafael (Jones), Evans, Ferdinand (Smalling), Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park (Nani); Rooney, Welbeck (Hernandez).

[Speedy]

United quartet could return at Chelsea - Official Manchester United Website

Good news on the injury front. De Gea is back although Lindegaard will miss 5-6 weeks. Rooney and Nani have a good chance of playing and Cleverley and Young will both travel with the squad.

[Sideshow Bob]

I'd like to see the following team depending on the fitness of Nani and Rooney.

De Gea
Rafael
Smalling
Evans
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Giggs
Nani
Rooney
Welbeck.

With Rooney dropping into a deeper position to make up a three man midfield when needed.

[Scholesy18]

DE GEA

SMALLING FERDINAND EVANS EVRA (c)

VALENCIA CARRICK GIGGS NANI

ROONEY

WELBECK

Hernandez would be perfect for this game. He'll always be on the end of Chelsea defence trying to break clear and considering such a high defensive line they play under AVB, it could turn out to be a good thing playing him. Plus we're up against a possibly back four of Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bertnard/Boswinga so I feel they can be exposed on the wings as well as through the middle. It isn't the greatest of back four. But I think Welbeck is certain to start. it all depends on Rooney's fitness. if fit he'll start. else Hernandez surely starts.

I'd love Jones in midfield but last 2 times we rushed him back from injury, he got injured again or aggravated same problem. So I'd go with Giggs partnering Carrick in midfield. Also I'd definitely play Evans in defence. He has been our best defender this season. We've lost just once in the 16 PL games he has played this season, the one he will always get blamed for. Smalling at RB and Rio's return is a welcome boost as always. De Gea gets nod over Amos in goal. That's a no-brainer. He'll definitely benefit from run of games, like he did earlier in the season.

Chelsea are without Ramires, Terry, Cashley, Lampard, Mikel. This is the best time to play them and we've simply got to win, if we're serious about our title challenge. Nothing else would do. I saw a very interesting stat:

-United have yet to lose after opening the scoring this season (W17, D2), but they are winless in the four games in which they conceded the first goal. (says quite a lot.score first and build onto the crucial win)

-United have kept a clean sheet in 12 of their 23 league matches, more than any other top-flight side. (That too without our best defender and captain)

I'm confident about our chances in this game. Think we'll come out with a win and make a statement hopefully.

[Scholesy18]

I'd like to see the following team depending on the fitness of Nani and Rooney.

De Gea
Rafael
Smalling
Evans
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Giggs
Nani
Rooney
Welbeck.

With Rooney dropping into a deeper position to make up a three man midfield when needed.

No Ferdinand? Surely he's gotta play?

[Sideshow Bob]

Without Vidic, Smalling should be first choice centre back for my money and Evans is undroppable. Smalling is not a right-back, he can do a job there but Rafael is more effective. Ferdinand's injuries make him less reliable so I would like the Smalling and Evans partnership to continue allowing their understanding to further improve. However, I don't think Fergie will go along my thinking and expect Smalling to be selected at right-back.

[se7en]

I agree with Bob but thn again maybe it would be helpful for De Gea to have Ferdinand there

[Speedy]

Yeah I'd have to say that if De Gea is playing I think Rio has to play just to maintain some order. Against Liverpool there was a lack of confidence and leadership in defence that cost us the game in the end, Rio should help keep everyone focused.

[Sideshow Bob]

It's a fair enough point. I would disagree with there was a lack of confidence with the two central defenders. We controlled a large portion of the game and therefore the defence was rarely tested until the final 10-15 minutes. Evra was to blame for the winner. Vidic was probably the bigger miss than Ferdinand.

[Berba_God]

Has the snow caused any pl games to be cancelled?

[Speedy]

Nope. Think a couple in the championship have gone and a lot of League 1 and 2 but no Premiership thus far.

[S.E.Arising]

Match Preview: Chelsea vs. Manchester United*|*Manchester United Blog & Man United News | Stretford End Arising

[JSNFRMN_MUFC]

De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani; Rooney, Welbeck.

I would not be surprised to see Young ahead of Nani though, sounds like he's trained for longer.

[Sideshow Bob]

A point about Ferdinand offering leadership. It's only one incident but Ferdinand was at the heart of the defence against City in the FA Cup. Lindegaard flapped a number of times in the second half and looked nervous. If a goalkeeper is going to flap what can a defender do?

[Speedy]

Yeah I understand that but I think De Gea having Rio in front of him would be much more reasuring. Neither Evans or Smalling come across as big talkers at this stage of their careers. De Gea is seen as the weak link and needs all the help he can get at the moment and I just feel having Rio there would be more beneficial for DDG and the team.

[Sideshow Bob]

Valid and fair enough points.

[JSNFRMN_MUFC]

I think the same. Also think, very much like Carrick, players play better when Rio is in the team. Think Rafael talked last season about Rio helping him during games. Evans for me looks more comfortable and assured when Rio is there by his side. Evra and Rio's experience will be vital tomorrow, in other big games and in the title race. Think the 2 goals we conceded at Anfield may not have been scored with Rio at the back, you can't be sure but there was a lack of a challenge in the air for the first and both Evans and Evra at fault on the left side of defence (where Rio would have been) for 2nd.

[IrishManc.]

Worst Chelsea team I've seen since Abramovich took over. Think we will win. Chelsea's midfield and defence has been hapless recently, chance Essien might play though - he would be a massive boost for them.

Think we will start Hernadez considering his recent form against them. The fact Welbeck was rested the last day suggests he will play aswell. If Rooney isn't 100 per cent then he may start on the bench. Could see Welbeck starting on the left either if Rooney does start.

[se7en]

They better not call it off

[Sideshow Bob]

Hope it's not called off, now is a great time to play Chelsea, even with our injuries. What's the latest time the game can be called off? What time was last year's game called off?

[Speedy]

Is there rumours the game could be called off? Snows pretty bad oop north but thought maybe it's less of a problem darn sarf..... would be gutting if it's called off, really looking forward to watching Valencia bounding around Stamford Bridge embarrassing makeshift fullbacks.

[n3o7]

I think it might get called off, looking at the pitch like that.

I don't know how to take the picture from this link, but here it is, it doesn't look like it will be ready to be used on time.

And, if we force our players to play on that pitch, we might even get more injuries