Chelsea vs Manchester United

Welbeck was rested against Stoke so I can't see him being on the bench again, he will start.

The interesting one will be the defence..
Rafael-Smalling-Rio-Evra
Rafael-Evans-Rio-Evra
Smalling-Evans-Rio-Evra
 
We look more threatening going forward with Rafael at right back and I'm not convinced we look any weaker defensively than if Smalling or Jones were there. Obviously Rafael isn't as dominant in the air but he's got a terrific leap and he's just as competent defensively when the ball is on the ground (where Chelsea under AVB like to keep it).
 
cw1984 said:
By 1 up top I of course mean 1 striker. I expect Rooney and Welbeck to start.
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Fair enough.

According to a poster at The Shed End:

Chelsea v Man Utd (PL) 05/02/12 KO 16:00 GMT - The Shed End - Unofficial Chelsea FC Forum - Page 8

Cech;
Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand;
Essien, Romeu;
Sturridge, Meireles, Mata;
Torres

No Terry, Lamps, Ash, Drogs. This will be the game that can be the making of Cahill, Bertrand, Romeu, and Torres.
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We should tear that team a new one.
 
Valencia against Bertrand :drool:
Nani against Ivanovic :drool:
 
^ That's where the game will be won. If we score today it will come from a wide area.
 
Bertrand is quite highly rated by Chelsea fans but has barely had a sniff with Cole fit. It will be interesting to see how he copes with an in-form Valencia, so often a tormentor of full backs.
 
Nani fit?

In that case, I am guessing:

de Gea

Smalling
Evans
Rio
Evra

Valencia
Carrick
Giggs
Nani

Rooney
Welbeck
 
It's going to be an interesting game today, and it could be a very open one at that as well.

Chelsea's defence is there for the taking. Their defence today looks worse than anything they've fielded against us in the Abramovic era. We should really be looking to take advantage of that. I'm hoping that Valencia will cause some damage. Bertrand may be a decent prospect, but he's inexperienced, so he's going to struggle with Valencia if he plays anything like he has been recently.

My only worry is that it could end up being one of those frustrating days where Chelsea gift us several chances, we don't take enough of them, and they manage to nick something from the game.
 
mufcwarm92 said:
Bertrand is quite highly rated by Chelsea fans but has barely had a sniff with Cole fit. It will be interesting to see how he copes with an in-form Valencia, so often a tormentor of full backs.
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I really rate him too, he's very good going forward but I've not seen him up against a player in the kind of form Valencia is in so we'll see how he copes with that.
 
If Bertrand doesn't get any extra help from the midfield, then Valencia will have a field day.
 
mufcwarm92 said:
Bertrand is quite highly rated by Chelsea fans but has barely had a sniff with Cole fit. It will be interesting to see how he copes with an in-form Valencia, so often a tormentor of full backs.
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They'l most certainly double up on him when he gets the ball. with the kind of form he's in, no chance they'l leave it to the kid to handle him on his own.
 
RonaldoVII said:
Could be, but with Terry out I think he'll start at CB.
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I seem to recall him playing at right back still last time when Terry was out, possibly against Man City or something? It just remember thinking it was a strange decision from AVB.
 
I feel Chelsea's gameplan will involve them wanting to dominate time on the ball. Cahill and Luiz can be got at, so the midfield battle should be interesting. As well as set pieces...
 
Guy Incognito said:
I feel Chelsea's gameplan will involve them wanting to dominate time on the ball. Cahill and Luiz can be got at, so the midfield battle should be interesting. As well as set pieces...
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I agree on the set peices. That's where they will be looking to hurt us, another physically big team looking to target De Gea in the air...
 
Most Chelsea fans are convinced Bosingwa will move to the left back position and that Cahill won't start.
 
I think a midfield of Giggs, Scholes and Carrick would provide us with the lion's share of possession, until the last twenty minutes of the game against the racists we were in control, it's just we were lacking some cutting edge up front. With Nani and Rooney back in the team I expect that to change.
 
evra said:
I think a midfield of Giggs, Scholes and Carrick would provide us with the lion's share of possession, until the last twenty minutes of the game against the racists we were in control, it's just we were lacking some cutting edge up front. With Nani and Rooney back in the team I expect that to change.
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Scholes has played too much in the last 10 days IMO, I'll leave that decision to Fergie but I'm also sceptical about Scholes and Giggs in midfield together. Maybe against a less mobile team like Chelsea it could work.
 
With cole out I think more than ever they can be exposed out wide and with terry out they don't have that aerial dominance in the box. For me if rooney is fit we get him in the hole, two wingers and welbeck up top. Carrick and giggs/jones in the middle. Don't think scholes will enjoy this one too much if Ramirez is playing. Though the again, scholes passing out wide could cause Chelsea some serious problems if the wingers are uP to it. Still though I'd put scholes on the bench.
 
with ashley cole out i'd play rafael at right back. we would tear them apart on that side with valencia and rafael imo.
 
No manager can be stupid enough to neglect the form of Valencia, some actions needs to be taken.
 
Jacob said:
No manager can be stupid enough to neglect the form of Valencia, some actions needs to be taken.
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I imagine Ramirez will be used to double up on Valencia. He's got the pace and stamina to do it.
 
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