Chelsea vs. Manchester United

_________VdS
O'Shea Ferdinand Vidic Evra
__Scholes Fletcher Carrick
___Valencia Rooney Park

Smalling to start instead of Rio if necessary and Nani as a definite option off the bench, along with Giggs, Berbs and Chicha.
 
whos the ref tomorrow?? Would it be funny if Platini gave Atkinson a chance to ref this game.. "he knows the teams well and he's been there before"..
 
_________VdS
O'Shea Ferdinand Vidic Evra
__Scholes Fletcher Carrick
___Valencia Rooney Park

Smalling to start instead of Rio if necessary and Nani as a definite option off the bench, along with Giggs, Berbs and Chicha.

O'Shea and Fletcher aren't available.


I've seen quite a few people go with the following selection:


VDS

Rafael (Fabio)
Ferdinand (Smalling)
Vidic
Evra

Valencia
Park
Carrick
Scholes
Nani

Rooney

Subs: PIG, Smalling (Evans), Fabio (Rafael), Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez, Berbatov


One pretty significant problem with that line-up is that I think we'll be at least one 6 ft+ player short given that Chelsea will likely start with Terry, Ivanovic, Lampard, Anelka and either Drogba or Torres. It wouldn't exactly be a surprise if the match was very tight with a set piece ot two proving to be decisive so it's obviously something to consider.

The solution isn't very easy to find though. Neither O'Shea or Brown are available to play at right-back and of course Fletcher would normally play in midfield. So we could see at least one of the following selections: Smalling or Evans at right-back, Gibson in midfield, Berbatov up front.

When we played away to Marseille, O'Shea, Fletcher, Gibson and Berbatov all started (along with Smalling, Vidic and Carrick). Now you could probably quite legitimately argue that Marseille had more height than Chelsea will tomorrow night but even so, to replace the four players listed above with Rafael/Fabio, Scholes, Park and Valencia would seem pretty unlikely.

I'll go for Smalling starting at right-back if Rio's fit (Evans if Rio isn't fit) as well as Gibson in midfield instead of Park.
 
Whats the logic but?

Playing an out of form, confidence shot centrehalf who struggles with pace and in the air, at full back ahead of Fabio.

I explained the logic, say what you want about Evans he's better in the air than a Da Silva. And Evans normally has played fullback for his country against the likes of Spain and Italy and has done well.

Anyway, looks like Rafael might start.
 
It's going to be

VDS (Did he train today?)
Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra
Carrick, Scholes, Anderson
Valencia, Rooney, Nani

Bench: TK, Rio, Fabio, Chicha, Berba, Park Gibson

Anyone remember the 'Pool game in 09 when Rio had just come back and then got done because later admitted he wasn't fully fit and after that sat out for a long time? I hope we don't risk a not fully fit Rio in this game. Smalling has a lot going for him right now and am confident he'll cope with Chelsea.

I think we can really hurt Chelsea out wide with Valencia and Nani. With 3 in CM we can provide a steady supply to those two and then have Anderson/Scholes push up in support to Rooney.

Defensively we just need to pull head out of ass - especially Evra - he hates them, now is the time to show it with the performance of the season.
 
One pretty significant problem with that line-up is that I think we'll be at least one 6 ft+ player short given that Chelsea will likely start with Terry, Ivanovic, Lampard, Anelka and either Drogba or Torres. It wouldn't exactly be a surprise if the match was very tight with a set piece ot two proving to be decisive so it's obviously something to consider.

The solution isn't very easy to find though. Neither O'Shea or Brown are available to play at right-back and of course Fletcher would normally play in midfield. So we could see at least one of the following selections: Smalling or Evans at right-back, Gibson in midfield, Berbatov up front.

When we played away to Marseille, O'Shea, Fletcher, Gibson and Berbatov all started (along with Smalling, Vidic and Carrick). Now you could probably quite legitimately argue that Marseille had more height than Chelsea will tomorrow night but even so, to replace the four players listed above with Rafael/Fabio, Scholes, Park and Valencia would seem pretty unlikely.

I'll go for Smalling starting at right-back if Rio's fit (Evans if Rio isn't fit) as well as Gibson in midfield instead of Park.

Berbatov upfront seems the most likliest, as Rooney was being "rested" from training today.

Defence still seems to be interesting:

"Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Darron Gibson, Park Ji-sung. I've got plenty of options. I just hope I'll get the right back four."​

Hopefully not with those players of course. :lol:

Sounds like he's toying with somethings in the back, he couldn't have been impressed with the defence against West Ham, particularly Evra.
 
fecking hell, anyone else just see the Paddy Power advert, if we win tomorrow night they're refunding losing bets.

Are we really that much of a long shot in their eyes?!?!
 
van der Sar

Rafael
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra

Valencia
Carrick
Anderson
Park
Nani

Rooney

SUBS: Kuszczak, Fabio, Smalling, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Hernandez.

Although I would love to see Berba start to be quite honest.
 
fecking hell, anyone else just see the Paddy Power advert, if we win tomorrow night they're refunding losing bets.

Are we really that much of a long shot in their eyes?!?!
Only bets on correct score / goalscorer markets i.e. long odds that aren't competitively priced.
 
Berbatov upfront seems the most likliest, as Rooney was being "rested" from training today.

Defence still seems to be interesting:

"Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Darron Gibson, Park Ji-sung. I've got plenty of options. I just hope I'll get the right back four."​

Hopefully not with those players of course. :lol:

Sounds like he's toying with somethings in the back, he couldn't have been impressed with the defence against West Ham, particularly Evra.

If we got away with that as a back 4 it would be great, since there's 5 of them.
 
Some may say Im tempting fate, but following todays result, this quarter final is a semi final in disguise.

assuming both Chelsea and United dont replicate Inters Incompetence
 
Team
Starting XI:
----------- Van Der Sar ---------------------
Fabio ------ Ferdinand ---------------- Vidic -------- Evra
------- Carrick ----------- Scholes ------- Anderson ------
------- Rooney ---------- Berbatov --------- Nani --------

Bench: Kuszczak, Rafael, Smalling, Park, Valencia, Hernandez, Owen

Out: Lindegaard (Injured), O´Shea (Injured), Brown (Injured), Fletcher (Ill)

Prediciton
0-0
 
Haha i feel like such a dick but i'm coming over from NI for next weeks game... i'll be draped in a Mexico flag!!!! saw one today for 3quid and thought ah feck it if im goin to OT i should go OTT!!!
 
Valencia and Inter aren't Manchester fecking*United.

* feckING WHAT?

Inter won 18 league titles, 3 CL, 3 UEFA cup and 1 super cup. Pretty much the same amount of honors we have. What makes us so superior to them?
 
Really excited for this game but at the same time nervous. We have to have a good first leg. SCHALKE - that should be our motivator. If we can beat Chelsea, then I m confident we can make it to the final.
 
I'd go for a surprise win for us. By one goal. And Berba-Rooney to start

Feck it. Throw in Chicharito in there too
 
................Van der Sar

Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

....................Carrick
.........Scholes..........Anderson

Valencia..............................Nani
....................Rooney​

Bench:

Berbatov
Hernandez
Giggs
Park
Smalling
Fabio
Pig

Is what im hoping for. and what i think fergie will go with, assuming Rio convinces him of his fitness.

Exactly what I want. Awesome team.

Well for one thing we'd never hire Rafa Benitez to manage us?
:lol: winner.
 
Won't be posting much between now and a few hours after the match tomorrow, so enjoy the match lads, let's hope the referee gives us a fair go this time and we smash the Cockney cnuts...
 
................Van der Sar

Rafael - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra

....................Carrick
.........Scholes..........Anderson

Valencia..............................Nani
....................Rooney​

Bench:

Berbatov
Hernandez
Giggs
Park
Smalling
Fabio
Pig

Is what im hoping for. and what i think fergie will go with, assuming Rio convinces him of his fitness.


Great team, and great bench. I'd fancy us with that line-up.
 
Is Rafael fit enough to start?
He's trained for a few days now, but hamstring injuries are always difficult, so I would not play him today and risk the rest of the season for him, would be stupid to start him. Fabio was fantastic on saturday, play him.
 
Still about 9 hours and a half until kick-off, but the excitement is coming along thick and fast. Confident about the game tonight; I know it's been said many times, but we're due something at the Bridge for a long time, so I'm hoping we can get a good results tonight.

I'd take a 1-1, however, I have a feeling we can sneak a win - come on, let's have 'em !! :devil: