Chelsea v Manchester United 12/01/05

wancolos said:
it's embarassing cause it's just liverpool (and chelsea now apperantley) who goes for the mickey mouse cup. we are not in the situasion that the mickey mouse cup is the only trophy we have a shot at, like the dippers. why chelsea aim so "high" I cant understand, maybe mourinho just want's to secure a early trophy as chelsea manager but my opinion is that we should field a couple of youngsters and don't give a feck about that silly trophy.
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spot on - they got this far let them see the thing through - it's a shite trophy, we should be concentrating on the big one.
 
Pool without doubt. Carling cup is a bonus comp, doesn't matter all that much
 
Personally I am greedy so I want both, but if I have to choose it has to be beating Pool. Chelsea will only be around until Abramovich gets bored and decides to whitewash his money soemwhere else.
 
O'Shea and Fortune return

John O'Shea and Quinton Fortune will return to Manchester United's starting line-up at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for the Carling Cup semi-final with Chelsea.

The defensive duo have both been plagued by injury over the last month but, after a week's training, they are now fit enough to bolster the Red Devils' side looking to make amends for their embarrassing FA Cup draw with Exeter on Saturday.

Louis Saha is likely to be on the bench, with Wayne Rooney a probable starter after completing his three-match suspension.

Gary Neville will not be considered but has returned to training after his recent virus.

United (from): Howard, Ricardo, P Neville, O'Shea, Brown, Fortune, Pique, Spector, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Miller, Ronaldo, Richardson, Scholes, Jones, Eagles, Rooney, Saha, Bellion.
 
wancolos said:
it's embarassing cause it's just liverpool (and chelsea now apperantley) who goes for the mickey mouse cup. we are not in the situasion that the mickey mouse cup is the only trophy we have a shot at, like the dippers. why chelsea aim so "high" I cant understand, maybe mourinho just want's to secure a early trophy as chelsea manager but my opinion is that we should field a couple of youngsters and don't give a feck about that silly trophy.
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I don't care that much about the trophy itself, but if we want any chance of winning the Premier League we have to knock Chelsea's confidence ourselves. Nobody else is going to do it for us, and by the time we play them again in the PL it'll probably be too late. If we do go out there and beat what is just about a full-strength line-up, perhaps, just perhaps, they might collapse like Arsenal did when we beat them. Not likely, but at least it's a chance. The only chance I think we've got left of winning the PL.
 
MadDogg said:
I don't care that much about the trophy itself, but if we want any chance of winning the Premier League we have to knock Chelsea's confidence ourselves. Nobody else is going to do it for us, and by the time we play them again in the PL it'll probably be too late. If we do go out there and beat what is just about a full-strength line-up, perhaps, just perhaps, they might collapse like Arsenal did when we beat them. Not likely, but at least it's a chance. The only chance I think we've got left of winning the PL.
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there you have a good point. it would be great to beat chelsea and lower theire confidence but we would need to hammer them big time to do so IMO.

cant see chelsea getting any psyicic brake if we take them down 2-0 on aggregate in a meaningless cup...
 
wancolos said:
why chelsea aim so "high" I cant understand, maybe mourinho just want's to secure a early trophy as chelsea manager but my opinion is that we should field a couple of youngsters and don't give a feck about that silly trophy.
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Mourinho wants to win the lot. The Quad :eek:

As for our line-up, embarrassment comes from defeats not the team we pick. Against weeker opposition its possible to field fringe players but SAF always tries to pick a team capable of winning every match.

I'd go with:
------------------Rooney-----------------
--------Smith------Scholes-----Ronaldo---
-------------Keano----Fletcher/Fortune----
O'Shea----------Rio-------Brown-------Phil
----------------- Howard ----------------

and barring injuries, the same against Poo on Saturday

:devil:
 
weRutd&werule said:
chelsea will win feck all this season
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no they wont, so please no panic!
saf should field the players who used to play so far in the ccup. because i really dont care about this cup and every rest for our key players would be good. it would be good to play rooney and saha, because they now need games, but no scholes, giggs, ronaldo, rio etc. fergie said he would pick the reserves players, even if they reach the final, and so should he do
 
Michel04 said:
no they wont, so please no panic!
saf should field the players who used to play so far in the ccup. because i really dont care about this cup and every rest for our key players would be good. it would be good to play rooney and saha, because they now need games, but no scholes, giggs, ronaldo, rio etc. fergie said he would pick the reserves players, even if they reach the final, and so should he do
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complete tosh!

you really dont care about this cup, who cares what you think!??

this is a semi final, and by playing a weakened side against a full strength chelsea side is daft!

ultimately we will, looking at our squad, but i think it is hypocritical to write off a semi final of a domestic trophy against our main rivals!

some of these guys get 90k a week and had a rest saturday, play em!
 
yamo123x said:
complete tosh!

you really dont care about this cup, who cares what you think!??

this is a semi final, and by playing a weakened side against a full strength chelsea side is daft!

ultimately we will, looking at our squad, but i think it is hypocritical to write off a semi final of a domestic trophy against our main rivals!
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if you wouldnt care what i wrote you wouldnt write a comment, you rude jerk
yes, honestly i really dont care about this cup, i am interested in champs league, fa cup and epl, which is, honestly, probably impossible to win this year. i wouldnt be happier if we win nothing or this cup. if we would only win this ccup, would you run out of the streets and scream "yeeeeeaahhhh, we won the ccup, we are the best theam!!!" would you feel better if we would win this unimportant, small trophy?
 
I think we'll line up like this:

-----------------Cudicini----------------

Ferreira------Terry------Gallas----Bridge

-----------------Makelele---------------

----------J. Cole---------Lampard-------

----------------Gudjohnsen-------------

----------Duff-----------Drogba--------

I think we will play a diamond in MF, if not then move Cole up to a forward in a 433, with him being the only "sub" for our regular 11(as Robben is suspended). If we play a 433 I think either idur or Drogba will play, with the other being on the bench with Kezman. I'm sure we'll see Jarosik at some point. Smertin may also get a run out, or a start in a cup game. But I would imagine we will put out a very strong side. One that should be capable of beating you backups, if that is who Fergus picks to play. I don't think either leg is going to be a high scoring affair.
 
duffer said:
Chelsea linup likely to be...

...............Cudicini............
Johnson Gallas Terry Bridge
..............Makalele...........
.......Tiago.......Lampard.....
Cole...........................Duff
.............Drogba................

Robben is suspended. :rolleyes:
If Bridge is not fit (he has been out few a few games with flu) Ferreira should play left back).
Cech will not play.
Carvalho and Huth are both still injured so Smertin may play in defence at some point.
Jarosek may play some part from the bench but is nowhere near match fit as the Russian seeason finished a while ago.


On another note, would you lot (Manchester united fans) rather beat us (Chelsea) over two legs and get to a cup final or beat Liverpool on saturday morning?
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Is that a feckin joke?! You'll find few United fans who care about this cup. Anfield is one of the biggest games of the season!

It's the scousers, ffs, the scousers! Losing to them is worse than death itself.
 
Also, good luck tomorrow Mancs. I hope the match ends injury(and controversy) free. Hopefully it will be a good match.
 
This is a game we could do without, like Exeter. I'd rather we were focusing on Anfield than on this silly competition.
 
Man Utd (from): Howard, Ricardo, P Neville, O'Shea, Brown, Fortune, Pique, Spector, Fletcher, Djemba-Djemba, Miller, Ronaldo, Richardson, Scholes, Jones, Eagles, Rooney, Saha, Bellion.

The fact that Smith is not included suggests Saha is ready to start. It looks a weak squad at first but I think we can put a decent side out. I think fergie will opt for the tried and tested 4-5-1 for damage limitation and look towards the 2nd leg.

---------Howard-----------
Phil-Brown-O'Shea-Fourtsen
-----Fletch--Djemba-------
Rooney--Scholes--Ronaldo
---------Saha------------

Obviously the 2 CM's need to be absolutely disiplined and right on the top of their game. How can anyone not want us to sign Gravesen ??!
 
Forward-thinking Neville eyes cup scalp

PHIL Neville believes attack will be the best form of defence for Manchester United at Stamford Bridge tonight.

The Red Devils head south for their Carling Cup semi-final first-leg encounter with Chelsea knowing any repeat of the dire display against Exeter will ruin their hopes of lifting the trophy in Cardiff next month well before the Old Trafford return in a fortnight.

Jose Mourinho's quadruple chasers remain unbeaten on home soil this season and have already accounted for United once, when Eidur Gudjohnsen's strike proved decisive in the opening game of the campaign.

Chelsea have also improved markedly since then, dramatically improving their goals output.

Saturday's 3-1 win over Scunthorpe took their tally to 26 in 11 outings, so Neville is acutely aware how well United's reshuffled defence will have to play.

But the England international does not believe a pure containment policy will get the visitors anywhere.

Neville thinks Sir Alex Ferguson's side must try to force the game themselves if they are to stand any chance of getting through.

"If we just go down there and sit back they will kill us," said Neville.

"It is going to be a tight game but we have to make sure we do our fair share of attacking and go for goals.

"Chelsea are showing tremendous consistency just now and do not look like they are going to lose games.

"It does not matter who plays, they just seem to slot in and do a job.

"Of the three teams at the top of the table, you have to say they have been the most consistent but we are only one step away from being in a major final and we want to be going to the second leg with a draw at the very least."

Mourinho's up-front style has ruffled more than a few feathers during his first season in England, and he well and truly got up United's nose last season when his Porto side dumped the Old Trafford outfit out of the Champions League.

But Neville admits he is a fan of the Chelsea boss and points to the form Mourinho's side have shown this season as proof he backs up his big words with actions.

"Jose Mourinho speaks the truth and some people don't like that," said the full-back.

"But I think everyone within football is impressed at the way he answers questions honestly.

"The most important thing for Chelsea is that he has built them into a good side. They are 11 points clear of us, so they must be doing something right."
 
GroundSide said:
I dont know about that but as Fergie said this morning, they got no chance of winning all four trophies.
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nor the treble...
 
if we win chelsea, do you think taht would harm their title preperations?
 
I have my burberry t-shirt ready so that I blend in with the locals tonight. First team at an away game in the United end tonight.

Expect them team to be:

-------Howard

PNev----Brown---O'Shea---Fortune

Ronaldo---Miller----Djemba----Richardson

-----Rooney----Saha
 
MPTutd said:
-------Howard

PNev----Brown---O'Shea---Fortune

Ronaldo---Miller----Djemba----Richardson

-----Rooney----Saha
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From the squad list, I think the back 4 pick themselves. But that midfield is an absolute travesty. It's lightweight, its inexperienced and it will be found wanting.

I think a 5 man midfield is likely and it really shows how poor we are in the centre of midfield without Keane.

-----Fletch--Djemba-------
Rooney--Scholes--Ronaldo
---------Saha------------
 
I would actually play Phil Neville in midfield and drop DJx2 in at right back. He has played there before and it would also limit his mistakes.......would even consider playing either Spector or Pique - despite both having a mare on saturday.
 
Sydius said:
I would actually play Phil Neville in midfield and drop DJx2 in at right back. He has played there before and it would also limit his mistakes.......would even consider playing either Spector or Pique - despite both having a mare on saturday.
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Djemba up against Duff ??????? OUCH
 
madmax1968 said:
Not if Djemba kicks Duff hard enough. Surely even Djemba can do that. Ron (hatchet man ) Harris made a career of it years ago for Chelsea.
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Sure, Djemba could kick him but there is no doubt he'll end up giving away clumsy needless fouls around the box or inside it at worst.

Duff will pick himself up and leave Djemba for dead with his pace and brainpower.

At least Phil has the experience of dealing with wingers and should be able to avoid getting skinned. Anyway, Duff roams a lot so it's not quite as straight forward as sticking a man on him.

I'm more interested with how we play to be honest. If Ronaldo, Scholes and Rooney are on fire, they'll be the ones with things to worry about. It's good that Saha is back, as their back 4 aren't too keen on pace.
 
Personally, I would play the strongest available squad as the 1st team had a break in the F.A. cup. We need to win games from now on and if that means winning in the Carling Cup then so be it.

We need to keep winning as many games as possible and try to keep the pressure on the teams above us.

Playing different teams and formations week in week out won't help our cause, we should be playing the strongest team in every game from now till the end of the season.

With 1 or 2 players rested at given time if need be. Not the wholesales changes we've seen before.

BUT...

Sir Alex will proberly have a mix of the players that played in the F.A. cup and some regular first teamers'
 
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