Chelsea v Man Utd 17:30 - Sat 18th April

[Whitechapel]

Match day chat.

 

[mase]

Having seen United's injury list, can see nothing but a Chelsea win here.

 

[Dazza]

Michael Carrick, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones & Daley Blind are all out of the game tomorrow.2-1 Chelsea.

 

[Stevencc]

Yeah, I think we might have been able to come away with a draw if we had the chance to keep the same starting 11 as we've played lately but with those injuries I think we'll struggle.

 

[Mr. Scruff]

Incredible bad luck. Fuck knows what we do in training as we make Arsenal's injury record look excellent. To lose Carrick/Jones,Rojo and Blind who all cover each others positions is just unbelievable.

Evans pathetic spitting now looks even more idiotic.

Options for Van Gaal are.

Keep the same formation dropping Fellaini back into Dm with DI Maria as the third central midfielder. Mcnair plays at CB with Smalling. Then depending on Shaws fitness either he or Young plays at Lb with Januzaj coming in ahead of Young. Alternatively we could put Di Maria in front of Young as a winger and drop Rooney back whilst playing one of Falcao/RVp up top.

If Shaw is fit I prefer the him at Lb with Di Maria in Midfield option. It's his best position and with no one expecting us to get anything it would be a good chance for Di Maria to turn it around.


But I dont think we'll go for any of these options because I see us reverting back to the more cautious 3 at the back. Not sure who the 3rd Cb will be as Blacket is barely championship standard but it might have to be him as Blind and Carrick are the utility options. Perhaps Rafael at right CB/Shaw Lcb?

Play a midfield of Rooney Herrera and Fellaini with Di Maria and one of Falcao and RVP up top.

I reckon it will be this

------------------------- De Gea
---------- Mcnair----Smalling------Blackett
Valencia--------------------------------------------Young
----------------- Herrera ------------ Rooney-----
------------------------------------- Fellaini
---------------- Dimaria-----------------
---------------------RVP/Falcao

Can't see us getting a win and even a point would be unlikely really. But Chelsea dont have Costa and Smalling should handle Drogba relatively well. I reckon we'll give away too many set peices and get done for 1 or 2 goals on them for a comfy 2-0 Chelsea win.

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Incredible bad luck. Fuck knows what we do in training as we make Arsenal's injury record look excellent. To lose Carrick/Jones,Rojo and Blind who all cover each others positions is just unbelievable.

Evans pathetic spitting now looks even more idiotic.

Options for Van Gaal are.

Keep the same formation dropping Fellaini back into Dm with DI Maria as the third central midfielder. Mcnair plays at CB with Smalling. Then depending on Shaws fitness either he or Young plays at Lb with Januzaj coming in ahead of Young. Alternatively we could put Di Maria in front of Young as a winger and drop Rooney back whilst playing one of Falcao/RVp up top.

If Shaw is fit I prefer the him at Lb with Di Maria in Midfield option. It's his best position and with no one expecting us to get anything it would be a good chance for Di Maria to turn it around.


But I dont think we'll go for any of these options because I see us reverting back to the more cautious 3 at the back. Not sure who the 3rd Cb will be as Blacket is barely championship standard but it might have to be him as Blind and Carrick are the utility options. Perhaps Rafael at right CB?

Play a midfield of Rooney Herrera and Fellaini with Di Maria and one of Falcao and RVP up top.

I reckon it will be this

------------------------- De Gea
Mcnair----Smalling------Blackett
Valencia--------------------------------------------Young
----------------- Herrera ------------ Rooney-----
------------------------------------- Fellaini
---------------- Dimaria-----------------
---------------------RVP/Falcao

Can't see us getting a win and even a point would be unlikely really. But Chelsea dont have Costa and Smalling should handle Drogba relatively well. I reckon we'll give away too many set peices and get done for 1 or 2 goals on them for a comfy 2-0 Chelsea win.

Mata?

 

[Mr. Scruff]

Oh yea forgot about him.

For the 5-3-2 take any of Falcao/RVp/Di Maria out for him I suppose. Rvp and Falcao are both shite, move Rooney back up top and have Mata in midfield. He played really deep the home Chelsea game and played well.

He is not short of running anymore.

Actually on second look I still think that's the team, hard look on Mata but Van Gaal trusts Rooney to play a disciplined deep role and I think we'd need DI Maria's pace alongside one of the geriatrics.

 

[Stevencc]

I'm thinking we'll go...

De Gea
Valencia Smalling McNair Shaw
Rooney Herrera
Fellaini
Mata Falcao Young
​

Maybe RVP for Falcao and possibly Young as lb with Di Maria coming in.

 

[smat]

United are playing really well and Chelsea have been just about getting the job done against LOWLY OPPOSITION, so I think United should get a point at lea-

Just saw the injuries! Forgeddaboudit.

 

[Whitechapel]

I said during the world cup a few people were talking about LvG's training methods being too harsh. Holland and what was it, 4 or 5 pulled/torn hammies in the World Cup?

 

[Stevencc]

The squad has been relatively injury-free lately though, until now that is. A couple of these injuries were picked up in the City game too.

 

[Mr. Scruff]

I said during the world cup a few people were talking about LvG's training methods being too harsh. Holland and what was it, 4 or 5 pulled/torn hammies in the World Cup?

Na this hasn't happened over night , its a running theme.

Under Moyes we were top or close to the top of the injury chart though it wasn't quite as bad as this year. Ferguson's last two years were just as bad as this year though. We just have too many injury prone players which I guess is down to a mixture of bad scouting, problem with medicals and plain bad luck.

 

[SALTIRE]

wan-wan

 

[Nilsson]

Losing Carrick and Blind at the same time is annoying. Hard to say what our midfield will look like now, but I'd hope we change as little as possible. Maybe play Herrera and Fellaini deeper and tighter and give Di Maria a free role in midfield.

 

[Jarv]

Apparently Rooney is going to DM i just hope its Falcao and not RVP up top. our recent good play has been helped in part by Rooneys movement up top. RVP's movement is poor to be polite and he's had 1 decent game for us in 18 months

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

Losing Carrick and Blind at the same time is annoying. Hard to say what our midfield will look like now, but I'd hope we change as little as possible. Maybe play Herrera and Fellaini deeper and tighter and give Di Maria a free role in midfield.

I would have done that but maybe given Mata the free role and play Di Maria on the right. Moving Rooney to play infront of the back four seems a bit of a stretch.

 

[Avatar]

Chelsea will play for the draw, and they will get it. 1-1

 

[Jarv]

It will be

De Gea
Shaw
Mcnair
Smalling
Valencia
Rooney
Herrera
Fellaini
Young
Falcao (maybe RVP, but i hope not)
Mata

 

[Posh Hammer]

Fancy United to get a draw. 2-2.

 

[Nath]

Christ we've had no luck with injuries. Hate Rooney in midfield. Not much point risking anyone with more important games ahead. Before the injuries I thought we'd have a chance to win, now I'd be delighted with a draw.

 

[Stevencc]

De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, McNair, Shaw, Mata, Rooney, Herrera, Young, Fellaini, Falcao

 

[Eamonn]

Thats what i wanted to see, not too much disruption, I actually was thinking Falcao would thrive in this system as he would actually be getting regular service from Mata and Herrera and with Rooney in the mix as well in midfield, I think there will be opportunities. I would take a draw now but we are more than capable of winning.

 

[JimJams]

So close De Gea was celebrating. Really should have been a goal from Rooney too, great pull back from Shaw.

 

[Stevencc]

I'm surprised to see Herrera in the deepest midfield position - I'd trust him in possession more than Rooney or Fellaini though and I don't think Chelsea are going to bother pressing that area too ferociously so it makes sense.

 

[Relentless]

Is Valencias shirt a completely different colour to everyone elses?

 

[JimJams]

Yes, he's playing in blue.

 

[Relentless]

No for serious his looks a lot more of a weird darker red

 

[Stevencc]

No for serious his looks a lot more of a weird darker red

It looks a slightly darker shade of red on my stream too actually. Maybe he sweats profusely or something.

 

[Master D]

That is typical Chelsea. Outplayed all match then go up the field and punish a mistake.

 

[Stevencc]

Falcao was fouled in the build up to that goal. He shouldn't have been dawdling on the ball in that position though.