Manchester United 1:1 Chelsea

jeff_goldblum · Oct 22, 2014

I'm actually quite excited for this game. What with Herrera and Rooney out and the poor form of Mata I'm not sure if we have a chance of going toe-to-toe with Chelsea so we need to be solid and have enough presence up-front to challenge Chelsea's defence.

------------------De Gea---------------
Rafael-------Jones---Rojo--------Shaw
------------Carrick---Blind--------------
Valencia-------Fellaini---------Di Maria
-----------------Falcao------------------

or

------------------De Gea---------------
Rafael-------Jones---Rojo--------Shaw
------------------Blind------------------
-----------Carrick----Di Maria---------
------------------Mata-------------------
-----------Falcao----Fellaini------------

In the former we'd play like we did against West Brom in the final stages when we looked most threatening. The difference being that and Carrick slots in alongside Blind to share the defensive burden and Fellaini is free to generally make a nuisance of himself, as well as to provide a decent target for Di Maria's deliveries into the box. Him and Falcao are easily our two best players in that respect.

In the latter we have Di Maria back in the centre where he's far more influential and capable of creating something from nothing. Mata's struggled in recent games where he's been unable to find space, but hopefully the physicality of Fellaini and Falcao up-top would force Matic to drop back to help out the centrebacks, leaving Mata with some space between the lines.

Either way we're going to need very good performances from Blind and Carrick, as well as our defence. It's also key that Falcao and Fellaini use their physical attributes to rattle the Chelsea defence. They're both entirely capable of doing so on their day.

edit - just realised that the first formation is very similar to @OJKernow 's one from above

soapythecat · Oct 22, 2014

An early goal will kill us. Confidence in the defence is low enough so I expect Chelsea to come at us from the whistle. I very much doubt Mourinho will be as cautious as he was when Moyes was in charge (very early in the season though it was).
I've gone for 1-3 on the day as I think Chelsea will be too good for us at the moment. Iit's no a doom and gloom statement, just don't think there is much confidence to pull this off.....but then again!

RedChip · Oct 22, 2014

The pessimism on here is ridiculous. The only teams Chelsea have beaten by at least a four-goal margin so far are Wycombe and Maribor. Yet quite a few on here are predicting a similar scoreline against us Sunday. At OT. Either we are one of the shittiest teams Chelsea will have played so far or redcafe is full of a bunch of pessimists. Since logic says we are not shiteier than say, Burnley, I will try the optimistic:

2-1 United!

Common Caftards! Enough with the fear!

buckooo1978 · Oct 22, 2014

Everything says Chelsea will do us here

I have a feeling that this could well turn out like the game in 2004 or 2005 though where Fletcher scored a header in a 1-0 win....

getting a clean sheet against Chelsea seems unlikely but my gut tells me it might happen

#07 · Oct 22, 2014

buckooo1978 said:
Everything says Chelsea will do us here

I have a feeling that this could well turn out like the game in 2004 or 2005 though where Fletcher scored a header in a 1-0 win....

getting a clean sheet against Chelsea seems unlikely but my gut tells me it might happen

It was late 2005 and it kick started our season. Nobody thought we'd finish as high up the league as we did that year. I remember the hopelessness going into the game. Fletch with the looping header...Ha. Think the same thing will happen at the weekend. The clear issue with the team, above all else, is confidence. They need to beat a really good team, to believe they are a really good team. When that happens the ball will truly start rolling.

Six points from the next two games. Just watch and see.

Mato87 · Oct 22, 2014

Come on you pesimistic wankers, we are playing at OT and we are UNITED, we are going to WIN !

Browniee · Oct 22, 2014

Mato87 said:
Come on you pesimistic wankers, we are playing at OT and we are UNITED, we are going to WIN !

Playing at OT doesn't mean jack at the moment

RDCR07 · Oct 22, 2014

RedChip said:
The pessimism on here is ridiculous. The only teams Chelsea have beaten by at least a four-goal margin so far are Wycombe and Maribor. Yet quite a few on here are predicting a similar scoreline against us Sunday. At OT. Either we are one of the shittiest teams Chelsea will have played so far or redcafe is full of a bunch of pessimists. Since logic says we are not shiteier than say, Burnley, I will try the optimistic:

2-1 United!

Common Caftards! Enough with the fear!

What makes you think we are going to contain one of the most prolific attacks this season to just one goal?

RedChip · Oct 22, 2014

RDCR07 said:
What makes you think we are going to contain one of the most prolific attacks this season to just one goal?

Did you miss the bit where I said 'optimistic'? But I also think they will approach this game conservatively: their defence really is not all that. They will be wary of our attack, so I expect a low score outcome.

bosnian_red · Oct 22, 2014

RDCR07 said:
What makes you think we are going to contain one of the most prolific attacks this season to just one goal?

Because we're at home and generally our team has plenty of big game players,but also world class players? Falcao, di maria, Herrera, rojo are all new players but they always stepped it up against the big teams. People talk about us like we've just been shit like last season, but that I'd far from the truth. We've been better overall with every game, and we might not win but no chance will we get hammered at our own pitch. If di maria is on form, then we always have a chance to win. Falcao has also looked better each appearance, maybe a game against Chelsea is exactly what our team needs to stay focused defensively and really kick start our season.

Shimo · Oct 22, 2014

I think we've got to play a 4-3-3 for this and no Mata or RVP. We need energy out there and real desire. I believe we can win this if we get at them but, can't have any passengers and can't let them play through the middle.

Speak · Oct 22, 2014

Shimo said:
I think we've got to play a 4-3-3 for this and no Mata or RVP. We need energy out there and real desire. I believe we can win this if we get at them but, can't have any passengers and can't let them play through the middle.

I'll be a lot more confident if this is the case.

Mark_GrumpyLion · Oct 22, 2014

----------------De Gea----------------
Rafael-------Jones----Rojo--------Shaw
-------------Carrick---Blind------------
---Hererra------Mata-------Di Maria---
----------------Falcao---------------

Subs: Lindegaard, McNair, Valencia, Fletcher, Januzaj, Fellaini, Van Persie.

I'd like to see this setup. Same back four as before to start getting some consistency going. Jones and Rojo can take the BPL style and Rafael/Shaw can bring some quickness in the counter if there are options.

Carrrick & Blind before them can help with defence if needed and both provide some sharp angles and quick thinking to start attacks and reach our forwards. If Carrick is not able to play a full game, sub for Flectcher or Fellaini.

Was thinking of putting Fellaini in #10 but I do think he's not up for that challenge, and maybe he never will be. Using Hererra and Di Maria on the wings give us some options to get into the fray and reach Falcao or even reach goal themselves if they can. Mata as #10 as the playmaker. Swap Hererra for Januzaj if need be. Fellaini as a wrecking bar to add threats from the air if we need them. Another option would be to swap Mata for RvP if we need more firepower and cross fingers for a good day.

I'll take Falcao over RvP any day. So there's that.

At any rate, Sunday's gonna be another exciting game to watch.

BARBY BOY · Oct 22, 2014

bring them on

Duafc · Oct 22, 2014

Clean sheet this weekend would be DDGs 50th

#inthebag

Rudi j · Oct 22, 2014

Honestly I think its time now for van gal to deliver the results, enough of this "philosophy" we get it already,i love the guy but he isn't the first manager to have a "philosophy" and deffo wont be the last.The fact of the matter is we have spent 160 million pounds on players and have had the easiest start to a possible premier league campaign possible ,you are deluded if you think otherwise, we are already 10 points of the top and its only the 8th week and if we lose these two upcoming big games we could be 16 of the top and another 5-7 points of our champions league spot rivals Arsenal and Liverpool after 10 weeks.

At the end of the day are we playing better football then last year ?Absolutely but if you look at the investments and players we have bought a redcafe member could manage that team and make it play attractive football but fact of the matter is it hasnt been effective because we are not racking in the points.

These points are all going to add up at the end of the season and we need them badly right now.

If these players are available this is what I would go for.

------------DDG
rafa----jones--rojo----shaw
-----------blind-----------
<<--herrera-------adm--->>
-----------fellani--but playing much deeper than a normal #10
------radamel---rvp< seems undropable atm

Id put fellani in there because he is the only player in our team strong enough to be able to hassle matic which will be a key to this game in my opinion, he also would be able to bring down allot of long or lose balls for us because I have a feeling it could be a very defensive morinho game in which we will be seeing allot of long balls and crosses from our side due to their compact defensive game.

Hoof the ball · Oct 22, 2014

Ah, remember when Sky Sports Super Sunday's were like this?

ManUArfa · Oct 22, 2014

Wouldn't mind seeing this:

======DDG======
Rafael Jones Roco Shaw
===Carrick=Blind====
=Mata Fellaini Di Maria
======Falcao=====

Mata can play in any of the three attacking midfield positions in a 4-2-3-1 system. It gives us much protection having the two holding midfielders and the pair of them are both game controllers who can initiate attacks through the full backs or via Mata and Di Maria's clever interplay.

Marty_ · Oct 22, 2014

Really worried about this game. Chelsea have been scoring goals for fun and ripping teams apart. They will come to Old Trafford on Sunday and they won't be worried about us imo. They will have enough attacking power to get past our very poor defence

Jironasaurus · Oct 22, 2014

Man Utd to win!

anidea · Oct 22, 2014

Think committing on watching it with a bunch of chelsea fans wasn't a great idea ! I have a feeling though that we will scrap a win or a draw with my chelsea supporter friends complaining.

United have looked more solid in midfield/ defense with every match and it hasn't been a case of one step forward two step backward like last season. Though a high margin loss in this will be devastating for our confidence. And, be sure that Costa will play the full match. We know Mourinho good enough to predict that.

I would feel good with this line-up:

----------------DDG-------------

Rafael --- Jones -- Rojo --- Shaw

--------Herrera --- Blind---------

Valencia------Fellaini------Di Maria----

---------------Falcao---------------

Looks like a balance of strength, passing, defensive solidity and goals in it. Fellaini did wonderfully well in the last match to walk it to this. I am worried LvG might not be wanting to drop van Persie though. And, Herrera and Fellaini both won't play this together which would be a mistake.

kdmaka · Oct 22, 2014

I hope Mata ups his game here, he really has to show he is our best 10. Unleash the Falcoa! I expect Ivanović to get his customary goal,2-1 United!

Smores · Oct 22, 2014

In the past even with Moyes I was confident we could employ the option of keeping things tight and hope for a break.

Right now I don't think we could even park the bus successfully That's an awful feeling

Florida Man · Oct 22, 2014

We'll smash them. And I base this off of absolutely nothing.

Shark · Oct 23, 2014

I'd take literally any type of win. Don't care if we play the worst football imaginable either while doing it. We simply can't afford another draw or a loss.

PvsNP · Oct 23, 2014

I can certainly see us a grabbing a win or at least a draw, now that Diego Costa seems to miss out on the game and Remy is doubtful. Azpilicueta is suspended as well, so getting a result is definitely a possibility. To get at least a point out of this fixture, we need Herrera to perform and Valencia in the starting lineup to try and contain Hazard. RvP should start on the bench, as he simply doesn't offer enough atm, especially as a lone striker which we will most certainly play on Sunday.

I hope we lineup like this:

DDG
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Valencia - Herrera - Blind - Di Maria
Fellaini
Falcao

BahamaRed · Oct 23, 2014

Falcao. 90minutes. That's all.

BahamaRed · Oct 23, 2014

SaintTresano said:
We'll smash them. And I base this off of absolutely nothing.

You forget "football. bloody hell"

Raoul · Oct 23, 2014

DesiBD said:
I can certainly see us a grabbing a win or at least a draw, now that Diego Costa seems to miss out on the game and Remy is doubtful. Azpilicueta is suspended as well, so getting a result is definitely a possibility. To get at least a point out of this fixture, we need Herrera to perform and Valencia in the starting lineup to try and contain Hazard. RvP should start on the bench, as he simply doesn't offer enough atm, especially as a lone striker which we will most certainly play on Sunday.

I hope we lineup like this:

DDG
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Valencia - Herrera - Blind - Di Maria
Fellaini
Falcao

This could actually work, although its unclear whether Di Maria will be 100% fit.

khoazany · Oct 23, 2014

Fellani and Valencia against Chelsea?Well sorry I don't even need to say the result.One good game and suddenly they're the new god.Fair shout if one of them starts but not both.

JKIA · Oct 23, 2014

This is one game we have to win if we are to show intent on winning the title back as well as stopping Chelsea from running away with it to early on into the season.

Most on here are negative but I am remaining positive thinking we have the advantage of the 12th man.

Falcao get's a hatrick and we come back from a 2 goal deficit to beat them 3-2.

PvsNP · Oct 23, 2014

Raoul said:
This could actually work, although its unclear whether Di Maria will be 100% fit.

A lot of our offensive display will depend on him. If he isn't fit, I can't see us winning this one. A draw would be optimal in that case.

khoazany said:
Fellani and Valencia against Chelsea?Well sorry I don't even need to say the result.One good game and suddenly they're the new god.Fair shout if one of them starts but not both.

Rooney is clearly the first choice, but he is suspended. Mata is lacking form, also I can see him being closed down easily by Chelsea. I'd rather play Fellaini for more physical presence in the box. His confidence must be high as well, so we should take advantage of that. As for Valencia, we need his defensive abilities to help Rafael with containing Hazard and we don't really have any other options. Januzaj was poor against WBA, Young is Young, Lingard is injured, etc. We could play Herrera on the wing instead and play Carrick in the middle, but I can't see us doing it for two reasons:

1) Carrick hasn't played yet this season and isn't match fit.
2) We'll miss Herrera's invaluable influence down the middle.

If Januzaj was in form, he should start, but he clearly isn't.

anidea · Oct 23, 2014

United should attack, considering that's what we are good at. We cannot defend atm, and trying to be solid at back against west brom cost us 2 points. we should have played with two strikers and diamond against west brom and scored a couple in the first 60 minutes, and let them come at us rather than the other way round.

khoazany · Oct 23, 2014

DesiBD said:
A lot of our offensive display will depend on him. If he isn't fit, I can't see us winning this one. A draw would be optimal in that case.

Rooney is clearly the first choice, but he is suspended. Mata is lacking form, also I can see him being closed down easily by Chelsea. I'd rather play Fellaini for more physical presence in the box. His confidence must be high as well, so we should take advantage of that. As for Valencia, we need his defensive abilities to help Rafael with containing Hazard and we don't really have any other options. Januzaj was poor against WBA, Young is Young, Lingard is injured, etc.

People have short memories about how poor Valencia has been on the wing.Januzaj was poor for one game whereby Valencia has been poor on 90+% of the match he played on the wing over the last two seasons.I don't buy that defensive abilities thing,our attacking firepower would be reduced by half with Valencia there.One okayish match on RCM position really clouded people's judgement.Would rather play Young.I'd still give Januzaj a go there personally.

Can't argue against Fellani to start given the form thing but I can't help but feel that he will turn back to his true self if we give him a start instead of use him as a sub.

The Purist · Oct 23, 2014

Chelsea will win the league but they are a tad overrated. I think United should go for something different.. give Fellaini a go in behind the strikers and play Jones in midfield with Smalling at centre back.

I wouldn't mind seeing yous win to put to bed the talk of Chelsea replicating our Invincible season...

My prediction is that Van Gaal will play the same team than against WBA except Januzaj out for Falcao and Chelsea will win by a 2 goal margin.

I don't think RVP should be dropped. He's look uninspired so far this season there's no doubt about that.. but if he shows up to any game, it'll be this one.

Chaky_Best · Oct 23, 2014

Two possible line up for this game, two possible minset. Whether LVG looks in Mourinho's eyes directly and try to put his best XI, so that's mean the diamond with all our fit big guns

------------------------------De Gea----------------------------------
Rafael----------------Jones-------Smalling/Rojo----------Shaw/Rojo
-------------------------------Blind-------------------------------------
--------------Herrera/Fletch-----------Di Maria-----------------------
-------------------------------Mata-------------------------------------
-----------------------Falcao--------Van Persie-----------------------

Or, second solution, as we know how Chelsea will line up and play, LVG decide to change his formation in order to be stronger at the back and rules out his stronger asset, his midfield, by starting specific players for a specific job, I mean a man on Fabregas (like Jones did so many times in midfield) and Fellaini on Matic, and I think that Fellaini ( I don't like him but he can do this kind of job) can play higher and be on inidivual on Matic, the main man for them. Drogba won't be the best for this game and is no more the threat he was once, he runs less so it can be "easier" for our central defence. As Ivanovic and Luiz going forward, having Adnan and Angel's pace can be a good way to counter them.

With this formation we won't have the ball, but I'm sure we will be stronger and more balanced

------------------------------De Gea----------------------------------
Rafael------Jones/Smalling-------Smalling/Rojo----------Shaw/Rojo
-------------------------------Blind-------------------------------------
----------------Jones/Fletch----------Fellaini--------------------------
Januzaj-------------------RVP/Falcao--------------------------Di Maria

--------------------------------Drogba---------------------------------
Hazard------------------------Oscar-------------------Willian/Shurrle
-----------------------Fabregas-----Matic-----------------------------
Luiz----------------------Cahill------Terry---------------------Ivanovic
--------------------------------Courtois---------------------------------

Xoe · Oct 23, 2014

Surprised so many people are dropping Jones for Smalling..... It's our first chance all season for the same back 4.... Has to be the same.
Dave
Rafa, Rojo, Jones, Shaw
Blind
Herrera, Mata, Di Maria
RVP, Falcao

sglowrider · Oct 23, 2014

This match reminds me of the match against arsenal's invincible team. Didnt we break their streak at OT too?

Razzler777 · Oct 23, 2014

LVG's biggest challenge yet, a Chelsea side full of momentum.

But the fact it's at Old Trafford, Costa a doubt and a midweek game gives us some hope.

Lineup:

DDG

Rafael
Jones
Rojo
Shaw

Blind
Carrick
ADM
Mata

RVP
Falcao

It would be great to get some continuity with this back 5.

The formation is bold against a team of Chelsea's calibre, but we should play to our strengths.

Honestly would expect Chelsea to win, would take a draw and be ecstatic with the win at this stage in our transition.

It's not all gloom, even during the Leicester and West Brom games, there's be signs of change even though the results haven't been ideal.

Razzler777 · Oct 23, 2014

Also the injury situation is looking much improved!

Manchester United 5
A Di Maria Groin/Pelvis Injury 26th Oct 14
A Valencia Hamstring Injury 26th Oct 14
P McNair Hamstring Injury 26th Oct 14
J Evans Ankle/Foot Injury 26th Oct 14
J Lingard Knee Injury no return date

FA Premier League

Manchester United 1:1 Chelsea

Old Trafford

Closed

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

Full Member

makes new threads with tweets in the OP

New Member

New Member

Not a bad guy (Whale Killer)

Full Member

Worst scout to ever exist

Full Member

Step up to my misogyny soapbox

Full Member

New Member

Village Lemon

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

Full Member

Cartoon expert and crap superhero

@NotShark

Full Member

Legend

Legend

Admin

Full Member

New Member

Full Member

New Member

Full Member

New Member

Supports 'a joke of a club'.

New Member

Thinks the caf is 'wokeish'.

New Member

New Member

Man of the Match

Runners-up

Player Ratings

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Score Predictions

Detailed Results

Match Stats

Referee

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes