Chelsea vs. Manchester United

[shaggy]

He was pretty shit for half of the game tbf, and started playing when all others were good too, hardly impressive. And Young is usually reliable in big games.

Reliably shite for sure. Very negative team selection with the tedium of Valencia and Young who've been awful when they've started together. Januzaj won't receive any support from there leaving him and Welbeck with it all to do. I guess we might bundle in a goal from a set piece and try and scrap a draw at best. Personally I'd rather us go for the win and try to play some good football.

 

[Leg-End]

Please. I haven't recovered from that photo of Terry in his pants yet.

Dig out the ****** Terry on a bus Steve.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

If Young is fit enough to start why couldn't Moyes have dropped Valencia?

 

[Amar__]

My only worry is too many players returning from injury - Jones, Young and Evans.

 

[SATA]

Is Fergie still picking the teams?

 

[Pexbo]

That's nice, but I watched what happened against Swansea. And I didn't realise Fergie made this decision, is he back in charge then?

I'm just pointing out what the great man said. Have faith in his ability, he's a great young player and given the chance, which he has been given today, he might just surprise you. He's capable of moments of brilliance which he has shown plenty of times this season. If he manages just one or two of them today it might be the difference between a win and a loss/draw.

 

[Freak]

I can't really see a team that would increase our chances much.

What would you play?

Fletch carrick jones in midfield, kagawa januzaj welbeck up front would be much better than what we have put out todat.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

“But that’s the trouble with potential,” he went on. “People don’t identify potential. They’re very poor at it. I’ve identified it all my life – the potential in young people. I know potential. I know how to develop and have faith in young people, who surprise you when given the opportunity and that’s what this club is all about. - Sir Alex Ferguson.

Good quote, but he didn't recognise the potential in Pogba, sorry I sound like a broken record.

 

[Varun]

Good team aside from Young in place of Kagawa. Should have been Januzaj out on the left and Kagawa central. Januzaj isnt as effective in the middle.

 

[Freak]

Is Fergie still picking the teams?

I get the feeling moyes is talking to him too much.

 

[Nick 0208 Ldn]

Is Fergie still picking the teams?

Nah Fergie would have started Zaha and Fletch.

 

[Devil may care]

Valencia, Jones, Young and Welbeck signals that Moyes is going for engines and lots of running over composure and guile, it might work.

 

[Kag]

Infact, I'm more annoyed about Fletcher's dropping to be honest. He's made for these games, and he's a lot better than Jones. I fully expect Young and Jones to be off the pitch come the 65th minute.

 

[Ash_G]

I can't really see a team that would increase our chances much.

What would you play?

I think Kagawa in a/m and Januzaj wide would make a big difference in the way we play. You lose some tracking ability yes but you gain a much greater ability to keep the ball and for me you get much more in attack.

As I said before with Januzaj central there's no one who will really make an inside run for him to work with. The only player who would really do that is Nani. Young continually checks on the left and Valencia isn't going to run on to his left. That was also the problem when Kagawa played there, they just don't give good movement. When Januzaj is wide though not only can he create in isloation but his natural movement opens up options for the a/m as we saw with Kagawa against Swansea in the second half.

We've lose passing ability in Fletcher and we've not lost a lot of our wide threat with Januzaj moving. I think Jones in is fair enough as Fletcher has looked a little slow, but I don't think we needed to bring in Young as well.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Willian's apparently been playing very well of late according to a Chelsea fan who posted last night. If it was Januzaj and Evra on the left he said he'd be very confident.

I'm not saying Willian isn't a threat but he's not going to be bombing down the wings, I can see why we'd approach our right hand side with that sort of thinking because Chelsea carry a threat from the left.

Ashley Young doesn't even do that much defensively, remember against Manchester City when we lost 4-1 and Jesus Navas ran about 50 yards unchallenged down the right flank, where was Ashley Young our defensive winger on that day?
Its a myth that he does well going back, a myth our manager now believes in, which is just fecking great.

 

[The White Pele]

Good selection. I would have preferred Fletcher in there aswell with Januzaj wide left but we'll see.

Januzaj vs Luiz could be an interesting battle.

 

[Orton]

I can't really see a team that would increase our chances much.

What would you play?

With what's available, Kagawa could come in but he's not the sort of player to impose himself on a fixture like this so I'm not surprised to see him left out. Fletcher maybe the only one. Don't think our chances would be any different

 

[Jacob]

A loss today and we're royally fecked.

 

[Hannibal]

Terrible team. Valencia on the right was bad enough but now we have to look forward to Young on the left as well.

I am not even a big kagawa fan but he should be starting after his best league game of the season. Instead we have Antonio fecking Valencia again.

Young was our most in-form winger until Lloris committed GBH against him. If he's fit, he's the logical choice. How Valencia continues to make the team though is baffling. His military-grade shitness should have condemned him permanently to the bench but we know he's the type of player Moyes loves playing.

This has a boring 0-0 written all over it.

 

[Pexbo]

Good quote, but he didn't recognise the potential in Pogba, sorry I sound like a broken record.

Or he recognized it and misjudged the best way to encourage it. He noted his attitude wasn't great in the reserves and felt that wasn't best rewarded as it would set the opposite precedent to what United had built over many, many years. Pogba, instead of working harder to make the first team said "fine" and fecked off.

 

[gasmanc]

A loss today and we're royally fecked.

No

 

[marjen]

With what's available, Kagawa could come in but he's not the sort of player to impose himself on a fixture like this so I'm not surprised to see him left out. Fletcher maybe the only one. Don't think our chances would be any different

This is the thing. I wouldn't trust Kagawa, based on what he's done for us, to do anything. And both him and Januzaj are poor at tracking back and switches off easily, when played on the wing.

 

[Shark]

Jones starting a game like this after just coming back from injury is a weird one for me. However, he was brilliant before the injury, so I'd hope that Moyes thinks he'll continue that on here.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Infact, I'm more annoyed about Fletcher's dropping to be honest. He's made for these games, and he's a lot better than Jones. I fully expect Young and Jones to be off the pitch come the 65th minute.

Remember we have a game on Wednesday, this sort of game might be one game too many for Fletch, the poor lad needs to be handled carefully after such a long time out.

 

[Jacob]

No

Why not? Catching Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle and Everton will be a tough ask while they keep on winning.

 

[Eugenius]

That's a fecking pathetic line up.

Dropping Fletcher for a central defender who hasn't even played a game in over a month? Janujaz back into the middle again after being ineffective there against the mighty Swansea. Young who even when he is in good form looks hopelessly out of his depth in these games.

I've lost patience with Moyes now. Every single fecking week it's like he's just walked through the door having never so much as watched a United game in his life.

Back to square 1 yet again after Chelsea comfortably walk all over us then...

You're going to want someone who can actually run in midfield with Luiz, Ramires and Oscar in there who are far more mobile than Carrick/Fletcher. I agree about Janu being a bit shit against Swansea in the hole but I can understand why Moyes wants a bit of cover for Evra on the left.

I've not been a fan of Moyes' team selections (Valencia, Smalling at RB, Nani, Fabio, Zaha etc) but this isn't really the game to criticise him

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Jones starting a game like this after just coming back from injury is a weird one for me. However, he was brilliant before the injury, so I'd hope that Moyes thinks he'll continue that on here.

Maybe Moyes wants to get to a cup final, a one off game against City away from the Etihad can be won.

 

[Shane88]

This is cringey as feck.

 

[Mickeza]

I'm just pointing out what the great man said. Have faith in his ability, he's a great young player and given the chance, which he has been given today, he might just surprise you. He's capable of moments of brilliance which he has shown plenty of times this season. If he manages just one or two of them today it might be the difference between a win and a loss/draw.

I hope he does, I just think he's capable of brilliance from wide areas too and our midfield is so reliant on the number 10 helping them out, it's a huge risk playing him there, he was way too far forward against Swansea in that first half, it's a very tough position to play in our system, especially away to Chelsea. Anyway, i'm coming across all negative so I'll stop.

 

[kps88]

I really think this game would have been too much for Fletcher. You need legs to catch the likes of Oscar and Hazard. Looks to me like our best possible lineup.

 

[Kag]

Remember we have a game on Wednesday, this sort of game might be one game too many for Fletch, the poor lad needs to be handled carefully after such a long time out.

He'll only get fitter with games. He isn't coming back from an injury so-to-speak, but an illness from which he feels he has recovered. I'd sooner see him play today than Wednesday. He'll not freeze out there like others may.

 

[Mockney]

Oh look, Chelsea are playing a modern football formation.

 

[QuackQuack]

Have you seen who's playing on the other flank? I'm a bit surprised by Janu down the middle, I can only think that Moyes wants him in the side but doesn't trust him defensively down the wings.

No I meant from coming back from an injury, will be match fit.

 

[Escobar]

Good team aside from Young in place of Kagawa. Should have been Januzaj out on the left and Kagawa central. Januzaj isnt as effective in the middle.

Agreed. Not sure Januzaj can produce his best football in that position yet but let's see. With the strong wingers Chelsea have I can see why he plays Young and Valencia but I'd prefer to give them something to worry about first

 

[Sixpence]

fecking Shreeves. "So Jose, tell me exactly how your team will play". Sky are obsessed with TV graphics.

 

[shaggy]

This is the thing. I wouldn't trust Kagawa, based on what he's done for us, to do anything. And both him and Januzaj are poor at tracking back and switches off easily, when played on the wing.

Willian and Azpicawhatever are hardly Messi and Alves. Evra and Januzaj could hurt Chelsea just as much, if not more than than they could us.

 

[KM]

Ashley Young starting. feck off.

 

[Orton]

I really think this game would have been too much for Fletcher. You need legs to catch the likes of Oscar and Hazard.

Yup, Jones is the obvious choice if fit until we have capable midfielders. Fletcher is better in a game where we will see more of the ball. Today is not that day.

 

[Randall Flagg]

Jose is onto our master plan of passing the ball to Adnan

 

[Drifter]

Good that he's playing Kagawa behind Welbeck at least.