Manchester United vs. Chelsea

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2-0 against a truly awful Hull side (with Lampard's free-kick basically allowed to go in by McGregor) was hardly scary to watch. Our fixture was massively harder and we won by a larger margin.

But true, Mourinho... 8-0 to Chelsea.
 
Hellboy said:
Terry & Cahill are so average. We'll win 3-1 and RVP will run riot.
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Yet we had the third best defensive record last season, so we must have at least one decent defender, yet according to on here Cahill and Terry are useless, Luiz terrible and Cole past it.
 
How the feck has Atkinson been appointed for this with his history of the fixture? Staggering incompetence.
 
Hellboy said:
Never said Cole and Luiz were terrible. Cahill & Terry are average and it will show at OT.
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I have been thinking this all summer. Chelsea need better CBs. Im surprised Jose hasnt been looking for one. That said Jose has a good record of getting the most out of defenders.
 
ItsEssexRob said:
New manager, coming up against Jose, never going to be easy. I know you act bullish, but I doubt you would be that upset with a draw.
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Nah since its a home game I would be upset with a draw. Moyes is not 35 and just starting his coaching career. He knows how to play Chelsea and he is coaching better players now. We have to win.
 
thegregster said:
I have been thinking this all summer. Chelsea need better CBs. Im surprised Jose hasnt been looking for one. That said Jose has a good record of getting the most out of defenders.
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This. Jose can turn average players into good ones. For the record I rate Cahill as a good defender, as hes not excellent, nor is he poor, Im just not convinced hes the future. No idea what happened to the link we had with Mangala.
 
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Chelsea's record when given Atkinson is given Chelsea's matches.
 
6 pens for 2 pens against. All penalties have been awarded to the home team.

The two pens against were in 2006+07.

Hopefully he's a homer and not just a complete chelsea ref.
 
Irwinwastheking said:
6 pens for 2 pens against. All penalties have been awarded to the home team.

The two pens against were in 2006+07.

Hopefully he's a homer and not just a complete chelsea ref.
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Do we reckon that Fergie would bring up his record in this fixture? I certainly do, hoping to put a bit of pressure on him and put it in the back of his mind.

I doubt Moyes will - is that a good or bad thing though?
 
Alock1 said:
Do we reckon that Fergie would bring up his record in this fixture? I certainly do, hoping to put a bit of pressure on him and put it in the back of his mind.

I doubt Moyes will - is that a good or bad thing though?
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tbf to Moyes he did have a strong statement about the fixtures and he's never been afraid to rattle the fa or refs.
 
Irwinwastheking said:
tbf to Moyes he did have a strong statement about the fixtures and he's never been afraid to rattle the fa or refs.
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I guess the difference is the Mourinho factor, would he want to start a war of words with him.

I don't think he is at all intimidated by Mourinho, but I can imagine him not wanting to start something like that so soon.
 
Dunno man. As Fergie said it's all a load of media spun bollocks anyway these mind games. If he thinks it's worth saying something to influence the ref then he'll do it and I don't really think Mourinho will come into his thinking at all.
 
Assuming, of course, that no signings are made until the match & no one makes an early injury recovery (eg. Nani, Kagawa, Chicharito & Rafael) , I predict Moyes will go for:

-------------De Gea-------------
Jones----Rio---------Vidic---Evra
-----------Carrick---------------
----------------Cleverley--------
Valencia-----------------Welbeck
--------------Rooney------------
---------------RVP--------------


Which is, essentially, a 442. Carrick will be more withdrawn than Cleverley, & I predict Rooney will be doing a lot of work in midfield (due to Mata). However, I wouldn't be surprised if Moyes opted for 3 in midfield (Carrick, Cleverley and Giggs) and RVP up top on his own, supported by any 2 of Valencia, Welbeck and Rooney. You never know, though - after Swansea, it's hard to say that Welbeck doesn't deserve another game up front, so there is every chance he plays in a 442 up top with Van Persie.

It's strange. I mentioned 4 players who are injured for this (opening line) who would normally make the difference vs Chelsea, especially Chicharito, Rafael & Nani, yet we are still going into this extremely strong. I think we're covered in every position bar the RB for this, where I am not entirely comfortable with the idea of Jones having to go up against Hazard, Mata, or whoever else who decides to roam his way. All that said, I think we're going to win this. 2-1 is my prediction. :D
 
I'm sticking to my 3-1 prediction. I love how confident Chelsea fans are, they really have been listening to the media all summer, haven't they? :lol:
 
alastair said:
Atkinson's ref? :lol: The PL must know what they're doing. I'll go with a 0-1, at least one penalty awarded to Chelsea.
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It truly is mind-boggling. I don't necessarily think that Atkinson is a massive Chelsea fan, but surely even whoever appoints the refs are competent enough to look at the past and say "this lad had two very questionable performances in this tie previously, maybe we should pick another". If Atkinson has another pro-Chelsea game some serious questions need to be asked of the whole process. At the very least I want Clattenburg in the reverse tie.
 
Could Rafael be back for this?

I genuinely think we'll win. Robin just looks like he'll score at will at the moment, Torres will probably start again and offer very little for Chelsea.
 
Van Persie to run riot. Our midfield however will put a lot of pressure on our defense.

A high scoring draw. 2-2 or 3-3.

Dave
Jones Vidic Rio Evra
Fellaini
Carrick Cleverley
Valencia RVP Welbz
 
RedRossi said:
Play Kagawa behind RVP...His movement would be a nightmare for Cahill and Terry
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This. Terry and Lampard are waiting to be got at. Welbeck on the left, Kagawa through the middle and Valencia battling it out with Cole. And if Fellaini signs, start him.
 
walsh said:
Could Rafael be back for this?

I genuinely think we'll win. Robin just looks like he'll score at will at the moment, Torres will probably start again and offer very little for Chelsea.
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I don't think anything has been confirmed, but it's been reported he'll be out for a month with his hamstring injured. Physioroom suggests September 14th as a return date.
 
I quite liked how Giggs and Welbeck interchanged against Swansea. Their average position was exactly the same for the match, which I think shows the balance in their movement. Rooney is certainly capable of doing the same thing with Welbeck.

And if we put Nani in there instead of Valencia, then all three could interchange across the line of 3 behind the striker.
 
ItsEssexRob said:
This. Jose can turn average players into good ones. For the record I rate Cahill as a good defender, as hes not excellent, nor is he poor, Im just not convinced hes the future. No idea what happened to the link we had with Mangala.
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He's average at best (Personally, I'd go with 'naff'). I'm amazed Mourinho hasn't brought in new/better CB's... Cahill/Terry is nowhere near the standard that Terry/Carvalho was during his first tenure. It's not even close.
 
gooDevil said:
And if we put Nani in there instead of Valencia, then all three could interchange across the line of 3 behind the striker.
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I quite liked the look of Valencia against Swansea. His offensive contribution still wasn't quite where it is when he's on top form, but he looked like the defensive beast of old again. The more people we can include who are good at winning the ball back high up the pitch (before it gets to Mata etc) the better.

I wouldn't complain if we started Nani, though. But there's no real proof that he's back to form either.
 
Will Moyes even be able to make it to the match? He's probably shaking right now at the mere mention of the name 'Mourinho'. Seeing the legend himself in the flesh could be one step too far for him. 0-15 with Torres scoring 11 goals, inspired by Mourinho's motivational talk.
 
alastair said:
Atkinson's ref? :lol: The PL must know what they're doing. I'll go with a 0-1, at least one penalty awarded to Chelsea.
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I am more affraid of those decisions he won't give us, I am guessing Terry will play handball in his own box at least 2 or 3 times.
 
Amar__ said:
I am more affraid of those decisions he won't give us, I am guessing Terry will play handball in his own box at least 2 or 3 times.
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Knowing Terry, it's more likely to be elbows and knees at dawn. Watch your noses and nackers, lads.
 
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