737 replies to this topic

[wxwax]

blueboy94, on 01 February 2012 - 03:37 PM, said:

Romeu Essien
Studge Mata Malouda

Fernando

That's five slow players out of six in the mid and up front. Not sure that would work. But that's just me guessing about tactics, which is about the same as me guessing about how to solve Greece's financial crisis.

[ace]

We'll give up a first half goal and score 2 in the second, including a penalty. 2-1 to us.

[evissy]

Bolton-Arsenal 0-0. We are offered the 4th place on a silver platter so we should make use of it. We have slipped to the level of Arsenal and L*verpool. How sad is that...

3 points from Utd and we have something to cheer for.

[Spiller86]

ace, on 01 February 2012 - 09:18 PM, said:

We'll give up a first half goal and score 2 in the second, including a penalty. 2-1 to us.

Just like the result at home last year eh ace?

Very much hoping for some good news regarding the fitness of Frank and JT for this one. We'll need character to get a win the way we are playing.

The big question is whether AVB has the balls to play Bertrand. If we play someone out of position rather than promote the man who should be the next leftback at this club, I will be most disappointed.

I see why there is a push from some to play Bosingwa or perhaps Paulo (I'd prefer Paulo), but for me this is the perfect opportunity to get him into a big match and see where he goes. Everyone will expect us to lose anyway, and I think there would be some real positive energy from the crowd if Bertrand played.

This is where we have to see if we are really serious about rebuilding.

Edited by Spiller86, 01 February 2012 - 10:59 PM.

[Kalou Time]

Well AVB created this problem himself by never giving Bertrand a look in this season. Now we need a left back and we'd have to throw him into the fire. If he had of started a few games in the league perhaps this decision would be easier to make now.

I said in another thread, AVB is making all the same mistakes Carlo made last year. This stinks of the Sunderland match all over again (wellbeck even makes a return).

Valencia is the most direct winger in the premier league, he will run at speed and cross. Bosingwa will stand idle and watch him do it (like he did with Giggs in the CL tie last year). Mata isnt exactly going to offer a lot of protection.

This mess is of our own doing. I hope im wrong but i see Bossman starting and i see it backfiring

[Zola]

Sadly, this is the first time this season that I think we will get absolutely nothing from our next game.

Up to now I have thought 'ah we'll turn the corner', or we will have enough class and professionalism to grind something out of it. Sadly that spirit has left us and there's been little (if not zero) development really this season and its quite depressing. When big Fool Scolari has been doing better than AVB you know something is very, very wrong.

I looked at our premier league fixtures for the next few months and we are gonna struggle to stay in the top 4, we really are.

I have lost any hope I have had in AVB by a plethora of his actions from the past few months, which to me have highlighted just how inexperienced he is for this job.

I don't look forward to sunday.


:(

Edited by Zola, 01 February 2012 - 11:00 PM.

[ozboy]

Will Cahill get a start? --- Probably not for this one and he is an England defender and playing regularly in the PL as recently as last month therefore
Will Bertrand get a start? -- You work it out
Therefore Bossy or outside chance Paulo will get left back.

------------

Midfield: Romeu, Essien, Malouda, Mereiles are available. Frank probably not, Mikel not. So one of them will miss out. For me it should be Malouda but that will mean playing an untried combo. In short its going to be a problem.

Up front: Hope springs eternal that this will be Torres game. We all recall the highs and lows for FT last outing against the Manchurians.

In all honesty we are a bit of a shambles at the moment compared to our usual high standards. Manu not at their best and its at our shop so hopefully we can rise to the occasion.

[wxwax]

ozboy, on 01 February 2012 - 10:55 PM, said:

Midfield: Romeu, Essien, Malouda, Mereiles are available.

Not an inspiring selection, is it?

I doubt Essien can go 90, but maybe he'll surprise us.

[evissy]

I hope AVB isn't thinking about playing Malouda in the midfield like Swansea 1st half. That didn't work at all.

[ace]

Spiller86, on 01 February 2012 - 10:51 PM, said:

Just like the result at home last year eh ace?

Don't forget about a results a month or two ago at the Bridge from another highly-rated Manchester squad. It's in the cards, I tell ya!


By the way, has it been mentioned yet that Ben Amos is in between the sticks for them? We're going to get a crazy goal or two, especially with guys like Lampard, Essien, and Bosingwa taking pops from distance.

Edited by ace, 02 February 2012 - 05:22 AM.

[General]

Hope Lampard and Terry get back in the team for starters if they are fit, Essien got to play the 90, can see Bertrand getting lucky to make the bench in all honesty, Ivan at RB and Bossy at LB (or Ferrera), Cahill probably a sub again unless JT doesn't make it.

on either flank they are gonna cause a problem - Nani & Valencia , lets face it all over the park they are gonna be a problem especially upfront - Giggs, Welbeck or Hernandez, Rooney

so far this Chelsea team has defied the critics and us by showing up for a few of the big games (except at OT and gooners at the Bridge) so that's what Im counting on, another draw would be ok under the current circumstances, but I'm daring to hope for all 3 points as its been one of those seasons with madly disappointing results for every team not just Chelsea

its super ball Sunday over here so this game is being billed as the greatest live premier league match in US television history

Edited by General, 02 February 2012 - 05:26 AM.

[footballoholic]

ace, on 02 February 2012 - 05:19 AM, said:

By the way, has it been mentioned yet that Ben Amos is in between the sticks for them? We're going to get a crazy goal or two, especially with guys like Lampard, Essien, and Bosingwa taking pops from distance.

I believe De Gea will be back for this one, so you could be right.

[ace]

footballoholic, on 02 February 2012 - 05:39 AM, said:

I believe De Gea will be back for this one, so you could be right.

This is the start of a Guardian article regarding the GK situation for ManU, wonder how the rest of the week will pan out:


The goalkeeper Ben Amos is determined to impress at Stamford Bridge if required by Manchester United on Sunday.
After Sir Alex Ferguson endured a "nightmare" Monday, when both Anders Lindegaard and David de Gea were ruled out, Amos was given his chance in Tuesday's Premier League win over Stoke.
Now attention has turned to the weekend when, after joining Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, United must try and stay there by beating Chelsea on their own ground in a top-flight game for the first time since 2002.
Although Ferguson did not offer an update on Lindegaard or De Gea, neither man was included in a list of those who have a chance of being fit for the weekend, which means Amos may be picked for the biggest game of his life.

Edited by ace, 02 February 2012 - 05:45 AM.

[SixThirty]

I think the fire might be back in Fernando for this one. For one, Its against United, and Two, With all his family problems (i.e his grandmother dying in a car accident) this week, I feel that he might be running on pure emotion...

So either we see a glimpse of the selfish goal scoring phenomenon.
Or
He sulks.

[gibbo1990]

wxwax, on 01 February 2012 - 09:02 PM, said:

That's five slow players out of six in the mid and up front. Not sure that would work. But that's just me guessing about tactics, which is about the same as me guessing about how to solve Greece's financial crisis.

Which two of Mata, Sturridge & Torres are you calling slow!?

[Zola]

Let's not delude ourselves anymore !

He is spent

[icecoolguy22]

Looks like United will be playing third choice GK for this one. Even De Gea plays, he won't be high on confidence, something we should exploit (assume we don't miss 10/11 shots).

I know it's asking a lot, but drawing wont do us any good, could be 5th by Monday if we don't win this one. I think Essien must play, even if he's fit for 60 minutes. We clearly missed the energy and direct play from Ramires. Essien is the next best thing right now. Get rid of Torres? What other options do we have? We can play Strrudige in the middle, but who will play on the right, Malouda? We really down to bone and skin right now. For f* sake Torres, stop chasing around and do all the defensive work, stay next to Rio and try to get on a forward pass ( if it ever comes). With Cole out, most likely Boswinga will be on the left, surely you can't play Betrand right? Of course you can, just not this manager.

I'm hoping for a 2:1, and with a bit of luck and a dodgy GK on their side, I can't see why is not possible. Come on!

[Wolv]

Lamps and Luiz to score

[Chelsea100%Carefree]

For the first time this season im actually thinking chelsea will lose, Dont get me wrong im fully behind the boys and i want us to win but our recent performances has been rediculos and if were gonna win this game we need to go and score that goal first and not let it creep towards 80th minute with 0-0 on the scoreline, Im hoping luiz scores because everyones giving him crap saying he aint a real defender etc, I think hes brilliant imo.

Anyway im hoping for a good day of football, chelsea to win , No injuries and if the atmosphere was as good as the man city game when i was there this year then im sure it will be a great day out for the true blues !

[ethicalstrategy]

Davey Baby, on 01 February 2012 - 02:25 PM, said:

Howard Webb is the best referee in this country by a mile. He is completely fair. Very happy he's officiating this game.

Nice to see the art of satire is alive and well