On this forum (and on other Chelsea forums) the debate about the midfield 3 (you can put your house on us lining up 4-3-3) to play against manu at OT sunday is really split, some say Ramires should start, others Essien, some say Mikel deserves to keep his holding role.

Theirs only one way to sort this out........FIGHT......uh no I mean POLL!

Mikel, Ramires, Lampard for me. Mikel has been playing fantastically well recently, I think sticking him holding to mark Rooney, who'll be drifting everywhere. Essien did an incredible job on Gerrard under Hiddink I remember, but Mikel has been too good recently to be left out. He's the form defensive midfielder. Ramires will just run his socks off aswell, excellent cover for Ivanovic at right back, as well as being able to sprint at Ferdinand/Vidic/Evra too.

mikel essien and lampard. mikel deserves to keep his spot and then when uniteds legs start to get tired stick ramires on the field to run their midfield to a standstill

Mikel and Ramires for me. Mikel has been extremely solid lately and looking much more confident on the ball, while Ramires continues to improve with every game.

Has to be ramires, mikel, lampard. Mikel has been much better than essien in the holding role and is great in shutting down the attack of the other team. Ramires and lamps gives us a little more of the attacking side too.

essien and ramires would be my two to slot into midd, ramires would add the speed and penatration, while the bison is stronger and plays better against the bigger sides than mikel.

It's a tough decision but I would go for Essien and Ramires.

ramires and mikel. But it would be hard to leave essien out imo

Essien and Mikel to start. Solid and experienced in these big games with us. Ramires is probably a better impact substitution as well, so it makes sense to keep him in reserve.

I would play all three as I expect Fergie to line up with a midfield 5 of Park --- Giggs-Fletcher-Carrick --- Valencia play 4-5-1 when we attack and 4-4-2 (Giggs joining Rooney) when they attack.

I'd also add Yurj So we can switch between 4-5-1 and 4-3-3.

CA would be brave to drop Malouda based on recent results but I believe he has to as Yurj is a better defender and puts in a better cross.

And if you are wondering Drogs up front with Torres weeding at Cobham. (Tempting fate hoping he'll come on and score).

Mikel has to start.

I'd go for Essien over Ramires for experience and strength.

Mikel has to start.

I'd go for Essien over Ramires for experience and strength.

Exactly what I think ES.

If Ramires had of played the last 4 games I would of selected him, but half an hour in the last 4 games isnt quiet enough for such an important game, better used off the bench.

Crikey the Mikel fan club got out of bed early....

Mikel no where near the team against ManU they will run him ragged...

Mikel and Ramiers for me. Mikel has just been outstanding lately and should keep the place, and I feel Ramiers will pose the greater attacking threat - keeping in mind we cannot settle for anything less than a win here.

Mikel and Ramires for me.

Mikel is our only defensive midfielder and we need him on the pitch.

Then it comes down to Essien or Ramires. Both are box-to-box midfielders, but while Essien are a bit stronger and tougher, Ramires seems a bit faster and more likely to score goals.

In the end it all comes down to the fact that Ramires has better form than Essien at the moment.

I think he can cause some trouble for the opponents.

Mikel and Ramires.

Mikel has been outstanding in recent games. Ramires is fast and willing to take on defenders.

In the end it all comes down to the fact that Ramires has better form than Essien at the moment.

I think he can cause some trouble for the opponents.

I also voted for Mikel and Ramires. We need to play a holding midfielder and Mikel is the best one we have, so he's in, but the other position is where it gets tricky. Ramires certainly HAD been in better form than Essien up until recently but, with that injury, we've no real way of knowing what missing 4 games will have done to him. Essien is probably the safer choice, whereas Ramires could be hit or miss depending on how fit he is after his injury. I expect Carlo to start with one or other of them and bring the other on in the second half and I don't think it matters a great deal which is which.

What I think could be interesting is a midfield of Mikel, Essien and Ramires without Lamps - I think they'd be too much for Utd's feeble midfield to handle, but I can't see CA doing it.

I voted for all 3, IMO Lamps should be dropped as harsh as it sounds, formwise Essien, Ramires and Mikel all have been better than Lamps and all have a case for starting.

I suspect Carlo will leave Mikel out though and go for Essien and Ramires

Mikel and Essien for me, simply because I can't be 100% sure of what Ramires' fitness is going to be like.

However, we absolutely need a win here and a Mikel-Essien-Lampard midfield might not be able to break down Man Utd's defence (I suppose we can count on Ferdinand being fit for this one...). For that reason, Ramires and Benayoun should be on the bench and ready to go, just in case.

Its a tough call for sure but strangely after reading through the last couple of post the only nailed on starter for me is Lampard, he looks to be putting in some better performances and for sure is a bigger goal threat than the other three put together.

Its really down to what the manager sees in training through this week, Ramires could be a bit off the pace or champing at the bit for all we know.

I suspect Carlo will leave Mikel out though and go for Essien and Ramires

Are you really serious?

Carlo is well aware of the fact that Mikel has been our outstanding performer over the last few games.

Mikel has been awesom, I'd go with him and essien, it's tough on ramires though. Franks been the worse out of the 3, he's 2 in 2, and is the man for the big occasions. Front 3 of malouda drogba and kalou.

Am I the only one who thinks that Lampard has been looking better and better recently? Not back to his old self of course, but still better than a month or so ago.

Essien and Ramires , We need midfielders who are gonna proper move the ball upfield, Mikel personaly i dont think is good enough , Ramires has also proved this season that he can give united alot of problems. So fast attack for the first half hopefully which delivers some goals, If were 2-0 at half time bring mikel on for ramires as he will be good for defence

Essien and Ramires , We need midfielders who are gonna proper move the ball upfield, Mikel personaly i dont think is good enough , Ramires has also proved this season that he can give united alot of problems. So fast attack for the first half hopefully which delivers some goals, If were 2-0 at half time bring mikel on for ramires as he will be good for defence

If we're 2-0 up at half time I think I'll die.