Who's starting against Chelsea?

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Dunlop

Exactly, except for the last bit. Wonder how we'll cope if we're dominated in midfield (as per benfica).

I don't expect we will be. We weren't in either game last season at OT against them. Anderson is in great form and Carrick, whatever you think of him generally, played very against them last season. As did Giggs. We have options.

I think there's numerous areas where we know we can hurt them. Tony can get at Cole, Giggs and Carrick bossed them last season, Cheech loves that static defence and I'd fancy Young against RB they decided to put out.

My only concern is the defence. Rio back in, please.

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Dunlop

Yep. stupid comment actually. But we couldn't get the ball to any of the forward players much.

True, our final ball was pretty awful. As I say, getting back to our more settled team should help with this.

DDG

Jones---Rio---Smalling---Evra

Valencia---Carrick---Anderson---Young

Giggs
Rooney

With the ball Giggs plays up the pitch. Without it he slots into midfield with Carrick dropping deep to protect the back 4.

Originally Posted by Lok

DDG

Jones---Rio---Smalling---Evra

Valencia---Carrick---Anderson---Young

Giggs
Rooney

With the ball Giggs plays up the pitch. Without it he slots into midfield with Carrick dropping deep to protect the back 4.

Wouldn't be totally unhappy with that either, but I want Cheech's pace in there. Lively as £#%&! against them last year. 3 goals in 2 games against them at home surely seals a place for him, no?

Edit: 2 Goals. Sorry. I was thinking of that header he scored but was offside.

Carrick is useless.

Would prefer Jones alongside Anderson and Smalling at right back.

Originally Posted by The Return of JC

Wouldn't be totally unhappy with that either, but I want Cheech's pace in there. Lively as £#%&! against them last year. 3 goals in 2 games against them at home surely seals a place for him, no?

Edit: 2 Goals. Sorry. I was thinking of that header he scored but was offside.

Definitely, against The Lionheart.

DG

Jones
Rio
Smalling/Evans
Evra

Nani
Anderson
Giggs
Young

Rooney
Pea

Originally Posted by MJ Ramone

DG

Jones
Rio
Smalling/Evans
Evra

Nani
Anderson
Giggs
Young

Rooney
Pea

No comment on having a bad feeling about this one etc, MJ?

Originally Posted by The Return of JC

No comment on having a bad feeling about this one etc, MJ?

It's too early in the season for any of that...however, I do think Chelsea are a stronger side than many people seem to think.
I also wouldn't put it past that @#%&! Torres to suddenly find his shooting boots on Sunday
So if truth be known, yes I do have a bit of a bad feeling about it.

I'm concerned over Fergie's team selection tbh. I hope he doesn't follow Wednesday night's model & pack the midfield with 'experience'

Flapjack

BIGGIE
SNOOP
Eminem
HSJ

Young
AnderGod
Carrick
Crybaby

Roonster
Peaster

Originally Posted by MJ Ramone

It's too early in the season for any of that...however, I do think Chelsea are a stronger side than many people seem to think.
I also wouldn't put it past that @#%&! Torres to suddenly find his shooting boots on Sunday
So if truth be known, yes I do have a bit of a bad feeling about it.

I'm concerned over Fergie's team selection tbh. I hope he doesn't follow Wednesday night's model & pack the midfield with 'experience'

Can't see why he would.

Originally Posted by MJ Ramone

It's too early in the season for any of that...however, I do think Chelsea are a stronger side than many people seem to think.
I also wouldn't put it past that @#%&! Torres to suddenly find his shooting boots on Sunday
So if truth be known, yes I do have a bit of a bad feeling about it.

I'm concerned over Fergie's team selection tbh. I hope he doesn't follow Wednesday night's model & pack the midfield with 'experience'

Thaaat's the spirit!

Originally Posted by antonin jablonsky

Can't see why he would.

No. Anderson and Young were surely rested with this in mind. One of Giggs, Carrick and Fletcher to come in for Cleversleyers and either Vallersyers or Naniniers on the right is fine by me.

I don't think there'll be too many surprises.

Originally Posted by The Return of JC

No. Anderson and Young were surely rested with this in mind. One of Giggs, Carrick and Fletcher to come in for Cleversleyers and either Vallersyers or Naniniers on the right is fine by me.

I don't think there'll be too many surprises.

Be harsh on Nani getting dropped but Fergie does seem to love Tony V. He did destroy Cole last season of course and provides better cover for his fullback.

Originally Posted by MJ Ramone

I'm concerned over Fergie's team selection tbh. I hope he doesn't follow Wednesday night's model & pack the midfield with 'experience'

Because that experience destroyed Chelsea in 3 games over a short time at the pressure end of the season.

I watched the Arsenal game again a few days later after the initial high, and Utd could quite easily have conceded 5/6 goals. Arsenal were naive, overly ambitious and lacked the cynicism required to win those type of games, but the created a lot of chances and early in the second half at 3-1 they had a 10 min spell when the could have pulled it back to 3-3.

Chelsea, if they stay true to type will not be anywhere as easy to break down. They will be dour, hard working and wait for Utd to over commit and hit us on the break. Young players will make those type of mistakes, it is part of the excitement of watching them.

Utd did win the league last year and got to a CL final, some of the sighing over going back to last years team seems ridiculous. A midfield based on Carrick and Giggs was outstanding in the knock out stage of the CL.

Last season was not the most exciting, not helped by injuries and Rooney being abysmal for the first 4 months but it was still a very good side.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

Because that experience destroyed Chelsea in 3 games over a short time at the pressure end of the season.

I watched the Arsenal game again a few days later after the initial high, and Utd could quite easily have conceded 5/6 goals. Arsenal were naive, overly ambitious and lacked the cynicism required to win those type of games, but the created a lot of chances and early in the second half at 3-1 they had a 10 min spell when the could have pulled it back to 3-3.

Chelsea, if they stay true to type will not be anywhere as easy to break down. They will be dour, hard working and wait for Utd to over commit and hit us on the break. Young players will make those type of mistakes, it is part of the excitement of watching them.

Utd did win the league last year and got to a CL final, some of the sighing over going back to last years team seems ridiculous. A midfield based on Carrick and Giggs was outstanding in the knock out stage of the CL.

Last season was not the most exciting, not helped by injuries and Rooney being abysmal for the first 4 months but it was still a very good side.

The man shits reasoned sense.

A midfield of Carrick, Giggs and Anderson is surely the way forward?

Originally Posted by antonin jablonsky

Be harsh on Nani getting dropped but Fergie does seem to love Tony V. He did destroy Cole last season of course and provides better cover for his fullback.

You can 'trust' Tony a little more too, I think (CL Final aside ). I like the idea of Nani off the bench against tired legs too.

Originally Posted by Tiberian

Because that experience destroyed Chelsea in 3 games over a short time at the pressure end of the season.

I watched the Arsenal game again a few days later after the initial high, and Utd could quite easily have conceded 5/6 goals. Arsenal were naive, overly ambitious and lacked the cynicism required to win those type of games, but the created a lot of chances and early in the second half at 3-1 they had a 10 min spell when the could have pulled it back to 3-3.

Chelsea, if they stay true to type will not be anywhere as easy to break down. They will be dour, hard working and wait for Utd to over commit and hit us on the break. Young players will make those type of mistakes, it is part of the excitement of watching them.

Utd did win the league last year and got to a CL final, some of the sighing over going back to last years team seems ridiculous. A midfield based on Carrick and Giggs was outstanding in the knock out stage of the CL.

Last season was not the most exciting, not helped by injuries and Rooney being abysmal for the first 4 months but it was still a very good side.

Agreed.

We shouldn't have to revert back to sideways passing, negative central midfielders & a lone striker at the first sign of a decent side.

I'll be disappointed if Pea, Rooney, Young & either Nani or Valencia don't start the match.

Originally Posted by Harri Jaffa

A midfield of Carrick, Giggs and Anderson is surely the way forward?

So Rooney on his own up top?

As I said earlier, I like the look of that midfield axis, but Hernandez would be the man to miss out and he's been too effective against Chelsea in recent games to be left out, IMO.