Hi all,

The second of the 'big four' clashes of the season is upon us - who will win?

An efficient and on-form Chelsea under the revitalised Scolari or the stuttering and seemingly off-form Manchester United with Ronaldo back in the groove?

This is the 'official' nairaland thread for this game - commentary and match information and viewing times will be posted here.

Comments and discussions are welcome.

Big Match Facts

Chelsea get a first opportunity to avenge their defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League final. Victory would see them open up a nine point advantage over the domestic and European champions in the Premier League table.

Both clubs had differing fortunes in Europe in midweek; Chelsea equalled their record home win in the Champions League with a 4-0 eclipse of Bordeaux, while a much changed United were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal at Old Trafford in their opening group match.

This is Manchester United's second successive 'Big Four' match-up in the Premier League, after last Saturday's 2-1 away loss to Liverpool. They are in danger of suffering successive league defeats for the first time in 122 outings.

Luiz Felipe Scolari has made a most impressive start as manager of Chelsea with four wins and one draw from five matches in all competitions; defeat for United here will equal the Red Devils' worst ever start to a Premier League season.

United have been beaten more times by Chelsea in the Premier League than by any other club (10) and have dropped more points to them than any other team (56).

The Red Devils were the last club to beat Chelsea in a Premier League game by more than a single goal (23 September 2007); Chelsea were the last club to beat United by more than a single goal (29 April 2006).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7613923.stm

A score draw is written all over this match but i expect Man Utd to win.
Cheese n Rice. . . . .We have everyone FIT but Carrick(ankle) and Vidic(suspension).
Johnny Evans should partner Ferdinand in the back four with Evra and Brown retaining their positions.
We need Hargreaves in the midfield to destroy Lampard n Mikel. . .and Fergie should keep Tevez on the bench till the 2nd half.
Berbatov needs games(he must start).

I very much doubt Fergie benching Tevez for Berbatov.

But Tevez knows how to rescue United whenever he come into a match as a sub.


One thing I am damn sure about, is that Fergie will have selection problem tomorrow.

I pray we win.

Anything aside from winning that match tomorrow will never satisfy me.

I don't think playing Evans would be wise, this game is too high profile for that - the experience of Gary will be better with Wes moving central

The most important missing player is Vidic, Drogba and co's physicality may be very difficult for the MU defence to hold without Vidic the bruiser.

Chelski are beginning to cope without Essien, but with Ballack returning, there might be a dilemma as to who to remove - Malouda or Joe Cole? I think Obi will start because that defensive midfield role needs to be filled.

This has a Chelski victory written all over it, unless the presence of Ronaldo makes Scolari go all conservative for this game.

Scolari will go for the high flying Cole.

@poster/topic  

We've discussed and analysed this game on both United and Chelsea threads.  .  .  .  .what's with this? Taking over from folahann?  

Re-analysing the exact same thing here ain't appealing at all o  

And,''voting closes''?? Is there a prize or something?

the game's so hot that it's got 3 threads live on it. well I stick with my team's local thread!

and of course chelsea will win. i analyzed that already!

@ Criz

my apologies

This thread was supposed to be up earlier, just trying to co-ordinate things better. Besides, this will be an 'impartial' thread since I am neither a Chelski or Man Utd supporter

Voting has to close at some point, or do you want voting to continue after the game ends?

Oh I forgot, there is a prize. . . . the correct prediction gets to go an a date with Crizza

i think SAF shuld use tis formation
                            \
                                                         V D S

RAFAEL                                   RIO                               BROWN                                        EVRA

                                                               HARGO


RONALDO                                              SCHOLES                                                     ANDERSON                        
                                                                                 TEVEZ
                                                                BERBATOV

@debozza

Thread was supposed to be up earlier huh? Guess you are indeed taking over from folahann 

People are not dumb,they know the voting will end.Duh?? Unless you put the ''voting closes'' part for your fellow gaynners   

Prize is a date with moi?  Now i see where your thoughts have been all day

Oh,and you not being a United or Chelsea supporter in no way qualifies you for this ''job'' cos you're a notorious United hater.Meaning, you're an indirect Chelsea supporter. A lil honesty is a good thang dearie

@ Crizza

nah, I'm not taking over anything, just doing a favour

The voting ends part is mostly for the 'up chelsea' and 'man u for life' posters who will show up here inevitably tomorrow. Just to keep things sane thats all. I know my gooners are too busy celebrating tonight's win to come and vote for now

My mind has been in one place all day, and you know where how was your day sweetie?

I heard Fergie may play his 'awesome foursome' (seems to have been infected with Hanni's nonsense ) against Chelski, but I think that would be too dangerous; all that attacking force will mean the midfield will be light defense wise, giving Chelski the chance to overrun them completely.

@debozza

Smooth. . .replying me,then switching the convo back to match analysis. . .i'll humor you,tho i still don't see the point in re-typing the same things i've typed on my club thread,and the things i will type on my club thread,in here

Whether the MF will be weak or not depends on the formation. If we're going 4-4-2, MF won't have any problems. And if Fergie is playing all 4 tomorrow,i doubt hez gon' put 'em all on the pitch at once. There'll be tactical subs.

my day was verrry interesting ''sweetie'',thx. *rolling my eyes*

Well personally, I can't make up my mind which would be the most beneficial from an Arsenal point of view - breaking Chelski's undefeated home run, Man Utd losing two consecutive league games and going 9 points behind, or draw keeping us top of the table.

Only if I could have all three at the same time, but that would be greedy wouldn't it?

Well I for one would like to see how Ronaldo plays, 42 games in a season is a pretty tough act to follow for anyone.

sorry about the 'sweetie' would darling be more appropriate?

No need repeating any convo/discussions here really, its geared more to be the 'host point' during the game tomorrow, anyone who wants to give live commentary during the game should feel free to put it on this thread

The first would be most beneficial from an Arse's point of view.  .  .breaking their undefeated home run

why are you always so reasonable? its quite exasperating.  .  .  .  .fine then,long live your thread


wasn't rolling my eyes at the endearment term.  .  .twaz for a different reason

Sunderland has a better chance breaking the home run at stamford than Man U would ever imagine. They are not the ones that can do it so forget a loss by chelsea; forget it very well!!

I think this would be the ideal formation:

VDS

NEVILLE BROWN RIO EVRA



HARGO SCHOLES ANDERSON



RONALDO ROONEY



BERBATOV

eleshin:

i've never been so confident in my whole life,united will beat chelski with an unexpected scoreline.what i will be expecting tomorrow is how many people will will quote my reply 2moro. manu 4---chelski 1.

Boy o Boy! Have you read an early edition of yesterday's paper?

This match has draw written all over it and it would be the perfect result for us Gunners.
Utd really need to work on that midfield though Scholes must not start Hargreaves and Anderson/Park will be a better option

Even if it is a draw and the gunners top d table we all know it wont be long; at d right time they will take their usual 4th position so, arsenal is so not d issue this weekend no matter what d 2 top boys play.

This game does not need a witch doctor to know that it will end in a draw. Chelsea have NO LOST at Stamford Bridge since 2005.

ManU are not in the position to topple over that feat.

Leave it for GUNNERS to handle.

the team to stp the winnin streak in stamford is the team that won last @ the stamford.Not Man U .The game will defo end in a draw

Chelsea has named an unchanged side.

Bosingwa Carvalho Terry Ashley Cole

Mikel Lampard Deco

Joe Cole Anelka Malouda.

Drogba, Belletti, Kalou, Bridge and Alex on the bench!!!!!

These managers are crazy(Tevez/Ronaldo on the bench for Man Utd----Drogba/Kalou on the bench for Chelski).

@cabali
Dont count on it!!

Drogba and Ronaldo are not fully fit there's no use starting them its still a long hard season ahead

Ji Sung does it for ManU at the 18th min

Cristalzaa

my wish is coming true

vander sar injured!!!

van der Saar out

Paul Scholes booked. ManU are getting frustrated easily.

Anyone seeking to watch the game online can watch here: http://viafoot.we.bs/psn.html

debosky:

Anyone seeking to watch the game online can watch here: http://viafoot.we.bs/psn.html

This is much more better: http://atdhe.net/live-tv-320.html

The more the merrier mate