Chelsea Vs Manchester United: 1 - 0 (November 8 2009)

Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday 8th November
Time: 4pm GMT, 5pm NT


Chelsea and Manchester United do battle on the back of high-scoring draws against Athletico Madrid and CSKA Moscow respectively.

The possible absence of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will have even the most intrepid of Red Devils fearing an evisceration at the hands of a Chelsea team who boast their full complement of stars with the return of John Obi Mikel to full fitness. With Didier Drogba, the Ivorian juggernaut, in scintillating form, United’s physiotherapists will have to work hard to ensure that Vidic in particular, is ready for Sunday’s meeting, as the supine performances of the Brown-Evans partnership portend an uncomfortable 90 minutes for United otherwise. Vidic seems to hold the Indian sign over Didier Drogba, having managed to emasculate the Ivorian on several previous occasions, the most famous being the UCL final in Moscow. However, Vidic has never faced a Didier Drogba in this kind of form and fitness, and many pundits would struggle to disagree with Carlo Ancelotti’s unequivocal appraisal of The Drog as the hottest striker in World football today.

Ancelotti will be wary of Chelsea’s favourites tag knowing the depth of resilience present in any United team. That much was evident in the clash against Arsenal at Old Trafford where Arsenal dominated proceedings exclusively, but left Old Trafford with the proverbial pizza on their face.  They say revenge is a dish best served cold and Chelsea will be hoping (in defiance of all culinary cliché’s), to give United a taste of their own peppersoup, having lost 3-0 in their last competitive encounter.

Chelsea can be expected to line-up with a 4-4-2 diamond, with Lampard, Essien and Ballack sureties to start in midfield, complemented at the top of the diamond by either one of Joe Cole or Deco. United will line up with a 4-4-2, although it is difficult to predict the composition of United’s midfield. Ferguson’s proclivity for rotation this season is enough to make even the tinkerman, Claudio Ranieri, blush in deference to his mastery of the art. Darren Fletcher is struggling for fitness and may miss the match, but United fans will be hoping that Anderson can provide some energy in midfield.

Finally, the idiom “quality over quantity” is a resounding theme at Old Trafford these days, as Nani, Owen and Valencia have struggled to fill the boots (and goal-quota) of Cristiano Ronaldo. Nani is short of confidence; and has been widely excoriated for his awry decision-making, whilst Michael Owen has underwhelmed. Valencia has also perplexed critics with the rigidity and linearity of his movement. The Ecuadorian winger looks like a robot on the right-side of midfield, and his unashamed refusal to use his left foot in any circumstance detracts from the fluidity of the United game. It goes without saying that United’s traditional wing-play superiority over Chelsea has been eroded with the sale of Ronaldo. Ronaldo was a player whose mere presence allowed his team to play 15-yards further up the pitch. Chelsea have never had a better opportunity to steal a march on United; and any positive result for the Red Devils must surely be greeted with unbridled elation in Manchester. However, Chelsea will do well to pay heed to the saying : Complacency is the forebear of disappointment.

Let the games begin. . . .




Possible absences:

Chelsea: None

United: Ferdinand, Vidic, Fletcher

i smell a 2 - 1 win for the chavs but i wld pray on Sunday morning for a 2 - 2 draw!

If Chelsea does not beat Manure on sunday, I doubt if they will have another easier game against the Mancs in the near future.
Looks/feels/sounds like a Chelsea win
BUT. . . . . . . . . .
I am praying for a draw!
come on Obertan, O'shea and Nani
Show the Chavs what you've got!

Waoh!!! Ibime you tried but. . . . . . .lets Madam Criz think what i think first then we'll know if this is one sided!!
Truth be told, i don't expect a win here. A draw is a luxury i wish for in this match!!
We have stuttering and bliping and Scousers taught us how its done to a team that not in form.
Chelsea will do worse. . . .  .i just hope the defeat is not heavy!!!
Maybe 2-0 or something in that region!!!

But then, United can spring surprises. . . . . I just pray we take our chances when we get them.
Come on Red Devils. . . . We can do it!!!!

I laugh in Yoruba.

Chelsea to destroy Manure

Chelsea 3 - 0 Man U

For sure

UTD to score first and of course the shaky UTD backline will cave in later

The fraility of Chelsea against good opposition will be exposed again by some sleek passing mvts from UTD

the game to end in 1-1 draw

Drogba to see red again

sunday cometh soon

we shall see

i wonder what gives u people confidence
You want to play Manchester United and ure confident of winnin? u lots are funny creatures

ill be here on Monday to unleash mayhem on your thread

Obertan will RAPE Chelsea.

Confidence without competence is delusion.



This is a more realistic expectation. I hope other scummies would see sense and adopt your outlook on things. Like I said, any positive result for United (even a draw) will be greeted with unbridled elation in Manchester.



I quite like the niches they are creating for themselves. Even 3rd place in the league is a niche. . . . and mark my words, Man Utd will finish no higher than Chelsea or Arsenal this season unless they embark on a spending spree in January.

Seems some Man U fans are already giving up where is the spirit of Roy Keane in y'all? Where is the arrogance the swagger of Schmeichel? In this type of game form flies out of the window and the only thing that matters is the pride of your jersey
As usual I am going against the crowd if majority supports chelsea to win, I am rooting for Man Utd.
Up scummies

Man United 3 Chelsea 1
Any one thinking that Vidic & Barby would not play should get a rethink cus i just got on phone with sir and he confirmed their status. find below the 4-4-2 line up.

Barbatov and Rooney

Nani, Anderson, Fletcha and Valencia

J. Oshea, Vidic, J. Evana and P. Evra

Edwin Vandersar

Sub
R. Giggs,
M. Owen,
M. Carrick,
Etc.

Up Manchester United (Red Army)

Hargreaves how dare you leave our Dokitor's asst's name


 

The thing is we don't need 11 messi's, our current squad is capable of beating this united team quite comfortably

Someone will be mocked for sure.