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

Ibime:

However, Chelsea will do well to pay heed to the saying : Complacency is the forebear of disappointment.

Me thinks its a remote possibility chelsea will be complacent in this game.
This game is not just about staying top for chelsea, its about revenge

Chelsea to beat the Scumtwats by a two goal margin


Ibime get us a poll ASAP

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

what about ur OWN smell. . . .

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!

^^^^ Obertan O'Shea and Nani, O ti tan, O shit and tani?

This is going to be a blockbuster!!!!

Chelsea V Man Utd. . . . . . .This match is cut n dried for Wazza.
He will make the Chelsea DEFENCE pay!!!!

I laugh in Yoruba.

Chelsea to destroy Manure

Chelsea 3 - 0 Man U

A win for us.
Its our birth right.

For sure

@Emperoh
Yeah he did try, but from the scintillating adjectives he used in describing Chelsea and some Chelsea players, it's obvious which side of the fence hez leaning.

Ibime:

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.

Hilarious.

Ibime:

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.

Fletcher played against CSKA Moscow. He is available, as well as Vidic and Berbatov.

Ibime:

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.

I disagree: Nani, Owen and Valencia haven't been struggling to fill Ronaldo's boots(and goal-quota).
They've been trying to create their own niches, not playing for the sake of Ronaldo-replacement. They stumble, but then, who doesn't?

Match will definitely be the game to watch.

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

Blind prediction

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 ur thread

Chelsea will be Ever-Blazing , too Hot for Man-ya , I cant wait. . . Anelka! Droggyyyyy! Lampard! ( Ferguson's Favorite Player in his career ).

Chelsea don turn Timaya , Manyu don blow ooooooooo

tkb417:

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.

the red scum will win this 3-2

~Sauron~:

Obertan will RAPE Chelsea.

You mean that Malaria head Obertan will score own goal right?

tkb417:

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

Confidence without competence is delusion.

Emperoh:

Truth be told, i don't expect a win here. A draw is a luxury i wish for in this match!!

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.

Cristalz:

I disagree: Nani, Owen and Valencia haven't been struggling to fill Ronaldo's boots(and goal-quota).
They've been trying to create their own niches, not playing for the sake of Ronaldo-replacement. They stumble, but then, who doesn't?

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.

I hear ya, T.B. Joshua. . .as long as you get my point that they are not trying to be Ronaldo-replacements.

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

Even if Chelsea lines up 11 messi's they won't beat United except if the fa wants them to like they did 2 years ago, when chelsea got a cheap penalty. A 2-1 win for United.

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)

Let them play draw. Good for Arsenal fans

Ibime:


Possible absences:

Chelsea: None

United: Ferdinand, Vidic, Fletcher , Hargreaves

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

With a win we are 5 points clear.

BinghiNya:

Even if Chelsea lines up 11 messi's they won't beat United except if the fa wants them to like they did 2 years ago, when chelsea got a cheap penalty. A 2-1 win for United.

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

HNIC:

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!

I have never considered THIS united team our main competitor right from the start of the season, the only team I fear in the EPL this season

based on the evidence on ground is Arsenal. wouldn't expect anything but a win for us on sunday.

Someone will be mocked for sure.

chelsea to win 2-1