[croadyman]

After the performance & result on Wednesday night, I’m gutted that I’m going to be missing this game! Will be a very tough game as it always is at the Bridge. Won’t be surprised if both teams end up cancelling each other out and content with a point apiece. If we come away from this game with a point, I’ll be satisfied, a win and I’ll be over the moon and looking forward to catching the highlights the next day. As much as I’d like Eriksen back in, I think ETH will stick with the same team so Casemiro - Fred it is. Can’t really blame him if he does as it was by far and away our best performance of the season.

DDG

Dalot Varane Martinez Shaw

Casemiro Fred

Antony B.Fernandes Sancho

Rashford​

Heaton, Lindelof, Malacia, McTominay, Eriksen, Pellistri, Garnacho, Elanga, McNeill

Chelsea 0-0 Manchester United

Charlie wasn't in travelling squad

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Charlie wasn't in travelling squad

Ahh right, I didn’t know that. Thanks.

Surprised with that though as means we won’t have a striker on the bench and relying on Rashford to not get injured.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

3 points here would be a massive massive statement.

It's clear, heh.

 

[croadyman]

Ahh right, I didn’t know that. Thanks.

Surprised with that though as means we won’t have a striker on the bench and relying on Rashford to not get injured.

Yeah my thoughts as well

 

[Santoryo]

Imo this is quite against the meritocracy ETH has been implementing. Fred just had probably the game of his United career benching him would be a bit unfair I think.

Anyway I'd trust ETH on this. Maybe he'll play Eriksen due to tactical reason or tight schedule or what both have been showing in training. Like he did with Fred and McT last match. McT was actually having better form than Fred previously. But I don't really like the idea of Eriksen should play by default.

Fred playing over Eriksen has nothing to do with meritocracy. Not only has Eriksen performed better than Fred throughout the entirety of the season so far, he's also simply a better player. Eriksen has been one of our best and most consistent player, Fred has had 1 good game. This is a no brainer.

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

Ronaldo is in his 8th season at United. Only started once in Stamford Bridge. And even then he was taken off for Ruud when Chelsea bashed us 3-0.

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

Is that right? I've always had the inkling that Chelsea away is one of our bogey grounds and we regularly get fisted there, but I don't know if I'm still thinking of the Mourinho years or not.

Apart from Ole, we've only won there once in 20 years. And that was against 9 men.

 

[ElectroManiac]

With Martial still injured and Ronaldo out front 3 is already set in stone with Sancho, Rashford and Antony.

Defense will be the same as last game for sure to.

Now midfield is where there is a toss up between Fred and Eriksen, but knowing Ten Hag likes to keep a winning team and I think he will wait for next game to rest players he will go with Fred for his perfomance agains Spurs.

I think same team as Spurs will play this.

DDG
Dalot Varane Martinez Shaw
Casemiro Fred
Bruno
Antony Rashford Sancho
​

Subs: Eriksen, Elanga and Mctominay

 

[Gasolin]

People benching Eriksen surprise me. Would make sense if he wasn't performing but that's not the case. He got ill, we brought in someone else in his stead and thankfully did well. But now that he's fully fit, he has to return in the starting line up for the simple fact he's part of our best team on the pitch.

Don’t think it works the same here. Fred is asked to play higher and to help out counter pressing, it works better with a guy like Casemiro behind. And I can see ETH thinking Fred’s energy might be useful at the beginning to win the second balls.

Eriksen is just a different profile.

 

[Strelok]

Fred playing over Eriksen has nothing to do with meritocracy. Not only has Eriksen performed better than Fred throughout the entirety of the season so far, he's also simply a better player. Eriksen has been one of our best and most consistent player, Fred has had 1 good game. This is a no brainer.

Imo it is. It's all about current form. We can agree to disagree then. Anyway it's ETH call and surely I'd trust ETH on this.

 

[SirReginald]

Surely Chelsea’s front like don’t get a sniff with our defence? All about the midfield really this game. Expect them to play a false 9 to pull our defence out of shape

False 9? Totally totally doubt that. We play a fluid system changing shape routinely throughout 90 mins. If your going to lose your shape it’s because you won’t know who you are marking.

Expect us to mostly set us as 3-4-3 defending and 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 in attack with the forwards drifting all over.

I don’t see this being a high scoring game and I don’t see there being a clear winner BUT we will control possession and you will look to break. These types of situations can lead to either side winning heavily or both sides canceling each other out.

Anyway I predict 1-0 Chelsea win.

 

[AkaAkuma]

I think EtH will use Fred while he transitions Casemiro into the team. Ideally once he’s comfortable Eriksen will be tested more beside him.

Eriksen and McTominay have shown they can work together, so good to build options.

 

[lex talionis]

If Martial is for enough to start then I'd replace Sancho but otherwise, same team. Bit harsh on Eriksen perhaps but I don't think you can drop any of the other 3 after the spurs game.

Eriksen must start over Fred.

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

We don't do well playing against Potter. Will take a draw.

 

[Wing Attack Plan R]

We win by 2 goals to nil. Eriksen to okay the first 55 minutes, then bring in Fred if we have to. I really hope we smash them so Ronaldo finally twigs that he’s surplus to requirements.

 

[Santoryo]

Don’t think it works the same here. Fred is asked to play higher and to help out counter pressing, it works better with a guy like Casemiro behind. And I can see ETH thinking Fred’s energy might be useful at the beginning to win the second balls.

Eriksen is just a different profile.

Fred won't be able to keep the ball against Chelsea if there is any sustained pressure. He's a good energy guy but against Chelsea you need as many guys capable of retaining possessions, not lose it when pressure piles on.

 

[TheLord]

I think this is ETH's biggest test so far. Beat this lot and I would be very confident of a top four finish.

 

[horsechoker]

It's clear, heh.

*nods*

 

[mitchmouse]

Lack of scoring power showing yet again. Can't see any way we can get three points here. The defenders will all have to play blinders to get anything at all, but if we let in an early goal, I can't see us coming back

 

[nakpodiareuben]

I think Eriksen will start for Fred. Fred is good in counter pressing but I don't think we will go all out to dominate Chelsea at Stamford bridge. We will need players to keep possession and see runners when we do have that possession. With the way the team works, I think we can handle Chelsea with just casemiro as a DM. Playing Fred might put us under do much pressure and make us rely solely on counter

 

[nakpodiareuben]

Lack of scoring power showing yet again. Can't see any way we can get three points here. The defenders will all have to play blinders to get anything at all, but if we let in an early goal, I can't see us coming back

Really? Have you watched Chelsea? I wonder how people say they have a good defence. So Aubo or havarz is a bigger threat than Kane/son? I think we are overhyping Chelsea. They are not that good and this match will show how far united have come. I look at Chelsea team right now and I don't think any of their players will play for us

 

[Zlaatan]

Lack of scoring power showing yet again. Can't see any way we can get three points here. The defenders will all have to play blinders to get anything at all, but if we let in an early goal, I can't see us coming back

You can't see any way we can win despite coming off the best game we've played in about a decade?

 

[suheilsworld]

I think Casemiro is due a long ranger. His the bar against Omonoia and went close against spurs too.

 

[suheilsworld]

In form Kepa to have a blinder again. That’s a given, right?

 

[horsechoker]

In form Kepa to have a blinder again. That’s a given, right?

If we shoot right at him he will

 

[klsv]

Ronaldo will have something to prove here. I expect us to be 2-0 up by the 90th, then, Ronnie will force himself onto the pitch, scores a screamer and Chelsea will be given a 3-0 win.

 

[Ollie Derbyshire]

If we shoot right at him he will

Haha true, a bit more care and we’d have filled our boots the last few games.

 

[Berbasbullet]

I think Casemiro is due a long ranger. His the bar against Omonoia and went close against spurs too.

That was such a beautiful strike (the left footed one v spurs).

 

[suheilsworld]

That was such a beautiful strike (the left footed one v spurs).

Some of his cross field passes have been like those. Down low and bullet !

 

[Berbasbullet]

Some of his cross field passes have been like those. Down low and bullet !

He's fast becoming one of my fav players. Phenomenal signing so far, but hope he doesn't do a matic and drop off quickly.

 

[Dominant]

You can't see any way we can win despite coming off the best game we've played in about a decade?

That’s a Ronaldo fanboy posting with their standard agenda. They don’t want us to win so that they can claim ETH was wrong to drop Ronaldo.

 

[wolvored]

I would revert back to Eriksen and drop Fred. As someone said, Fred is a toss of a coin how he performs and Chelsea will be playing the press as well and wont sit back.
I think we can beat these as their defence has looked shaky in highlights I have seen. 0-2 Utd

 

[RuudTom83]

Away from home makes me side with picking Fred over Eriksen. Just to cover more ground.

If United are in front Eriksen can come on for Bruno/Sancho…If United are behind Eriksen can replace Fred.

 

[cyberman]

Away from home makes me side with picking Fred over Eriksen. Just to cover more ground.

If United are in front Eriksen can come on for Bruno/Sancho…If United are behind Eriksen can replace Fred.

Chelsea have a very defensive midfield and don’t really attack through there. Imo it’s ripe for Eriksen to play through them from the back

 

[mav_9me]

Really? Have you watched Chelsea? I wonder how people say they have a good defence. So Aubo or havarz is a bigger threat than Kane/son? I think we are overhyping Chelsea. They are not that good and this match will show how far united have come. I look at Chelsea team right now and I don't think any of their players will play for us

Reece James is a guaranteed starter for us. I'd imagine ETH would prefer Kepa for his ball playing ability. Kovacic is up there with Eriksen for a place in midfield. I'd take Havertz over Antony, but understand if most wouldn't.

 

[mav_9me]

Chelsea have a very defensive midfield and don’t really attack through there. Imo it’s ripe for Eriksen to play through them from the back

Also their midfield's biggest strength is their press resistance. In which case Fred might turn out to be useless and in fact his deficiencies on the ball outweigh his pressing here. Would go with Eriksen.

 

[NLunited]

We will control the game and not Chelsea. They will have trouble playing out of the press.

 

[mav_9me]

We will control the game and not Chelsea. They will have trouble playing out of the press.

I sure hope you are right. That would be awesome irrespective of the result.

 

[NLunited]

I think Casemiro is due a long ranger. His the bar against Omonoia and went close against spurs too.

Totally. Also Eriksen might have a go. If he starts over Fred.

 

[I Am Zlatan]

I really hope we win this, if we do, City would be the only team to have beat us out of the top six! That for sure will send a message to everyone in the league, and hopefully would help our confidence even further!

with that being said, I feel like we always struggle with Chelsea regardless of form/who the manager is.