Chelsea 0:2 Manchester United

Devil81 · Feb 2, 2020

An absolute must-win game, it's basically a six-pointer for both clubs. Lose and our league season is effectively over.

No James for me I'd go with the following line up.

De Gea
AWB
Williams
Maguire
Lindelof
Shaw
Matic
Fred
Fernandes
Martial
Ighalo

Adisa · Feb 2, 2020

Don't think the result would mean anything. Even if we win, would we go on any sort of run?

Random Task · Feb 2, 2020

Adisa said:
Don't think the result would mean anything. Even if we win, would we go on any sort of run?

Unlikely considering we're without our three best players for the remainder of the season.

Random Task · Feb 2, 2020

DDG

Lindelof Maguire Tuanzebe

AWB Matic Bruno Fred Williams

Ighalo Martial

I'd stick with the 352 until our injured players return from injury as It allows us to make the most of what we have available, plus it removes serial underperformers Lingard, Periera, and James from the equation - the latter has completely burned out and needs a spell on the bench.

Martial struggles to operate effectively as the lone striker (especially without Rashford alongside him), pairing him with the experienced Ighalo will relieve some pressure and allow him more freedom to roam.

Continuing with the tired and predictable 4231 will result in another predictable outcome. It just doesn't work.

Red For Ever · Feb 2, 2020

The Urban Goose said:
Assuming everyone's fit other then Rashford, I would play

DDG
AWB-Lindelof-Maguire-Williams
McTominay-Fred
Bruno
James-Ighalo-Martial

With Pogba to come on at 60 in place of Ighalo, to play from the left with Martial pushed into CF (and maybe Greenwood on and into CF, with Martial pushed to the right in place of James, depending on need).

Have I missed something, are McT and Pogba a possibility then ???

bosnian_red · Feb 2, 2020

Great time for the winter break for us. Get some players settled, chance for Pogba and McTominay to be involved too?
Ideal lineup:

De Gea
AWB Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Fred
McTominay Pogba
Bruno
Greenwood Martial

croadyman · Feb 2, 2020

Red For Ever said:
Have I missed something, are McT and Pogba a possibility then ???

I am sure I read somewhere that they could be back after the winter break,however despite how desperate we are Ole shouldn't rush them back again

RedDevilRoshi · Feb 2, 2020

Alabaster Codify7 said:
Christ.

----------------------------------------DDG------------------------------------------------
AWB-----------------Lindelöf------------Maguire-----------------------Shaw
--------------------------Fred------------------Matic----------------------------------
-------------------------------------Fernandes---------------------------------------
Pereira--------------------------Martial-----------------------------------James

SUBS - Greenwood (Pereira), Ighalo (James), Mata (Fernandes).

Chelsea 2 - 1 Man United
Fernandes.

Pereira better not be anywhere near the starting XI!

Better playing with ten men than having that wage thief in the team. Offers f*** all.

Sandikan · Feb 2, 2020

Basically last chance saloon for getting top 4.

Nou_Camp99 · Feb 2, 2020

Can't win at Chelsea without Rashford. Just not got enough threats in the team sadly.

Rozay · Feb 2, 2020

The Gay
Bissaka Lindelöf Maguire Shaw
Matic
Fred Pogba
Fernandes
Ighalo Martial

I’d honestly prefer Dalot at RB to provide some natural width but that won’t happen.

2 man midfield · Feb 2, 2020

-----------------De Gea-----------------
AWB--Lindelof-Maguire-Shaw
-------------Matic---Fred--------------
James----Fernandes----Martial
-----------------Ighalo--------------------

Probably could put James on the left and Greenwood on the right, but I'd like to see this team.

Gerald G · Feb 3, 2020

De Gea
Lindelof--Maguire--Shaw
Dalot--Fred--Matic--Williams
Bruno
Ighalo--Martial

or

De Gea
AWB--Lindelof--Maguire--Shaw
Fred--Matic
Greenwood--Bruno--James
Martial

Subs: Romero; Dalot, Bailly, Williams; Pereira, Mata; Ighalo

Ighalo's probably not fit enough to start, so maybe Greenwood instead.

ayushreddevil9 · Feb 3, 2020

Why would we even bite at the chance of making ground on top4?

amolbhatia50k · Feb 3, 2020

We've beaten then twice this season and their record against the better teams is poor. So, we should fancy our chances. Naturally given the table, were the ones who need to win this one. A draw will do for Chelsea.

eltigreFalcao · Feb 3, 2020

Massive game, being it against a direct rival. I'm not quite sure if we are to get into the top 4, that seems more unlikely by the day. Altough one can only believe the new faces would go ou to make the best of their chances and may be one of Bruno or Ighalo could score at Stamford Bride.

Our front line being as poor as it has been, I would like to see how a 4-4-2 diamond formation could work with the current squad, moreover when the big names come back from injury.

Predicted XI:

DDG
AWB - Lindelof - Maguire - Shaw - Williams
Fred - Matic - Fernandes
Lingard - Martial

kafta · Feb 3, 2020

Would any of Pogba or McT be back for this one?

red_de_pologne · Feb 3, 2020

2 man midfield said:
-----------------De Gea-----------------
AWB--Lindelof-Maguire-Shaw
-------------Matic---Fred--------------
James----Fernandes----Martial
-----------------Ighalo--------------------

Probably could put James on the left and Greenwood on the right, but I'd like to see this team.

this but with Williams and Greenwood instead

VP89 · Feb 3, 2020

For the first time I feel I don't really care anymore. Play whoever and see the season out, because Ole won't do shit with this squad.

The only hope is for Chelsea and Spurs to somehow implode massively.

TMDaines · Feb 3, 2020

Red For Ever said:
Have I missed something, are McT and Pogba a possibility then ???

Don't think so. Neither are expected to travel for training camp.

red woppit · Feb 3, 2020

kafta said:
Would any of Pogba or McT be back for this one?

There is paper talk on Pogba possibly being fit, but realistically, I would expect him only to be on the bench for the first match or two, McTominay should be nearer the end of the month I would say, and again would probably start on the bench, especially as Matic seems to have gone up a gear recently.

Web of Bissaka · Feb 3, 2020

Pogback!

Web of Bissaka · Feb 3, 2020

Adisa said:
Don't think the result would mean anything. Even if we win, would we go on any sort of run?

Gonna be a turning point

red woppit · Feb 3, 2020

Gerald G said:
De Gea
Lindelof--Maguire--Shaw
Dalot--Fred--Matic--Williams
Bruno
Ighalo--Martial

or

De Gea
AWB--Lindelof--Maguire--Shaw
Fred--Matic
Greenwood--Bruno--James
Martial

Subs: Romero; Dalot, Bailly, Williams; Pereira, Mata; Ighalo

Ighalo's probably not fit enough to start, so maybe Greenwood instead.

Would like to see a Martial/Greenwood strike force, as Martial likes to come deep for the ball, and Greenwood can make runs in behind. Now we have Bruno, we have someone who can spot those runs, and deliver the pass.

cyberman · Feb 3, 2020

VP89 said:
For the first time I feel I don't really care anymore. Play whoever and see the season out, because Ole won't do shit with this squad.

The only hope is for Chelsea and Spurs to somehow implode massively.

They are imploding, thats whats so frustrsting.
Just hoping Pogba and Bruno adda bit of creativity to see us go on a half decent run cause thats all it would take

Schmeichel's Cartwheel · Feb 3, 2020

De Gea
Wan Bissaka Maguire Shaw
Dalot Matic Fred Williams
Fernandes
Greenwood Martial

Won't happen though, it'll be more like

De Gea
Wan-Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Shaw
Matic
Fred Fernandes
Mata Martial James

OleTheGreat · Feb 3, 2020

We need to solidify the team now and 4-3-3 is the way to go.

DDG
AWG VL HM LS
NM
Fred BF
MG AM DJ

Annihilate Now! · Feb 3, 2020

Putting it out there... this game could be a proper shit fest.

TheReligion · Feb 3, 2020

With Matic back and the possibility of Pogba the midfield could look decent. If Pogba doesn't make it then Bruno, Fred and Matic will be much better and give us some balance.

If we can get Pogba ready, even for the bench, he'd be great with those three.

Ighalo will be ready but for me bench only. It would allow us to start Greenwood, Martial and James as a three without the fear of having no forward to bring on.

DDG
AWB
Maguire
Lindelof
Shaw
Matic
Fred
Bruno
Greenwood
Martial
James

Pogba
Ighalo

Siorac · Feb 3, 2020

VP89 said:
For the first time I feel I don't really care anymore. Play whoever and see the season out, because Ole won't do shit with this squad.

The only hope is for Chelsea and Spurs to somehow implode massively.

Frankly, Spurs already have. Their entire season is an implosion, pretty much. It's just that we're even worse.

mitchmouse · Feb 3, 2020

not a hope in hell of winning. see us losing by two, possibly three

Havak · Feb 3, 2020

A lot can happen between now and then, but ideally we'll have McTominay, Pogba, and Tuanzebe fit and potentially available for selection in the squad. I'd be surprised if any of them start though, but a well-rested Matic should be a boost for this. We could start with three at the back, but I'd probably be hoping for something similar to:

de Gea
Wan-Bissaka Lindelof Maguire Williams
Fred Matic
Bruno
Greenwood Martial James
---
Romero; Tuanzebe, Dalot, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba; Ighalo

Odds are Tuanzebe would not be on the bench, it'd be Jones or Bailly. Dalot probably not either if McTominay/Pogba returned as well. It's likely that Lingard, Andreas and/or Mata get into the squad as throwing in three players returning from injury in a must-win (or at least not lose) game is a massive risk even if we'd probably all agree they're the better players to have involved.

It's a huge moment in our season as I would probably be in favour of putting more emphasis on the Europa League and FA Cup if we lost here. 9 Points is probably too much of a gap to make up for us, especially when we have to outperform Tottenham and maybe even Sheffield United for the rest of the season as well as Chelsea. It's rare that a team overtakes three other challengers from behind to achieve a top four spot.

Going a bit far into it here, but Chelsea already have 12 wins. Let's say on average you need 18-20 wins or more to finish in the top four. We only have nine (albeit a lot of draws). There's 13 games left, so we probably need nine wins to have a realistic shout at 4th? I don't think we're consistent enough to do that, but if we want to be then we need our injured players to hit the ground running. Unfortunately, I expect that we will be having to switch our attention to the cup games and try to go down that avenue instead.

Irwin99 · Feb 3, 2020

Matic could be key to getting something from this. He usually plays pretty well against Chelsea too.

Gator Nate · Feb 3, 2020

Random Task said:
DDG

Lindelof Maguire Tuanzebe

AWB Matic Bruno Fred Williams

Ighalo Martial

I'd stick with the 352 until our injured players return from injury as It allows us to make the most of what we have available, plus it removes serial underperformers Lingard, Periera, and James from the equation - the latter has completely burned out and needs a spell on the bench.

Martial struggles to operate effectively as the lone striker (especially without Rashford alongside him), pairing him with the experienced Ighalo will relieve some pressure and allow him more freedom to roam.

Continuing with the tired and predictable 4231 will result in another predictable outcome. It just doesn't work.

Good ideas there... I like two up front myself, and AWB/Williams forward on the edges works.

But for the tired and predictable 4231...

DDG
AWB - Lindelof - Maguire - Shaw
Fred - Matic
James - Fernandes - Martial
Ighalo

Subs: Williams - Greenwood - Garner

I do think we win this game... Chelsea 0-2 MUFC

Random Task · Feb 3, 2020

There is a strong chance of Pogba returning for this one as he started training today, Tuanzebe is also in contention.

Mctominay will not recover in time, however.

Lee565 · Feb 3, 2020

_____lindelof--maguire-shaw
_________fred----matic
Dalot-Fernandes-Mata-Williams
___________martial

Sick of the site of awb and James, they sum up how limited Solskjear is offensively with his only way of playing is kick and run counter attack football.

Devil may care · Feb 3, 2020

So how come our game is delayed? I don't think it's an international break.

At any rate, this is the team I think we will go with if everyone is fit.

edgar allan · Feb 3, 2020

Samid said:
Knowing Ole it will be:

DDG
Lindelof - Maguire - Shaw
AWB - Fred - Matic - Williams
Bruno
James - Martial

No place for Jesse?

Bebestation · Feb 3, 2020

Random Task said:
There is a strong chance of Pogba returning for this one as he started training today, Tuanzebe is also in contention.

Mctominay will not recover in time, however.

I heard he isn't going to the foreign training - maybe not everyone is?

Gary_Walsh_Nou_Camp_Hell · Feb 4, 2020

Samid said:
The fans I have spoken to have nothing but positive things to say. Of course there will be stumbling blocks along the road but this is one of the youngest squads in the league. Right now it's about building the right culture which we knew from the start wouldn't happen overnight.

Most people in Manchester I chat to (mates, family, co-workers, randoms in the pub) all say this about the rebuild and getting rid of the bad culture in the squad will take time

But online it's mainly people wanting to sack Ole in the hope of immediate success...

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