[Mustafa Ahmed]

I'm confident Rooney will do the job as a DM, just not as confident that Falcao will do the job as a striker.

Not to fussed about Shaw. Him and Young put together will not be fussed too much by Oscar. Luckily Willian starts on the bench.

Make or break game for Paddy.

3-1 to us. Get in there!

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Mourinho does what is needed to get results. Fair play to him, but I feel if we press Matic and especially Zouma, we'll be able to win the ball back high up the pitch.

It'll be possession vs counter. I think it's very important we get the first goal if we want to win or draw.

Feeling pretty confident. Have a strange feeling Falcao will win us the game.

 

[The Red Thinker]

I'm calling it. Rooney will doa job today, and will be nowhere near as bad as some people here say he will be.

Our attacking exploits will be fine, the forward line is in good shape and we have relied less and less on Rooney at the top, as more of our midfield have scored goals. This means that even if Falcao isn't in the best nick, Fellaini, Herrera and Mata have been in fine goalscoring touch. That will more than compensate. We need Falcao to keep their defenders busy, if he can do that we'll be fine.

I'm worried about our defence. Rooney will have to play out of his skin to cover the bases. What gives me encouragement is that I remember LVG once remarking that Rooney actually played that DM position quite well when Carrick or Blind was subbed off sometime during the season.

It's all done to belief in self and system. We can get them worried. We still have the tools for that. Anyone who believes we can't hasn't understood the system we play. It's about Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Young and Falcao. Seeing as everyone except one (who is not the fulcrum of the attack), is in great nick, I',m encouraged.

We may yet see a good outing lads. Chins up.

 

[Truedevil]

Oh ffs what is Souness doing there yet again

 

[R'hllor]

Just calm down and relax people...take a knee,like Jaden.

 

[matt23]

*Defensive midfield. Shocking how people will just say shit just to be all dramatic without even giving it a seconds thought (because that's really all it needs to realize that numbers of injuries has no impact on when a player comes in to the team, it has to be injuries to specific players). In Di Maria's case, it's literally the exact same as it has been for the past month. Fellaini, Mata, Young all in top form, not going to be dropped. That means he stays on the bench.

True, but if it was City or Liverpool we'd all be saying how ridiculous it is that a record signing can't get into to the team for big games.

 

[Needham]

All right, you know what? We're winning at the Bridge. Calling it now, 3-1 United.

Post-City elation... prediction will probably be different tomorrow morning when I wake up for work

Love that message. Love that positivity. Tell you what. I run an ad agency. I'm going to PM you with a firm job offer.

 

[LitterBug]

De Gea going nowhere lads. First out to practice

 

[Adisa]

Zouma, Terry, Matic, Cahil and Drogba. These lot will be a nightmare at set-pieces.

 

[Unlikely lad]

The people complaning about Di Maria being on the bench are being silly; none of the people who are injured are in his position.

 

[Borys]

Too many players missing, I would take a draw. Wouldn’t surprise me if this ended goalless.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Oh ffs what is that Souness doing there yet again

To wind us up.

 

[Red Dreams]

Oh ffs what is that Souness doing there yet again

ahh.. feel better already.

we are winning this.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

ahh.. feel better already.

we are winning this.

Herrera will be MOTM to annoy him.

 

[The Red Thinker]

I am a tad wary of Rooney's first touch in the DM position. His touch will have to spot on and he'll have to circulate that ball quick and calm. If he fails to see oncoming presses, we may be in trouble.

Then again LVG can give us all a big feck you and play Herrera there... we don't know yet.

 

[NessunDorma]

LvG has earned a bit of leeway in recent weeks.

But we've looked at our worst with Rooney in defensive midfield and Falcao up front.

Maybe Falcao's been looking great in training, but i'd have gone for Fellaini in defensive midfield (he can't be worse there than Rooney), and Di Maria in Fellaini's position.

 

[Varun]

Mourinho plays Zouma in midfield? Even with our injuries?

He's probably trained them that way for a week and didnt want to change last moment. No one knew about our injuries till yesterday's presser.

 

[wr8_utd]

I'm not sure our Fellaini in behind the striker tactic will work well today against Zouma, Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill.

It's really frustrating the injuries we've got just as we'd settled on a perfect formation.

 

[Danny Boi]

Injuries have hampered us a bit,but that's still a decent,in form side.The performances of Rooney and Falcao will be key.

Chelsea have set up defensively,most of their threat will come from Hazard and set pieces.If we organises ourselves well I think a draw is likely.

 

[Adam-Utd]

I have a feeling half way through the game we will switch to a 4-4-2 and end up beating them. Fellaini and Falcao upfront with Rooney and Herrera in CM.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

De Gea going nowhere lads. First out to practice

Goalkeepers always come out first

 

[Happytom82]

What did tardem Souness say?

 

[The Red Thinker]

LvG has earned a bit of leeway in recent weeks.

But we've looked at our worst with Rooney in defensive midfield and Falcao up front.

Maybe Falcao's been looking great in training, but i'd have gone for Fellaini in defensive midfield (he can't be worse there than Rooney), and Di Maria in Fellaini's position.

Yes except that was before the renaissance after the Arsenal game. Rooney wasn't the sole reason we were dire then. The whole team were not playing well.

Now that the penny's dropped, Rooney is just another body who has to play a calm role. Plus the system you're thinking about earlier is completely different from the one he will have to play to today. Different roles.

 

[Red Dreams]

Herrera will be MOTM to annoy him.

he does seem to hate our lad.....

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Be so funny if Van Gaal played Fellaini as a holding mid and Rooney as the 10.

 

[Adisa]

Chelsea's line up is a disgrace.

Why?

 

[NessunDorma]

I'm not so sure with this idea that the system is working, and therefore the personal aren't (as) important.

The system is working, yes, but it surely won't work as well with square pegs in round holes, and diminished quality in certain positions.

If it was the system and the system only, then player talent wouldn't matter at all, when it obviously does.

I hope we're as good today as were against City, Spurs and Liverpool, but I can't see it.

 

[bosnian_red]

True, but if it was City or Liverpool we'd all be saying how ridiculous it is that a record signing can't get into to the team for big games.

Yeah because we just say shit to piss them off and don't care or give it any thought that it was other players out injured, not ones he is competing with.

Saying stuff like he can get in the team even with the injuries is basically what people say if they only see lineups and scores and don't actually watch the games or give it any thought. They just say it to sound all dramatic.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Do we know if Rooney will play DM, who knows maybe Rooney will play in Fellaini's usual position and Fellaini as a DM.

Call me crazy but I feel confident about this one. And I'll be able to watch it without being nervous as hell as in previous weeks.

 

[Truedevil]

Be so funny if Van Gaal played Fellaini as a holding mid and Rooney as the 10.

Unlikely given he even said he might play Rooney as the defensive midfielder.

 

[RedorDead21]

Is RVP on the bench. Defensively at set pieces RVP is immense shame he's not fit enough to start we are gonna struggle defending set pieces.

 

[Massive Spanner]

That Mourinho stat, my word.

 

[Rowem]

I'm not sure our Fellaini in behind the striker tactic will work well today against Zouma, Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill.

It's really frustrating the injuries we've got just as we'd settled on a perfect formation.

Agreed, would much prefer Di Maria in that position giving them the run around, Fellaini in DM and Rooney upfront.

 

[Raw]

Is RVP on the bench. Defensively at set pieces RVP is immense shame he's not fit enough to start we are gonna struggle defending set pieces.

Yep he's there.

 

[Member 5225]

Henry is soo bland

 

[Mali_Zeus]

That Mourinho stat, my word.

What is it?

 

[Damien]

Henry really isn't suited for this.

 

[Adisa]

A boring 0-0 sounds good to me.

 

[SoCross]

Lets smash them!!

 

[Niall]

What is it?

Against top 4 rivals, at home, since 2004, in 29 games he has won 10, drawn 9, lost 1!