Carrick vs Chelsea times 3, and Schalke times 1.
Last time I'm ever posting that video.
Last time I'm ever posting that video.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea
- Thread starter VidaRed
- Start date
It was a Wes Brown og for that Sturridge effort against Sunderland, it was coming back out off the post. Still, City should have probably held onto that one.
i hope i'll get my ticket....
Carrick is an excellent reader of the game as you can see from the video posted above. I've heard people say he slows our play down in a similar way to Berbatov would, but I think he's the kind of player we need in certain games to allow us to start playing in the first place.
That number of interceptions and tackles won in three games isn't a fluke. Carrick's passing may have been poor in comparison to a few seasons ago, but when he keeps it simple we can usually set off attacks when he wins the ball back.
Fletcher can probably do the same thing, but I'd be more inclined to pick Carrick this time, especially due to his performances against Chelsea last season. He wasn't great against Benfica at all, but the entire midfield was obviously lacking in games, hopefully those minutes will allow Carrick to perform better on Sunday.
Lindegaard, Fábio, Evans, Fletcher, and Valencia will probably come back into the side for the Leeds game, with Berbatov and Michael Owen getting a chance too (Macheda and Diouf on the bench).
However, weren't we hoping Vidic would be back for the Cheksea game? It could still be a possibility and he'd be sure to start if so.
Oh, and 1-0 Hernández by the way.
That number of interceptions and tackles won in three games isn't a fluke. Carrick's passing may have been poor in comparison to a few seasons ago, but when he keeps it simple we can usually set off attacks when he wins the ball back.
Fletcher can probably do the same thing, but I'd be more inclined to pick Carrick this time, especially due to his performances against Chelsea last season. He wasn't great against Benfica at all, but the entire midfield was obviously lacking in games, hopefully those minutes will allow Carrick to perform better on Sunday.
de Gea
Jones Ferdinand Smalling Evra
Carrick Anderson
Nani Rooney Young
Hernández
--
Lindegaard; Evans; Fletcher, Park, Valencia, Giggs; Berbatov
Jones Ferdinand Smalling Evra
Carrick Anderson
Nani Rooney Young
Hernández
--
Lindegaard; Evans; Fletcher, Park, Valencia, Giggs; Berbatov
Lindegaard, Fábio, Evans, Fletcher, and Valencia will probably come back into the side for the Leeds game, with Berbatov and Michael Owen getting a chance too (Macheda and Diouf on the bench).
However, weren't we hoping Vidic would be back for the Cheksea game? It could still be a possibility and he'd be sure to start if so.
Oh, and 1-0 Hernández by the way.
Hernandez to score after 10 seconds!
----------------De Gea---------------
Smalling---Ferdinand----Jones-----Evra
Nani------Fletcher-----Anderson---Young
----------Rooney----Chicharito--------
Or
----------------De Gea---------------
Smalling---Ferdinand----Jones-----Evra
Valencia----Fletcher----Anderson---Nani
-----------------------Young
----------Rooney------------
Smalling---Ferdinand----Jones-----Evra
Nani------Fletcher-----Anderson---Young
----------Rooney----Chicharito--------
Or
----------------De Gea---------------
Smalling---Ferdinand----Jones-----Evra
Valencia----Fletcher----Anderson---Nani
-----------------------Young
----------Rooney------------
Personally my biggest annoyance about our pre season was the fact that Luiz wasn't available, for everybody else it was about fitness and a place in the pecking order but he is the real tactical conundrum. I cannot see him getting in ahead of Terry and Ivanovic whilst Bosingwa ranges between good and underwhelming at right back.
I can see Luiz quite easily as a Roberto Carlos type individual, a Brazilian defender who at times can be shaky but wants to tear down the pitch and showboat and is very good at it.
Though if Villas Boas is the innovator he is supposed to be, Chelsea have the players to go 352 - Ivanovic, Terry and Luiz at the back, with a midfield of Lampard, Ramires and Mata with Cole and Bosingwa flanking them slightly back, and then Sturridge and Torres who don't have to be quite so worried about where their width is. That would be a good way of dispensing with this convention Chelsea now have with fielding a rigid holding player.
As I say, if these players were available pre season we could have tried them out, now the season is underway it would be reckless to be so bold.
Do you not see potential in Luiz as a holding midfielder? He's a defender by trade so the defensive duties should be natural to him, but he's also a lot more dynamic on the ball than Mikel which would maybe liven up your midfield a bit without losing the defensive balance playing the trio you suggested might. He's got a bit of experience playing there in the past by all accounts aswell so may be something to have a look at for Chelsea.
Luiz is one of these bizarre players who appears to be very talented with the ball, but isn't actually completely competent in any position. I'd worry about him anywhere defensively, and he's not good enough offensively to play in an advanced role. I suspect he might settle down in a 4-2-3-1 as the better passer in the 2 sitters.
Absolutely, I've said it before - only yesterday in fact but I think the likelihood of that is low.
Saying all of this about Luiz, he came in at a difficult time for Chelsea, still fairly young, new to the premier league - we haven't seen enough of him yet to really paint an accurate picture. So many of Chelsea's foreign players have taken a year to get into the pace of things and start performing - for instance Ramires this time last year was underwhelming and was until after Christmas at which point it clicked for him and he now seems to have nailed down his first team place.
Recent results against Chelsea
10/11
Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea - Hernandez, Vidic; Lampard
Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea - Hernandez, Park; Drogba
Chelsea 0-1 Man Utd - Rooney
Chelsea 2-1 Man Utd - Rooney; Luiz, Lampard
09/10
Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea - Macheda; J.Cole, Drogba
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Terry
08/09
Man Utd 3-0 Chelsea - Vidic, Rooney, Berbatov
Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd - Park, Kalou
07/08
Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea - Ronaldo; Lampard - Man Utd win 6-5 on penalties
Chelsea 2-1 Man Utd - Rooney; Ballack x2
Man Utd 2-0 Chelsea - Tevez, Saha
06/07
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Drogba
Chelsea 0-0 Man Utd
Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea - Saha, Carvalho
10/11
Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea - Hernandez, Vidic; Lampard
Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea - Hernandez, Park; Drogba
Chelsea 0-1 Man Utd - Rooney
Chelsea 2-1 Man Utd - Rooney; Luiz, Lampard
09/10
Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea - Macheda; J.Cole, Drogba
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Terry
08/09
Man Utd 3-0 Chelsea - Vidic, Rooney, Berbatov
Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd - Park, Kalou
07/08
Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea - Ronaldo; Lampard - Man Utd win 6-5 on penalties
Chelsea 2-1 Man Utd - Rooney; Ballack x2
Man Utd 2-0 Chelsea - Tevez, Saha
06/07
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Drogba
Chelsea 0-0 Man Utd
Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea - Saha, Carvalho
Torres will get a hat-trick. 
Bet on it.
Missed one out. Ever the pedant me!
-------------------------de gea-----------------------------
smalling---------rio------------------jones--------------evra
nani------------carrick--------------anderson-----------young
----------------rooney--------------chicharito---------------
park would be a good option against a side like chelsea but he played for 90 minutes at benfica and given the good form of young, he is unlikely to start. would not mind to see park starting though.
shame cleverley is not fit, would be interesting to see how him and ando facing one of the best side in the world. fletcher is still recovering and lacks match fitness so carrick is likely to start. hope he can perform just like he did a few months ago this sunday.
rio's experience is vital, while i might just opt for jones over evans at the back.
bench looks strong though, with the likes of berba, owen, valencia, fletcher, giggs, park and so on.
smalling---------rio------------------jones--------------evra
nani------------carrick--------------anderson-----------young
----------------rooney--------------chicharito---------------
park would be a good option against a side like chelsea but he played for 90 minutes at benfica and given the good form of young, he is unlikely to start. would not mind to see park starting though.
shame cleverley is not fit, would be interesting to see how him and ando facing one of the best side in the world. fletcher is still recovering and lacks match fitness so carrick is likely to start. hope he can perform just like he did a few months ago this sunday.
rio's experience is vital, while i might just opt for jones over evans at the back.
bench looks strong though, with the likes of berba, owen, valencia, fletcher, giggs, park and so on.
I'm really looking forward to this game. Let's fecking ave em.
feck me do you remember how immense Park was last season at home to Chelsea?
He was literally everywhere, intercepting passes, winning tackles and starting counter-attacks.
Funny to see a little Korean guy dominate a very big and physically imposing Chelsea team.
I wonder if he will play Sunday?
He was literally everywhere, intercepting passes, winning tackles and starting counter-attacks.
Funny to see a little Korean guy dominate a very big and physically imposing Chelsea team.
I wonder if he will play Sunday?
park was the best player on the pitch during the first 45 minutes at home last season.
Think we'll see Fletcher and Park get starts in place of Nani and Carrick.
Neil Franklin
Ruud Krol
Franz Beckenbauer
Gordon McQueen (just kidding)
they're all a bit before my time!I know there have been these types of players throughout the history of the game, but I've never know it to be so common like it is now. We've got 2 or 3 in our defence alone.
Well, Neil Franklin was before mine as well but I remember talk of him. I wikied him actually and it was pretty interesting.
I know there have been these types of players throughout the history of the game, but I've never know it to be so common like it is now. We've got 2 or 3 in our defence alone.
The 70s was awash with these "libero" type players (I was around then) and Beckenbauer is really one of my all time favourite players. If you get a chance to view Bayern or W Germany of the period, you ought to. Incredible player.
I'd rather have Nani ahead of anyone...
Technically if we're counting Community Shields I missed three outMissed one out. Ever the pedant me!
same
Our first real test... will be a tough match...
I dont want to jinx things but I can honestly see a Phil Scolari style defeat for Chelsea
Last season we were comfortably better than them in all 4 games against them and while we've improved they seem to be at best at the same level they were last season
It should be a comfortable win the only thing counting against us is never winning our first 5 league games in a season before
Last season we were comfortably better than them in all 4 games against them and while we've improved they seem to be at best at the same level they were last season
It should be a comfortable win the only thing counting against us is never winning our first 5 league games in a season before
I puked a bit in my mouth reading that... not that I don't like Park but Nani would be my second name on the team sheet after Rooney.
Fletch or Carrick? Don't care as long as Anderson starts.
Nani has to play, him and Young give us the devastating edge in the attack. I'd probably play Fletcher/Park ahead of Carrick though.
Park is always fantastic in these games. Nani can blow hot or cold. Won't be a big surprise seeing Park start ahead of him on the right and helping out our two in midfield when we don't have the ball.
No thanks. Absolutely no need to change a winning team, with the exception of the injured Cleverley.
We'd be fecking mad to do that.
De Gea
Smalling
Evans
Ferdinand
Evra
Park
Carrick
Anderson
Young
Rooney
Chicharito
Well-balanced line up, Park as a big game player in for Nani and Wazza back in his prime position behind our Mexican poacher.
Smalling
Evans
Ferdinand
Evra
Park
Carrick
Anderson
Young
Rooney
Chicharito
Well-balanced line up, Park as a big game player in for Nani and Wazza back in his prime position behind our Mexican poacher.
On my way to England! cant wait for the Sunday!
They don't have Drogba, do they?
That's good news.
That's good news.
I wonder would Fergie consider a midfield pairing of Anderson and Giggs
would be much more fluid and we'd pass the ball a lot quicker
would be much more fluid and we'd pass the ball a lot quicker
That's what I picked, I'm excited to see those two together.
Rooney is gonna run rampant, this is gonna be fun.
Rooney is gonna run rampant, this is gonna be fun.
I have a very uncomfortable feeling about this game. I can see Chelsea surprising a lot of people and clicking this weekend.
I don't think Chelsea will be terrible, but we have had their number recently.
We always end up getting bummed when people think we're going to easily beat one of the bigger sides. Expect a fluky 2-1 to them