Closed Chelsea v Manchester United

[Strike 7,217]

Theirs no point putting in sturridge after him hardly playing so far, Torres will start because of experience, the extra height, and defensive responsibilities, whether sturridge players or not thats yet to be seen, I'd argue lampard would be needed here for a big game, but he's injured so otherwise i agree.

sturridge actually deserves a stint in the centre-forward role. torres has been average at best so far. he has had a lot of chances and has simply refused to pull the trigger at times. that shows his confidence. i don't know what you are onto when you say extra height because torres is not exactly a great header of the ball and as for defensive responsibilities? do u think we will play 11 men behind the ball again?

[Stats 7,053]

tbh sturridge isnt better then torres neither is torres any good! were stuck with useless strikers as of know!

The truth is Torres was better than him but that is the past now. While most people want to see Sturridge starting the real truth is that we don't have a "prolific striker" at the club. Even towards the end of last season Sturridge dipped off form, bar the QPR game but in all fairness to him he has not been given enough time to prove he should be the no.1 striker here. It is good that we are getting goals from all around the team, the defenders being there to show the attackers how to do it but there is no evidence that Sturridge will be prolific if given the chance, even though I have high hopes for him. This is what worries me about United game, Rooney/RVP can play poor anytime but know how to hit the net and that could be the diffference in the game or perhaps at the table at the end of the season. I pray we get Falcao so we are taken to the next level. Whether that makes Torres feel pushed out, who cares tbh. Man City have 4 quality strikers and won the league last season, Real Madrid have 2 quality strikers and won the league last season and United have 4 out and out quality strikers.

There is no reason why we shouldnt do the same so when people say Falcao to trade for Torres I think, Torres can be back up and come in rotation, that way he knows he can't get in the starting 11 even when he has a bad performance.

[Stats 7,053]

sturridge actually deserves a stint in the centre-forward role. torres has been average at best so far. he has had a lot of chances and has simply refused to pull the trigger at times. that shows his confidence. i don't know what you are onto when you say extra height because torres is not exactly a great header of the ball and as for defensive responsibilities? do u think we will play 11 men behind the ball again?

In fairness to Count, he has a decent point because Torres has scored quite a few headers at his time at Liverpool and quite a few at us as well and is some what underrated in the air. Brilliant scored headers against Genk, Wolves and Norwich as well IIRC but I don't think that should even be a factor for this game of why he should start

[Pacquiao 1,834]

90% of balls headed out from corner when drogba played was from drogba, height IS important, especially when your midfield has only 1 player is over 6 foot, defensive headers from set pieces and crosses are very important or have you forgetting how Man Utd play?....torres is a better defender when needed and when defending high balls he can be of use...

Have you actually seen Torres defend from set pieces? they highlighted him on Chelsea tv the other day they showed around 3 or 4 set pieces from different games where balls were played into the box and every time Torres was just literally standing there and not following his man, its one thing being tall and another actually being able to defend a set piece.

[Strike 7,217]

In fairness to Count, he has a decent point because Torres has scored quite a few headers at his time at Liverpool and quite a few at us as well and is some what underrated in the air. Brilliant scored headers against Genk, Wolves and Norwich as well IIRC but I don't think that should even be a factor for this game of why he should start

defending setpieces is one thing and heading is another. his headers against wolves norwich leicester city etc were free headers. he's not like drogba. how many times did we see cech lump the ball up earlier this season only to see torres lose the aerial challenge. that's why cech is taking short goal-kicks now. against reading especially, it was unbelievable that we kept losing the ball as soon as cech dumped it long

and defending setpieces is not even a remotely viable excuse to support torres

[Nando 106]

Is there a chance RDM will decide to start Bertrand in order to add safety to the wing?

[blue_swaggin_96 96]

is pretty silly to think sturridge will do better then torres movement wise! but i do agree sturridge does want it more, his goal against spurs told us everything! torres is just not good enough! it proved against shakhtar that without a good striker your useless! loook @ the chances torres had!

[Jase 43,479]

HA! This week, Mark Lawrenson predicts United to beat us and keep a clean sheet! 1-0 is his prediction.

EDIT: And oh, no Kagawa for this one.

Telegraph Sport ‏@TelegraphSport

Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa will be sidelined for three to four weeks with a knee injury... #MUFC

[wj818 25]

defending setpieces is one thing and heading is another. his headers against wolves norwich leicester city etc were free headers. he's not like drogba. how many times did we see cech lump the ball up earlier this season only to see torres lose the aerial challenge. that's why cech is taking short goal-kicks now. against reading especially, it was unbelievable  that we kept losing the ball as soon as cech dumped it long

 and defending setpieces is not even a remotely viable excuse to support torres

But realistically speaking, you can't seriously think of putting sturridge over torres? Right?? 

1st: Although not at his best (and highly unlikely to replicate his old form), still, he has played more matches and has gelled with our other 3 attackers more than sturridge, who not only has never started the game, but also we really cant know if the same level of understanding will be there, chances are they would need some game time.

2nd: Torres might not be the best header, but his height still plays a part (example mikel)  so eventhough he isn't half as good as drogba, he can atleast mark someone whereas Sturridge cannot even mark. But more than defending, we might need his height or physical presence (though it ait much) in attack too, as we might have to play long balls, even if we prefer it in the ground, in circumstances like these Sturridge will be beaten everytime whereas Torres might win one or two, or atleast put pressure on defenders. 

3rd:  Torres has more experience against big teams than Sturridge, and has also proven that he can play as a lone striker, Sturridge still hasn't, (or never had the opportunity too) 

Considering Sturridge without even seeing him play one game under his belt would be worse than blind faith.  atleast with Torres we know what we will get!!! 

[Strike 7,217]

But realistically speaking, you can't seriously think of putting sturridge over torres? Right??

1st: Although not at his best (and highly unlikely to replicate his old form), still, he has played more matches and has gelled with our other 3 attackers more than sturridge, who not only has never started the game, but also we really cant know if the same level of understanding will be there, chances are they would need some game time.

2nd: Torres might not be the best header, but his height still plays a part (example mikel) so eventhough he isn't half as good as drogba, he can atleast mark someone whereas Sturridge cannot even mark. But more than defending, we might need his height or physical presence (though it ait much) in attack too, as we might have to play long balls, even if we prefer it in the ground, in circumstances like these Sturridge will be beaten everytime whereas Torres might win one or two, or atleast put pressure on defenders.

3rd: Torres has more experience against big teams than Sturridge, and has also proven that he can play as a lone striker, Sturridge still hasn't, (or never had the opportunity too)

Considering Sturridge without even seeing him play one game under his belt would be worse than blind faith. atleast with Torres we know what we will get!!!

not this game. i said he deserves a stint up front. this game may not be the right game to start it. maybe bring him on in the second half.

[wj818 25]

not this game. i said he deserves a stint up front. this game may not be the right game to start it. maybe bring him on in the second half.

Ohh!! Sorry, my bad!! Then we more or less agree

[wj818 25]

not this game. i said he deserves a stint up front. this game may not be the right game to start it. maybe bring him on in the second half.

Ohh!! Sorry, my bad!! Then we more or less agree

[Beirut_Blues 306]

Dear God bring us Glory!

Make us victorious in front of the Red Devil.

Amen

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Doesn't metter which the line up is.. just we have to win..

HAPPY EID MUBARAK

Thanks and eid mubarak to you too.

[didierforever 7,349]

HA! This week, Mark Lawrenson predicts United to beat us and keep a clean sheet! 1-0 is his prediction.

EDIT: And oh, no Kagawa for this one.

tbh i dont expect us to get any points out of this match but united keepong a clean sheet is a joke. i expect a goalfest with united clinching it simply because they ll be more clinical (1000 times more clinical). something like the OT match.

[Stats 7,053]

Doesn't metter which the line up is.. just we have to win..

HAPPY EID MUBARAK

So you would be happy with an all youth team being sent out? Of course is matters lmao

[Waterfall 893]

I was hoping Kagawa would play alongside Giggs and Scholes. That would have been one of the weakest midfields in the PL

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I think we can afford to draw this one, but we must not lose. The injury to Kagawa actually benefits them more because his replacement will be Nani or Valencia who will provide width to the team, something we have been suffering against this season.