Closed Norwich 0-1 Chelsea

[Sheva. 5,373]

Torres touched the ball like 4 times, and in all those 4 times he dispossessed it. And we are getting rid of our only other striker.

We will get someone else, stop complaining.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Good result vs a strong Norwich side but still no cameo for Paulo Ferreira.... so... BENITEZ OUT!

3 straight wins....14 goals in the last 3 games (5 vs Leeds, 8 vs Villa & 1 vs Norwich) and we've only conceded 1 (Becchio goal for Leeds)

Upcoming game vs Everton will also be a good one.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

We will get someone else, stop complaining.

It doesnt matter if we get someone else. 1 real striker+Torres isnt good enough to compete with top teams like United, Real, Barca etc. Even in the league against teams like City.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yes...BUT it depends on Vidic. He has missed most of the year due to injury (and was playing hurt early in the year.) He's one of the best defenders in the world when he's healthy so if they can get him back playing regularly, that would make a massive difference. (He wasn't playing today).

United fans keep telling me that a 31 year old who has played about a dozen games in two years and is coming back from a serious knee ligament injury is going to solve their defensive problems, despite most of their defensive problems stemming from their midfield and not their defence.

I disagree.

[potnoodlecurry 3]

Unbelievable Man utd result - RVP has made a huge difference

I wonder if we will get falcao in Jan - we will get a strker cant rely on torres he's playing everygame injury waiting to happen...

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

United fans keep telling me that a 31 year old who has played about a dozen games in two years and is coming back from a serious knee ligament injury is going to solve their defensive problems, despite most of their defensive problems stemming from their midfield and not their defence.

I disagree.

Not saying it will solve them completely, but it will help a lot. Vidic was never a pace guy so injuries are less worrisome. Even more than that, look who he'd be replacing in the starting XI. Rio Ferdinand? Phil Jones? Even a hobbled Vidic would be a massive improvement. They play a very attacking style which means that they leave themselves vulnerable defensively and as you say, their central midfield is sub-par so they will keep conceding goals but perhaps not at quite the same rate. IMO, one of the best things we have going for us versus them is their continued involvement in the CL. Their playing Real Madrid three days after playing Everton which means that they are going to have to rest players in what will be a touch match. That's why I never understand why people cheer against our competitors in CL. I want them to be distracted and tired in the league and a good run in the CL does that as well as anything.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Tough place to go, so I am extremely happy with the result.

At this stage of the season, performances mean relatively little - yet I think we actually played better today than we did this time last week at Leeds. Carrow Road is a hard place to go (only Liverpool have won there in the Premier League this term) and Norwich of course are on the back of a very good run. We defended very compactly today and when we went forward we found ourselves needing to adapt. Norwich effectively played with four centre-backs today, and two wing-backs. It meant we had to play with variation and we created some decent opportunities against an organised and tight defence, which is something we certainly would not have done a couple of weeks ago. Mata's goal was superbly taken and 1-0 is a compliment to Norwich, who were most definitely second-best.

Torres was very quiet today, but he is never going to do well in that type of fixture. He was well man-marked throughout, but that gave Moses, Mata and Oscar the chance to dictate the midfield, which they did very well. Luiz was impressive again, and Ivanovic and Cahill showed why they should be our number one centre-back pairing.

All in all, very happy - and with us being only four points off second, and with a game in hand, I'm feeling a lot more confident about the second half of the season.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

One thing to add is regarding Torres - we all know we've as good as signed another striker, but it needs to be a different type of forward to Fernando. In games like this where our number 9 is man-marked, we need someone who is big and will come and bully defenders, the same way Dzeko comes on to replace Aguero. Someone like Didier Drogba, I guess!

[Ramzi 233]

Not a fan of Torres (This disclaimer is necessary on this forum), but I feel like he must be exhausted, when was the last he's gotten a rest?

[couris 232]

Torres is playing too much.

[Milan 17,957]

Fantastic goal, really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxWKHgjpGkI

[YouNameIt 1,511]

Tough place to go, so I am extremely happy with the result.

At this stage of the season, performances mean relatively little - yet I think we actually played better today than we did this time last week at Leeds. Carrow Road is a hard place to go (only Liverpool have won there in the Premier League this term) and Norwich of course are on the back of a very good run. We defended very compactly today and when we went forward we found ourselves needing to adapt. Norwich effectively played with four centre-backs today, and two wing-backs. It meant we had to play with variation and we created some decent opportunities against an organised and tight defence, which is something we certainly would not have done a couple of weeks ago. Mata's goal was superbly taken and 1-0 is a compliment to Norwich, who were most definitely second-best.

Torres was very quiet today, but he is never going to do well in that type of fixture. He was well man-marked throughout, but that gave Moses, Mata and Oscar the chance to dictate the midfield, which they did very well. Luiz was impressive again, and Ivanovic and Cahill showed why they should be our number one centre-back pairing.

All in all, very happy - and with us being only four points off second, and with a game in hand, I'm feeling a lot more confident about the second half of the season.

Are you fking kidding me? I hate how people can even be THAT happy against a 0-1 win against Norwich. We are better than that. I am extremely happy we got 3 points, but to be extremely happy against a boring 0-1 win against a team like that is just....pathetic imo

We are better, and I think higher of us. Good thing City lost (even though id win around £2000 if they would have won)...and darn united always find a way to win.

[Ankit 3,176]

Norwich was a form team, had beaten Arsenal and Utd 1-0 so a victory here is a very good sign and important 3 points. Sunderland= useful. Newcastle=Useless. Just a point away from 2nd position(if we win our match), lets not think about the top of the table. 18 more games to go. Slow and steady wins the race.

[Rmpr 8,977]

I might sound like a jerk, but I am more gutted by Manure`s lucky win than happy by Mata`s goal. For some moments I really thought we could just get back to the title race (both Manchester teams were losing). The truth is we will have to settle for a 2nd or 3rd spot...

To the actual performance though: our defense was solid and Cahill did not compromise the result, Azipilicueta is proving to be an excellent bargain, Mikel had a very good game, Luiz cant shoot from long range (lol) and needs to position himself much better, Oscar still needs a good year to adapt, the overall attack wasnt impressive (seemed like a lazy training session), Mata is by far our best player, Hazard makes a huge diference, Moses works hard but lacks a bit of magic and Torres must fuck off.

I recognise this is a very though fixture, but we did worse than what we should have done. Great that we have a magician and our defense rose to the occasion.

Despite the very boring game, a very important win!

:blue scalf: KTBFFH :blue scalf:

[The only place to be 11,313]

Are you fking kidding me? I hate how people can even be THAT happy against a 0-1 win against Norwich. We are better than that. I am extremely happy we got 3 points, but to be extremely happy against a boring 0-1 win against a team like that is just....pathetic imo

We are better, and I think higher of us. Good thing City lost (even though id win around £2000 if they would have won)...and darn united always find a way to win.

Because in the Christmas period, the result is the most important thing. We went to a tough place and won fairly comfortably in the end.

It was a good result.

[Jase 43,479]

Not sure about catching up to United just yet but the 3 points gained was vital in staying in the Top 3/4 especially after Everton and West Brom won as well and the fact that we're facing Everton next at Goodison this Sunday. Feel it's more important focusing on consolidating our place in the Top 3 first by getting the 3 points and pulling away from the chasing pack. If we can catch up to United, then great. If not, no matter. A Top 2 or 3 finish this season with the young squad that we have and closing the gap difference between us and the top last season would be a good achievement.

[Milan 17,957]

Pity Man United managed to score the fourth otherwise it would be SOME Match of the Day to watch Still looking forward to it

[Nando 106]

Does anyone know when and against who we play our extra game in the league? Everton this weekend is massive as I can see both Manchester teams losing points to West Bromwich and Norwich.

[James 5,322]

Just back from the game, was on the end of the row got fucking soaked. Better game than last season at Carrow road would right more abit shit faced

[Jase 43,479]

Does anyone know when and against who we play our extra game in the league? Everton this weekend is massive as I can see both Manchester teams losing points to West Bromwich and Norwich.

Our game in hand is against Southampton at the Bridge.

Not sure about both Manchester clubs dropping points against West Brom and Norwich. United play West Brom at OT and can see them doing enough to win that game, as always. Norwich v City is the tricky one though.