Closed Man United v Chelsea

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I predict a win. I think we'll continue to do very good against teams that attack us and struggle against teams that park the bus just like last season. Our squad is superior to united's and Jose should out-smart Moyes when it comes to tactics. What I'm worried about is team selection as Jose doesn't seem to know the players too well yet.

Iva should not play at RB; not in this game, not ever. In fact, I just switched my fantasy PL team around just so Iva would be in the center and not at RB, because even there I don't want to see him at RB!

I think Mata should start. He usually does very well against united, and he'll find the spaces he likes against united. But I expect him to be benched after yesterday's performance, unfortunately.

I don't think I can get myself to watch the game if I see Lampard's name in the starting XI.

[John1611 77]

Essien/Mikel should have at least got 30 mins against Villa, for match fitness purposes. Giving Lamps 80 minutes and then sticking Van Ginkel on for the remaining 10 was not a good idea. Ten minutes is not enough for match fitness, and Van Ginkel is not going to start at OT anyway.

Now we're stuck in a situation when we've got a tired Lamps as our only option for the second man in DM, unless we're willing to risk unproven Mikel/Essien in a game of such caliber.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Wasn't Rooney gonna be sidelined for this one due to some 'injury'?

I'm curious how the team will after yesterday. Maybe they had become somewhat arrogant after the first game and needed a wake up call. Still worrying how many key players already/still look out of shape (Lamps, Luiz, Mata)

I think Moyes knows Roo is too good a player to be dropped against us. That is kinda like a blessing for us as he won't be happy playing out on either side of the central striker role that RvP plays.

Hope we doesn't change our defensive line, just yet. Lamps and Ba should be rested and KDB,Mata and Hazard should start as our 3 AMs. Its not worth risking Luiz for this one ( we have Bayern soon after this)

[DYC. 7,542]

Considering the fact Utd's players are well rested for this match and that they're playing at home (not to forget Van Persie's record against Chelsea in recent years), I'd take a draw. Even a ugly one.

[SamP 1]

I wanna see De Bruyne replace lampard in the pivot..

Ive never really seen de bruyne as a pure winger, has all the traits to be an elite cm though. Great vision, probably the best passing on the team, strong in recovering possession

All lamps does is slow down the game and nearly every long forward pass he attempts is lost.. Even though he might be a fan / coach favorite, it really is time to move over

[Yeboii 1,844]

Unfortunately Mou low rotation in first two games could cost us. Now we only have unfit/tired players. But it still early season everything possible. The only realy bad thing I see is that we have no option but start Lamps Rami again in the mid. This is not kind of game there you can go with newbie MvG and Obi and Essien can't add much either, especially after missing the first two games.

I could see Jose putting Ramires and MVG on

[Irakozium257 350]

I predict a win. I think we'll continue to do very good against teams that attack us and struggle against teams that park the bus just like last season. Our squad is superior to united's and Jose should out-smart Moyes when it comes to tactics. What I'm worried about is team selection as Jose doesn't seem to know the players too well yet.

Iva should not play at RB; not in this game, not ever. In fact, I just switched my fantasy PL team around just so Iva would be in the center and not at RB, because even there I don't want to see him at RB!

I think Mata should start. He usually does very well against united, and he'll find the spaces he likes against united. But I expect him to be benched after yesterday's performance, unfortunately.

I don't think I can get myself to watch the game if I see Lampard's name in the starting XI.

Agree about the Ivanovic part. He's comfortable playing at CB, and IMO, if Azpi is fit (is he?), he should be the RB in this one. It worked very well in May. But Mata should take a break and come on in the 2nd half, even if we are winning.

I'd love this line-up:

Cech

Azpi Bane Terry Cole

Ramires Essien/MvG

KdB/Moses/Schürrle Oscar Hazard

Lukaku/Ba/Torres

I believe and do have a gut feeling that all 3 strikers can have a great game agains the cunts, since it'll surely be an open game and/or we will be focused on counter-attacking, hence all 3 strikers would have a better chance of finding holes than when we are playing the smaller teams who sit deep 95% of the time.

[1chelsea 864]

Cech Azpi - Luiz - Terry - Cole Ramires - KDB Mata - Oscar - Hazard Lukaku

that is my pick all day waiting for it

[Strike 7,490]

Ivanovic Azpi

Cahill Luiz

Lampard van Ginkel

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Ivanovic Azpi

Cahill Luiz

Lampard van Ginkel

Don't think any of them will play any part, let alone starting.

[Laylabelle 9,535]

Not mega confident about this one...Van Persie is bound to score....big game good to get it out the way early

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Ivanovic Azpi

Cahill Luiz

Lampard van Ginkel

Think Mour will keep our defensive line intact.

Lampard is almost a certainty on the bench. Mata situation is very confusing

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Not mega confident about this one...Van Persie is bound to score....big game good to get it out the way early

Rooney to score an own goal will blow the roof off the place

[borriske 330]

I wanna see De Bruyne replace lampard in the pivot..

Ive never really seen de bruyne as a pure winger, has all the traits to be an elite cm though. Great vision, probably the best passing on the team, strong in recovering possession

All lamps does is slow down the game and nearly every long forward pass he attempts is lost.. Even though he might be a fan / coach favorite, it really is time to move over

Not too sure about that one, and i don't think the Manure game is the appropriate game to test that out. Agree about Frank not starting this one though.

[Laylabelle 9,535]

ooo that would no doubt cause even more speculation

[haranr 485]

We have to come with an attitude of a "non-favorite" in order to win.

It's going to be tough.

Line Up-

Ivanovic Luiz Terry Cole

Ramirez Van Ginkel

De Bruyne Mata Hazard

Lukaku/Torres

*Ba must not play.

[Jase 43,479]

Worth noting that this game is played just 4 days before we face Bayern in the UEFA Super Cup and they play their German league game this Saturday. So Mourinho might have that game in mind when making his team selection for this game against United but no doubt this is far more important than that Super Cup match.

And Mourinho will hold his pre-match press conference for this United game tomorrow at 1pm UK time.

[borriske 330]

Since Lukaku is our best attacking option, maybe we should use him at his best, i.e. right now as an impact sub. If we start him, perhaps he will struggle and then we have no back-up option. So for me Torres (shudder) to start

[Peppen 934]

What I think the line-up will be:

Cech

Azpi - Ivan - Terry - Cole

Ramires - Mikel

KDB - Oscar - Hazard

Torres

What I hope we see:

Cech

Azpi - Ivan - Luiz - Cole

Ramires - KDB/Van Ginkel

Mata - Oscar - Hazard

Lukaku

I think it'll be a very tough game, but like Jay said, we'd do good against teams coming at us, utilizing our counter-attacking possibilities.

2-2 is my guess.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Give Ramires the freedom of OT, he will tear their midfield apart.