Closed Man United v Chelsea

[Pizy 18,368]

Lukaku must be thinking "he would rather not play a striker than play me."

[Toli 977]

I'M GONNA KILL MYSELF IF ANYONE SAYS FALSE 9. SCHURRLE PLAYED AS A STRIKER AND SECOND STRIKER AT LEVERKUSEN FFS.

no he didnt. he played LW for leverkusen.

[NishC300 1,865]

Playing without a striker is an invitation for Rooney to join Cfc... Jose is so nice!!

Just got that tweet right now. Someone RTed it

[Sheva. 5,373]

Lampard should really not be starting away at Old Trafford. Hope he does well though

[YouNameIt 1,511]

Jose is an absolute genius. You guys just havent realized why.

I think this will be a draw btw.

[Ankit 3,176]

Ok, but what is the lineup ffs!

Man U: De Gea; Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Valencia, Rooney, Welbeck, Van Persie. #CFC

#cfc: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Lampard; De Bruyne, Oscar, Hazard; Schurrle.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Lampard

[Hutcho 8,443]

Just seen the lineups. Would have personally gone with Lukaku up front. But happy to see Schurrle given a go up there. He seems the sort of player who could do well there.

The one game of the season I will miss and have to listen to on the radio but oh well... Come on the Chelsea!

[Rmpr 8,977]

Schurrle as ST? Lampard?

Btw, Hazard/Oscar/KDB, looks like Jose didnt wait until January to drop Mata!

[Strike 7,217]

Ok, but what is the lineup ffs!

Ramires - Lampard

KdB - ---Oscar--- - Hazard

Schurrle

[hjperdeath 2,226]

no he didnt. he played LW for leverkusen.

He has appeared in the no.9 role, and the 9 and 1/2 role when he was asked to. Even when on paper he was LW, he has gone on to exchange positions mid-way.

[zolayes 14,489]

FFS show SOME faith in our coach ....

[Stingray 9,441]

Genius move by mourinho, starting lukaku (our topscorer in pre season) on the bench for the third time in a row while playing torres ba and now schrulle instead of him. Must be great for the lad.

I'd be looking for another loan at this point if I were Lukaku. Really a shame.

Why?? This obviously a tactical thing ..... Why would this shatter Lukaku? The lad is a football encyclopedia ... he knows when a tactical thing is being put in place.

If it is the good one ... that remains to be seen. It sure as hell isn't boring :-)

[Milan 17,853]

Jamie Carragher speaking - :lol: :lol:

[JayC 171]

I've learnt to never doubt Mourinho. He's playing this way for some reason. Maybe the game will tell the story. Then again he could just have so little faith in his strikers he's felt forced into these tactics.

I wouldn't worry about the line-up though he knows what he's doing.

I don't fancy your chances of stopping our attack mind - so you're gonna need a couple of goals from somewhere i think.

If i question one thing - it's the inclusion of Schurrle.

[Hutcho 8,443]

1-1 would be my prediction.

[chopchop 68]

This. Must be devastating. Asking extra training to be in top form against man u, scored a hattrick against them last season, scored every 48 minutes in pre season, and now is being benched for someone who had an awefull pre season and is playing out of position. should of went on loan.

There's still a week left in the window.

[Kish9 50]

This should decide who is higher in the pecking order for strikers, who comes on as a sub? Torres or lukaku?