Closed Chelsea v Man United

[magic weeds 446]

It's true.

But look, we really only have Hazard, Fabregas and Diego/Remy who are a threat. They don't have to worry about Willian - he's not a danger. They don't have to worry about Matic and Mikel/Zouma - they're defensive midfielder. They don't have to worry about our full-backs in Azpilicueta and Ivanovic who are highly ineffective.

The only solution is to put Filipe in the side and then they have another one to deal with.

While we have to keep an eye on their both full-backs, Young, Mata, Fellaini, Herrera, Rooney ...

Can anyone remind me how the hell we're first since August with such minimal danger in our side ?

I think its all about the team, not individual perfomances. Only Hazard has been able to change games.

[magicrico 175]

Hi Guys,

been away a longggg time. But back now.

Dont feel confident here either like most. I hope that we step up for the big boys. Next two games are make or break imo. Win both and the league could be won against Leciester.

Cant see that happening tbh. Arsenal and Utd playing lovely stuff atm and full of confidence, we should have lost the last two or three, granted we havent but we never look like being at the races at the moment.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I don't know why everyone thinks Matic is the guy to deal with Fellaini?

When we played QPR's 4-4-2 was it Matic dealing with Zamora and Austin or was it Cahill and Terry?

Fellaini lines up like a midfielder but plays as their target man. My worry is him peeling off to the back post and having an aerial duel with Cesar.

[coolhead23 1,147]

My worry about the game is that United is back as a team ... it is not just one person doing the job but everyone executing their job to the T as compared to us. 2 months ago everyone had written off United with the toughest fixtures among the teams chasing top 4 but credit to them they have won them all. It is the determination and drive to perform is what worries me which is not restricted to one/two/three players but to the entire bunch.

I see Jose trying to suck the life out of the game by being defensive. With possibly no striker up front it would be difficult for us to push their defenders back. Jose might just do the false 9 just like the OT game last season. Would love all 3 against them but I would be happy with a draw. It will be 10 mins of high intensity from our end, get a goal and then throw in bodies. So it really wouldnt matter who's marking whom.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

We were completely bullied last time in midfield and that was when Fellaini and co werent even in form. IMO we have to throw either Zouma or Mikel next to Matic or the story will be the same.

[Sheva. 5,373]

It's almost telling in some ways that whenever we play the big teams, we can pick out like 5-7 players who are a threat to us. But when we try to see which of our players can be a threat to them, there are only like 2-3 players to choose from - e.g. Hazard, Fabregas and Costa.

So true, so annoying. And Oscar who is more of a threat than Willian is unreliable, and will never play.

[edetarod 2,155]

we're going to win the league

[The Mak 4,459]

Annoying because this is a game for Costa, not Stoke.

If we had Costa, we would win; but because we don't and because we don't need to win, it will be a big fat draw (with Ramires and Willian starting).

[Laugh1ngMan 393]

I don't know why everyone thinks Matic is the guy to deal with Fellaini?

When we played QPR's 4-4-2 was it Matic dealing with Zamora and Austin or was it Cahill and Terry?

Fellaini lines up like a midfielder but plays as their target man. My worry is him peeling off to the back post and having an aerial duel with Cesar.

Fellaini is a target man but he definetly resides most of the time in midfield. That's why you need a midfielder to take care of him.

If you watched the analysis on MNF it's clear what kind of problems it creates when one of our CB needs to pick him up, it drags alot of people out of position and creates space for other players to run into. The Mata goal was a good example of that

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Fellaini is a target man but he definetly resides most of the time in midfield. That's why you need a midfielder to take care of him.

If you watched the analysis on MNF it's clear what kind of problems it creates when one of our CB needs to pick him up, it drags alot of people out of position and creates space for other players to run into. The Mata goal was a good example of that

I disagree. That goal was a result of the high line City kept playing.

What I'm talking about is his aerial threat, when they use him as a target man it won't be a midfielder responsible for ensuring he doesn't win them it will be our CB's. Fellaini's goal best illustrates the threat he poses. Utd have been all about the diagonal crosses to the back post, its been that way throughout Van Gaal's reign and now that Fellaini is playing as a striker its coming off better than when it was RVP.

If we leave Fellaini for Azpi to deal with we could be in for a long night.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Not really. Whatever else he has to his game, Zouma can easily deal with.

Fellaini has really good off the ball movement and knows how to find gaps between midfield and defence. Mikel is an expert at patrolling that area. Plus Mikel is far more comfortable in possession than Zouma and just offers more in midfield for us.

[The Skipper 20,609]

The problem with playing Mikel is that he's been out for god knows how long. The pace of the game might be too fast for him to handle considering his last minutes haven't been for some time. In that respect, zouma would be the better option

Mikel can go months without playing and just slot into the team seamlessly. I would risk it.

Tbh, I would play both but Cahill has been decent recently.

[Laugh1ngMan 393]

I disagree. That goal was a result of the high line City kept playing.

What I'm talking about is his aerial threat, when they use him as a target man it won't be a midfielder responsible for ensuring he doesn't win them it will be our CB's. Fellaini's goal best illustrates the threat he poses. Utd have been all about the diagonal crosses to the back post, its been that way throughout Van Gaal's reign and now that Fellaini is playing as a striker its coming off better than when it was RVP.

If we leave Fellaini for Azpi to deal with we could be in for a long night.

You are only talking about the fact when he is in the box and trying to score a goal (and agree with you on that part), but I am talking when he is not in the box because he poses a problem in midfield as well with constantly bringing other people into play and you can't let your CB's try to deal with him since it will create huge gaps in our defence as there are many examples of that in the Tottenham/City game

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Moyes brought Fellaini and Mata. I guess he was genius after all

[Amblève. 4,995]

Fellaini has really good off the ball movement and knows how to find gaps between midfield and defence. Mikel is an expert at patrolling that area. Plus Mikel is far more comfortable in possession than Zouma and just offers more in midfield for us.

One thing that baffles me while reading through this forum is that people want Zouma to play in midfield vs United and completely ignore that we somehow have to generate offense ourselves as well. For what it's worth, I'd expect the same people to criticize Jose for his "negative approach" if we played Zouma while getting completely outplayed. Playing Zouma in midfield simply to have someone to deal with Fellaini (whose danger after a few good games I think is overblown to some extent anyway) would basically mean giving up the game for United to dictate and us sitting deep. Not to mention that we'd restrict our counterattacking game, too. But that's just me talking rational things so who cares.