Apr 26
Chelsea v Man Utd: Preview
I had a dream yesterday. Barcelona bangs four goals against us at Old Trafford. Then we come back and keep pounding their net, scoring goals in the process — and in bucket loads. But for some reason the score still reads 4-2, or something like that. Apparently we keep scoring but we still seem short. Then I woke up briefly and checked the date on my watch, and thanked my stars that it was only a dream. And then I slumped back into bed only for that dream to continue — the same thing on loop. We keep banging in the goals and we still seem short. Then we take the lead. Only for them to go on a three goal blitz. I didn’t know the final score because it became clear that they were winning, and try as we might we didn’t manage to overhaul them. I couldn’t take it any longer: I woke up, brushed my teeth, rushed to work and calmed myself over a cup of coffee.
Moral: Dreams can be rather crap.
Oh well, hopefully Ronaldo, Rooney and co read this (I know, I am so full of myself eh?) and vow to never let such a dreadful thing happen. Ever.
Right. Now that I’ve got that off my chest let’s move on to today.
In the midst of all the talk over our goalless draw against Barcelona, we may seem to have lost the significance of today’s game. It’s alright as long as it’s just us and not the players. Today is a day where we could effectively clinch the title and concentrate fully on the game on Tuesday.
But first the pre-match talk.
The Fergie is back in form. This time his ire is directed at Sky. The reason? The blindingly familiar issue of fixture congestion. We know these are the kinds of things managers say at this stage so we’ll leave it at that without further comment. Here’s the gist, though:
“The fixture is not fair in terms of its timing. Chelsea’s game was on Tuesday so they have had four days to get themselves ready, which is a big advantage, there is no question about that. It is not fair, but what can you do? If you shake hands with the devil you can’t complain. Football did a deal with television and the game is subject to television’s control nowadays. But we are suffering because of that. Chelsea have had four days’ rest and we have had two and a half. That extra day makes a hell of a difference.”[link]
United players were allowed to bask in the Spanish sun to rejuvenate themselves for a day before flying back to the isles, so hopefully that helps the players. Perhaps it was the sun that made Ronaldo’s mood swing for a moment to blurt for the 7856th time that he’d like to one day play in Spain, after being asked for the 7855th time.
SAF also reckons the incentive of the Premier League title should be enough for the players to shrug off their tired legs. Seriously, the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney and Rio have to be machines if they manage to come out of the next five days, or so, flying!
Team news, and there is some good news. And what news can be better than the news that comes from the horse’s mouth?
Yes, iron-man is to return after shrugging off his stomach virus like it was a dead fly on his shoulder — I exaggerate, don’t I?
Anyway, on to the probable starting XI, here’s my take: Fab four and EVDS at the back. Anderson + Carrick in central midfield. Nani, Giggs and Rooney, Ronaldo upfront. I think Tevez won’t start.
About Chelsea, I’d imagine Avram Grant would consult Hank Ten Cate, Steve Clarke or whoever in charge; take their advice; and then decide on some formation of his own anyway. So we’ll see what he has to throw at us.
I hope Fergie does attack Chelsea and not them show too much respect.
Prediction: 1-0 to United. Of course, an early United goal would guarantee a rout.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Porto it is then…
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Chelsea v Man Utd: Preview
- Man Utd v Spurs match thread
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
Fuckin’ Bollocks. I still can’t stay calm. Need some painkillers and head for an early nap. Will gather my thoughts — as hard as it might be — and come up with the report tomorrow.
Fuckin’ Chav Cunts!
Bollocks!
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Newcastle messed up Chelsea’s title ambitions last season IIRC with a 0-0 draw, practically handing us the title on a silver platter, so it’s possible lightning can strike twice
Antsboy: of course what you say cannot be proved. We could have lost to Boro/Blackburn and still have gone on to lose to Chelsea, hence being in a worse position than we are now, which was what I was trying to say. You can’t legislate for bits of luck which go against you, however well you play. Anyway our poor results recently have more to do with Fergie’s defensive tactics rather than a lapse in form I think.
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Nino: People aren’t pissed off coz we lost 1 game. We have now drawn against BBurn, Boro. Escaped against Le Arse and lost to CSKA Chelski. The most feared thing has happened. A slump at the wrong time.
Its really alarming, because here goes another match where the passing was totally switched off. I mean seriously, what the heck are these players doing in the match. We were doing so well against the likes of Villa because of our possession and hence passing. Keep the goddamn ball.
I hope this is visible to the United management and revert back to our old style of play, call it a 4-4-2 or a 4-4-1-1 or whatever…
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Utsaz, a slump? Middlesborough was probably the only team we should have beat but they played very
well. Blackburn are a great team with a fantastic keeper who stopped us thrashing them. We beat
Arsenal so what are you complaining about you can’t be picky about that. Barcelona are one of the
very best teams in the world and so 0-0 was a great result. And Chelsea are also a good team so
a defeat was allways very possible.
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The performances haven’t been up too all the fans high standards but it’s the business end of the season
where the results count more than the performances. Lets just look forward to Barca knowing we are still in
pole position for the title and have a slight advantage over Barca. I can’t wait!!!
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Great Man, I assume you are actually just pretending to be a Manchester United supporter to mind everyone up? Because you’re comment was just plain stupid.
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Grognard; No, of course you are not wrong. We are in dire need of a striker and everyone should be able to realise that. The only reason I used your name is because you were the one talking about the squad depth of ’99 and this possibly might have made Nino think that our squad is not deep enough overall. But I’m not sure we need 2 strikers! I mean that would mean at least 1 of them would be on the bench most of the time and I don’t think many people would agree to that. And I assume if you bought 2 strikers Tevez would be fourth choice?
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Conor; I’m looking at the 4th striker being either Manucho or Welbeck as they should not expect to see much time except in emergencies and in League Cup games. Depth of 4 strikers is ideal because of the obvious reason but also because you can have the flexibility to mix forwards in games for a different style of attack and look. Fergie could really do that in 98-99 with the Four Horseman.
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No but you said we should buy 2 more strikers. 2 more strikers + Rooney and Tevez = 4 strikers. But yes I agree, the new Four Horsemen + the rest of our team would be a fantastic prospect.
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Conor; Lets not forget Philip Lahm at RWB. I still prefer him over Hargreaves or Brown at that position. Hargo should be our holding midfielder. After all, that’s why he was bought.
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I agree. I would readily take Lahm and I’s sure he would be available for a price below £10m, but I’m not sure how much SAF wants him. It’d be great if we got him
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