plenty to discuss, plenty to talk about so will come back with more, for now we havent lost to them at home since 2002 so no need to start ...
KHALID
Fergie: Chelsea are the team to beat in title race
Sir Alex Ferguson has highlighted Chelsea as the main title threat and hailed their tactics and consistency under new boss Carlo Ancelotti as he prepares Manchester United for a top of the table clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Manchester United sit just two points behind Chelsea in the table but there is a sense that something is not quite right with the Premier League champions.
Last month's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool was a sobering experience for Ferguson and appeared to be proof the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and Carlos Tevez to Manchester City has severely diminished his team as an attacking force.
There are also worries at the back with Rio Ferdinand clearly off the pace as he struggles with a back injury and Nemanja Vidic, who was sent off against Liverpool, jittery and also hampered by injury.
While defeat at Stamford Bridge would not be catastrophic, Ferguson knows that a repeat of the Anfield debacle at Chelsea could put Ancelotti's team in the driving seat in the title race as winter looms. And despite Arsenal's strong start to the campaign, it's Chelsea that Ferguson sees as his primary threat this season.
"It's always a hard game at Chelsea, but we'll deal with it better than we did at Anfield, I'm sure of that," Ferguson told Inside United magazine on Wednesday. "They're shaping up to be the main challengers. It seems they'll be the ones to get in front of."
United lacked fluency in their last Premier League game, a 2-0 home win against Blackburn Rovers, while against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday their defence, minus Ferdinand and Vidic, was a shambles.
Two goals in the last five minutes inspired by substitute Wayne Rooney earned United a 3-3 draw to secure their place in the knockout round but it was a performance that offered plenty of encouragement to Chelsea.
Ancelotti's favoured midfield diamond is beginning to shine, giving the Blues both security at the back and potency up front where Didier Drogba looks back to his best after two goals in the 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid on his return from a UEFA ban.
"Their consistency, compared to last season, has probably been a bit better under Ancelotti," Ferguson said. "He's brought in the system he used at AC Milan of the diamond in the middle of the pitch. It's hard to break down when you get into their third, because they've got bodies compacted into the central area of the pitch. Ancelotti's got the two strikers, and that is a major change compared to Scolari and Ranieri."
While United struggle to fire on all cylinders, Drogba said Chelsea have a great chance to put some early distance between themselves and their biggest rivals.
"It's really important for us to beat United at home," Drogba said. "The match against Atletico was far from a good performance - I think we were thinking about Sunday's game."
United could well be without Ferdinand against Chelsea while Gary Neville is suspended but Vidic and Ryan Giggs, both of whom missed the CSKA game, are likely to return.
Sir Alex Ferguson has highlighted Chelsea as the main title threat and hailed their tactics and consistency under new boss Carlo Ancelotti as he prepares Manchester United for a top of the table clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Manchester United sit just two points behind Chelsea in the table but there is a sense that something is not quite right with the Premier League champions.
Last month's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool was a sobering experience for Ferguson and appeared to be proof the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and Carlos Tevez to Manchester City has severely diminished his team as an attacking force.
There are also worries at the back with Rio Ferdinand clearly off the pace as he struggles with a back injury and Nemanja Vidic, who was sent off against Liverpool, jittery and also hampered by injury.
While defeat at Stamford Bridge would not be catastrophic, Ferguson knows that a repeat of the Anfield debacle at Chelsea could put Ancelotti's team in the driving seat in the title race as winter looms. And despite Arsenal's strong start to the campaign, it's Chelsea that Ferguson sees as his primary threat this season.
"It's always a hard game at Chelsea, but we'll deal with it better than we did at Anfield, I'm sure of that," Ferguson told Inside United magazine on Wednesday. "They're shaping up to be the main challengers. It seems they'll be the ones to get in front of."
United lacked fluency in their last Premier League game, a 2-0 home win against Blackburn Rovers, while against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday their defence, minus Ferdinand and Vidic, was a shambles.
Two goals in the last five minutes inspired by substitute Wayne Rooney earned United a 3-3 draw to secure their place in the knockout round but it was a performance that offered plenty of encouragement to Chelsea.
Ancelotti's favoured midfield diamond is beginning to shine, giving the Blues both security at the back and potency up front where Didier Drogba looks back to his best after two goals in the 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid on his return from a UEFA ban.
"Their consistency, compared to last season, has probably been a bit better under Ancelotti," Ferguson said. "He's brought in the system he used at AC Milan of the diamond in the middle of the pitch. It's hard to break down when you get into their third, because they've got bodies compacted into the central area of the pitch. Ancelotti's got the two strikers, and that is a major change compared to Scolari and Ranieri."
While United struggle to fire on all cylinders, Drogba said Chelsea have a great chance to put some early distance between themselves and their biggest rivals.
"It's really important for us to beat United at home," Drogba said. "The match against Atletico was far from a good performance - I think we were thinking about Sunday's game."
United could well be without Ferdinand against Chelsea while Gary Neville is suspended but Vidic and Ryan Giggs, both of whom missed the CSKA game, are likely to return.
we have a full squad so no excuses, but it wont be easy...2-1 Chelsea unless the Ref comes to their aid as usual...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chelsea duo Yury Zhirkov and John Mikel Obi are both available after recovering from injuries.
The Blues' only absentee is right-back Jose Bosingwa, who may require surgery to treat his knee problem.
Chelsea (W4-0 v Bolton, a): Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Paulo Ferreira, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Drogba. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Joe Cole, Malouda, Sturridge, Alex, Belletti, Borini.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Chelsea duo Yury Zhirkov and John Mikel Obi are both available after recovering from injuries.
The Blues' only absentee is right-back Jose Bosingwa, who may require surgery to treat his knee problem.
Chelsea (W4-0 v Bolton, a): Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Paulo Ferreira, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Drogba. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Joe Cole, Malouda, Sturridge, Alex, Belletti, Borini.
Big, big game for us; obviously we havent been such favorites in a clash against United in quite some time and we need to live up to this tag. This game is all about pressuring the United midfield from the first minute until the very last - cause even thought the defense has been a liability for them in a few matches the midfield is usually the core of those problems. I think SAF will opt for Fletcher Anderson and Carrick in the middle to try and neutralise our playing style. What we need is for Ballack/Mikel etc to their share in helping Essien win as many balls as possible from the United midfield and we should control the match.
Should be a good game, very close to call United have the potential to rise to the occasion and we simply shouldnt give em a chance. J.Cole should be comfortably ahead of Deco for this match, because we will need his constant movement to unsettle the MU defense. Ivanovic should be well aware that his main priority is Evra, best wide player United have.
Lampard & Drogba should carry on their fine form going into this match
I'm kinda nervous about this game , but I simply cant wait until tommorow.
Should be a good game, very close to call United have the potential to rise to the occasion and we simply shouldnt give em a chance. J.Cole should be comfortably ahead of Deco for this match, because we will need his constant movement to unsettle the MU defense. Ivanovic should be well aware that his main priority is Evra, best wide player United have.
Lampard & Drogba should carry on their fine form going into this match
I'm kinda nervous about this game , but I simply cant wait until tommorow.
i actually think u can win this convincingly, ill be betting on u at least
hate both teams, hate chelski less though
hate both teams, hate chelski less though
Deco starts instead of Joe Cole.
That I can understand as Joe is still fresh from injury, but I don't understand why Malouda never really gets to play anymore.
That I can understand as Joe is still fresh from injury, but I don't understand why Malouda never really gets to play anymore.
wow, what a crap 1st. what the hell is Ballack doing on the wing? There's little cohesion out there. Man U look average.
If the FA don't hand Evens a 3 match bann at the very least; I'd be pretty dissapointed. **** ref - how the **** was Drogba given a yellow card for getting studs in the chest. Red card for violent behaviour forthat little red ****
Definitely, it wasn't the best of the matches but in the end we got the three points, so we have reasons to be very happy.
We were very solid at the back, but in my opinion the only offensive player that had a good day was Anelka (and all in the first half). Joe Cole should had entered the game in the place of Deco at half time, and I would love to see a left player starting in midfield (Malouda or Zhirkov).
Anyway, very good result thanks to our loved hero. I'm very happy for him getting the goal.
PD: Evans kung fu kick was a disgrace, he deserves a hard ban. And yellow for Drogba!?!?!?
We were very solid at the back, but in my opinion the only offensive player that had a good day was Anelka (and all in the first half). Joe Cole should had entered the game in the place of Deco at half time, and I would love to see a left player starting in midfield (Malouda or Zhirkov).
Anyway, very good result thanks to our loved hero. I'm very happy for him getting the goal.
PD: Evans kung fu kick was a disgrace, he deserves a hard ban. And yellow for Drogba!?!?!?
Watch the replay, clearly offside
Clear dive
Watch the replay, Brown falls over and is covering Drogba. Bringing up the the foul is clutching at straws
Not every game is played at OT where you can play until you score.
They all bring smiles on my face, it's not like you created that many more chances then us Cech didnt have a save to make until the Rooney shot. Brining up the ref is typical I'm guessing you miss Ronaldo now that there is no one to win none existing free kicks and penalties for you.
Ohh yeah I forgot to mention Deco=useless, as I said stupid decision to start him in the first place. He looked like he was lost out there not knowing what to do all the time he spend on the field. We were practically playing with 10 men cause he wouldnt move his ass around.
Yeah Ivanovic was quite good as was pretty much the whole defense don't have issues about them for one second. It was just our midfield being passive in this game and A.Cole didnt really get forward especially in the second half.
Ok . .
I have watched highlights on 3 differant channels.
Sky were clear on the peno , the offside and the dodgy goal.
On BBC Hansen (liverpool) and Dixon ( Arsenal) both felt that arsenal got the all important decisions. They even laughed at drogba v Evans incident.
On RTE two liverpool pundits (haughton and Souness) said it was as clear as day, categorically, that the ref "robbed" united.
I suppose everybody else is wrong . .
I have watched highlights on 3 differant channels.
Sky were clear on the peno , the offside and the dodgy goal.
On BBC Hansen (liverpool) and Dixon ( Arsenal) both felt that arsenal got the all important decisions. They even laughed at drogba v Evans incident.
On RTE two liverpool pundits (haughton and Souness) said it was as clear as day, categorically, that the ref "robbed" united.
I suppose everybody else is wrong . .
Great win boys.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Why did I know the drunk senile ferguson would b.itch about the reffing again?:howler::howler:
PS How the hell did drogba et a yellow? As the commentator said, it was a red on Evans and should have been a penalty. But you didn't hear the drunk ferguson talking about that...surprise surprise.
PSS Did Fletcher forget his Ritalin dosage today? :howler:
Why did I know the drunk senile ferguson would b.itch about the reffing again?:howler::howler:
PS How the hell did drogba et a yellow? As the commentator said, it was a red on Evans and should have been a penalty. But you didn't hear the drunk ferguson talking about that...surprise surprise.
PSS Did Fletcher forget his Ritalin dosage today? :howler:
Let's try and stay away from the personal insults towards users and clubs, please.
I am unsure whether the Evans/Drogba incident would warrant a foul or penalty for Chelsea because Drogba was going for the ball too, but Evans definitely should have deserved to have been sent off for his dangerous action.
I think Drogba was carded by the referee because the referee thought Drogba was play acting.
I am unsure whether the Evans/Drogba incident would warrant a foul or penalty for Chelsea because Drogba was going for the ball too, but Evans definitely should have deserved to have been sent off for his dangerous action.
I think Drogba was carded by the referee because the referee thought Drogba was play acting.
no it cant be play acting, he carded him AFTER his treatment which took a long time, which still leaves us with the question why on earth was Drogba carded?!
its just hilarious from some Man scum posters - we got "robbed", "6 or 7 big big decisions"p i cant even count 2 let alone big! they forget the fletcher penalty on arshavin, the extra time against city, the offside disallowed goal for blackburn only last week, the the the....what a bunch of wa***** :finger: p
right lets forget about the sore losers who apparently - another joke - "outplayed" us (how many saves did Cech make again?)p and get ready for arsenal...
its just hilarious from some Man scum posters - we got "robbed", "6 or 7 big big decisions"
p i cant even count 2 let alone big! they forget the fletcher penalty on arshavin, the extra time against city, the offside disallowed goal for blackburn only last week, the the the....what a bunch of wa***** :finger: pright lets forget about the sore losers who apparently - another joke - "outplayed" us (how many saves did Cech make again?)
p and get ready for arsenal...
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
