[rockball]

Well I didn't login for a couple of days due to net problems and there are a dozen new pages here

Just my thoughts on the week gone.
Didn't see the Chelsea Liverpool game..wasn't keen on that.

Barca MU was a decent game. Of course it would have been better had MU not played pure defensive. It was very similar to their game against Roma where everyone was defending and the hope was just to give the ball to Ronaldo who would skip past 5 players and score. Barca tried hard and Messi was so superb. What a fantastic player he is. And so was Yaya Toure. He was immense in the midfield stopping players, bailing the defenders out and launching balls. MU will be really happy and look favorites to go through now.

A not so spectacular game from Toure would give away a couple of goals to MU. Barca's centrebacks are a real problem. They were just not comfortable even though they didn't have to do much. Marquez is suspended now and Milito-Puyol is very shaky indeed. I hope Thuram plays. A good game from him would be very helpful.
For attack, I think Barca should again start with Iniesta--Eto'o--Messi supported by Deco and Xavi.


The other game between Rangers-Fiorentina was very similar. Fiorentina had all the possession and tried hard but they didn't have enough ammunition to score. Rangers again had just come to defend. They are a very physical side and the only way they look like scoring is getting fouls and converting set pieces. Apart from that, they just didn't look like scoring. Fiorentina should be able to get past them. They have a good attack and if Pazzini doesn't squander chances, they should get a couple of goals.

Prandelli did have some balls to start with such an attacking lineup. Respect to him
However he needed Ujfalusi to be in top form since he was the only one comfortable to deal with such a physical side. Too sad they may lose him to Sevilla in the summer. He is one of the top 5 centrebacks in the world for me.

[rockball]

Transfer news - Luka Modric signs for Tottenham.

What a good signing for them. He is a very talented playmaker. I really wanted him to come to Inter.

[Ronticus1002]

Biggest league game of the season so far in less than an hour and most of the discussion has been on on Barca-Utd

Anyway, on today's game Utd can make do with a draw so I think they'll take it easy for an hour or so and then step it up esp. keeping in mind the game on tuesday.

Chelsea have to be attacking as only a win will do so I hope Grant ditches his favored 4-3-3 and plays Anelka-Drog in a 4-4-2. Lampard will be missed but Essien's back so that'll make a massive difference, given he's Chelsea's form man.

Don't expect much though - given the run-in's Chelsea have even if we win this game its going to be hard to win both remaining games after AND expect Utd to drop a point in their two easy upcoming games. So I won't be too shattered with even a draw as long as our proud home record is maintained...and anyway, the CL has been the more important target this year. Game needs an early goal to set things up. I too reckon a draw - Chelsea will be attacking but Utd have more than enough resilience to stop them so my predition: 2-1 draw to Chelsea.

p.s. Some over zealous fans in another forum are expecting a 9-0 win for Chelsea to cover up GD

[swagatsinha]

Even I would go in for a draw, 1-1 say.
Both teams will be wary because of the mid-week tussle coming up. Sir will surely rest some of his players.

I haven't posted here cuz I'm a bit nervous right now.

[Ronticus1002]

Ronaldo on the bench!::

Tevez too on the bench, Scholes completely left out!!...but Vidic back and Giggs captain.

[fire_kris]

Originally Posted by Ronticus1002

Ronaldo on the bench!::

Tevez too on the bench, Scholes completely left out!!...but Vidic back and Giggs captain.

both ronaldo and evra out...

:frown: there goes vital points in both sunday league ( I am 119th out of 60,000 odd user, now i think i should type i WAS), premier fantasy league and squad god..

Modric signed for tottenham:baaa:... s***... seriously he was one player who i thought could have been a disguised buy from united.. anyways really gr8 signing by spurs... they should concentrate on some defensive buys as well...

Ciao..
Kris

[Ronticus1002]

...And for Chelsea, Mikel replaces Maka (good change, faster legs required in this one and more experience requd against liverpool), and Kalou starts over Malouda, thank you Avram!

edit: crap! forgot to change my squadgod team...wanted to exchange ronaldo for essien for this game :(

[sir roy keane]

Team News....

Chelsea

01 Cech
20 Ferreira
06 Carvalho
26 Terry
03 A Cole
13 Ballack
12 Obi
05 Essien
21 Kalou
11 Drogba
10 J Cole

Substitutes
23 Cudicini, 04 Makelele, 07 Shevchenko, 35 Belletti, 39 Anelka


Man Utd

01 Van der Sar
06 Brown
05 Ferdinand
15 Vidic
27 Silvestre
24 Fletcher
16 Carrick
08 Anderson
17 Nani
10 Rooney
11 Giggs

Substitutes
29 Kuszczak, 04 Hargreaves, 07 Ronaldo, 22 O'Shea, 32 Tevez

Ref: Alan Wiley

gonna be an absolute cracker.
there's gonna be a big party in manipal if united win today

good move by SAF. anderson would be the man to watch out for. got a gut feeling that he'd make a big impression.

go united go!

[fire_kris]

I think fletcher ( I told previously hargreaves will be rested), anderson and carrick will be crucial... carrick will be asked to keep possession and distribute play after a below par game... anderson and fletcher to do the donkey one against obi mikel ( whenever i type obi .. obi wan kanonbi comes to mind but he was a good fella) and essien will be interesting contest..

ferriera at last gets a game... but will not provide that much pace which also will be a problem wit silvestre ( I think evra shouldnt have been rested)...

I think with tevez and ronaldo on the bench fergie might thrust for a win if the match is even stevens or if chelsea is leading.. which I hope doesnt happens

vidic back which adds strength.. also am bit scared about momentary lapse of concentration that is very much associated with silvestre..

last but not the least united ka gaana...

United! Top of the league,
United! United! Top of the league.
You've only come to see United,
Come to see Un-i-ted.
You've only come to see Un-i-ted.
There's only one United!
There's only one United! ....
Man-chest-er, Manchester, Manchester, Manchester,
Manchester, Manchester, Man-chest-errrr....
M-U
M-U-F
M-U-F-C, OK...
Are you City in disguise?
Are you England in disguise?
Champions! Champions! Champions!
Championes, championes,
Are we, are we, are we...


Ciao..
Kris

[swagatsinha]

Vidic's return is a big boost to United, not just for today, but also for mid-week. As expected, Sir took the luxury of sitting out key players..only Rooney playing among the big 3.
But Sir is taking a risk by not playing Hargo. I feel United will defend and counter attack for the first 60 minutes, after which Cristiano and Tevez will be brought on.