'When the Seagulls...' preview: United vs Chelsea

Just as with the Liverpool game, I feel I can’t do this significant fixture the justice it deserves by attempting to build it up. The Liverpool games have a derby-feel to them, as well as the added historical ‘battle of England's best’ element. Chelsea however is a new thing. This Nouveau Chelski side has been the greatest thorn in our Premierhip-dominating side for the past 6 years, and after a break from challenging us last season, they have once again returned to form and threaten to seriously dethrone us and take the title for the first time since Mourinho’s reign ended.







Team to face Chelsea:



At the back:

We seem to be irritatingly weak at the back just as we face the most meaningful and challenging game of the season. Drogba and his cronies (Fwank, Le Sulk et al) are on that annoying form that makes you hate yourself for liking them; and low and behold, they’re playing us at the time when we appear to be profoundly struggling at the back with form and injuries. Ferdinand’s out, again, as the faithful slowly start to lose hope and trust in his ability for the first time since he instantly vilified himself by ‘forgetting’ to take a drugs-test and thus costing us a world-class centre back for the season. Moving on: Neville’s also out, which again - following on from the 'perfect timing' element that is attached to us being rubbish in defence as we play Chelsea who are currently amazing on the attack - is ironic. Nev put out a second-half display against CSKA that restored my faith in his competence and energy-levels as an ageing full-back…only to be ruled out for a crucial League game due to that pointless red card in the Carling Cup.

Our cover at right-back though is stronger and more convincing than the void a seemingly sick-note Ferdinand will leave at centre-back. I would have O’Shea on the right and, although Evan’s showed immense signs of maturity and composure vs. CSKA, I feel he will lose his place to Brown; who when fit should always have a place in our starting line-up. Vidic (again, IF fit) and Evra (our best player this season) are no-brainers. Even so, is 2 out 4 first-team defenders (1 of whom might not actually be fully fit) really enough to hold-off the current Chelsea threat??

Midfield:

Now, here’s where it gets all technical. Although 4-4-2 is the obvious formation due to our new style and approach with Valencia on the right and Rooney/Berbatov working well together up-front, Chelsea’s line-up and consequent strength in midfield should be strongly taken into account. They will either start with a diamond formation – with Essien protecting the defence; Ballack in the centre; Lampard and Cole out wide; and Anelka/Drogba up-front – OR, as with the game on Tuesday against Athletico, they will have three in midfield (Essien, Lampard, Cole) and three up-front (Malouda/Kalou, Drogba, Anelka). If they line-up with 3 strikers, that will surely take the piss and imply Ancelloti has the balls of a camel on 'roids; although having said that, with our defensive fragilities at the moment it could be an arrogant risk Ancelloti decides is worth taking.

More likely though is the diamond set-up, where they will stack a strong defensive midfielder and a creative, holding one in the centre, with Cole and Lampard providing width and an extra attacking dimension on the wings. This will of course be matched by the pace, strength and awesome goal-scoring threat their front two. So, I suggest matching this line-up somewhat, as we play Fletcher or Carrick (if Fletcher’s not available) with Anderson ahead. Scholes failed to perform his creative, holding duties against the likes of Mascherano and Lucas, so I don’t see him doing too well against Chelsea’s unit. Anderson therefore has the extra pace to dart up the field, chase the ball and challenge their defence; plus, as with Scholes, he has the ability to distribute play (wide or to the strikers) in order to encourage the attack.





The wingers are another obvious choice with Valencia and, I suppose, Nani…but ONLY because Giggs and Park are unavailable and this is surely too big, and too early, a challenge for young Obertan. Up front is again obvious due to our lack of genuinely capable resources, however if as predicted we have yet ANOTHER player missing with Berbatov (who was absent from the squad in the week), then we will have Owen partnering Rooney.





If we can keep the ball on the wings, creating play from wide positions, I think our front two - even if we are forced to play the less-proficient Owen - will be able to get in behind Terry and Alex and cause them problems. Unfortunately however, as mentioned, this will be a battle of the midfield. If Valencia/Nani aren't shown enough of the ball and our attacking play is inevitably forced through the centre, Essien and Ballack could efficiently close us down; thus not only providing us with a narrow and ineffectual route to attack, however give them the sufficient capacity to move the ball out of defence in order to create chances for their ruthless attackers. If they can hold the ball in midfield, Chelsea will have confidence to play with time and space and potentially not give us a look in...and that's when we'll find ourselves in a spot of bother.



Prediction

I'm hoping, well, more like praying for a result against the League's most threatening and dangerous attacking side. I'll go for 2-2 and hope their confidence coming forward and ability to commit numbers up front will encourage us to capitalise on their own defensive frailties. Fingers crossed for this one...