What would you do? Your team, your system at Old Trafford (revisited)

By: Jack | May 7th, 2011

Weren’t we right here not a month ago? Weird, unexpected – but acceptable. Most acceptable.

drogba torres
These two, again

To quote myself on 11 April, prior to our demise in the Champions League:

We’ve tackled tactics throughout the season. This time is no different. However, there’s just one thing: I’m not sure that this side of the game has ever been more critical to our success than it will be at the Theatre of Dreams. This promises to be epic, and we must be ready for said epicness.

Carlo got it wrong on that evening. He may well have cemented his fate as well.

On Sunday, he has an opportunity at redemption. No one – and I mean no one – expected us to be in this position a month ago. What must our stylish, yet understated, Italian do to ensure this fairytale has a happy ending?

So, again, I ask you to summon your inner-Mourinho. How would you line us up? How should we approach the match?

This is our season, friends. No gray area, just victory and defeat. KTBFFH

Jack’s preferred XI
Cech
Bane-Bob-EBJT-Cole
Ramires-Mikel-Lampard
Kalou-Drogba-Malouda

Some Related Chelsea Posts:

Category: Chelsea Team News, Fixtures, Premier League, Tactics

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Dd2090x2

definitely agree with your line up. only thing i might switch is essien on from the start and bring ramires on in the second half.
Jack

Yeah, as you can tell my the match preview, there's no way I'm dropping Mikel. He's far too important to the side in its current installation. The rest of the team picks itself for me, though I figure Carlo will opt for Essien rather than Ramires. Torres should be a reserve, no question.
adam

cole,john,luiz,ivanovic,lampard,essien,ramires,malouda,drogba,anelka sub torres in the 70 min for drogba
Gary

Chelsea
have gained 12 points on Man-U this year, they are in the ascendancy. Their
only fear at Old Trafford is a bad decision by an under-pressure referee. It
could spoil one of football’s greatest comebacks.
Aakash Daryanani

@AakashD93:twitter preferred XI

GK:Cech D:Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, ColeM: Essien, Ramires, LampardF: Kalou, Malouda, Drogba2nd half: put Torres on for Drogba and Anelka on for Kalou...depending on how Ramires or Essien is doing, out on Mikel @chelseaoffside:twitter
Diego

hope u understand..
Diego

i wouldnt bring mikel off the bench i would play him and maybe bench essien or ramires i would maybe start essien and bring ramires on for him as there would be a small bit of fatigue so we can push ramires a bit wide to run down the flank and cause problems for evra.
Teddcfc

You've spoken reasonable my friend. I see no reason why Mikel should be on the bench with the sort of form he's in. The question is will Blue Kenyan start ahead of Bison???