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

By: Jack | April 11th, 2011

There’s this match at Old Trafford tomorrow evening, maybe you’ve read about it around the web. You know, it may define our season.

chelsea-didier-drogba-fernando-torres-cropped
Who do you like?

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.

So, summon your inner-Mourinho and tell us 1. how you would line up, then 2. approach the match. I know I’m interested in seeing how others feel about this one. Here’s what I offered as part of the match preview:

Choosing a team to do the unthinkable is, well, unthinkable. We need cohesiveness, drive, incisiveness and, of course, lethality in front of goal – something glaringly lacking in recent matches, particularly the opening leg. In short, we need a team that can do it all, and do it all better than good. This game defines our season; we must perform like it.

Regardless of risk, Alex must return to the first team. Bosingwa is far too much of a liability, as we all know, and we must have an aura of impermeability. Even a half-fit Alex gives us that in my mind. Say the Brazilian isn’t ready to go, however. I would opt for Essien at right-back. He’s proven himself to be competent in that position previously, and would make a far more useful option compared to the donkey that is Bosingwa. No disrespect, of course.

Four or three in the midfield? You know my answer. Mikel flanked by Ramires and Lampard. Lampard hasn’t exactly been setting the world alight, but he still represents our best scoring option from midfield. Malouda returns after a somewhat promising display in the dullness that was Wigan to the left side, with Anelka responsible for the right in a free role. Torres starts alone in the center. Drogba was better in our last two matches, you say? And you would be right. I just feel that The Mighty One offers far more an impact than Nando in a reserve role. Further, Drogs has been excellent in the few times he’s come off the bench. If we demand a spark, he can provide it. So, too, can Yossi. Speaking of substitutions: If changes are needed, they must be made in a timely manner. None of this waiting until around 70 minutes to seek a miracle. That’s far too late, even if we only need a lone goal to force extra time. If it needs to be done on 40 minutes, then do it.

Here’s my preferred XI. Dissect as you see fit.

Preferred XI
Cech
Bane-Alex-EBJT-Cole
Ramires-Mikel-Lampard
Anelka-Torres-Malouda

Now let’s hear from you.

Some Related Chelsea Posts:

Category: Champions League, Chelsea Team News, Fixtures, Opinion, Tactics

« CL Preview: Manchester United v. Chelsea | Home | Kit Watch: 2011-2012 Edition »

Frank Lampard

Cech
Bosingwa Bane EBJT Cole
Ramires Essien
Anelka Lampard Benayoun
Torres

4-2-3-1. Or,

Cech
Bosingwa Bane EBJT Cole
Essien
Ramires Lampard
Anelka Malouda
Drogba
4-3-3
Timlos

I only like the idea that all the comments I read are not uniform in terms of choice of players cos that way Ancelloti will have to decide. I am beginning to have this feeling that Ancelloti just picks his team off fan sites. This time let him suprise everyone, take a gamble in the first half as long as our defence is solid, he can do whatever upfront. One thing I can say I'm almost sure of is that we will score at least a goal.
Runar

cech
ivanovich alex terry cole
Ramires Essien Lampard
Benayoun
Torres Drogba
'BLEED BLUE' MADMAN

I personally think that the only issue we are facing is LACK OF CREATIVITY !!!!
we are pretty solid at the back esp with Alex back. We need Benayoun on the pitch and lets hope tht his chemistry with torres pays off ... And we also need essien to play in his senses otherwise the fellow might get red carded !!
My line up

Cech
Bane Alex Terry Cole
Essien
Ramires Lampard
Benayoun
Drogba Torres

Whatever anyone say !!! Drogba cant be benched ... hes GOD !!!!

Get on Anelka later on ... for whoever was worse !!
chup

After witnessing our recent matches I think I can safely say you can put anyone in our lineup and we still won't have a chance. We need a win at Old Trafford.

When was the last time United lost there in the CL? And I mean losing, as in scoring one goal less than their opponent. I know Bayern knocked them out last year, but they still won that game 3-2.

When was the last time Chelsea won a difficult away game in the CL? And by difficult, I mean against one of the big teams Barca, Real, United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Milan, Inter or Bayern.

Answer those questions and you'll know what will happen tonight.
SteveTerry

hey chup how long was it since man u beat chelsea at stamford bridge, thats right 9 years, and they somehow won last week. i mean if man u can win at stamford bridge then i am pretty sure that chelsea can win tonight!!!! chelsea just need a little bit of confidence and they can do it.
chup

Confidence is exactly what this team seems to be lacking. Drogba, Lampard and Essien, oure best players are out of form and they don't quite strike me as confident right now. Torres can't have any confidence since he's been playing lousy for almost a year and Anelka was never a confident one. He's not a player that can win you big matches. He's good against the weaker teams Bolton, Fulham, Copenhagen etc. You just have to look at his expression during matches and you can see what I mean..

I hope for a miracle tonight. Losing to United again is very sad.
Jack

Come on man. That may be so, but I'm holding out faith. We have to, it's all we have left.
Chelseafan811

i'd say we go all out

Cech
Bane-Alex-EBJT-Cole
Ramires-Essien-Lampard
Anelka-Torres-Drogba
Jones

I would go with the same formation thats given us all victories over the past seasons
cech
ivanovic - alex - terry - cole
Essien
ramires - Lampard
Anelka Yossi
Toress
If toress is on the field I think its a no brainer to pick Yossi due to their past relation. So, if rafeal doesn't play I would remove ramires and put yossi and play yuri zhirkov instead due to pace.

If life gets bad (we don't get a goal inside 60 min.)

cech
ivanovic - alex - terry - cole
Essien - Lampard
Anelka Toress Kalou
Drog
Toress as a trequartista.
Max

I'd do a 4-2-3-1 but I'm conflicted on my personnel. As of right now, this is what I have.

Cech
Iva, Alex, JT, Cole
Ramires, Essien
Anelka, Benayoun, Lampard
Torres

Torres looks SOOOO CLOSE to scoring, it's unbelievable how unlucky he has been. I think if we slot him in with Benayoun (who we can only realistically get 45-60 minutes from) who he knows, is very comfortable with (they used to room together during away matches when playing for Liverpool) he can score. Plus, Torres LOVES Vidic. It's like Vidic has a little school boy crush on Torres, he always plays rough (getting those reds), and then he can't stop Torres from scoring. People may have forgotten, but I still remember the game when a barely fit Torres, just coming back from injury, started and scored twice on United.

Since we can only get about a half from Benayoun, I'd rather start him and replace him as the game wears on because then we can make a better judgment as to how the game is going and who would be the best sub to make an impact. Plus, nothing would be worse if we subbed him in at the 60th minute, and then went to full extra time (he doesn't have the stamina or fitness for that quite yet).

I would definitely keep Kalou on the bench, because it seems his best performances are as a super sub. His energy, speed, and willingness to run at the defense will be great later on when United is more tired. Same with Diddy, keep him on the bench and introduce him when United's defense is tiring and after Torres has run circles around Vidic. That way, United won't have the same strength and energy to keep themselves from being battered out of the way by a rampaging Drogba. We kept Drogba on the bench last April, and look at what happened...Torres to step in for Joe Cole this time around and score once, then Diddy to come in and score again. Plus, if we can get Vidic out of the game by the time we introduce Diddy, it's open season on VDS and the United goal :)
Denny

Lampard
Lampard-Lampard-Lampard-Lampard
Lampard-Lampard-Lampard-Lampard
Lampard-Lampard
Amsid

Nah bro we need to clone David Luiz so we can role with:

Cech
Luiz Luiz Luiz Luiz
Luiz Luiz Luiz Luiz
Luiz Luiz
Jack

Sadly, based on recent performance, I feel like that team would get battered. A team of Banes, however, now that would be a wrecking ball of nastiness.
Denny

No such thing as a team of Banes. Just one.

Seriously, just put him out there all by himself and tomorrow we'll be reading headlines of "Chelsea obliterate hapless foes 423-0, 11 players hospitalized in serious condition with psychological trauma, Sir Alex retires from football for good"
EBJT

Like!
Kormowuo

i will go for the 4-2-3-1 formation used mostly during Guus Hiddink's time.

Ivanovic-Alex-JT-Cole
Essien-Lampard
Anelka-Yossi-Malouda
Toress

I will prefer Didier and Ramires coming on in the second half when legs are getting weary and grit is need to either score or secure a lead.
zare

id play 4-2-3-1
.
cech
. . . .
ivanovic alex terry a.cole

. .
essien lampard

. . .
ramires benayoun kalou

.
torres

i think this is best formation for chelsea aginast man.utd...cuz torres always played alone in the attack....and he did great job with benayoun in liverpool...and i think that way will get real Torres with benayoun passsing to him/
Darrenfos

if we stand any chance than we must win it in the first 30min, 3 nil up go at them like a freight train bosingwa must not play he is a liability cech, ivanovic, alex, terry, cole, ramires, lampard, benayoun, then i would have kalou just behind drogba and anelka kalou may not score much but he is great at running at them even if its a diversion
That petrol emotion

Hey Jake, I bet you wet yourself typing in the Manure line up & thinking how clever you are...
Jake

Van de Sar
Rafael Rio Vidich Evra
Valencia Carrick Scholes Park
Nani
Rooney
ph0bolus

I'd switch out Drogba for Torres in the starting XI..Then Benayoun or Kalou for Malouda, and Torres for the Drogs or Anelka whichever one is doing worse at the hour mark. Obviously we're going to have to push right on the d-pad twice to go into an all out attack mode (FIFA 11) to make it to the next stage.
Devin Anand

As I see it:

Cech
Bane, Alex, EBJT, Ash
Ramires, Essien, Lamps
Nelks, Nando, Flo

Bench: Diddy, Sala, Mikel, Bosingwa, Yossi, Yuri, Turnbull