Post

I'd agree normally but how would a defeat against our second string hurt the confidence of our first string?

If anything a fresh first string winning at Chelsea would do more for our confidence wouldn't it?

And with the games being only 2 days apart it would be crazy to risk our best players getting fatigue-related injuries.

de gea

rafael smalling evans buttner

welbeck carrick anderson young

rooney kagawa


chelsea team

de gea

rafael rio vidic evra

nani carrick cleverley giggs

rvp hernandez

It wouldn't surprise me to see Jones man mark Mata providing he's not injured.

Stop Mata playing and you go a long way to stopping Chelsea. Easily their best player.

Statman John (U7425)
posted 15 minutes ago
SAF won't just pick his two teams based on saving the best players for the Chelsea game. He will take into account which players have been on international duty, the amount of game time they have had, what days they played on, the distances they travelled and any niggles that they might have.
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Agreed. I believe Hernandez and Kagawa are getting private jets back home which is paid by Man United. Looks like a lot of factors will be taken to select these two sides.

comment by It's a Mexican Rave!!!! Con Los Terroristas! (U6687)
posted 11 minutes ago
zaha is rubbish because he's english clearly
---------------------------

Born in Ivory Coast.

the next drogba?

Let's win the Sunderland game and then worry about Chelsea

Pretty sure a few of our players can manage 2 games in 48 hours

Also, no way in hell do I want City to have a sniff, should we lose at Sunderland and they then come and beat us at our place.

A 15 point gap to a 9 point gap in just 9 days will have us all getting twitchy

It is a tricky situation but one we only have ourselves to blame for being so poor against Chelsea in the cup.

I agree with the earlier post about momentum and if we mess up over these 2 games which is very possible the doubt will creep in and the media will be on our backs.

It will be interesting to see what team Chelsea put out against Saints, these 2 games are big for them too. I think our player who have far to travel will unlikely feature on Saturday. Sunderland really are $hit at the moment but they could easily raise their game especially if they see us put out a weakened team, maybe a few big guys for the Sunderland game like Carrick, Rooney, Rio, will make us solid and hopefully get an early lead so subs can be made in the second half to rest them?

Chelsea do not have the luxary that we have as their squad isn't as good as ours.

Hopefully I half decent team can beat Sunderland and save our best for Chelsea.

According to Fergie the Sunderland game is the most anticipated fixture of the season for him and the players.

We cant possibly lose it.

According to Fergie the Sunderland game is the most anticipated fixture of the season for him and the players.

Got a quote? I think it's because they laughed alot last year when we lost the title at their place.

Really?

I really hope we win the FA Cup. It's a competition we haven't won for so long. A double would soften the blow of an early exit from the CL.

I can't see us winning at Stamford Bridge

I'd be tempted to go with Welbeck over Rooney at SB. I honestly feel he offers us slightly more at the moment.

I think that SAF will play the stronger team against Chelsea, but I don't expect them to be anything like the ones suggested in the OP. I suspect that 4 players or so in each line-up will be wrong.

Darren The King Fletcher

True but they still have Turnbull, Cahil, Azpilicueta, Ferreira, Bertrand, Mikel, Moses, Romeu, Marin, Benayoun and Torres who could make up a fairly decent second XI. I'm not sure what Chelsea's injuries are like at the moment though.

I know winning the league is our priority and we can in theory afford to lose on Saturday (although it woun't help) but I would say Saturday's game for Chelsea is far bigger than the cup so if anything Benitez should put his strongest team out against Saints to give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top 4.

Got a quote? I think it's because they laughed alot last year when we lost the title at their place.
**

he has said it a few times notably at the awards ceremony at the end of last season

He said he makes sure that they dont forget things like that and the players will remember to wipe the smiles of their mackem faces in this seasons game.

We should effing muller them!

Arab, Chelsea have been pretty crap at Stamford Bridge under Rafa. Hopefully that will continue.

The thing is with Rooney, I always feel like he can score when he's in the side - especially in the bigger games - I cannot say I'm filled with the same confidence when Welbeck plays.

I want the Mackems to go down and if we deliver the final nail in that coffin it'll be great

Just been chatting to a colleague. You know you're doing something right when they are saying "I hate United more than I love Arsenal"

So our 1st team for chelsea and the 2nd team for Sunderland?

I'd balance it a bit more with a mixture of the 2.

"I hate United more than I love Arsenal"
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bingo!

Jay!

Sunderland..

Lindegaard
Smalling Jones Evans Buttner
Valencia Anderson Giggs Young
Hernandez Welbeck
==================

Swap Smalling and Jones

I want that league so bad, but I also now want to stop city winning the cup??????????

Big week coming up.