Title: Man U vs Chelsea
farakaka - September 23, 2007 03:50 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Chelsea's visit to Manchester United was always expected to be its toughest game of the season. Even more so with the sudden departure of manager Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea announced Mourinho's departure in the early hours of Thursday morning -- a day after his side could only draw 1-1 in the Champions League with Norway's Rosenborg.
Assistant Steve Clarke or director of soccer Avram Grant are expected to take charge of Chelsea for Sunday's visit to Old Trafford.
The Blues, who won the Premier League title in 2005 and 2006 and also finished runners-up last season under Mourinho, have had a poor start by their standards, winning three, drawing two and losing one of its six games.
Chelsea is fifth in the standings on 11 points with six games, below Manchester United on goal difference. Arsenal leads with 13 points and has played a game less.
Mourinho's departure was announced after a board meeting Wednesday night, while most of the Chelsea players and staff were at a nearby cinema watching a documentary of the club since Abramovich bought the club in 2003 called "Blue Revolution."
It was unclear whether Mourinho was fired or quit. He was also reported to have fallen out with captain John Terry after the Rosenborg game, which Chelsea was expected to win comfortably.
Mourinho's relations with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich had been troubled for some time, sparked by the arrival of striker Andriy Shevchenko last season -- a player not particularly wanted by Mourinho.
Former Chelsea player Didier Deschamps, Russia coach Guus Hiddink, Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann and Sevilla's Juande Ramos were tipped as possible arrivals at Stamford Bridge. There is strong speculation, however, that Grant could be promoted to the top job having been hired by Abramovich last season -- also without the approval of Mourinho -- to be one of the coaching team.
Deschamps was listed as the 2-1 favorite by British bookmakers William Hill, with Hiddink at 3-1, with Klinsmann and Ramos, who was in London Wednesday for Sevilla's Champions League match at Arsenal on 5-1.
Chelsea drew 0-0 with Blackburn in its last Premier League match after losing 2-0 to Aston Villa.
After the Rosenborg game, Mourinho had said he would likely be without midfielder Frank Lampard (thigh) and striker Didier Drogba (knee) for Sunday's game against defending champion United.
Manchester United, which has recovered from its own indifferent start to the season, won its Champions League match 1-0 at Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday. Striker Wayne Rooney played for the first time since Aug. 12 after recovering from a broken foot bone and should be fit for Sunday. |
Jose was forced out because he had a mind of his own and wasn't a robot for a Russian mobster who thinks he knows a thing or two about football. Avram the opportunist, however, is going to be the oil oligarch's little hiz-o in the locker room, doing everything daddy Ramon Abramovich says, and ultimately f**king up the club. I remember Jose saying after one of his talks with Ramon that "If he managed the team and I managed his businesses we would be bottom at the league and bankrupt." That's when the relationship deteriorated, I suspect. True words but too true for Ramon. Fergie run Man Utd the way he wants to. Ramon should've let Jose do the same thing too. He gave Chelsea their best side in their club's history.
Personally, I think Chelsea will do okay this weekend. I dunno if we will win. Morale might be terribly low now, but at the end of the day, they are all professionals and will conduct themselves as such during game day. We are loaded with talent, can't spend the next 9 months mulling over who will stay or not. People who feel they should start will prove it on the pitch.
CHELSEA 2, MAN UTD 1
(Sheva and Essien just wait and see) :cry3: Sorry I'm going mental.
This game will be a good one. Both teams want to win it badly especially in THIS situation. It's still early days in all competitions and I am uncertain of Avram is temporary or the panacea. The team now has a history of winning and being a quality team. I wish Avram all the best and hope Chelsea continues to be a force despite Jose no longer managing the team :(
Blues forever. :warrior:
kaka_no1 - September 23, 2007 09:43 AM (GMT)
hope your Chels will won, Fara :hug:
cuz In don't like MU too much <_<
farakaka - September 23, 2007 02:40 PM (GMT)
thanks for your support lananh... :hug: really appreciate that...!
the match is about to start.. i'm leaving bye :hiya:
farakaka - September 23, 2007 02:54 PM (GMT)
Chelsea will line-up in a 4-3-3 formation as follows:
1 Petr Cech
20 Paulo Ferreira
22 Tal Ben-Haim
26 John Terry ©
3 Ashley Cole
12 John Mikel Obi
4 Claude Makelele
5 Michael Essien
10 Joe Cole
7 Andriy Shevchenko
15 Florent Malouda
Substitutes: 23 Carlo Cudicini, 33 Alex, 24 Shaun Wright-Phillips, 21 Salomon Kalou, 14 Claudio Pizarro.
Man United are expected to line-up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:
Van der Sar; Brown, Ferdinand ©, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Scholes; Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney; Tevez.
Subs: Kuszczak, Pique, O'Shea, Nani, Saha.
The referee is Mike Dean.
K!M - September 23, 2007 03:20 PM (GMT)
I HOPE...
Pizarro gets to play.
&+ that he scores.
if he doesnt get playing time...
then go MAN U!
:D
K!M - September 23, 2007 07:06 PM (GMT)
CHELSEA 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
:( sorry chelsea.
Tevez scored! :bounce:
and the other goal was from Saha by a penalty.
ch3rri3 - September 23, 2007 08:17 PM (GMT)
I bet Mourinho's laughing now!!
Look what happened to Chelsea when Mourinho's not in control (although I'm not complaining about the result :lol: ) Chelsea fans must be furious! The way Sheva played = sucksss!!! I heard he and JT were the ones who wanted Mourinho fired...
Drizinha - September 23, 2007 08:28 PM (GMT)
Sheva wanting Mourinho fired doesn't surprise me. But John Terry.... :huh: he used to love him.
Very good United :dance: Congratulations, woot!!
but I don't like Tevez <_<
K!M - September 23, 2007 08:46 PM (GMT)
Really? Woa :blink:
Bad Sheva! :NO:
and did anyone see the game? If u did, can u tell me if Pizarro played please? :)
ch3rri3 - September 23, 2007 08:53 PM (GMT)
Pizarro played but only for a while maybe not until 20 min (I forgot... :P ) but I remembered he was the last subsitution that Avram made
K!M - September 23, 2007 08:56 PM (GMT)
Ohh okay, thanks :hug:
and, as long as he plays im good xD
Taty - September 23, 2007 10:51 PM (GMT)
chelsea are nothing with out mourinho, lamps and didi they were lost
i want to kill joe cole how can he enter like that to a football player!!!! that soo unprofecional!! god!
Letizia - September 24, 2007 02:14 AM (GMT)
haha! awesome! i knew it. forza united!! :goooo:
fofinha - September 24, 2007 09:11 PM (GMT)
It's okay , for me it wasn't a big deal , i just hate this coach :devil:
Terry didn't play well (he is affected cause Mourinho left :P :lol: )not just him i think maybe most of the players :P
I hate Tevez why it wasn't Cristiano :wub: who scored :P :lol:
Congrats united fans :clapp: :yes: and hard luck for us
They must fire the coach :yes: :P :lol: :lol:
ch3rri3 - September 24, 2007 09:49 PM (GMT)
why would Terry be affected because Mourinho left? he and Sheva are the ones who want Mourinho to leave. With their wish granted, they should be playing at their best but they played like shit instead...