PREVIEW: Chelsea v Manchester United. It's just too tough to call!.

When the Premier League's "Super Computer" comes out with the fixtures ahead of the new season, there are games you look out for straight away. Some are against the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs but above all else you always look for the games against United.

Obviously you look for these games and when they are going to happen as you know it will have a major bearing on just how well we could or couldn't be doing at each time in the season. The first game is a yardstick to see how we are doing up against the other and right now this game (along with the Arsenal game next week) could have a major bearing on how the League pans out this season.

The majority of opinion within football is that you do not judge the Premier League table until after the Christmas period. You have to agree for the most part this rings true. If Chelsea lost on Sunday and again on Monday you have to say it will be a massive blow to our hopes of retaining the title. However, the importance of these games, the rivalry of the two sides, the pressure on the players and expectation from both sets of supporters is so great that it simply is just too close to call!.




Manchester United come to the Bridge on Sunday full of confidence and why wouldn't they. They sit top of the Premier League, unbeaten so far this season, have just beaten Arsenal and are looking to get a result here for the first time in 9 years. Sir Alex is bullish already and has started the mind games which will not affect us at all but you have to say now, this will be a very difficult game for Chelsea.

United will want to come here and put right the wrongs of last season with a defeat at the Bridge and Old Trafford. I posted on here the other day that United need to get over it as they still cling onto the fact that they had their injuries and certain "decisions" didn't go their way. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't but the fact of the matter is that if you finish top of the Premier League it's because you deserve to be there. United need to move on.

That's last season, this is a very different season as far as Chelsea is concerned. We couldn't come into this game in form that is totally opposite to United. With important players missing through injury, Essien suspended, the whole Ray Wilkins saga and questions about our Manager and his future, Chelsea's form has been dire. In the last two games, first half against Everton and the second half against Spurs, Chelsea have played well. On Sunday, Chelsea need to play well for 90 minutes.

It looks like Paul Scholes has been ruled out of the game. The question remains "Will Sir Alex make changes to his line up for the 152nd game running?" I have to say I am not so sure. If United make one change then I can see O'Shea coming in for Rafael to beef up their backline. Chelsea are strong down our left hand side with Cole, Malouda linking up together in attack and this is why he may start the game. I had my say yesterday in my Tactical analysis of United and do not expect any other changes.

I also said in the same article that I wonder if Sir Alex will give it a go and play with two up front and stick Berbatov next to Rooney?, I have to say I don't believe he will as he will look to get a foothold in midfield and remain solid at he back.

Chelsea have been boosted by the news that Frank Lampard has come through a behind closed doors game in the week, played the full 90 minutes and scored. He is set to start on Sunday. I have also asked the question on here whether or not we would be expecting too much of Frank on Sunday?.. It remains to be seen how he plays. One thing is for sure about Frank, he set's himself high standards and anything less is unacceptable.

What we have to remember about Sunday is that THIS IS CHELSEA V MANCHESTER UNITED. The newest, biggest rivalry maybe in football. The Managers are hungry for it, the players are hungry and the fans and nothing else but 100% from your side will do. This could be a tight cagey affair with both sides' mentality being to remain compact, within their defensive shape and to not conceed. However, there are big big players on that pitch and it could be just one moment of magic that settles this one.

For United it's obvious. Rooney or Nani. Berbatov should for me start on the bench and I maybe wrong, but when United play 4-5-1 Rooney plays. United will look to him and Nani to provide their backfour and hard working midfield some restbite and potency going forward. Chelsea's backfour need to be at their very best tomorrow to deal with the threat of these two.

In Midfield it will be a battle. United with Park, Fletcher, Anderson and Carrick will work hard and will look to close us down with the ball at our feet. At the same time are all comfortable going forward. To me however (and this is just my opinion from sitting watching the full game on Monday) United seemed to look a little big leggy towards the last 20 minutes against Arsenal and if Chelsea play at their quick tempo as Carlo requires them to do it could open up their usual solid shape in the middle.

Michael Essien and Mikel need big games against Anderson and Fletcher in particular whereas Carrick needs a big game against Frank Lampard. Without question whoever comes out on top here WILL have a major influence in the game.

Chelsea's strength is usually our attack. For one reason or another, Anelka, Malouda and Didier Drogba have gone right off the boil and have lost their form. Drogba, after being dropped to the bench for the Spurs game, came on at half time and showed signs of getting his confidence back.

Nico Anelka needs a much better game this weekend. He was useless on Sunday. I have said it time and time again, he is class with the ball at his feet. He needs to play higher up the pitch to stop the forward runs of Patrice Evra. If Anelka can have a good game and push Evra back towards his own goal then it's half the job done.

Florent Malouda hopefully pushed further forward once again with Lampard returning in midfield, is another one who seems to have lost some form. Whether or not that's because he has played in a deeper position has something to do with it, I don't care. He needs to play better.

If these three and can some kind of fluidity within their attacking play, link up play and movement, they will cause United's defence all kinds of problems. However, they will have to go some to get the better of them as you can bet your life OShea, Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra will be up for the fight as much as Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry and Cole are at the other end.

Petr Cech and Edwin Van Der Saar could also be key on Sunday. Alot of the talk is about the other players on the pitch but there will be times when they are both called upon for one reason or another and have to be at their best. Arguably along with Pepe Reina, two of the three most consistant keepers in the League.

For United, they will look to play their own game to their strengths. Will look to maintain our attack, pressurise the Chelsea man on the ball and hit us where it hurts on the counter. Chelsea need to match United's hunger first and foremost and then build on that to have any chance of a result on Sunday. Chelsea will then look to get our passing going, quick and decisive balls up front at a high tempo. Look to also close United down and use the power and pace of our forward line also on the counter to hit United hard. There is no argument, this is a battle!.

Right now despite what you hear from the fans and from the managers, to win one of these games against the other is a big ask. You need your players to play well, you tactics to be spot on and fortune in your favour. You can prepare you team as much as possible beforehand but it's down to them to deliver once they cross that white line at 1555 on Sunday. Both set's of fans will be expectant, excited and what they are about to witness and hopefully three points for their side.

United will have their banners about their "history" and will harp on about the fact that Chelsea have little or none. What you lot need to remember is that we are creating history and do not have any issue or argument with yours!. United fans you need to accept that once upon a time you were exactly where we were all those years ago and we are simply trying to create our own. It's games like these that go along way to writing a new chapter in the history books come the end of the season.

For now as I sit here writing this and thinking about the game, bearing in mind United's form, Chelsea's form and knowing how much of a boost Frank Lampard is to the way we play, I cannot call it. Both sides are evenly matched.

It's whoever wants it more, is willing to fight and give everything they've got that will win this one. I hope it's not a draw as I can see this being a real cracker!.

For United a win will be a huge boost with six points out of six against their two biggest rivals and will look to kick on. For Chelsea it would be a disaster at this early stage in the season.

If Chelsea win on Sunday then it's game on with Arsenal up next. The Premier League will sit up and take notice. We all know United are where they are at the moment and we are where we are right now because of our form. It's as simple as that. Six points from a possible 21 is not good enough. What better way for Chelsea to turn this back into our favour than to beat United and get our title hunt back on track.

The question remains:

Can Chelsea beat United on Sunday?

For me I hope so but it's just to tough to call!.

KTBFFH

Chelsea fans! Why not go and try the brand new Indian Restaurant in Fulham Broadway The MASALA ZONE before or after the game on Sunday.

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The Masala Zone has been awarded the following accreditations:

Best Restaurateur of the Year - Tatler Award
Amaya: Best Restaurant & Best New Restaurant - London Restaurant Awards
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Veeraswamy: Britain's Oldest Indian Restaurant - Established 1926
Masala Zone: "10/10 for food, service & value for money" The Guardian

So if you need food before or after the game then why not head to The Masala Zone (opposite Barclays Bank) and please mention you have seen this advert on my website "Chelseadaft" for me when you go in. 

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KTBFFH!

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