Chelsea team vs Manchester United.

I thought I would post an example of the Chelsea side I would like us to start with tomorrow night just to hear your opinions. There is plenty of opinion amongst you all about the game but I thought I would put something to you all to see how many of you agree.

I think it's fair to say United will not play two up front and instead, will rely on a 4-5-1 formation without the ball to switch to 4-3-3 when they have it.

I predict United will start the game with: Van Der Sar, O'Shea, Evra, Smalling, Vidic (C), Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs and Rooney. As I said, 4-5-1 without the ball and 4-3-3 when they have it.

So I would start Chelsea in an attacking 4-1-3-2 formation to take the game to United. I would start with:

Cech, Luiz (RB) Ivanovic, Terry (C), Cole, Essien, Anelka, Lampard, Zhirkov, Drogba and Torres.
Subs would be: Turnbull, Ferriera, Ramires, Malouda, Kalou, McEachran, Kalou.

Reason being, United will look to pack the midfield and close us down. We need to start with both Drogba and Torres up top as we did against Liverpool but with three players playing behind them and not Anelka as we did.

Drogba and Torres playing up top will ensure United always have a man over as cover so limits O'Shea or Evra's forward runs. It will be up to Carrick and Fletcher to cover the runs of Anelka, Lampard and Zhirkov from midfield. I don't see Nani or Giggs effectively tracking back and making tackles in and around their box. Having the extra man pushing forward from our midfield will force either Scholes to track back or one of those two.

Michael Essien will sit as the holding midfielder and remain part of a solid five at the back to cope with Rooney up front on his own. It's important that when we lose the ball that our midfield get back and cover. OK, Anelka could be a weak link, but his pace down that right hand side can deal with the treat Evra poses.

I would go with Luiz to play at right back to deal with Ryan Giggs. Ashley Cole will need to be on his game against Nani. I would stick Ivanovic on Rooney to man mark him and JT sweeping up as cover in behind.

Chelsea need to remain disciplined when we do not have the ball. Our midfield need to work hard and we need to press United.

When we do have the ball it's important to move it forward quickly at a high tempo. With Torres playing next to Drogba it gives our midfield plenty of options. We have both Anelka and Zhirkov out wide, Drogba to play the ball into his feet or in the air to win it and hold it up and bring other people into play. In addition to Drogba we would have the options that Torres provides with his fantastic movement off the ball.

So I would go with the 4-1-3-2 formation.

What do you think?

KTBFFH.