Fergie's Chelsea warning

James Robson

November 06, 2009

SIR Alex Ferguson today warned United to expect an aerial bombardment in Sunday's match of the season against Chelsea.

Fergie has identified the free-scoring league leaders' aerial threat as the biggest danger to his creaking defence in the top-of-the- table clash at Stamford Bridge.

The United manager is increasingly concerned by his porous rearguard that has been shown up on a number of occasions already this season.

And after seeing the ease with which Vasili Berezutsky struck from a set piece in the 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow on Tuesday - Ferguson has warned his side to expect more of the same against Chelsea.

He said: "Leaving space like that was not like us. It is the first goal we've conceded from a set piece for nearly a year.

"But it is a nice warning ahead of Chelsea because, come Sunday, they will have a lot of set pieces against us."

Ferguson will know it is not just from free kicks and corners that his side have looked suspect this season.

Individual errors from Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Ben Foster have all contributed to a leaky backline that couldn't be in more contrast to the side that went a record 14 consecutive Premier League games last season without conceding.

Problem

Ferdinand is expected to miss out again on Sunday because of his calf problem and if Vidic also fails to recover from a calf injury, it will leave Jonny Evans and Wes Brown as the men charged with the responsibility of keeping in form Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka quiet.

Evans and Brown can at least expect more support from their midfield than they received on Tuesday, with Ferguson admitting it was his open tactics that allowed CSKA to cut through United time and again.

“That was my fault,” he said. “I wanted to try a more open formation and could do so because we were in such a comfortable position in the group.”

Gary Neville has his own reason for United's defensive frailties of late … constant changes of personnel.

“We had to change our keeper for the opening two months of the season, then Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have been injured. Before that it was Wes Brown.

“It means more changes than the manager would like. He wants a consistent back four, which is what we have had for two or three seasons. We definitely want to improve defensively and once we settle into our stride I am sure we will become better.”

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Mrs Fullaway`s lodger (06/11/2009 at 09:17)

It's not the high through balls that cause goals against us, it's the half clearances that Lampard Essien and Ballack follow through that causes us the problems. Edwin and centre backs, make your clearances towards the sidelines please.

Frank Old Trafford (06/11/2009 at 09:48)

A lot of people have written off our chances in this game but I don't see why, it's the same old chavski that we've faced over the last few years.

I expect our famous 451 away in europe tactics and a scrappy match. Should get interesting when Owen comes on for the last 15 mins. We'll be playing for the draw but might just sneak a win. Hopefully there'll be an early goal to liven things up.

danny, WILMSLOW (06/11/2009 at 10:00)

If Fergie picks the likes of Giggs Scholes and Neville it will be three points lost he should start with Obertan and Valencia and Raphael or Deleat with Gibson in the centre.Plus Anderson.

Monkey tennis?, yes please (06/11/2009 at 10:10)

Whatever happens at the back we need to have good possession. we need to pass to each other and keep the ball rather than carelessly giving it away. We need to keep it simple in our own half, not over-commit going forward and hope that the likes of rooney and berba can create enough chances to score. With the injuries and current form it's all a matter of basics in my book.

Gerry, Glastonbury (06/11/2009 at 10:56)

We'll have to see who's fit for Sunday but I don't see Vidic's fitness being an issue? He's been so poor lately that it makes little difference if Wes & JE have to play. They are likely to be as good ( or bad ) as he would have been. Wes has more pace than Vidic which would be a real plus against Drogba, Anelka & Co'. If Vidic did play though it would at least allow us to play Wes at RB.
Scholes will be rested and I'd prefer it if both Fletch & Anderson started in CM with Michelle just behind them.
Play Valencia RW but Patrice & Rooney can occupy the LW. Rooney to play in the hole just behind the Berb. Urchie's side then:
VDS, Wes, Vid, JE & Patrice. - Michelle - Valencia, Fletch & Anderson. - Rooney - Berb.
I really can't see us winning at the Bridge and if I'm honest I can't see our defence holding out for 90 minutes either There's such is difference in form between the two sides that I'm half expecting a bit of a battering . A draw would be a very good result and I think most United fans would settle for that right now!

Gilly, Belgium (06/11/2009 at 10:57)

The defence has to be tight and not leak !!!
and the middle of the field needs to be sewn up
go get em boys from manchester united.

tooth&claw, manchester (06/11/2009 at 11:20)

The more I think about it the more I'm leaning towards a 4-1-4-1 formation. VDS, WB NV JE PE, JOS, AV DF MC RG, WR. I'd also play a high-tempo pressing game. Get into their players' faces and on their toes. My concern is the left hand side where Evra has forgotten how to defend and is overly hyped-up for the game already. Hence the inclusion of O'Shea. as a cover.

latiy2k, Toronto GTA (06/11/2009 at 11:24)

Is Gibson the son of Danny, Wilmslow?

Matthew Savage (06/11/2009 at 11:49)

nanny, WILMSLOW
You usually suggest Gibson at centre-half why would you play him in midfield ? What about Pogba in net ?

Valencia-Fletcher-Scholes-Giggs-Rooney;
Berbatov

VIVA JOHN O'SHEA.. (06/11/2009 at 11:58)

Im going to have a wild stab in the dark on this one....

Van, Evra, Evans, Vidic, o'shea, Giggs, Ando, Carrick, Fletch, Valencia, Rooney..1-1

VIVA JOHN O'SHEA.. (06/11/2009 at 12:04)

danny, WILMSLOW
Are you some kind of idiot? Giggs has been by far our best player this season and Neville is banned..

Digital Munition, Internet (06/11/2009 at 12:26)

==============|Sar|
=====|Brown, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea|
=====|Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson|
==|Valencia=================Giggs|
============|Rooney|

A nice proper, tall, defensive line up. Couldn't be better in terms of compactness.
I would expect this line up from SAF and nothing else!

Steve in Brussels (06/11/2009 at 12:53)

Danny why do you seem to fail to understand that big games like chelsea is not when you play a group of kids without much experience? Last season when we outplayed them a certain Ryan Giggs dictated the play. Obertan might get some time but i doubt he will start. Chelsea are a powerful experienced team so expect us to play our most powerful team to combat that. If he had Fletch and Hargreaves available they would be playing. Chelsea are in form and we have been stuttering a bit but getting results. The aim is not to lose and if we can nick 3 points then great. starting with a bunch of inexperienced kids away to chelsea would be the best way to guarantee no points. Think about it man, there is reason why there is an expression "Men against boys" often used in football. The only kids who might start are anderson and one of the twins.

Manchester United- the team despised by most Mancunians and the majority of football fans., Tick tock, not long now. (06/11/2009 at 12:53)

Expect a fearful drubbing. This game could go down as the Stamford Bridge massacre.

Tyler Durden (06/11/2009 at 13:43)

Why is it that when United play Liverpool, apparently "form counts for nothing"... but when United play Chelsea, it's all doom and gloom?

Lets make some noise down at the bridge... get behind our lads and support them!!! I don't know if anybody's noticed, but football is a team game... Chelsea haven't won either of the (lets be honest here two) major trophies in the last 3 years. We lost a final (same as them) and have still won 4 out of the 6 in that time. We are the Champions! We should fear no one! On our day we are capable of beating any team! Look at Barca, Liverpool, Real, Inter, Juve... how many of them have qualified for the next stage of the Champions League yet?

Lou Macari's Fish and Chippie (06/11/2009 at 14:13)

Well this is a great chance for Johney Evans to put in a solid performance and stake a claim for a first team spot, because the way things are going with Rio with his bad back, and not his thigh, I think he will be missing a lot more games, I would play Rooney , Anderson, Fletcher, and Valencia in midfeild which in my mind is a midfield that would not give Chelsea any breathing space in midfield, this is certianly is NOT a game for Nani and Carrick to play in. To be honest I would be happy with a draw

Sam Davis (06/11/2009 at 14:31)

Our play has been indifferent all year so this should be the game that we put together a good 90 minutes of football. Definitely time for the midfielders to stand up and be counted. Definitely time for the strikers to relieve the pressure on the defense and score a few quality goals. We will not accept a half hearted performance. We are Manchester United.

Kelly Palmer (06/11/2009 at 14:45)

It's gonna be tough but the tougher the better. SAF has been through this road time without number the fact that he accepted been responsible for the open game against cska moscow is a confirmation of his status in this beautiful game of football unlike Benithez who is always right when things go well and everyone wrong when things go bad.
SAF should also have mentioned been responsible for the open game with a desperate liverpool, which ManU lost 2 - 0.
At Stampford bridge it's a different ball game, on current form cheskiii has an edge but this is a big game that ManU are very good in when the odd is against them.
It'll be tough but ManU will smile at the end cos our tactic will frustrated chelskii and I forsee a red card for ballack or essien.

Shaz Leicester (06/11/2009 at 15:11)

Glad SAF recognised that Wes and Jonny had no support from our central midfield midweek thus making them have to push up to fill the acres of space left in front of them. This left lot of space for Krasic to run in behind. Our central midfield needs legs therefore Ando and Fletch must play in a centre pairing. Scholes and Carrick can only play as the anchor in a midfield three now and not partner eachother at all. The 4-4-2 formation has weakened us this year as our central midfielders are not strong enough to cope as pair. Against the Chavs their central midfield is their strongest area. I'd pick this team... VDS, Nev, Brown, Evans, Evra, Ando,Fletch, Carrick, Giggs, Berb, Roon subs: Owen, Valencia, Scholes, Vida, Obertan, O'Pies and Foster. No, No, No starting with O'Pies or Nani - PLEASE!!!!

trevels1968 , Failsworth (06/11/2009 at 15:30)

Let's hope we have another TOP defensive display, just like Tuesday!

Monkey tennis?, yes please (06/11/2009 at 15:31)

Kelly Palmer, you tell 'em! That's some post, but i'm liking the smiles - i love a happy ending!

Seamus, Vanisle,ex-Stretford (06/11/2009 at 15:41)

Just don't see us getting anything out of this game, other than, possibly, a battering. We really are stuttering at the moment, but who knows, maybe we'll come good in this game, I just don't see it. Defensively we're a shambles and going to the Bridge is hardly the best place in the world when we're like that, Drogba & Anelka can destroy us, not to mention Lampard just behind them and Essien running midfield, could be an embarassment. They are stronger than us right now, I just hope we don't capitulate like we did at Anfailed. My line up:
vds, wes, vida,evans, evra, valencia,anderson, fletch, giggs, berba, wazza.
Wazza will have to help out defensively in mid field as Fletch will be well occupied in front of the back four, which will leave Berba mostly on his own, but at least he can hold the ball up, T & C, I just don't see JOS standing in front of the back four, he's just not quick enough to handle Drogba, Anelka and Lampard coming through the centre and as a result they'll get lots of free kicks just outside our area, and that will cost us. Fletch can disrupt thme there far more easily. If everyone shows up, then maybe we can keep it respectable.

There's Only One Keano, Baltimore, USA (06/11/2009 at 15:49)

Gerry - totally agree with your assessment. SAF needs to make the right selections in midfield - if he remains true to his 4-4-2, I think we'll get bossed around and the match will be lost. A 4-5-1, or modified 4-3-3 is a must. And we need the industry of Fletcher and Anderson to compliment either Giggs or Michelle in the middle.

On the bright side, at least we don't have to worry about Park getting into great positions only to fluff his shots (although the "nearly man" did get a goal against Chel$ki last year).

I predict a 2-2 draw. Both sides are weak at the back but reasonably potent up front.

Britt/Canada (06/11/2009 at 16:00)

Steve in Brussels,

Know this is going to be a very hard game & difficult to get the result that we want from it,,,But do you remember who last used the term "men against boys" those "boys" proved all the critics wrong & went on to become world famous & the best midfield in the history of the EPL (in my opinion) but you might be right this time. Sorry about OH but he is along way from a match like this Essian would destroy him.

Uwe the Goat, Brighton (06/11/2009 at 16:00)

Ho, ho, ho.

Rather than an aerial bombardment, Utd need fear being overrun in midfield and pulverised in defence.

Your comments are more in hope than expectation Mr Ferguson.

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