Post by rollinred on May 18, 2007 9:47:32 GMT
From Sky
Most are tipping us to win, scary!
PHIL THOMPSON
I am going to say Manchester United, just because they have a bit more flair. Obviously this is going to be a very tight game, but that, coupled with the fact that Chelsea have one or two key players missing or struggling with injury, just swings it United's way. If Ricardo Carvalho doesn't make it, that will be a big loss to Chelsea and I can't see them coping without him. I also think that United, after winning the league, will be on the up more and they will want to end the season on a high all round. Winning the league is a great boost and even though they lost that last game, they will be right up for this. For some of them this will be their first chance to win the FA Cup and walking out at Wembley will mean the world to the English lads like Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand. On on the other hand, the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have been there before, but are still motivated and they will be pushing everybody in that dressing room to make sure they don't ease off. When you get to a certain age you want to make the most of it, because you never know if it's your last one.
PAUL MERSON
I am going to say Chelsea, if only because I grew up supporting them! If they are going to win it, they need to make sure the game is tight and not an open one, which might be a shame for the neutrals, but it remains their best chance. If they take United on at their own game and adopt a 'you-have-a-shot-we'll-have-a-shot' attitude they will get blown away because with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes etc, United have too many attacking players capable of producing something special. If Ricardo Carvalho is missing, or not fully fit, that means Chelsea have to be even more compact, which probably suits them down to the ground. And then they have to hope Didier Drogba can pull something out of the fire, as he has done time and time again. They do have Joe Cole and Frank Lampard who can do the same, but it looks to me as if Drogba is going to be the one that wins them this. There is nothing between these two sides and I think the game will reflect that and it wouldn't surprise me if it went all the way to extra-time in penalties. If it's settled in normal time, it will be by the single goal.
CHRIS KAMARA
I've been watching Chelsea a lot of late and they just look dead on their feet. They don't look sharp and I am not sure the team is that together right now. Frank Lampard seems to have lost his spark, Didier Drogba has been his usual self but is no longer getting the support from the wide players in that system that he used to get from Damien Duff and Arjen Robben. Jose Mourinho will stick with that system, but those wide open spaces of Wembley will just allow Manchester United to play their football. I've got to say I have been surprised at Sir Alex Ferguson since they won the league because he has done something I never thought I'd see him do: he has let his players have a night out on the town and a day at the races. I have never seen him do that before and I do understand where Neil Warnock is coming from, but it might be that winning the league took so much out of them, United needed to let off steam. Maybe it will turn out to be another Fergie masterstroke! Of course Chelsea can win this, but with so many injuries to key players, it will be a big ask. The gloom might have lifted from Stamford Bridge in the last couple of weeks, but I can see it settling back over Chelsea after this one.
SCORELINE
Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United
TONY GALE
I always looked at this final and thought Chelsea were going to win it, but I've just changed my mind of late because the momentum is with Manchester United. It was a blow to lose the title and although I'd normally back Chelsea in a one-off game against anyone, I just have a feeling that the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Carrick have come of age in these past few weeks. For me, that gives them the edge as does the fact that they have got Rio Ferdinand and Nemanjar Vidic fit at just the right time - if they can handle Didier Drogba, the Double will be United's. I expect Chelsea to do what they always do and keep it tight and threaten at set pieces and because these sides are so evenly-matched I can't see this being a real classic. What I do hope is that we get some real moments to savour at the new Wembley. I don't care whether they come from Joe Cole, Paul Scholes, Frank Lamapard or Cristiano Ronaldo, as long as we something fit for the new stadium that has us all purring.
SCORELINE
Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United
PAUL WALSH
This is one of those games where you might as well toss a coin, it's that close. I suppose looking at it, United have one or two more individual match winners in their ranks, but if Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard or Joe Cole get going at the other end and can produce on the day, it could go Chelsea's way. But, if both teams play to their maximum, I would still probably edge towards Manchester United. I just think when these two meet it always throws up so many tactical questions: Chelsea are narrow across midfield and I do think that United are at their best when they play 4-4-2 with Ryan Giggs down the left and Cristiano Ronaldo down the right and Wayne Rooney dropping deep. I hope Sir Alex Ferguson does not try and match Chelsea and go 4-3-3, although it might be that Claude Makelele takes better care of Rooney in that hole than most. As for Chelsea, they are missing big players, but Joe Cole is back, full of trick and flicks and running and Shaun Wright-Phillips has come in of late and produced the goods and of course, Drogba has had a fantastic season and is capable of scoring goals out of nothing. There's so many little battles to be won, it is really hard to call, but if I had to put my hat on one of them, I would lean towards Manchester United by the only goal.
SCORELINE
Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United
Most are tipping us to win, scary!
PHIL THOMPSON
I am going to say Manchester United, just because they have a bit more flair. Obviously this is going to be a very tight game, but that, coupled with the fact that Chelsea have one or two key players missing or struggling with injury, just swings it United's way. If Ricardo Carvalho doesn't make it, that will be a big loss to Chelsea and I can't see them coping without him. I also think that United, after winning the league, will be on the up more and they will want to end the season on a high all round. Winning the league is a great boost and even though they lost that last game, they will be right up for this. For some of them this will be their first chance to win the FA Cup and walking out at Wembley will mean the world to the English lads like Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand. On on the other hand, the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have been there before, but are still motivated and they will be pushing everybody in that dressing room to make sure they don't ease off. When you get to a certain age you want to make the most of it, because you never know if it's your last one.
PAUL MERSON
I am going to say Chelsea, if only because I grew up supporting them! If they are going to win it, they need to make sure the game is tight and not an open one, which might be a shame for the neutrals, but it remains their best chance. If they take United on at their own game and adopt a 'you-have-a-shot-we'll-have-a-shot' attitude they will get blown away because with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes etc, United have too many attacking players capable of producing something special. If Ricardo Carvalho is missing, or not fully fit, that means Chelsea have to be even more compact, which probably suits them down to the ground. And then they have to hope Didier Drogba can pull something out of the fire, as he has done time and time again. They do have Joe Cole and Frank Lampard who can do the same, but it looks to me as if Drogba is going to be the one that wins them this. There is nothing between these two sides and I think the game will reflect that and it wouldn't surprise me if it went all the way to extra-time in penalties. If it's settled in normal time, it will be by the single goal.
CHRIS KAMARA
I've been watching Chelsea a lot of late and they just look dead on their feet. They don't look sharp and I am not sure the team is that together right now. Frank Lampard seems to have lost his spark, Didier Drogba has been his usual self but is no longer getting the support from the wide players in that system that he used to get from Damien Duff and Arjen Robben. Jose Mourinho will stick with that system, but those wide open spaces of Wembley will just allow Manchester United to play their football. I've got to say I have been surprised at Sir Alex Ferguson since they won the league because he has done something I never thought I'd see him do: he has let his players have a night out on the town and a day at the races. I have never seen him do that before and I do understand where Neil Warnock is coming from, but it might be that winning the league took so much out of them, United needed to let off steam. Maybe it will turn out to be another Fergie masterstroke! Of course Chelsea can win this, but with so many injuries to key players, it will be a big ask. The gloom might have lifted from Stamford Bridge in the last couple of weeks, but I can see it settling back over Chelsea after this one.
SCORELINE
Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United
TONY GALE
I always looked at this final and thought Chelsea were going to win it, but I've just changed my mind of late because the momentum is with Manchester United. It was a blow to lose the title and although I'd normally back Chelsea in a one-off game against anyone, I just have a feeling that the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Carrick have come of age in these past few weeks. For me, that gives them the edge as does the fact that they have got Rio Ferdinand and Nemanjar Vidic fit at just the right time - if they can handle Didier Drogba, the Double will be United's. I expect Chelsea to do what they always do and keep it tight and threaten at set pieces and because these sides are so evenly-matched I can't see this being a real classic. What I do hope is that we get some real moments to savour at the new Wembley. I don't care whether they come from Joe Cole, Paul Scholes, Frank Lamapard or Cristiano Ronaldo, as long as we something fit for the new stadium that has us all purring.
SCORELINE
Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United
PAUL WALSH
This is one of those games where you might as well toss a coin, it's that close. I suppose looking at it, United have one or two more individual match winners in their ranks, but if Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard or Joe Cole get going at the other end and can produce on the day, it could go Chelsea's way. But, if both teams play to their maximum, I would still probably edge towards Manchester United. I just think when these two meet it always throws up so many tactical questions: Chelsea are narrow across midfield and I do think that United are at their best when they play 4-4-2 with Ryan Giggs down the left and Cristiano Ronaldo down the right and Wayne Rooney dropping deep. I hope Sir Alex Ferguson does not try and match Chelsea and go 4-3-3, although it might be that Claude Makelele takes better care of Rooney in that hole than most. As for Chelsea, they are missing big players, but Joe Cole is back, full of trick and flicks and running and Shaun Wright-Phillips has come in of late and produced the goods and of course, Drogba has had a fantastic season and is capable of scoring goals out of nothing. There's so many little battles to be won, it is really hard to call, but if I had to put my hat on one of them, I would lean towards Manchester United by the only goal.
SCORELINE
Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United
