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<SPAN id=intelliTxt nd="1">Amongst all the bluff and bluster between various members of the Chelsea and Manchester United entourage there has been a consistent theme. Namely that Chelsea have had harder fixtures to date and that they will pick up points when the going gets a bit tougher. But interestingly most of the fixtures that both teams have played have been identical - including home games against Liverpool and Arsenal.
So whilst Jose Mourinho is right that Manchester United have a lot of tough away fixtures in the second half of the season, so too do Chelsea - and Manchester United seem better suited to away fixtures given they have the best away form in English football. Tonight's game between Chelsea and Newcastle will represent the ninth identical fixture the Chelsea and United have had this season and to be fair there is nothing to choose between the two.
Of the matches of the 2006/7 season where both teams have played the same fixture and adding the home match with
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal 17-09-2006
Reading 1-1 Manchester United 23-09-2006
Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle 01-10-2006
Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool 22-10-2006
Bolton 0-4 Manchester United 28-10-2006
Manchester United 3-0 Portsmouth 04-11-2006
Blackburn 0-1 Manchester United 11-11-2006
Sheff Utd 1-2 Manchester United 18-11-2006
Middlesbro 1-2 Manchester United 02-12-2006
Manchester United 3-1 Man City 09-12-2006
<STRONG nd="2">Manchester United: Pl9 W7 D1 L1 F20 A5 Pts:22 GD:+15[/b]
Chelsea 3-0 Man City 20-08-2006
Middlesbro 2-1 Chelsea 23-08-2006
Blackburn 0-2 Chelsea 27-08-2006
Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool 17-09-2006
Reading 0-1 Chelsea 14-10-2006
Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth 21-10-2006
Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea 28-10-2006
Bolton 0-1 Chelsea 29-11-2006
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal 10-12-2006
Chelsea ?-? Newcastle 13-12-2006
<STRONG nd="3">Chelsea: Pl8 W6 D1 L1 F14 A4 Pts:19 GD:+10[/b]
Of the games against the top five from last season, United have to travel to Chelsea and Spurs. But as Chelsea lost to Spurs it will not take too much for United to balance the game at Chelsea with a traditional happy hunting ground like White Hart Lane. After the 'big five' (who are moving with some pace now back into position) United and Chelsea will be favourites to win every game.
There are difficult fixtures ahead for both teams and there is little evidence to suggest that Chelsea have a significantly easier second half of the season.</SPAN>
So whilst Jose Mourinho is right that Manchester United have a lot of tough away fixtures in the second half of the season, so too do Chelsea - and Manchester United seem better suited to away fixtures given they have the best away form in English football. Tonight's game between Chelsea and Newcastle will represent the ninth identical fixture the Chelsea and United have had this season and to be fair there is nothing to choose between the two.
Of the matches of the 2006/7 season where both teams have played the same fixture and adding the home match with
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal 17-09-2006
Reading 1-1 Manchester United 23-09-2006
Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle 01-10-2006
Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool 22-10-2006
Bolton 0-4 Manchester United 28-10-2006
Manchester United 3-0 Portsmouth 04-11-2006
Blackburn 0-1 Manchester United 11-11-2006
Sheff Utd 1-2 Manchester United 18-11-2006
Middlesbro 1-2 Manchester United 02-12-2006
Manchester United 3-1 Man City 09-12-2006
<STRONG nd="2">Manchester United: Pl9 W7 D1 L1 F20 A5 Pts:22 GD:+15[/b]
Chelsea 3-0 Man City 20-08-2006
Middlesbro 2-1 Chelsea 23-08-2006
Blackburn 0-2 Chelsea 27-08-2006
Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool 17-09-2006
Reading 0-1 Chelsea 14-10-2006
Chelsea 2-1 Portsmouth 21-10-2006
Sheff Utd 0-2 Chelsea 28-10-2006
Bolton 0-1 Chelsea 29-11-2006
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal 10-12-2006
Chelsea ?-? Newcastle 13-12-2006
<STRONG nd="3">Chelsea: Pl8 W6 D1 L1 F14 A4 Pts:19 GD:+10[/b]
Of the games against the top five from last season, United have to travel to Chelsea and Spurs. But as Chelsea lost to Spurs it will not take too much for United to balance the game at Chelsea with a traditional happy hunting ground like White Hart Lane. After the 'big five' (who are moving with some pace now back into position) United and Chelsea will be favourites to win every game.
There are difficult fixtures ahead for both teams and there is little evidence to suggest that Chelsea have a significantly easier second half of the season.</SPAN>