Chelsea vs Man Utd fan Q&A: 'an absolute shambles'

"An absolute shambles." That's how United look from Stamford Bridge right now, and it's hard to argue. Before Chelsea vs Man Utd on Saturday, 12:30 kick-off on TNT Sports, I sent five questions to Chidge from Chelsea FanCast, the long-running Chelsea fan podcast, and he sent five back. My answers to his are going out on their preview show this week. His answers to mine are below.

Some context first. Xabi Alonso took over in the summer on a four-year deal, after Chelsea got through two managers last season and he'd lasted only eight months at Real Madrid. We go there 16th and eight without a win, with Michael Carrick's future being talked about at Carrington as I write this on Monday evening.

Everything below is Chidge's opinion, in his words, lightly tidied for typos. Team news in it is his read, not confirmed by either club.

Read more: Como vs Man Utd preview: a must-win already

1. What's different under Alonso, and what's still the same?

Alonso came in over the summer after Maresca and Rosenior both went last season. A few months in, what's genuinely different about how Chelsea play, and what still feels like the old problems?

"Chelsea look a lot more fluid with Alonso, quicker on the break and the combination of Rogers, Palmer and Pedro is working well and we look like scoring much more than under the previous incumbents. Basically, we are not spending ages playing passes backwards and sideways for no reason whatsoever, which winds most fans of a certain vintage up. The defence still looks vulnerable, especially in set pieces, largely because we lack quality and experience there but also a lack of cover from midfield. Hopefully with someone reliable to partner Caicedo in midfield there will be better cover for the defence, which is definitely our weakness."

2. Is the trust in Alonso conditional?

He'd been sacked by Real Madrid inside eight months before he joined you. Do Chelsea fans see him as the long-term answer, or is the trust conditional? If results turned this winter, how long would he get?

"Trust is always conditional isn't it, but we all see Alonso as a 'proper' manager, unlike everyone else Clearlake has hired. We are also well aware that the recruitment and squad building under Clearlake has been awful, incompetent and deeply flawed, so it will take him time to get the right players in to play the way he wants the team to play. In short, I think he'll get more time from the supporters (I can't answer for the clowns above him) due to the respect for what he's achieved in the game as a player and a manager. It doesn't help when you lose at home to Spurs though!"

3. Who should United be worried about?

Who's the player United should be most worried about on Saturday, and where do you think you can hurt us?

"Pedro will probably be out and that definitely weakens us, as proven against Spurs last weekend. But Palmer and Rogers remain a threat, and Rogers in particular has had a great start to his Chelsea career. Most of us would like to see Estevão get more playing time as he is an exceptional talent, exciting to watch and he actually runs at defenders."

4. Is the squad finally coming together?

After years of huge spending and a lot of young players on long contracts, is the squad finally coming together, or are there still obvious gaps you'd want fixed in January?

"Still have some massive gaps. The front three or four look good; Caicedo is a world-class player but he can't do it on his own. Massive reservations about the defence and keeper. If we can sign Alex Scott in January that will help, I think, but the midfield still looks light to me with Henderson ageing (but been good so far), James and Lavia with massive injury issues and Barco young and untested at Premier League level. Martínez was a good signing as an experienced keeper, but he's injured, and Mike Penders is supposed to be the second coming of Courtois but is young and untested at this level. The defence is still the biggest problem for me. We do not have a genuine world-class centre-back and leader. Oh for a John Terry, Thiago Silva, Ricardo Carvalho..."

5. How do United look from the outside?

Be honest, what do United look like from the outside with the run we've been on? And what's your prediction for Saturday?

"An absolute shambles, and I genuinely feel for you because there are similarities to Chelsea and the appalling way these great clubs are being run. Like us, you have owners who are more interested in fleecing match-going supporters than focusing on building a winning team (although Clearlake belatedly might be fixing this, in fairness). The recruitment has been poor, like us, and the trouble is that when you've inflicted this much damage on the playing side of the club it will take time to rebuild and put it back together in a hugely competitive league. And all of this comes at the expense of the very people you need to get behind the club and the team when times are tough, but, no, much better to get rid of long-standing supporters and replace them with tourists and corporates who will pay more money, eh!

"As for a prediction, after our defeat to Spurs, the unavailability of Pedro and Martínez and possibly a new manager bounce for United, I am not as confident as I should be. Right now, I still think we are the better side if we play like we did against Everton, 3-1, but if we play like we did against Spurs I have no idea. I'll go 2-1, which is what I predict when I don't have a clue, and I never predict Chelsea to lose."

What I'm taking from that

The bit that stings is answer five, because a Chelsea fan has just described our ownership better than most of our own club's statements do. Owners squeezing the people in the seats while the squad goes backwards: he's talking about Clearlake, and every word fits the Glazers too.

The bit that gives us a sniff is answer one. If Chidge is right that Chelsea are still soft at set pieces, then whoever's in our dugout on Saturday should be sending Harry Maguire up for every corner and free-kick going. Mind, dead balls cut both ways: Bournemouth's first on Sunday came from a free-kick swung to the far post, and we've been conceding first all season.

My own prediction goes up with Thursday's preview. Thanks to Chidge and everyone at Chelsea FanCast for doing this. Go and give their show a listen.