Rio Ferdinand - Stick or Twist? Assessing his future at United.

Rio Ferdinand is entering a pivotal season in his Manchester United career. For just about the first time, his position at the club is being called into question but is this conundrum fair on a player who was once one of the world's leading defenders?

Manchester United's flying start to the season (three wins if you include the Community Shield) has been notable for the inclusion of a nucleus of younger players. They have added a vibrancy and verve to a squad still brooding on the footballing lesson handed out to them by Barcelona for the second time in three years back in May. Has their introduction to the limelight been a coincidence or is it Sir Alex Ferguson's way of attempting to rid the club of the demons from Wembley? Has the boss's patience finally snapped with some of the older, established stars in the squad and coupled with the retirement of Scholes, Van Der Sar and Neville, does he feel that it is now a case of "out with the old and in with the new"?

The pretenders to the throne of King Rio are Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans. The former has re-invented himself somewhat during pre-season with a switch to right back which although will be a temporary measure, will enable the former Maidstone and Fulham defender to gain much needed experience and a new perspective in the dark arts of being a defender. Phil Jones was bought from under the noses of all our main title rivals having been earmarked as a potential signing back in November 2010. The 19 year old has settled into United life almost seamlessly and looks to have all the attributes required in a modern defender. Evans has returned after a mixed spell last season saw him lose confidence. Recent showings appear to suggest he has banished the odd horror display from his system and he clearly returned in pre-season with a point to prove to the manager and fans alike.

The first inkling of a potential changing of the guard came at the curtain raiser to the new season, the Community Shield at Wembley. In a pre-planned move, Ferdinand and Vidic were withdrawn at half time despite the unjust scoreline in the favour of local rivals Manchester City. On to the pitch in their place strode Jones and Evans alongside Smalling who was already in situ at right back. Neutral observers rubbed their eyes at the potential train wreck they were about to witness. Were City about to strike a psychological dagger to the hearts of United fans thus laying down a marker that they will be more than just noisy neighbours in the league campaign to come? What transpired however, was something very different and was almost liberating to observe. With an average age of 23, this new United with Welbeck, De Gea and Cleverley supplementing the youth quota tore into a lethargic and complacent City and came away with not only the trophy but a new found confidence in their ability. But, perhaps more significantly, did it plant a thought in Sir Alex's mind that he could no longer hold back the aforementioned youthful talent?

Clearly the boss will continue to use the experienced members of our squad throughout the season as it is unlikely you will win anything with kids is it?! But from this ever decreasing list, who is most at risk? Somewhat surprisingly, I think the player with most to fear could be Rio Ferdinand.

Let us assess the evidence. In his first seven seasons at the club, he averaged nearly 44 games a season and this takes into account 2003-04 where he only managed 27 appearances thanks to his drugs ban (more of which later). In the last two seasons, he has averaged just 25 games as a series of niggling injuries have disrupted his progress and led to a significant period on the sidelines. By the sounds of it, Ferdinand suffers from a long term back condition which can flare up at any time and he is now of an age where he has to do extra training to support this ailment. His increasing years also mean he takes longer to recover from injuries and general knocks. Where in his mid 20's he could shrug off a minor niggle and still perform, nowadays it means a 2 week spell on the treatment table.

While he has always been a terrific reader of the game, his speed across the ground is not at the same level as his speed of mind. Back in his pomp, he had everything you wish for in a central defender. His one deficiency was his frequent lapses in concentration but his recovery speed was such that it usually papered over any such mistakes as observers marvelled at his ability to rescue a situation. As the recent years injuries have piled up, they look to have taken something of a toll on his speed of movement demonstrated by occasional instances of being beaten for pace by forwards such as Bellamy and Torres. The Ferdinand glide across the turf has been superseded by a slightly more laboured version which, although far from being a liability in any shape or form, has made his decision making and positioning his key attributes in recent years.

Perhaps my main cause for concern regarding the former West Ham and Leeds centre back is his increasing off-field commitments which would some would cite as an example of how he has taken his eye off the ball in the last couple of seasons. "Rio Ferdinand" the brand if you did not already know it, is in full swing. A magazine, a massive Twitter following, a record label and even a film producer role have all combined to keep the player in the public eye as he looks to his future away from football. His role as producer and financial backer of the movie "Dead Man Running" starring "actor" Danny Dyer drew widespread condemnation seeing as it appeared to promote gun crime to the very group of youngsters that he was trying to deter from such a life in his home borough of Peckham. Whilst his work in the community should be applauded, as he uses his role model status to try to teach the youth in the area right from wrong, he undid a lot of the good work he had done by being involved with this film project that flopped at the box office incidentally. The final straw for me came when he decided to bring out a range of t-shirts bearing the tiresome phrase "stay on your feet" picked up from a Ray Wilkins commentary of a Champions League tie earlier this year. To milk his impressionable fans to this extent while allegedly only giving a small proportion of proceeds to charity smacked of arrogance and exploitation.

It is well documented that Rio can be a little bit dozy at times.This is best illustrated by his infamous missed drug test in 2003 which he claimed to have forgotten to attend as he was "preoccupied with moving house and instead went shopping". His eventual eight month ban from football in January 2004 was deemed harsh in many quarters due to the precedent set by Manchester City's Christian Negouai who was fined just £2000. In reality, the City player was stuck in traffic on his way to the test while Rio was charged with "failure or refusal" to take the test. Both the FA and FIFA deemed the "offence" suitable to demand a 12 month ban but a compromise was reached that meant the player missed out on Euro 2004 into the bargain.

While certain aspects of this case could be classed as unfortunate, one of the downsides to being a professional footballer is the requirement to be regularly tested and the player disregarded this and paid a heavy penalty. The ban would no doubt have strained relations with the boss at the time as it appeared completely avoidable and robbed Ferguson of one of his key players in the run in to the end of the season. It will be why the manager will keep a close eye on his off-field activities as any indication that it is affecting his on-field performances will surely only lead to one outcome. Ferguson has showed many times over the years that he is not a man that you cross and expect to recover from. There are numerous examples over the last 25 years of this and Ferdinand will do well to watch his step, especially as he reaches an age where he may become expendable.

So that is the case for the prosecution m'lud now onto the case for the defence.You may have got the impression from my words above that I am not a Rio Ferdinand fan. This assumption is not true. As a player I am and always have been, a massive admirer of his ability and effortless poise on a football field. In some respects, he can make the game look easy as the combination of pace and his reading of the game means he is often one step ahead of his opponent.

What is indisputable is that at his best he was up there with the very best centre backs in the world. He has made 357 appearances so far for United and racked up 81 caps for England since making his debut against Cameroon back in 1997. His crowning glory as a member of the national side arguably came in the 2002 World Cup where he followed up an excellent season with Leeds with some majestic performances in South Korea. Although England inevitably fell short at the highest level, the same could not be said of the purring Rolls Royce engine installed in the Peckham born defender. This level of ability persuaded the United board to part with nearly £30 million after a protracted spell of negotiation (sound familiar?!) with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale.

Where I think Rio can put more of his energies off-field is in acting as a mentor for the younger defenders at the club. While there is little doubt they have all the talent and ability required to succeed at the highest level, as yet they do not have the experience. Ferdinand has suffered pretty much all of the highs and lows that football can offer and this level of know-how is very difficult to teach. Who better for Jones, Evans and Smalling to learn from than someone who has been there, done it and missed the drugs test? Whether that is by watching him from the bench or by spending time in his company talking about what it is like to live in a 24/7 goldfish bowl, it is the kind of knowledge that you cannot find just anywhere. If he was lucky enough to remain with the club over the next few years then there could be a definite "passing on the baton" scenario where the younger players are slowly immersed into the team ethos which makes any transition much smoother than simply the club cutting their ties with the player. As has been mentioned many times before, when you leave Manchester United, invariably it is a step down in your career and Ferdinand may be happy to stick around and play out his twilight years dispensing his knowledge. He does not strike me as someone who will be happy to drop down to a lower level.

However, in order to remain at the club, he must convince the hierarchy that his "Brand Ferdinand" juggernaut does not become a distraction. I see great value in Rio staying at the club for the foreseeable future for all the reasons mentioned above as the younger generation cannot be expected to carry the club on their shoulders for at least another season. What may count against him is if the number of injuries incurred continues to escalate when it comes to the business end  of the season and the manager feels that he can no longer rely on his presence. Ferguson has shown countless times in the past that he is a firm believer in the mantra that if you are good enough then you are old enough and he will not be afraid to place his faith in youth when the time is right.

My advice to Ferdinand therefore, is to #stayonhisfeet (and on his toes) and not become a "Dead Man Walking". While the youth influx at United is heart warming and a joy to behold, the plain facts of the matter are that we need Rio and most certainly his partner Vidic at the centre of our defence for the foreseeable future as the manager steers our path through the minefield that is the 2011/12 season. Do not be surprised however, if we see a lesser reliance on these two over the course of the season. Ferguson will know that he has to give youth its head and holding them back can only be counter-productive. I would expect to see games where Vidic is paired with Smalling or Jones and Ferdinand with Jones or Evans as they look to instil the United mentality deep into their soul in anticipation they will remain firmly rooted at the club for many years to come.

Do you agree with my thoughts on the future of Rio Ferdinand? Please leave your comments below and I will respond to each one.

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook.

Follow @writtenoff_mufc

United vs Spurs - Post Match Post Mortem

The boys are back in town
United kicked off their home Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win against Spurs at Old Trafford. After a quiet first half where neither team shone to any great degree, Fergie's youngsters produced a second half display that echoed much of the verve and vibrancy shown by the same players at Wembley a few weeks ago. Goals from Welbeck, Anderson and Rooney sealed the three points against an injury hit opposition who played some neat football at times but lacked the cutting edge up front to pose too many questions of De Gea in the United goal.

Picture courtesy of The Telegraph.

The pre-match talk was of the faith shown by the management in the younger generation of squad players at the club with the likes of Carrick, Giggs and Berbatov left in reserve on the bench.The average age of the starting eleven was 23. It is also worth noting that six of the side that started were English.

Post match debate:

Welbeck goal - After a difficult first half when it appeared that he was trying just a little too hard to impress, Danny Welbeck had a storming second half, culminating in a goal and a sublime assist. The boss intimated post match that he felt the youngster was dropping too deep early on and leaving the team without a presence in the box which he quickly rectified, emphasised by his contribution in the second 45 minutes.

His goal was a fine header into the far corner of Friedel's goal but owed much to some Hernández like movement that created the space. With Smalling in possession on the right and Cleverley in close proximity, Welbeck was well marshalled in the box by Kaboul. As Cleverley accepted a pass, Welbeck made a move towards the ball before retreating toward goal which left Kaboul flat footed and there was sufficient time and space for Welbeck to angle his header confidently beyond the reach of Friedel.

Anderson goal - We are just a few weeks into the season and the goal of the season contenders are already stacking up. After the intricate passing that created Nani's goal at Wembley, the second goal last night was pure Manchester United at their best. Just 16 seconds elapsed between De Gea releasing the ball to the ever eager Young on the left hand side to the emphatic finish applied by Anderson in front of the Stretford End. This was counter attacking at its most deadly but still sublime at every stage, epitomised by Welbeck's back heel to leave Anderson with the easy finish.

Look at the space left vacant for Rooney and Anderson as Spurs are left 5 vs 5 at the back after the swift break

The speed of the counter attack had left Spurs short in numbers in defence and with a very open midfield. The picture above demonstrates this perfectly. Rooney is able to feed Anderson and allow him to drive at the heart of the Spurs back four. Welbeck creates the space by making a dart to the right which Anderson spots and plays a pass into his path. The space for Anderson to run into is caused by this move and also by Kaboul coming out from defence as he sees a free running Brazilian as the key threat on goal.

Anderson plays the pass to Welbeck and continues his run past the three Spurs defenders (circled) before finishing

What was very impressive was the determination shown by Anderson to get into the box to assist the attack in the knowledge that Welbeck was likely to have a shot on goal. The young Englishman shows vision beyond his tender years by anticipating the Anderson run with a cute back heel directly into his team mate's path. The finish looked routine but the ball was bobbling somewhat but it was finished with ease.

The picture above clearly shows how the move has ripped apart the Spurs back line with the three defenders (circled) trailing in the wake of not only Anderson but the on-rushing Rooney too.

Jones and Evans secure in defence
In years gone by, the loss of both Ferdinand and Vidic for any length of time would have sent shock-waves through the hearts and minds of the Old Trafford faithful. Those fears are no longer quite so intense based on the array of young defenders at the manager's disposal this season. Phil Jones has looked a Manchester United player for a long time before making the short move from Blackburn Rovers. Hugely impressive in all aspects of play, many observers felt that the club had got a bargain bearing in mind his age and undoubted mental and physical talents. Not for the first time, his display brought back memories of a young Paul McGrath for the all round ability he possesses. Some lazy comparisons have been made with John Terry but Jones has pace and a range of passing that the Chelsea skipper can only dream about. What he does not have just yet is Terry's experience and leadership but signs of this developing were in evidence last night as he marshalled the back line with an air of someone who has found their true footballing home.

Jonny Evans was once again secure alongside him in the heart of the defence. He looks to have regained his confidence after a difficult season last year and was sharp in the tackle while accurate with his passing. Chris Smalling continued his education in the right back slot with another composed and classy display, keeping Gareth Bale quiet for long periods while assisting Nani down the flank with regular marauding runs into opposition territory.

The emergence of this trio, all of whom can play in various positions, means that not only can the boss rest the likes of Ferdinand and Vidic from time to time this season when the fixture list allows but he is also safe in the knowledge that if they are injured for a significant length of time, there is no reason that any loss of solidity should be felt.

Corners
New season but same end result - poor delivery at corners. This was a theme that ran through the whole of last season and it looks set to continue into this. United possess such threat at set pieces that it is a shame that more work has not been done on the training ground to improve our effectiveness. Countless times last night, a corner was awarded only to lead to a short one being taken before inevitably breaking down before a cross can be made. In the few times, that a corner was played into the box, it invariably failed to clear the first man and led to a wasted trip up from the back. However, if we are in a position where ability at corners is the only  thing to complain about then we cannot be in too bad a position.

Other notable performances
Tom Cleverley was quiet in the first half (apart from a shot that was well saved by Friedel) before coming to life like a lot of his colleagues in the second half. His telepathic understanding with Welbeck was in evidence for the opener as his cross found his compatriot in the box. There is still a slight worry about his blossoming partnership with Anderson from a defensive viewpoint as at times as, like at The Hawthornes, there were plenty of gaps for Spurs to exploit. For now we will marvel in the confidence and effervescence in his play that could see him cement a place in the starting line up as the season moves on.

De Gea will be greatly relieved to record his first clean sheet of the campaign though it was not without the odd alarm. He looked confident with the shots he had to face and was never really tested in terms of crosses into the box, apart from one that he misjudged in flight and failed to take at its highest point as every goalkeeper manual tells us. His distribution was excellent once again as he often set United on their way with an astute, accurate pass.

Young and Rooney were once more very impressive while Nani seemed to mix moments of class with a careless final ball which can often sum up his contribution during the course of a match.

Player Ratings - Man of the match in bold
De Gea 6, Smalling 7, Jones 8, Evans 7, Evra 6, Nani 6, Cleverley 7, Anderson 8, Young 8, Rooney 7, Welbeck 7.

United are next in action on Sunday as they welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford and will be confident of continuing their impressive start to the season.

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook.

Please leave your thoughts on the match and performance below.

Follow @writtenoff_mufc

United vs Tottenham Hotspur Big Match Preview

Introduction
Manchester United kick off their home Premier League campaign with a match against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night. This will be the Londoner's opening league fixture after their game with Everton was postponed last Saturday due to the riots that took part in the capital recently. They were in Europa league action on Thursday night and brushed aside the challenge of Hearts with impressive ease despite a lengthy injury list and the continued absence of talisman Luka Modric.

United will look to build on a successful start to their title defence last Sunday when they edged past a stubborn West Brom. A worrying aspect that emerged after the game was the news that Vidic, Ferdinand and Rafael were all consigned to a period on the sidelines having picked up injuries of varying severity. It looks like Ferdinand will return a bit sooner than expected but the other two could be missing for significantly longer.

The Opposition by Greg Theoharis from Dispatches from a football sofa
It never seems to be a quiet pre-season at White Hart Lane and this year was no different with the ‘will he/won’t he’ tug of war over Luka Modric descending into an epic saga akin to a deleted scene from Gone With The Wind. It’s got to a point though where many of us, to coin a phrase ‘frankly, don’t give a damn’. If he goes, he goes. If he stays, he stays.

Of more concern is Harry’s failure to attract any notable names to the squad when other rivals, chiefly Manchester City, are spending money wantonly. His propensity for self-publicism is beginning to grate and I think many of us are preparing ourselves for his inevitable departure.

As for the season ahead, there’s no reason why we can’t challenge for another Champions League spot. The players that got us there are still around and if Harry does actually pull his finger out, Arsenal and Liverpool may just be looking over their shoulders. We’ve got some good young players coming through too. It’s whether Harry has the faith to throw them in. The Europa League should be a focus. Last season’s European exploits should stand us in good stead in that regard.

And thankfully we don’t have any of that ‘year ending in one’ nonsense to exacerbate the pressure on us.


Tactics
I have a feeling that the game could well be won and lost by the effectiveness of the wide men on either side. Lennon and Bale represent a potent threat to United with their express pace and movement. Patrice Evra certainly will not look forward to facing Lennon who has given him a torrid time in previous seasons and considering he will be returning from injury, it could be a tough experience for the inconsistent Frenchman. On the other flank, Bale will be looking to recapture his form from early last season when he terrorised right backs across Europe with his direct running. Against United, he was kept in check by Rafael who used his pace and kept close by without giving him the room to turn and run.

For United, Young and Nani will fancy their chances against Walker and Assou-Ekotto whose talents lie further up the pitch in my opinion. I would expect both to try to exploit their occasional defensive positional weakness by getting in behind them after swift interchange of passing with the likes of Rooney and the midfielders.

United would also look to exploit the experimental partnership of Kranjcar and Livermore in the heart of the away side's midfield with neither particularly excelling from a defensive point of view. Redknapp will be hoping that injury victim Modric is passed fit to play as he would add another dimension to the Tottenham side. He is much admired within Old Trafford and a solid display could heap pressure on Levy to loosed a grip that has remained tight since the early part of pre-season. The home side, however, will need to keep a close eye on the movement of Van Der Vaart who will play in the space between the back and the midfield and be hard to pick up. There will be times when Evans and Jones will be tempted to step out to confront the wily Dutchman but it could lead to gaps appearing that could be fatal with Defoe busily sniffing around.

United

With Vidic and Ferdinand injured, the major selection headache comes in the centre of defence. I have gone for Jones and Evans based primarily on Sir Alex's press conference this morning. He would no doubt have thought long an hard over choosing Smalling to partner Jones as they dovetailed successfully for the England U21's in the summer. With the uncertainty of De Gea's early season form, it would have brought a semblance of stability and indeed familiarity to the team but Jonny Evans has had a fine pre-season and deserves his chance. It also keeps Smalling at right back where he has been so impressive in recent weeks. He will need to be on his toes as he will be up against Gareth Bale who, if on his game, can trouble any full back. On the left, I would expect Evra to return after missing the West Brom match due to injury.

Michael Carrick would presumably have had a full week of training so I would expect him to return in the centre of midfield with the excellent Cleverley dropping down to the bench. Anderson gets another chance to shine after a solid start to the season where he will be looking to maintain recent consistency to add to his undoubted talent. Monday will be a good opportunity, bearing in mind the injuries Spurs have in the centre, to stamp his authority onto a big game, something that has mostly eluded him since he arrived.

With the wide men in such good form, the likes of Park and Valencia (when he returns) will have to bide their time from the bench. Nani and Young have looked threatening on either flank and will be the suppliers in chief to my predicted front line of Rooney and Berbatov. Although Welbeck has performed admirably both last weekend and at Wembley, he noticeably tired as the games progressed so a watching brief from the bench will do him no harm. Another option could be to play Park on the left and move Young inside but I would view this as unlikely.  

Score Prediction
Bearing in mind that Spurs have some injury problems in midfield and at the back, I am going to go for a comfortable 3-1 United win. Their lack of Premier League action will also count against them as the intensity may be a shock after just pre-season and an outing against Hearts. My guess on goal scorers is Evans, Rooney and Young with Defoe scoring for Spurs.

A big thanks to Greg for his insight into Spurs as they move into the new season. You can catch more of his excellence on his wonderful blog Dispatches from a football sofa by clicking this link and follow him on Twitter.

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook.

Catch up with our latest podcast by clicking on the link in the sidebar on the right.

If you would like to leave your prediction for the game, please do so below.

Follow @writtenoff_mufc

Slow out of the blocks? – A look at Manchester United’s Premiership starts

By Daniel Alston

“Manchester United are typically slow starters,” is often heard as each campaign starts, if the Reds stutter into gear and then find themselves a bit behind those at the top of the league. “They always come good in the second half of the season,” usually follows and when those seasons have ended with a title or a podium finish as they consistently have in the Premiership era, perhaps that has become something of a certified assumption.

Although they emerged victorious on Sunday at West Brom, it was a somewhat fortuitous result given the nature of the second goal and the fact that for all the attacking energy in the team, only one shot on target was registered.

But do United really start campaigns as badly as people make out? Do our memories play tricks, convincing us that Fergie’s men only truly perform after Christmas? Have Cantona, Hughes, Cole, Sheringham, Ruud, Rooney & co all only found their shooting boots in the ‘business end of the season’? Or are United just guilty of a few starts short of their typical efficiency? The 95/96 season where Alan Hansen wrote off their title chances after an opening day defeat to Aston Villa sticks in the mind.

You'll win nothing with kids will you Mr Hansen?

Despite the low number of points required to top the Premiership last year, it is difficult to argue that the league is becoming harder and harder to win. Whether that be the improving quality of the ‘lower teams’ and their growing capability/belief in taking points off the big boys, or the contrasting view that the elite teams have weakened in recent years, United certainly have more competition than ever before.

So with a serious challenge from neighbours City, a revitalised Liverpool, a Chelsea now full of youth on the sidelines if not on the pitch and no one – including Arsene Wenger – quite knowing how Arsenal will perform this year, do a Manchester United in semi-transition need to hit the ground running in order to capture title number 20?

Let’s class the ‘start of the season’ as the first 6 league games. Below are the results from those fixtures for each season, complete with possible points obtained, league position after that stage, followed by end-of-season comparison stats.

2010/11: Newcastle (W:3-0), Fulham (D:2-2), West Ham (W:3-0), Everton (D:3-3), Liverpool (W:3-2), Bolton (D:2-2).

P6-W3-D3-L0 / F16-A9 / Pts 12 out of 18 = 67%. Pos: 2^nd.

Season total points: 80 out of 114 = 70%. F78-A37. Pos: 1^st.

2009/10: Birmingham (W:1-0), Burnley (L:0-1), Wigan (W:5-0), Arsenal (W:2-1), Tottenham (W:3-1), Man City (W:4-3).

P6-W5-D0-L1 / F15-A6 / Pts 15 out of 18 = 83%. Pos: 2^nd.

Season total points: 85 out of 114 = 75%. F86-A28. Pos: 2^nd.

2008/09: Newcastle (D:1-1), Portsmouth (W:1-0), Liverpool (L:1-2), Chelsea (D:1-1), Bolton (W:2-0), Blackburn (W:2-0).

P6-W3-D2-L1 / F8-A4 / Pts 11 out of 18 = 61%. Pos: 6^th.

Season total points: 90 out of 114 = 79%. F68-A24. Pos: 1^st.

2007/08: Reading (D:0-0), Portsmouth (D:1-1), Man City (L:0-1), Tottenham (W:1-0), Sunderland (W:1-0), Everton (W:1-0).

P6-W3-D2-L1 / F4-A2 / Pts 11 out of 18 = 61%. Pos: 1^st.

Season total points: 87 out of 114 = 76%. F80-A22. Pos: 1^st.

2006/07: Fulham (W:5-1), Charlton (W:3-0), Watford (W:2-1), Tottenham,(W:1-0), Arsenal (L:0-1), Reading (D:1-1).

P6-W4-D1-L1 / F12-A4 / Pts 13 out of 18 = 72%. Pos: 2^nd.

Season total points: 89 out of 114 = 78%. F83-A27. Pos: 1^st.

2005/06: Everton (W:2-0), Aston Villa (W:1-0), Newcastle (W:2-0). Man City (D:1-1), Liverpool (D:0-0), Blackburn (L:1-2).

P6-W3-D2-L1 / F7-A3 / Pts 11 out of 18 = 61%. Pos: 6^th.

Season total points: 83 out of 114 = 73%. F72-A34. Pos: 2^nd.

2004/05: Chelsea (L:0-1), Norwich (W:2-1), Blackburn (D:1-1), Everton (D:0-0). Bolton (D:2-2), Liverpool (W:2-1).

P6-W2-D3-L1 / F7-A6 / Pts 9 out of 18 = 50%. Pos: 8^th.

Season total points: 77 out of 114 = 68%. F58-A26. Pos: 3^rd.

2003/04: Bolton (W:4-0), Newcastle (W:2-1), Wolves (W:1-0), Southampton (L:0-1), Charlton (W:2-0), Arsenal (D:0-0).

P6-W4-D1-L1 / F9-A2 / Pts 13 out of 18 = 72%. Pos: 3^rd.

Season total points: 75 out of 114 = 66%. F64-A35. Pos: 3^rd.

2002/03: West Brom (W:1-0), Chelsea (D:2-2), Sunderland (D:1-1), Middlesbrough (W:1-0). Bolton (L:0-1), Leeds (L:0-1).

P6-W2-D2-L2 / F5-A5 / Pts 8 out of 18 = 44%. Pos: 10^th.

Season total points: 83 out of 114 = 73%. F74-A34. Pos: 1^st.

2001/02: Fulham (W:3-2), Blackburn (D:2-2), Aston Villa (D:1-1), Everton (W:4-1), Newcastle (L:3-4), Ipswich (W:4-0).

P6-W3-D2-L1 / F17-A10 / Pts 11 out of 18 = 61%. Pos: 3^rd.

Season total points: 77 out of 114 = 68%. F87-A45. Pos: 3^rd.

2000/01: Newcastle (W:2-0), Ipswich (D:1-1), West Ham (D:2-2), Bradford (W:6-0), Sunderland (W:3-0), Everton (W:3-1).

P6-W4-D2-L0 / F17-A4 / Pts 14 out of 18 = 78%. Pos: 1^st.

Season total points: 80 out of 114 = 70%. F79-A31. Pos: 1^st.

1999/2000: Everton (D:1-1), Sheff Wed (W:4-0), Leeds (W:2-0), Arsenal (W:2-1), Coventry (W:2-1), Newcastle (W:5-1).

P6-W5-D1-L0 / F16-A4 / Pts 16 out of 18 = 89%. Pos: 1^st.

Season total points: 91 out of 114 = 80%. F97-A45. Pos: 1^st.

1998/99: Leicester (D:2-2), West Ham (D:0-0), Charlton (W:4-1), Coventry (W:2-0), Arsenal (L:0-3), Liverpool (W:2-0).

P6-W3-D2-L1 / F10-A6 / Pts 11 out of 18 = 61%. Pos: 5^th.

Season total points: 79 out of 114 = 69%. F80-A37. Pos: 1^st.

1997/98: Tottenham (W:2-0), Southampton (W:1-0), Leicester (D:0-0), Everton (W:2-0), Coventry (W:3-0), West Ham (W:2-1).

P6-W5-D1-L0 / F10-A1 / Pts 16 out of 18 = 89%. Pos: 1^st.

Season total points: 77 out of 114 = 68%. F73-A26. Pos: 2^nd.

1996/97: Wimbledon (W:3-0). Everton (D:2-2), Blackburn (D:2-2), Derby (D:1-1), Leeds (W:4-0), Notts Forest (W: 4-1).

P6-W3-D3-L0 / F16-A6 / Pts 12 out of 18 = 67%. Pos: 1^st.

Season total points: 75 out of 114 = 66%. F76-A44. Pos: 1^st.

1995/96: Aston Villa (L:1-3), West Ham (W:2-1), Wimbledon (W:3-1), Blackburn (W:3-1), Everton (W:3-2), Bolton (W:3-0).

P6-W5-D0-L1 / F15-A8 / Pts 15 out of 18 = 83%. Pos: 1^st.

Season total points: 82 out of 114 = 72%. F73-A35. Pos: 1^st.

1994/95: QPR (W:2-0), Notts Forest (D:1-1), Tottenham (W:1-0), Wimbledon (W:3-0), Leeds (L:1-2), Liverpool (W:2-0).

P6-W4-D1-L1 / F10-A3 / Pts 13 out of 18 = 72%. Pos: 3^rd.

Season total points: 88 out of 126 = 70%. F77-A28. Pos: 2^nd.

1993/94: Norwich (W:2-0), Sheff Utd (W:3-0), Newcastle (D:1-1), Aston Villa (W:2-1), Southampton (W:3-1), West Ham (W:3-0).

P6-W5-D1-L0 / F14-A3 / Pts 16 out of 18 = 89%. Pos: 1^st.

Season total points: 92 out of 126 = 73%. F80-A38. Pos: 1^st.

1992/93: Sheff Utd (L:1-2), Everton (L:0-3), Ipswich (D:1-1), Southampton (W:1-0), Notts Forest (W:2-0), Crystal Palace (W:1-0).

P6-W3-D1-L2 / F6-A6 / Pts 10 out of 18 = 56%. Pos: 6^th.

Season total points: 84 out of 126 = 67%. F67-A31. Pos: 1^st.

*Seasons 1992/93, 93/94 and 94/95 were when the Premiership was home to 22 teams and United played 42 fixtures. Stats have been adjusted accordingly.

The average percentage of total points amassed over the 19 Premiership seasons by Manchester United is 72%. For the first 6 games, the average percentage of points they won equates to a slightly lower 69%.

In 9 of the 19 seasons, United won a greater percentage of the points available in their first 6 games than those for the whole season. These moments are highlighted.

In some seasons, United have lacked in goals at the onset and conceded more than expected (lowest GF:4 in 2007/08 = just 5% of season total in 16% of season’s games). Yet their Goals For column over the first 6 games is on average only 1% lower than at the end of the respective season. Conversely, the Goals Against column is only 1% higher. Thus, it could be argued, there is little difference to United’s attack or defence in August than for the following 9 months.

Returning to the Hansen moment cited earlier, United went on to win their next five matches – something that isn’t as well recalled as the 3-1 defeat to Villa. Yes, United have had some faltering openings. But even some of their worst (56% of points in 92/93, 44% in 02/03) have fronted title-winning seasons. On the other hand, some of their best (89% of points in 97/98, 83% in 09/10) have been runners-up years.

A lot can be learnt over the first half dozen games of a season, but rarely does it paint a true picture of how events will unfold. United average a table position of 3^rd after their first 6 fixtures, a position they have finished three times, but never a place lower.

So United may be slow out of the blocks on occasion, not only by their own standards, but also in respect to the league table mid-September. Used to topping it by May, their position is little more than a guide stick in the first few months. Sir Alex may be best at getting results out of his side during ‘squeaky bum time’, but you have to be in the mix for that to even matter. A flying start, it would seem, is little more than a bonus to aiding the process.

Perhaps pre-season predictions and short odds on United as title favourites almost every year have led many to be disappointed if they don’t come away with six straight victories - something they have yet to do in Premiership dawns. Regardless, the saying that United are slow starters is not exactly a myth, but neither is it as much of a trait as conceived. Each season is different and with the Red Devils clear favourites with the bookies once more, anything other than a near-flawless start will sound those familiar misguided echoes.

After that win at the Hawthorns, Manchester United’s first 6 fixtures this time around are completed by: West Brom (A), Tottenham (H), Arsenal (H), Bolton (A), Chelsea (H) and Stoke (A). As the average points recouped for that first half dozen over the years equals somewhere between 12 and 13, I’ll be more than happy with 2 home wins and the remaining 3 as draws, thank you. Hopefully we’ll have a better away record than last year, but I’d be quite happy to go another season at Old Trafford unbeaten. In addition, taking points off Arsenal and Chelsea will be as important as ever.

Click on the button below to follow Daniel on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook. 

If you would like to leave a comment on this article, please do so below and Daniel will be happy to respond


Follow @danielalston

Safeguarding the future – Ferguson’s legacy?

By Mick Higgins

29^th May 1968 – A date with eternal significance for every Manchester United fan.  The date when a journey, one which had started ten years prior in the wreckage of Munich, ended in glorious victory at a packed Wembley stadium.  Manchester United were Champions of Europe.  A dream, some may even say an impossible dream given the circumstances, had been achieved.  Matt Busby had built a team with a fantastic mix of experience and youthful exuberance.  A team with the genius of George Best, the goal scoring prowess of Bobby Charlton and the steel of Nobby Stiles.  A team with an average age of 25. A team which could, and maybe should, have dominated football both domestically and on a European level. 

It didn’t. 

The 29^th May 1968 was the end of a fantastic journey but it was also the end in many other ways.  The creator of this team departed the year after the European triumph, handing over the mantle to Wilf McGuiness, safe in the knowledge a team with solid foundations was being passed on.  After briefly returning for the second half of the 1970/71 season after McGuiness was sacked, Busby finally left a Utd side that still included more than half the European Cup squad; a squad of winners, a squad with the blend of youth and experience (the average age was under 25), a squad with the fundamentals to succeed, right?  Wrong.  Manchester United finished 8^th, 18^th then 21^stin the three seasons after Busby fully relinquished the managerial reigns.  The latter league position resulted in the unthinkable for a club which had won the European Cup only 6 years previously - relegation.  The loss of experienced stalwarts like Charlton, Crerand, Stiles and Best proved tough to compensate for but without the architect of our rise from the ashes in Sir Matt, United weren’t the same team.  Leaving behind a good, strong squad wasn’t enough.  Sir Matt Busby proved almost irreplaceable. 

Passing the baton? Sir Matt welcomes Alex Ferguson

I say almost because on November 6^th 1986, Manchester United finally replaced the irreplaceable. Although not knowing it at the time, in Alex Ferguson the club had appointed a man who would take United back to the summit of English and world football.  The similarities between Alex Ferguson and Matt Busby are there for all to see.  Born and raised in Scotland, to working class parents, they were exposed to hard labour at an early age.  They sought escape from this work through football and they made their professional debuts as teenagers but both had relatively unsuccessful playing careers.  As managers they succeeded and at Manchester United they excelled; combining to make United the most successful club in English football.  Both men had an emphasis on developing youth, a trait that has become an inherent quality of the club.  Their teams played with flair, skill and a determination to ensure the crowd who came to watch Manchester United left entertained if not always happy with the result. 

Now, as we approach 25 years since Sir Alex was appointed, the time is nearing when once again we’ll have to say farewell to one of, if not, the greatest manager ever.  It is when this happens that every Manchester United fan is hoping the similarities between Sir Matt and Sir Alex come to an end.  Everyone will hope the club does not face the same situation it faced 40 years ago when Sir Matt stepped aside.  One believes there is cause for optimism and that this will not be the case.  When Sir Alex leaves he will leave at the top.  Like Sir Matt, he will leave a team of winners and a team with the foundations to succeed.  Unlike 40 years ago, this will be enough to see United continue to thrive and here’s why:

Manchester United will likely start season 2011/2012 with a registered squad, in line with Premier League rules, of 22 players (NB. This excludes Gibson and Kuszczak who are likely departures and any potential new signings i.e. Sneijder).  The average age of this squad will be 26.5 years.  Although if you include the other 5 players who do not have to be registered but will play a significant part throughout the season then the average age drops to just above 25 years.  Very rarely this season, if at all, will a United starting XI have an average age even close to 30.  Compare that to a year or two ago when it would not have been unusual to see the starting XI averaging 30 years.  The squad is in a very healthy position presently and is being set up to be just as healthy for the future.

The young guns showed their class at Wembley

With that said, having a squad brimming with youth is hardly an oddity for Manchester United.  As stated previously, emphasis on youth is a strong characteristic of the club.  However, it is no coincidence that as Ferguson’s reign nears the end; there is a greater prominence towards lowering the average age of the squad by signing young players and promoting from within.  It would be naive to suggest this is the only reason – debt being another massive factor – but it is clear Sir Alex is building a young squad which will have the required experience to succeed once he is gone.

Since David Gill made the statement in the summer of 2009 that Manchester United would no longer be signing players aged 26 and over for big fees, United have not only not signed players for big money that are 26 or over, they have only signed one player at all in that age bracket – Anders Lindegaard. The average age of the players signed is just below 22 years.  Of course the policy had been developing since the Glazers arrived with the likes of Nani, Anderson, Carrick, Vidic and Evra all under 26 when they arrived but there has definitely been a shift towards looking ahead, looking to the future, a future without Sir Alex.

As well as signing players to compete for a first team place there has been a greater focus on identifying the best young talents from around the world with the intent of bringing them to the United academy.  Paul Pogba, Davide Petrucci, Gyliano Van Velzen, Marnick Vermijl, Michele Fornasier and Alberto Massacci to name but a few have been brought to United in recent years from clubs around Europe.  This is another indication that the club is looking ahead, looking to develop the best young talent from around the world to ensure they have the best chance of making it at Manchester United.  It’s not just talent from distant shores though; there is also the home grown talent of Ravel Morrison, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Tom Thorpe to be excited about.

After a lull in the talent that was emanating from the United academy, there is a belief this more concentrated focus will reap its rewards in the not too distant future.  Already this squad of players are being bred as winners having won the FA Youth Cup in style last season.  They played with the skill, flair and never say die attitude that have become characteristics of Manchester United teams past and present.  Now they must kick on and prove they are the next generation of United stars.  Of course not all of them will make it but there is genuine belief within the club that a number of them have a very good chance.

When these players are ready to come in to the first team picture they will join a squad that is already very youthful but one which won’t lack experience.   By signing young players just now, under Sir Alex Ferguson’s tutelage they will become experienced and seasoned professionals by the time they are in their mid-20s.  That means when Sir Alex does leave, he will leave behind a squad capable of staying together for a number of years without the need for a drastic overhaul.  We already have a core group of players in their early 20s who could easily spend more than a decade at the club.

David De Gea will be ably backed up by Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos for many years. In Smalling, Evans and Jones we have three of the best young centre backs in the world, flanked by two of the best young full backs in the world - the Da Silva twins.  In Anderson and Cleverley  we have two central midfielders who have the potential to form an excellent partnership.  Hernandez, Welbeck and Macheda offer an array of attacking options and will only get better with maturity.  All these players are 23 and under (except Lindegaard).  They will be complimented by older heads such as Rooney, Fletcher, Nani, Young and Valencia who are all in their mid 20s.  These players will become the bedrock of United in the way Giggs, Scholes and Neville did.  They will provide the old heads needed when it comes to “squeaky bum time”. 

United's future in safe hands? The 2011 Youth Cup winners

That exciting squad of players will then (hopefully) be topped up by the likes of Tom Thorpe, Reece Brown and Marnick Vermijl in defence; Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and Ryan Tunnicliffe in midfield and Will Keane, John Cofie and Josh King in attack.  Of course it may be a tad optimistic to think all these players will graduate from the academy but they have the potential.  This is what the work being put in at the academy hopes to achieve; a plethora of talented academy graduates bursting in to the United first team just like “Fergie’s Fledglings” did.  The last act of Ferguson’s managerial master class may be to oversee the development of these players and then leave Manchester United in a very healthy position.  His successor will inherit a squad brimming with experienced 20 something’s with sprinklings of youthful gems.  He will also inherit another youth/reserve team full of exciting potential.  Without getting too ahead of ourselves, names such as Jack Barmby, Jack Rudge, Mats Daehli, Luke Hendrie and Tom Lawrence are already ones to look out for.

So when the day comes for Sir Alex Ferguson to move aside he will leave Manchester United in the best possible state he can.  He’ll be as close to irreplaceable as you can get but the legacy he leaves will be enough to see us through the hard times we’ll inevitably face after his departure.  We’ll survive and then we’ll thrive because as we tip our hat to Sir Alex for one last time we’ll watch him ride off in to the sunrise rather than the sunset.  

Mick is a lifelong United fan from north of the border who was lucky enough to be born in to the Fergie era.  He cried in '99 and didn't watch the penalties in '08. He was a staunch defender of Darren Fletcher when everyone doubted him (it's a Scottish thing) and has unrequited love for Eric Cantona.  Away from United, he is a law graduate hoping to be the next Mitch McDeere.

Many thanks to Mick for this debut article on Written Offside. Hopefully this is the first of many of such quality.

Click on the button below to follow Mick on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook.

If you would like to leave a comment on this article, please do so below and Mick will respond or contact him via Twitter.

Follow @justmick32

United vs West Brom Post Match Post Mortem

Manchester United kicked off their Premier League campaign with a hard fought victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthornes.

Picture courtesy of the Telegraph

A lively opening saw the Reds take the lead in the 13th minute when Rooney, after some wonderful combination play with Ashley Young, fired home with his left foot. The expected goal glut did not materialise as the home side defended stoically and gradually as the half wore on, they managed to gain a foothold in the game. The equaliser, from the boot of debutant Shane Long, came as something of a surprise as there appeared little danger as Long's tame effort made its way towards goal. Unfortunately, De Gea failed to get his body in the way and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

West Brom were arguably the better side in the second half as they looked to capitalise on the young Spaniard's dip in confidence. To his credit, he stood firm and Young worked his way down to the byline before having his cross cruelly deflected twice beyond the helpless Foster in the home goal.

The vital three points did come at a cost for the Reds though as both Vidic and Ferdinand limped off to add to the defensive woes already exacerbated by Rafael's shoulder injury that is likely to see him sidelined for up to 10 weeks.

Post-match debate:

1) Rooney goal analysis - This was beautifully crafted by the scorer whose link up play with new signing Young is proof of an understanding built up whilst on international duty together.

Rooney comes deep to accept the pass with the defender close by. Young is poised to move.

The above screen shot shows how Rooney has dropped deep to accept the pass. Young, on the nearside, is already anticipating Rooney's intention and is attempting to keep himself onside. Note from the picture above how the defender has tracked  the Englishman but has left a big gap behind which could be exploited.

Note the gap between the defender and Rooney just a few seconds later

Once Rooney had flicked the ball into Young's path, the defender rushed back to cover the space left behind, leaving Rooney relatively free on the edge of the box. The pass from Young was a touch behind him, but he managed to adjust his feet before firing past Foster with his left foot.

The most notable part of the goal for me was that it was struck with his left foot. I am convinced that if the same chance had presented itself last season, Rooney would not have had the confidence to use his weaker foot. However, in a training video released while on tour in the summer, both Rooney and Giggs were shown practicing volleys and cross shots with their weaker foots. This is further proof that if you work hard in training that it will pay off eventually in matches and also that you are never too old to learn or improve.

Young's winner was notable for the fact that he picked up the ball and looked to cross with his right foot as he had primarily through the game. What threw the defender in front of him was the sudden switch to going on his left side and left him clear to get to the byline before being rewarded for his ingenuity and endeavour. I have mentioned in previous posts about how he will become much more dangerous offensive weapon when he learns to trust his left foot and so it has proved.

2) De Gea fever - Another mistake by the young Spaniard drew inevitable yet overwhelmingly excessive vitriol from the media following yesterday's game. And all this after United secured three points! Imagine what it would be like if they had lost? United fans with short memories would also do well to remember the great Schmiechel's struggles in his early appearances as pointed out by the manager following the game yesterday. De Gea should draw strength from the fact that following both mistakes made, he has gone on to not concede in the second half which points to strength of mind in some respects. If you look back on the goal he conceded, it is noticeable that he is a touch too close to his near post and when the shot comes in across him towards the far post, it is out of his reach.

My own view is that he is learning very quickly about the physical nature of the Premier League and is understandably nervous as he embarks upon his United career. Confidence will come from regular games and as his grasp of the language improves. His wiry frame is also proving something of a concern as although the great Van der Sar was of a similar build, Edwin had a few inches in height with which to use that the young Spaniard does not.

I have little doubt that he will emerge a stronger keeper for all of these episodes and it was encouraging to see so many of his team mates rally round him at both half and full time. With the backing of the other members of the squad, De Gea will one day look back at this current predicament with a wry smile, safe in the knowledge that it was an essential part of his induction into the finer points of English football

3) Why we still need a defensive midfielder - or to be more precise, why we need Darren Fletcher back to full fitness as soon as possible. Although both Anderson and Tom Cleverley had solid games yesterday, neither is particularly defensive in their play and this did lead to plenty of space with which the home side could have used better during the course of the game. Without a holding midfielder, we could get exposed against better opposition and although Carrick can fill this role to an extent, I prefer him to play with his head up and looking for an incisive pass and not be more concerned with defensive duties. Fletcher has the ability to sit in front of the back four whilst still supporting the attack when necessary. One hopes that his illness woes are behind up as United lack his energy and combative displays in the middle of the park.

4) Little threat to opposing goal - not for the first time in recent seasons, it was noticeable that although we played some exciting football at times, the threat on the opposition goal was limited for long periods. This is further emphasised by the stats from the game that show we only had five shots on target to West Brom's eight. I am not sure as to the full reasons behind this occurrence and it could be forgiven by remembering that it is the first game of the season. However, it will be important as the season progresses that we look to put teams under pressure with more of an end product rather than the move breaking down before a strike at goal is achieved.

5) Other notable displays - Chris Smalling at right back was once again impressive from both an attacking and defensive point of view. While Nani and Welbeck worked hard, they were unable to replicate their form of the previous weekend which placed the emphasis on Rooney and Young to create. After the premature exit of defensive rocks Vidic and Ferdinand, I thought both Evans and Jones integrated incredibly well into a youthful back five and demonstrated once again that they can thrive when the pressure is on. Fabio at left back in the absence of Evra was fairly solid throughout and it was worth noting that he was the furthest player forward when Young's cross was deflected into the goal for the winner.

Player Ratings

De Gea 5, Smalling 7, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 6, Fabio 6, Nani 6, Cleverley 7, Anderson 7, Young 8, Rooney 8, Welbeck 6.
Subs: Jones 7, Evans 7, Berbatov 6

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook.

Please leave your own thoughts on the game below and I will be happy to reply to each one.

Follow @writtenoff_mufc

United vs West Brom Big Match Preview

Introduction
Manchester United kick off their quest for a 20th league championship with a tricky away fixture against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthornes on Sunday. The Reds will be buoyed by their thrilling Wembley comeback in the Community Shield last weekend against bitter rivals Man City. Sir Alex Ferguson will also be grateful for the cancellation of the England match in midweek as multiple members of his squad would have been involved risking injury ahead of the new season.

As it is, Javier Hernández is definitely out as he recovers from concussion sustained in the later stages of the US tour, Carrick and Evra are also doubts with minor knocks but will be expected to feature. Newspaper reports on Saturday morning suggested that Rafael has suffered a dislocated shoulder but at the time of writing this is yet to be substantiated.

In the corresponding fixture last season, United went home with the points after a hard fought 2-1 victory thanks to a late winner from Hernández after being second best for much of the game. Fans will remember this game as much for the lacklustre display by Gary Neville as for the three points gained. The run around given to the former England international by Graham Dorrans convinced the right back that his illustrious career was rapidly coming to an end.

The Opposition
Roy Hodgson leads the Baggies into the first full season under his stewardship after successfully steering the side clear of the relegation zone following his appointment. After an ill fated 191 days in charge at Anfield, the experienced manager took on the reins at The Hawthornes from Roberto Di Matteo and achieved an excellent end to the season points haul of 20 from the 12 games that remained. Their finishing place of 11th was the stuff of dreams for the board at West Brom who acted decisively when the club's future in the Premier League looked bleak.

During the close season, Hodgson has brought in Gera, Foster, Long, McAuley and Fulop to supplement the talented squad at his disposal which has convinced many that this season will see the club consolidate their position. The one glaring area of weakness last season was in the defence where their record of 71 conceded was beaten only by relegated Blackpool. They will hope that the addition of ex United keeper Foster along with the tough tackling McAuley will go some way to address this deficiency.

Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie were the team's standout players last season. The Northern Irishman with the cultured left foot managed 11 assists last term while the Nigerian settled into English football well after a difficult spell in Russia. The home fans will be hoping that Shane Long (bought from Reading) will dovetail well with Odemwingie as creativity from the likes of Dorrans, Brunt and Morrison should see plenty of chances come their way.

United

The manager suggested in his pre-match press conference that last weekend's second half display when he brought on Cleverley, Jones and Evans to supplement Welbeck had given him much food for thought in terms of team selection for Sunday.

Although heavily criticised in certain quarters after a shaky display against City, the boss confirmed that he will stick with De Gea in goal. This is a sensible and considered move by an experienced manager as it would serve no purpose to lessen the young Spaniard's confidence in such an early stage of his United career. The back four is likely to be the same as at Wembley with Chris Smalling given another chance to impress at right back where he mixed sound defence with plenty of enterprise further up field.

Although Cleverley was hugely impressive last weekend, I think the manager will stick with Carrick and Anderson in the centre of midfield (if fit) as they are tried and trusted and the U21 international can bide his time on the bench before making an impact if required in the second half. Nani and Ashley Young pick themselves after exciting performances against City. I would expect to see much inter-changing of positions by these two as both are capable of playing on either flank.

The one change I foresee in the front six is the inclusion of Berbatov ahead of Welbeck. I feel that the youngster got a taste for the big match atmosphere last weekend and will continue his education on Sunday with a watching brief from the bench. It remains to be seen how the languid Bulgarian fits into the exciting fluid system that developed in the second half last week as in the past, the speed of a break has tended to slow down somewhat when he gets involved. Wayne Rooney will look to continue his excellent start and I would expect he will be given licence to roam once again in order to set up play.

There will be plenty of competition for a slot on the bench this season as the squad looks well covered in most departments. This will be further boosted by the expected return of Fletcher and Valencia along with Hernández very soon.

Prediction
With confidence high, I would expect United to comfortably collect the three points on Sunday. The crowd will be vociferous early on but once the initial fervour has been quelled, the Reds superior quality should shine through. I will go for a 0-2 scoreline with goals from Young and Vidic.

Three points will be a must as we enter a tricky run of games against many of our main rivals. United are traditionally slow starters so it will be vital to hit the ground running to lay the foundations for another successful season.

For further discussion about Sunday's game, please listen to the Can they Score United podcast featuring myself and others.

Click on the button below to follow me on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook.

If you would like to leave a comment on this article, please do so below.

Follow @writtenoff_mufc