United vs Wigan Boxing Day Thoughts

A hat trick from Dimitar Berbatov and goals from Ji-Sung Park and Anthonio Valencia sealed a 5-0 victory for Manchester United on the 26.12.2011 against Wigan Athletic. With United going on to win the last 4/4 games since the defeat to Basel, they now look to hold down a decent league table position going in to the second half of the season.

A loaded schedule meant that Ferguson always was going to make at least a couple of changes to the starting line-up. Even more so with the likes of Anderson, Fabio, Vidic, Ferdinand, Young, Owen, Cleverley and Fletcher unavailable for the game. With De Gea getting a breather Lindegaard continued in goal with a backline consisting of Valencia, Carrick, Evans and Evra in front of him. Nani, Gibson, Giggs and Park started in midfield with Berbatov and Hernandez playing up front.

Moving on from defeat:

"As I said some weeks ago, somebody was going to suffer," Sir Alex told MUTV. "We're really hitting good form now and there's a real goal threat about us from all departments. If we're top of the league or joint top with City by New Year's Day I'll be happy."

United moved level on points with City after they drew against WBA, with a total of 45 points from 18 games, moving on from the Carling Cup and the Champions League exits have really proven an important and motivating factor for the team. Ji-Sung Park commented after the game that: "It's our aim to be at the front. We always try to perform in this period of the season and we're just trying to make our performance higher". He continued, "we're still only halfway through the season and we will continue to press City. 

Quite a few players changed compared to the last game, but we still kept up the same performance as we did against Fulham. It's good for the team and proves that our squad is strong".

Patrice Evra added that: "I think it was a big disappointment when we went early in the Champions League but it was a wake-up call, because everyone looked at themselves in the mirror and said 'we can do much better' ".

Michael Carrick - The defender

With Michael Carrick playing at a makeshift role in central defense United's possession of the ball was even more distinct than usual. As seen below from Carrick's two passing charts from the Fulham and yesterdays game against Wigan, he could have been argued to have been more direct in his play. This of course as a result of him getting more time on the ball and more space to operate in. The one area were Wigan was causing United's defense, and especially Carrick, problems was when crossing the ball. 

Patrice Evra made a great point in the his post-match interview when speaking of the United spirit. He noted that: "This is the United spirit; you can play everywhere. If you want to win, you have to accept it. You can see Antonio Valencia playing right-back as well. Only because United play like a team. The team is the star, not only one player and that's why you can put me and Michael Carrick at centre-back, we're going to win because it's the team effort and team spirit". 

Nani & Valencia

United's right wing consisted of Nani and  Antonio Valencia and was of special interest as the former wasn't really playing as a traditional winger but more so as an attacking midfielder with freedom to roam around. The offensive play of Valencia was especially visible yesterday as United were given time and space to keep the ball under control in the opponents half for large parts of the game. As Wigan's starting lineup consisted of three central defenders and wingers dropping back as extra defenders, United's possession dominance became even more distinct. This served a player like Nani fine and gave him time to move around without the ball, mostly moving inwards giving Valencia room to operate on the flank. 

Outstanding game from Park

Ji-Sung Park is hitting form at the moment and was really a vital piece of United's victory. His work rate, movement, defensive play and penetrating runs made him the standout player he was. Park had a total of 3 shots, 4 tackles and 3 successful dribbles, played overall in a rather free role and as seen below far more active than against Fulham. Especially getting him the possibility of moving around behind the opponent's midfield seems to be a good recipe for success because he is still going to be a solid defensive player no matter what role he plays. Or as @thebusbyway puts it in his post on the game "Park can often be the forgotten man and is criminally underrated but he offers a lot to United and is usually dependable when called on".

Other observations:

* It is really enjoyable seeing the likes of Ezekiel Fryers getting playing minutes.

* Interesting to see Federico Macheda being deployed out on the wing as he needs both playing minutes and especially development triggers.

* Darren Gibson had a total of 90 touches, completing 96% of his passes and getting the one assist.

* Anders Lindegaard is commanding the area and feels a lot more comfortable with the ball at his feet than Tomas Kuszczak does.

What were your thoughts on the game? Did United convince you of similar dominance against other teams? 

By Magnus Nordman (Follow me on Twitter)

United vs Palace post match post mortem

Manchester United suffered embarrassment in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup for the second successive year as Crystal Palace dumped the Premier League Champions out of the competition with a 2-1 win after extra time.  Substitute Darren Ambrose inspired the away side to victory by scoring one and setting up the other.  A Federico Macheda penalty had levelled the scores but the Reds couldn’t find a way through to force the game to penalties after Palace regained the lead.

Sir Alex chose to go with a starting XI that included no less than eight full internationals; Amos, Rafael and Macheda the only three yet to gain full honours for their respective countries.  The only real surprise came with the exclusion of Zeki Fryers who started both previous rounds and performed admirably in both.  He had to be content with a place on the bench but did not have to wait long to get in on the action when Fabio succumbed to injury yet again just after the half hour mark.  The first half was more notable for the injuries that occurred than any goal mouth action. Dimitar Berbatov received a knock and was replaced at half time while Palace’s Scannell and Moxey also lasted only 45 minutes as injuries prevented them from taking any further part.  It was a dire affair and the half time whistle was a welcome sound.  Only flashes from the lively Zaha sparked life in to an otherwise dull encounter.

Hope was given as the teams emerged for the second half when it became apparent that Ravel Morrison would replace Berbatov.  It was the moment most United fans had been waiting for. He would finally get a decent stint on the pitch, and at Old Trafford.  The only downside was he would be playing alongside players who could only dream of having the ability the boy has.  Still, there was sense that he could resuscitate an ailing United.  He did to an extent, testing the Palace keeper twice in the space of five minutes. The first a stinging drive from the edge of the area and the second an angled drive that he struck right at the keepers legs; one he perhaps will look back on and feel he should have done better.  Before these chances Antonio Valencia should really have given United the lead when he went through one on one with the keeper but, as has come to be expected, he fluffed his chance and screwed it wide.

It seemed only a matter of time before the Reds would pay for those missed chances with Palace looking dangerous on the counter attack.  After sloppy play in midfield, Ambrose advanced with the ball and unleashed an unstoppable drive from all of 35 yards.  It was a truly magnificent strike and up there with the very best Old Trafford has seen. Think Gabriel Batistuta, think David Trezeguet.  This goal was up there with them.  Palace were unable to hang on to the lead though and United were level within five minutes.  Macheda turned neatly in the box and had his shirt pulled by McCarthy, the Italian went down and Chris Foy obligingly pointed to the stop.  Macheda dusted himself down and made no mistake from 12 yards to give him his first goal for United when he has started a game.

While the second half was slightly more fluent than the first, United couldn’t break down a resolute Palace defence and so the game lurched in to extra time.  The last thing the 50 odd thousand in attendance probably wanted.  The Eagles grabbed the winner in the first half of extra time when Murray outmuscled Jonny Evans to get on the end of a delightful free kick from Ambrose.  The ball flashed past Amos before he could get his hands up to stop it.  The Reds huffed and puffed but to no avail.  The third game at Old Trafford in eight days, all winless. They were out, a fate which will surely befall some of the players on show last night.

Post Match Analysis

Come in Diouf and Macheda, your time is up

If Wednesday night and the aforementioned player’s respective performances does not draw the curtain on their United careers then there is something not quite right at Old Trafford.  Leeway has been given to both as they have been played out of position this season but, against Palace, they both had their shot up front.  

Diouf started up front with Macheda on the left and, although he didn’t get long, he did absolutely nothing to warrant his selection there.  There was very little service to be fair but his movement, sense of awareness and understanding were awful.  Rightly, he was shunted wide left where his work rate and pace may have been more beneficial to the team. It wasn’t.  He was terrible. He isn’t as bad as his performance suggested, you only have to look at him in the reserves, but he isn’t cut out for this level. And certainly not at United.  When you can’t even shield the ball properly, you know it’s the end of the line.

Macheda, although narrowly better and grabbed the goal, was still woeful.  It may be unfair to say his time is up given he is only recently back from injury and had to play as a lone striker from the second half onwards but it’s the simple things that let him down.  His second touch is invariably a tackle, his passing is awry to say the least and his propensity to take four touches instead of two almost always leads to surrendering possession.  He should have gone on loan but he didn’t so he had to make the most of these chances. He hasn’t. Even a loan move in January is unlikely to save his United career.  If you can’t do the basics after two years of being around the first team, you are not going to make it here.  Defeats like these usually spell the end for some players who were involved. It was Obertan and Bebe last year. It’s Diouf and Macheda who could be culled twelve months on.

Ferguson’s apology

“I don't know where to start to be honest. My apologies go to our fans tonight because that was not a Manchester United performance.”

Firstly, the United manager should very rarely, if ever, have to apologise.  He put out a team that was more than capable of beating a Crystal Palace side who had failed to score a single goal in their previous five games.  But, seeing as he has apologised for the performance, why has he not apologised for most of the season? When was the last time we put in a “Manchester United performance”?  I’m neither expecting nor wanting an apology, that’s football but why say it after a defeat like last night? I’d say it was more expected than at any other point this season given the players involved even though they should have got the result.

If an apology was to be given it should have came in various other forms.  An apology from the hierarchy for the ridiculous prices paid by those who attended Old Trafford to witness that dross would have been nice.  An apology for paying somewhere in the region of £4 million for Mame Biram Diouf while negligently failing to pay money to address serious issues in our squad would also have been nice.  An apology for sticking with a player who we actively tried to sell in the summer ahead of promising youngsters who have been talked up by everyone at the club would have been even nicer.

But like I said, an apology is neither wanted nor necessary.  An improvement is what we want.  A change is what is necessary.

Ravel Morrison, welcome.

At some point between 8.45pm and 8.50pm on Wednesday night, the moment most United fans had been waiting for arrived. Ravel Morrison was introduced to Old Trafford and was going to get meaningful minutes on the pitch. It turned out to be 75 minutes.  Probably the only positive of extra time was Morrison getting an extra 30 minutes.  Some, rather inexplicably, failed to see his talent.  Others, thankfully, did.  He wasn’t exceptional by any stretch of the imagination but he stood out in a United side that was full of unadventurous, under-performing internationals.  It was too much to expect he would thrill, dazzle and ultimately win us the game single handedly.  Although in the back of the mind, I’m sure there was a thought that “just maybe, what if, he could you know”.  He didn’t which is probably just as well. More tellingly he put in a mature performance, one that contradicted his tender years.

He spent the first ten minutes feeling his way in to the game, finding space but not being found with passes in to his feet.  When he did get the ball he wasn’t afraid to dribble with it, he came deep to collect it, moved forward, passed it on and moved to create more space. Pass and move. If only others could have followed his lead.  He made it look simple.  The thing is, it was simple.  When he did get in and around the box, life was breathed in to our attack.  A ball fizzed in to him was nonchalantly flicked on and space was created for a chance.  The flicks and tricks are the swagger he has to his game but they are effective.  They were incisive yet embarrassing to his teammates who struggled to accurately pass the ball five yards never mind back heel it that distance.  He also had two of our best chances; it would have been no surprise if he did get on the score sheet.  He’ll probably kick himself that he didn’t.  He won’t let it affect him though.  He’ll make sure he takes those chances next time.

As I alluded to before, he stood out in that team which is the most pleasing aspect of his performance.  Too many times you see promising youngsters thrown in to a patch work side and suffer because of it.  It’s easy to fall to the level of those around you in that situation.  Morrison didn’t.  He still showed his undoubted ability and class.  Perhaps disappointingly for him it was Berbatov he replaced, the one player in the line up who could have brought out more in him.  However, it bodes well for the future. One can only assume if he plays this well with the stiffs, he will excel with the superstars.

All that said, I don’t expect him to feature much more in the first team this season. Depending on the FA Cup draw he could get some minutes but Ferguson won’t pitch him in to Premier League battle. Not while we have 18 fit first team players. The hard part will be telling him that and controlling the undoubted disappointment that will follow. He’ll (rightly) feel he belongs now in light of the abject performances around him but he’ll not be thrust in to the first team yet.

End of the road but new beginnings for others

Defeat to Palace brought an end to a Carling Cup run that was far from exciting but it did bring a few positives.  The competition brought debuts for Paul Pogba, Michael Keane, Larnell Cole and Zeki Fryers.  While Tom Thorpe, Reece Brown, Jesse Lingard, Marnick Vermijl and Will Keane got a taste of what it is like to be involved in the 18.  This competition is, and always should be, about introducing young players in to the first team.  In that respect, this season has been a success.

He, who will feel most benefit from it, is Zeki Fryers.  A surprise inclusion against Leeds, he excelled in that game and put in another solid performance against Aldershot.  It was not thought his time would come this season especially after a terrible injury last season but it did and he grabbed it.  So much so he has also had a taste of Champions League action.  He was stable last night but was guilty of being sloppy in possession.  It was he who lost the ball that led to the Ambrose strike by trying to dribble forward instead of passing it.  

A mistake was inevitable, they happen to the best of players.  He’ll recover from the disappointment of being involved in the team that was knocked out and look to push on.  The left back spot needs competition and he has given Sir Alex an option with his performances.  He has been the noticeable positive in a campaign that offered very little.

Ratings: Amos 5, Rafael 5, Smalling 6, Evans 5, Fabio 4, Valencia 3, Park 4, Gibson 5, Diouf 1, Macheda 3, Berbatov 3

Subs: Fryers 5, Morrison 6, Pogba 5,

By Mick Higgins (Follow me on Twitter)

United vs Palace Carling Cup Preview

Introduction

Manchester United entertain Crystal Palace on Wednesday night as Old Trafford tastes its first Carling Cup action of the season.  Once again the United hierarchy have failed to reduce ticket prices for a match that should be used to entice families and kids to the Theatre of Dreams.  Instead, it is likely that large parts of the ground will be empty and the players will be playing in front of another subdued atmosphere.

As for the game itself, United will be looking to advance past the stage they faltered at last year when West Ham United embarrassed the cup holders 4-0 at Upton Park.  Similarly Crystal Palace, will be looking to reach their first semi final since 2000/01 when Liverpool convincingly dispatched of them 6-2 on aggregate.  

The last meeting between the sides in this competition ended in a 2-0 win to the Reds with Saha and Richardson grabbing the goals in November 2004.  There is only one survivor from the United line up that night, Darren Fletcher although it is unlikely he will feature in the tie this time around.  However, a similar result to that of seven years ago will suit Sir Alex Ferguson’s men as they look to focus their attention on the Premier League festive run in.

The Opposition

Crystal Palace go in to Wednesday evening’s game looking for their first win in five.  Dougie Freedman’s men are on a poor run of form at the moment, one which has also seen them fail to register a single goal in those five games.  However, in the Carling Cup they have had some noticeable results.  In the first round they saw off Crawley Town 2-0, a tie that could have been considered a potential upset given the big spending nature of the League Two club.  They then caused their own upset by beating Premier League strugglers Wigan 2-1 and followed that up with a win against Middlesbrough by the same score line.  They were rewarded with a tie against United when they beat the Championships pace setters Southampton by two goals to nil. 

All of these ties have been at Selhurst Park though and they will face a wholly different proposition coming up against the might of Manchester United at Old Trafford.  The task of getting a result will be made even tougher given the Eagles’ erratic away form.  In their 9 away Championship games they have won 4, lost 5 and drew 0. Scoring 10 and conceding 12 in the process.  Saying they blow hot and cold away from home would be a fair statement to make.  If they are to upset the odds tomorrow night they will need some big performances from their most important players including youngsters Nathaniel Clyne and Wilfried Zaha.

Clyne has attracted some serious interest from Premier League clubs after his impressive performances at right back for Palace last season. He played in every league game, becoming the youngest ever player to do so.  He has resisted the temptation to fly the Eagles’ nest thus far but it won’t be long before he is plying his trade in the Premier League.  Old Trafford will be the perfect stage for him to showcase his talent and it should inspire him to put in a solid performance. 

While Clyne will be tasked with keeping United’s attackers quiet, Wilfried Zaha will be given the responsibility to try and unlock the United defence with his pace and trickery.  He has three goals in the competition already and five in total for the season.  While not prolific in front of goal, Zaha has the attributes to trouble what will be a youthful United backline.  He’ll cause problems on the counter attack whether it be by running at the defence or chasing a ball over the top.  Whoever Ferguson selects at the back, they’ll need to be on their guard.

United

As another Carling Cup games rolls around, all the buzz is about what youngsters will feature in this tie.  Sir Alex Ferguson has dropped strong hints that Paul Pogba could make his first start given the depleted nature of our midfield.  Ravel Morrison could also be involved with Ferguson saying he should make the bench at the very least.  Zeki Fryers should make his third start in the competition, while Jesse Lingard, Larnell Cole and the Keane twins will also be hoping to make the squad having done so in previous rounds and have been training with the first team squad.  Whoever makes the squad will be accompanied by a good blend of experience and players who need minutes on the pitch.

Ferguson has said there will be wholesale changes again meaning most, if not all, who started the weekend draw against Newcastle will be left out.  The only exception could be Fabio but with his twin brother needing a game after returning from injury, Rafael could get the nod.  Smalling and Evans could form a strong central defensive partnership as both needs minutes after recovering from knocks.  That could see Fryers occupy the left back berth like he did against Aldershot.  In what will be his toughest game yet, he could be faced with the task of containing Zaha if he is employed out wide or is given a free role behind a main striker.  I have no doubt he will be up to the task and put in another strong performance.  Confidence will be coursing through his body given the faith Ferguson has shown in him and the positive feedback/encouragement he has received from his Twitter followers.

Ahead of the defence the front six could allow for some flexibility.  Michael Owen has succumbed to injury yet again and will not be able to add to his three goals in the competition.  Dimitar Berbatov was missing from the squad for the Newcastle game due to a knock but if fit he should return to lead the line.  If not, Kiko Macheda and Mame Diouf could partner each other in attack.  Similarly, without the experience of Berbatov, Ferguson could adopt a fluid 4-5-1 formation especially if Pogba is going to be handed his full debut.  That could see Diouf or Macheda out wide allowing for the potential to move to 4-4-2 depending on the flow of the game.  Antonio Valencia will likely take his place on the right wing as he continues to try and rediscover his form.

Although it will not sit easy with many United fans, it is likely Darron Gibson will make his first start of the season against Palace.  It will cause even more unrest if it comes at the expense of Pogba or Morrison getting a start.  However, given he was on the bench against Benfica and Newcastle it appears he is still in the Ferguson’s thoughts ahead of the aforementioned reserve players.  Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher are our only two recognised fit central midfielders so Ji Sung Park could again be utilised in that role alongside Gibson.  Ryan Giggs could also slot in and would be a good choice to play alongside Pogba if the Frenchman was to start.  It may also be suitable to have Giggs or Park play in a midfield three with Gibson and Pogba.

The team, like every other round, is very much up in the air.  The fans will live in hope that our promising youngsters get the chance to shine at Old Trafford.  I, for one, will not get my hopes too high.  If they make the starting XI, great. If not, let’s get behind the players who are playing and get a result that will see us progress to the semi finals.

Predicted Line up: Amos, Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Fryers, Valencia, Gibson, Park, Diouf, Macheda, Berbatov

Scoreline Prediction

Crystal Palace will be no mugs and I fully expect this to be our toughest test in the competition yet even though we are at home.  Saying that, Palace are on a dismal scoreless run and if United field a strong defence like the one I have predicted, I can’t see them breaching that.  We should have enough in attack to grab the goals that will see us through comfortably in the end so I’ll go with 3-0.

By Mick Higgins (Follow me on Twitter)

Please feel free to leave your thoughts on the game below.

Swansea vs Manchester United Big Match Preview

Introduction

Manchester United return to Premier League action when they face top flight new boys Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday evening.  The Reds will be making their first trip to a different country for a Premier League game after the Swans became the first Welsh side to reach the Premier League when they beat Reading 4-2 in the Championships play offs.

Swansea go in to the match unbeaten at home having won 3 and drawn 2.  This is identical to United’s away record which is a marked improvement on last term when they won only 4 away games all season en route to winning a record 19^th title.  United will need to keep up this resurgent away form if they are to leave Wales with a point never mind all three given the impressive home record of the Swans.  They have only conceded one goal at home and even that came via their own player, a Danny Graham own goal in a 3-1 victory against Bolton.  This will prove a tough game for United to resume their quest for a 20^th league title after an international break and Ferguson’s men will need to be at the top of their game if they are to keep in touch with City at the top of the table.

The Opposition

Brendan Rodgers has largely stuck with the players who helped the club gain promotion to the Premier League but he has made a few astute additions and this has resulted in an impressive start to their maiden campaign in the top flight.  Michel Vorm, or SuperVorm as he has been nicknamed, a £1.5 million capture from Utrecht, has been a stand out performer so far this season. Rooney and Co will need to be sharp in front goal if they are to beat the Dutchman.  While Vorm has been keeping them out, record signing Danny Graham has added some much needed firepower at the other end of the pitch.  After a slow start to the season he has finally found his feet, bagging four goals in his last five games (or five goals if you count the OG!).

While these two players have consolidated the spine of the team, it is arguably the players that Rodgers retained in the middle of the park that has been a massive factor in Swansea sitting pretty in tenth position.  Leon Britton and Joe Allen have been excellent all season and their passing football has put established Premier League teams to shame.  They play the game the right way and they have been a joy to watch thus far.  Britton rightly received the plaudits for a masterclass in keeping the ball in the match against Liverpool when he finished with 100% pass completion; the only player to do so in the Premier League this season.

While Rodgers will be happy at the start they have had to the season, his job now is to make sure this continues.  He will be well aware they have been on the wrong end of thrashings against the other title challengers and will want to avoid the same fate against the Champions.  In fairness those heavy defeats have come away from home and it is no exaggeration to say Rodgers’ men are a wholly different proposition at the Liberty Stadium.  This will be their toughest test at home and one I’m sure they will relish. 

Rodgers will go in to the game with a game plan but I don’t expect it to differ much from the way they have been playing all season. They will keep the ball, play it simple and try to hurt United when the opportunity arises.  The game sold out weeks in advance and the crowd will play a big part.  It will be a vociferous atmosphere and the Swansea fans will be coming to the game full of confidence, expecting their team to get a result.

United

Sir Alex Ferguson dealt the devastating blow that Tom Cleverley is likely to be out til Christmas with the ankle injury he sustained against Everton.  This is a crushing blow to the Reds given the underwhelming performances in Tom’s absence.  Ferguson also said Chris Smalling would miss out against Swansea as will Danny Welbeck who picked up a knock up while on away with England.  On a more positive note, Ashley Young is fit and will travel to Wales as might Rafael who made his comeback from injury in the Reserves 4-1 win against Wigan on Thursday night.  The squad which does make the 400 mile round trip should be fresh given key players like Rooney, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick and Park all stayed at home while some of their colleagues ventured across the globe.

The international hiatus could not have come at a worse time for United.  After the 6-1 mauling at the hands of City, Ferguson rallied his troops and although performances were far from convincing, the Reds were on a four game clean sheet streak.  There was momentum gathering and a continuity that would have been better to sustain rather than have it disrupted with this inconvenience.  However, confidence should be restored and I’m sure Sir Alex has drilled it in to the players that stayed at Carrington the need to maintain the clean sheet streak and push on with a sequence of wins in the run up to the festive period.

David De Gea, fresh from another clean sheet with Spain under 21s, should take over between the sticks after Lindergaard was given the 90 minutes against Sunderland.  In front of him, Ferguson must decide whether to go with Evans or Ferdinand as Vidic’s partner in the centre of defence.  With Rafael just returning from injury and looking rusty midweek and Fabio being on the wrong end of a horrendous tackle while with Brazil, Phil Jones should slot in at right back once again after starring for England in central midfield.  A defence of Jones, Rio, Vidic and Evra should be strong enough to contain Swansea if they perform like they did before the break.

It will be then up to the front 6 to break down a stingy Swansea defence.  While Rooney has been competent in central midfield in recent games, he’s a striker and should be moved up top again.  He could be partnered with Berbatov who should be boosted by the news Ferguson has no plans to sell him and sees him as an integral part of the team.  Hernandez may have to settle for a place on the bench after travelling to Mexico last week but given the game was last Friday, he may be suitably rested and ready to start. 

With Rooney moving forward, Michael Carrick should make his first Premier League start of the season and could be partnered by either Darren Fletcher or Anderson.  On the wings, Nani will be high on confidence after helping Portugal secure their place at Euro 2012 with a wonder goal but 3 games in a week coupled with all the travelling may prove too much for the winger.  Ashley Young may be recalled after his injury although it is unclear how much he has trained this week.  It may give an opportunity to Valencia, who himself has said he needs games, and Park Ji Sung to provide the width.

Given the injuries to certain players and question marks of the match fitness of others, Saturday could see Paul Pogba or Ravel Morrison make the bench.  Morrison was mightily impressive against Wigan on Thursday, scoring two beautiful goals and it would not have gone unnoticed with the United manager. Although I refuse to get my hopes up it would be nice to see Morrison rewarded with a spot on the bench after a sparkling performance.  His ingenuity may just be what is required to unlock the Swansea defence.

Starting XI: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Rooney, Hernandez

Score Prediction

I refuse to be confident going in to this game.  Swansea are a formidable outfit at home and will fancy their chances on Saturday.  Personally I think it could be a draw. However, given City could be 8 points clear the time United kick off it is imperative we get the three points.  We should be strong enough in defence to repel the threat of Graham, Sinclair and Dyer thus it will depend on whether we have the cutting edge to sneak a goal past Vorm. I will go with a narrow and hard fought 1-0 win.

By Mick Higgins (Follow me on Twitter)

What would be your team selection and score prediction for the game? Please leave any comments below.

Blue moon rises but hardly the Damned United

Sunday was a sobering day for Manchester United and their fans. A defeat may not have been surprising given how poor we have been since Bolton (whilst Chelseawas hardly an awful performance, they were the better team and luck won us the day), a 6-1 thumping was beyond belief. There are, admittedly, some mitigating factors, Jonny Evans sending-off: which, by the way, does not make him a bad defender, he’s been excellent this season – but perhaps more significantly the United mentality. It would have been easy to sit back and accept a 3-1 defeat, hardly a disaster given we’d played nearly half the game with 10 men, but it’s not how we go about our business. We went for it and David Silva, the Premier League’s premium player by a distance, tore us to shreds, making it an embarrassing 6-1.

As Bob Dylan once sang, “The times they are a-changing”. United are no longer comfortable in Manchester, in fact, many would consider City league favourites now. On top of that, most, myself included, would put more City players than United in a Manchester XI (my team, for those who care, Hart, Richards, Vidic, Kompany, Evra, De Jong, Toure, Silva, Young, Rooney, Aguero). However, if English football has learned one thing about Manchester United, it is to never write them off.

It isn’t hard to find positives for United. So far this season United have played 7 of the top 10 – and another one being ourselves – whilst City still have Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and even Stoke away to go. By New Years, there is every chance we will have caught City up and possibly even overtaking and then we can buy a centre midfielder (let me dream, I know it won’t happen) – with Javi Martinez, Yann M’Vila and Danielle De Rossi all possibilities who could be registered for the later stages of the Champions League, assuming United get there which is by no means a certainty if we keep playing with the same complacency that has marked our games since Bolton. On top of this, we are currently 5 points behind City, a concerning margin. Yet last season, we were 6^thand 8 points behind – albeit with a game in hand. It is hardly the time to assume all is lost.

The main position of envy for United fans is City’s midfield. Their defence is no better than ours, the amount of goals conceded is more down to the shocking lack of cover from our midfield, with fans favourite Michael Carrick the only natural defensive midfielder in the squad who, by Sir Alex’s own admission, “doesn’t get going until later on in the season”. In between the sticks, Joe Hart is a better keeper than David De Gea at this point but by no means is it a massive gap. As for attack, Aguero and Rooney are their teams talismans up top, in the top 3 in the Prem with Arsenal’s brilliant Robin Van Persie, and City have startling options in the mercurial but brilliant Mario Balotelli and the inconsistent Edin Dzeko whose mood and confidence dictates whether he’s a Heskey or Drogba. However, in Welbeck, Chicharito, Berbatov and Owen, we aren’t exactly lacking ourselves. The midfields are, however, classes apart. This was a point emphatically proven when Samir Nasri trotted off the bench. A player who would start for United coming on as his team were walking over us 3-0. United are crying out for a Yaya Toure or a Nigel De Jong to cover our defence.

The sheer fact that Tom Cleverley has been missed as though he was Andres Iniesta tells a story in itself. “Chunks” is a fantastic talent, with massive potential but he’s not yet a world class player and in fact, if too much pressure is applied to him, it could end up seeing him not reach the levels he could. The other half of our midfield is our wingers, Nani and Ashley Young. Both are quality players who started brilliantly but have faded a tad, Young perhaps becoming predictable as he seems to forget how good his left foot is and instead always comes in onto his right. Nani, on his day, has the ability to be one of the world’s best. However, that day is all too rare. City, however, have Silva. A majestic player, currently the world’s third best (on form, I would still have him as fifth on ability, hardly a shame to be behind La Liga’s sensational foursome of Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta), he was given the freedom of Manchester and boy, did he take it. His pass for Edin Dzeko’s second was one of the most majestic you are likely to see, finding the Bosnian with laser precision on the half volley.

The question being asked now is how to go improving the midfield. There are those who advocate buying quick and some who think we shouldn’t, just to let Morrison, Pogba, Tunnicliffe and Cleverley advance. Whilst not wanting to get too much into it, the main danger is that, without investment, City could run away with Premier League titles, never mind European football. As the ever spot-on Samuel Luckhurst pointed out, United are no longer the third favourites in Europe, Bayern Munich overtaking them in that respect and that won’t change without quality in the centre of the park. Is it worth the risk to not buy and allow the youngsters the chance to shine when we don’t even know if they will be world class? The midfield one is the most pressing for United. Their manager, mentality and the quality they still possess mean United are still very much in the title race, if not the European one. But get the midfield question wrong and that might change. The Blue Moon may be Rising but the Damned United? Certainly not.

By Diarmaid Hill (Follow me on Twitter)

Aldershot vs Manchester United Post Match Post Mortem

Manchester United sauntered to a 3-0 win against Aldershot at The Recreation Ground to advance to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup and remain on course for a third final appearance in four years.  The scoreline was the same as the previous round and the game overall bore similarities too. We played a team in white at their place, controlled the first half, scored the goals to make it comfortable and played out the second half without much incident.  Michael Owen was once again on the scoresheet, making it three goals in two Carling Cup appearances this season. His goal was sandwiched between a Dimitar Berbatov strike and an Antonio Valencia thunderbolt.

The Reds fielded a second string XI, making three changes from the game against Leeds. In came Vidic, Cleverley and Jones with Giggs, Carrick and Macheda dropping out.  It meant a second start for Zeki Fryers who was deployed at left back with Fabio switching to right back and Valencia moving further up the field.  Paul Pogba had to make do with a place on the bench along with his fellow Reserve team mates.  He did enter the fray on the hour mark to make his second appearance for United.  Ravel Morrison, a 70^thminute substitute, also made his second senior appearance almost a year to the day after he made his first against Wolves in the Carling Cup last season.  Michael Keane’s introduction along with Morrison made him the fourth United debutant in this year’s competition.

While it was pleasing to see the younger lads get their opportunity, this game was all about giving squad players minutes on the pitch.  As Sir Alex stated before the match, with the games starting to come thick and fast as we enter the winter months, it is imperative everyone is match fit and ready to go when called upon.  It is for that reason it was essential for Berbatov, Owen, Valencia, Park and Vidic to get 90 minutes.  Most pleasing of all though was the return of Tom Cleverley from injury.  He managed 60 minutes before being replaced by Pogba and will have played his way in to contention for a starting spot against Everton on Saturday.  He was involved heavily in the move which led to the first goal and also teed up Valencia to make it three just after half time.  He has become a greater player in his absence in many supporters’ eyes which places a heavy burden on the boy’s shoulders but we have missed his spark in midfield. Ferguson will see his return as a welcome boost after Sunday’s shambolic display and will be pleased overall at the result and the performance of the team. 

Post Match Analysis

Goals – Easy as 1,2,3

Aldershot were far from disgraced in this match and can hold their heads up high but they will be disappointed at the manner in which they lost the goals.  The first came in the fifteenth minute and it was like someone had rewound the tape back to the start of the season. Park played the ball in to Cleverley and continued his run in to the box before being found with a neat pass from the latter. The South Korean then slid the ball to Berbatov who took a touch before slotting home in to the far corner. The passing and movement in and around the box was excellent to watch. It’s exactly what has been missing from the Reds play since the Chelsea match and it was no coincidence that Cleverley was at the forefront of the move.  It does have to be taken in to context though, it was against a League Two defence but it was still pleasing to see that type of goal return to our play.

Picture courtesy of The Guardian

There wasn’t much the Shots could have done about the first goal to be fair but they will be desperately disappointed by the second goal which came five minutes before half time.  Owen dropped off to in to midfield to collect the ball, he turned and sent a raking 50 yard pass in behind the defence to Berbatov who ambled his way in to the box. He laid the ball on a plate to Owen who timed his run to perfection and made no mistake with the finish.  Owen’s run wasn’t picked up and the keeper could have done better with the shot but full credit to the ex-Liverpool man who started the move and showed the desire to get in the box and finish it.

The third goal came two minutes after the half time and killed off any faint hope Aldershot had of staging a miraculous comeback.  Cleverley collected the ball 25 yards from goal and spotted Valencia in acres of room to his right hand side. He laid the ball in to his path before the Ecuadorian took a touch and drilled an unstoppable shot past the helpless Warner.  The ball curled, swerved and dipped leaving the ‘keeper no chance.  It was a surprise to see Valencia take the shot on but it does show what he is capable of. 

Dimitar Berbatov – He’s still here

The enigmatic Bulgarian made only his third start of the season, his sixth appearance overall, and comfortably his best.  The sight of last season’s top scorer and a man who has more skill in his big toe than most have in their whole body appearing at The Recreation Ground against a mid table League Two side is akin to Mario Balotelli fronting a fireworks safety campaign – total madness... oh wait...right, anyway, never mind.  It’s testament to the man’s character that he didn’t grumble or moan but simply got on with the game and helped his team to victory.  Against Leeds he might as well have not been on the pitch but on Tuesday night he was involved in everything.  Touch, composure, vision, skill is what you come to expect from Berbatov and this game was no different.  But there was also a passion, a fighting spirit that saw him race back to win the ball or help out the midfield.  In truth it was just good to see him back out there.

He has kicked his heels on the bench for weeks as we have put in poor performance after poor performance but now might be the time for him to step up to the plate.  His movement, hold up play and intricate passing has been missing from the games were we have been below par.  Many feel the problem lies solely in central midfield but the front players have been substandard too and it might be time for something different.  He brings others in to the game and allows the midfield to get forward before building an attack. Yes, he sometimes slows the play down but we haven’t been playing the high tempo football we did at the start. It’s not clicking just now and a change is needed.  He was comfortably man of the match against Aldershot, and although it’s only Aldershot, it should give Ferguson something to think about. His only Premier League start came after the Leeds game and it may be that his second league starts comes against Everton this weekend. He can’t be ignored for much longer.

Morrison and Pogba – Is the future now?

As highlighted previously, Morrison and Pogba both made their second senior appearances for United tonight; the only disappointment being they were both off the bench rather than from the start.  In their brief cameos they showed glimpses of the undoubted potential they possess and why they are the future of Manchester United.  However, with the central midfield position being heavily criticised, the question remains are they ready now? The simple answer, and the correct one, is no. They still have a long way to go and people need to settle down and lower their expectations. Without raining on the parade or being too downbeat, they haven’t “made it” yet. Realism is needed.  Nevertheless, it would be unjust not to discuss the positives of both their cameos though and highlight the obvious potential that is there. 

Pogba once again showed he is a boy in a man’s body as he strolled around the pitch with ease but he also showed a maturity on the ball that belied his tender years.  He used it efficiently and kept it moving from one side of the pitch to the other.  He always made himself available for the ball and didn’t shirk responsibility in tight situations.  This, more than any other quality, is what makes him stand out.  Wanting the ball is the most important thing for a young kid when he comes in to the team and he always wants it.  There is no fear and that’s the way it should be.  He didn’t try many outlandish passes but switched the ball once beautifully out to Valencia, showcasing his passing repertoire.  He was also defensively disciplined, shielding the back four and not getting caught too high up the pitch. This maturity is why he is closer to the first team than others were at his age.

While Pogba was efficient and mature on the ball, Morrison had a spark about his game.  There was a swagger about his game, showcased with some showboating and a little back flick to Berbatov on the edge of the box which nearly resulted in him getting in on goal.  What makes him so special though is as well as being a match winner, he is equally adept at playing the game simple.  Time and again he got the ball, passed it on and kept moving. He rarely stops moving when he is on the pitch which is excellent to see. Sometimes he can stop moving when he has to track back but against Aldershot he showed a willingness to help out Fabio in defence and bust a gut to chase back his man 50 yards.  If there was one thing that did let him down, it was his positional play. He was brought on for Diouf who was playing wide left but you’d be lucky if Morrison occupied that position for more than two minutes.

This can be viewed as both a good thing and a bad thing.  He wanted to be involved in the game which is why he drifted inside and more or less played central midfield for the 20 minutes he was on.  He wanted to get on the ball and to make things happen.  He thrives playing where he decided to play on Tuesday night so it was refreshing to see a young man take it upon himself to involve himself in the game.  It was also a stark contrast to his first appearance against Wolves when he was also brought on at left midfield and barely moved off the touchline.  However, Ferguson may not have been enamoured by his positional indiscipline.  Although there was rarely a threat from Aldershot down that side, it may not have pleased the boss to see that flank so exposed at times.  Berbatov and Owen both covered him but the latter did gesture to Ravel to get wide and shut down the right back.  It is not a major thing especially against that sort of opposition but left midfield may be where his opportunities come in the future and he will need to show more discipline to impress the boss. 

Overall, they were two exciting cameos from two very promising players and lit up a somewhat dreary night.  They should have cemented their place in the squad for the next round but that may depend on the opposition.  The draw will be made on Saturday at noon with Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Cardiff in the hat along with ourselves.  Another four Premier League teams will join after Wednesday night’s matches.  The quarter final ties will be played on the week commencing 28^th November.

Ratings: Amos 7, Fabio 6, Jones 6, Vidic 6, Fryers 6, Valencia 6, Cleverley 7, Park 7, Diouf 5, Owen 6, Berbatov 8

Subs: Pogba 7, Morrison 7, Keane 5

By Mick Higgins (Follow me on Twitter)

What were your thoughts on the game at Aldershot? Were you impressed by the likes of Pogba and Morrison. Please leave your comments below.

Aldershot vs United Carling Cup Preview

Introduction

Manchester United resume their quest for a third League Cup in four years when they take on Aldershot at the The Recreation Ground in the fourth round on Tuesday night.  The League Two side were rewarded for their 2-1 win over Rochdale in the previous round with a tie against the Premier League Champions who convincingly dispatched of their fierce rivals Leeds United 3-0.  It is a glamour tie for Town and an opportunity for their young manager, former Wimbledon and Bolton striker, Dean Holdsworth to pit his wits against the most successful manager in English football history.

The game comes at the perfect time for both United and Aldershot but for differing reasons.  Aldershot halted a 5 game losing streak at the weekend with an excellent 5-2 away win at Dagenham and Redbridge. They will go in to this tie high on confidence after that result. Contrastingly, the Reds will be happy to have a game so quickly after an utterly humiliating defeat at the hands of their noisy neighbours on Sunday.  A cup game against a lower league side should present the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways and to put in a good performance to appease the fans.

The Opposition

Aldershot Town – The Rising Phoenix. Formed in 1992 after the demise of Aldershot FC, who were the first football team to fold during a season since Accrington Stanley in 1962, they regained their Football League status when they were promoted from the Conference in 2008. They made the play offs in their second season in League Two but lost out in the semi finals.  The following season they were at risk of relegation which prompted a change of management.  This saw Holdsworth take the reigns and he guided them to the safety of 14^th place.

This season has been more a struggle for The Shots. They currently languish in 15^th place having lost half of their 14 league games.  More than half of these defeats have come at home which must be a concern for them as the might of Manchester United come to visit.  They have fared better in the Carling Cup at home though, having beat League One opposition in the last two rounds at The Recreation Ground.  These followed a giant killing at Upton Park when they beat the Hammers 2-1 with a last minute winner. 

Those results will pale in to insignificance if they can get a result against the Reds.  They will look to last year’s Player of the Year, Luke Guttridge, to inspire them in midfield and hope Danny Hylton can continue his decent goal scoring form this season which has seen him bag 10 goals already.  Two of those ten came in the Carling Cup; winners against West Ham and Rochdale.

United

The Reds propensity to blood youngsters in this competition continued in the last round with Zeki Fryers making an impressive debut at centre back. There were also debuts for Paul Pogba and Larnell Cole as second half substitutes but the importance of the game in terms of who the opposition were probably restricted Ferguson from giving more full debuts to a few other youngsters.  For this game there is no excuse to not introduce more promising Reserve team players to first team football.  With the utmost respect to Aldershot, they arguably face sterner opposition in the Reserve league than they will against a mid table League Two side.  However, first team squad players need minutes on the pitch and Ferguson might also treat this game as a punishment for some players after the woeful display on Sunday.

Macheda ruled himself out of the game on Twitter due to an elbow injury and Rafael is also unlikely to feature as there has been no update on his shoulder injury. Unconfirmed rumours suggest Giggs is injured and that is why he missed the last two games so will possibly miss this one too.  One player who could make his return is Tom Cleverley.  Ferguson had hoped he would be ready for Liverpool which suggests he has been training. He might have made his return at the weekend had the opposition not been City so this match could provide the perfect opportunity for him to get match fit.  Vidic is also likely to feature after being left out of the squad on Sunday due to concerns over his fitness and ability to play three games in a short space of time.  Other first team players who could be doing with a game are Antonia Valencia, who has been awful since his return from injury, and Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen who have only featured once since the last round of the Cup.

The only reason the above named players should feature is because they need minutes. We shouldn’t need their experience against Aldershot.  Instead this game should be used to showcase the talents of Pogba, Morrison, Cole et al.  I will be surprised and extremely disappointed if there are not more youngsters involved than there was against Leeds.  Zeki Fryers, if fit after suffering whiplash in a recent Reserve outing, deserves to take his place in defence again after an outstanding performance against Leeds.  Pogba should get his first start in the centre of the park which could prove exciting if his partner is indeed Tom Cleverley.  Tom Thorpe or Michael Keane should get the nod to play at centre back.  There probably isn’t a better chance to play Ravel Morrison but I doubt he will start. Hopefully he’ll be on the bench and at least get 45 minutes. Larnell Cole and Jesse Lingard have made timely returns from injury and could feature in the squad after Ferguson name checked them before the third round draw was made. Davide Petrucci may also be a contender after finding his form for the Reserves in the last few weeks.

Once again though, the team will be impossible to correctly predict.  We’ll most likely go with a 4-4-2 formation but the player’s to fill those positions is anybody’s guess. Here’s mine:

Bench: Lindegaard, Thorpe, Brown, Morrison, Cole, Petrucci, W.Keane

Scoreline Prediction

I expect nothing less than a victory.  It should be convincing but knowing United in recent weeks, it won’t be that.  Nevertheless, I’ll go with a 4-0 win with Owen bagging a hat trick and Morrison coming off the bench to seal the win.

By Mick Higgins (Follow me on Twitter)

Manchester United vs Manchester City Big Match Preview

Introduction
The biggest match of the season so far takes place at Old Trafford on Sunday when Manchester City are the visitors. Both sides are unbeaten thus far with the "noisy neighbours" having accumulated two more points and are two better off in terms of goal difference.

The boss reported in his pre-match press conference that he has a clean bill of health in his squad which gives him numerous options with which to build his master plan to beat City. Mancini will have Balotelli back in the squad after he missed the midweek Champions League encounter while Owen Hargreaves could be included in the squad against his former club.

StatZone by Rahul Singh

It is the first time since 1968 that City and United have met while occupying first and second place in the league table.

Manchester City have only won once at Old Trafford since 1974,  2-1 win in 2008.

Manchester City have fired in more shots on target (65) than any other side in the Premier League.

In last 25 Premier League games United have dropped only 2 points at Old Trafford & have won the last 19 games.

Michael Owen has scored 7 goals in eight Premier League games against Manchester City, Rooney has netted in 5 against them.

In the last 8 matches, all competitions between United & City there have been FIVE 90th min or extra time goals scored.

The Opposition
Roberto Mancini had a busy summer recruiting the likes of Clichy, Nasri and Aguero amongst others to further bolster a squad high on talent. They have begun the season well having dropped just two points after an away draw at Fulham. They have scored at least two goals in every Premier League game thus far which helps to emphasise the task facing United on Sunday.

The signing of Aguero was seen as a masterstroke by the Italian as it not only meant he was a replacement for the mercenary Tevez but arguably an upgrade in terms of quality. Nine goals already prove that point perfectly and added to a team ethic that the sly Argentinian can only dream of, it looks like Mancini has struck gold.

Samir Nasri was recruited from Arsenal for a significant fee despite being in the last year of his contract and while not excelling to any significant level as yet will no doubt add class and subtlety to City's attacking intent.

Mancini has dealt well with the ongoing tedium that is the Tevez affair. It seems inconceivable that that he will play for the club again but this is City we are talking about and you could never fully rule this out. The Italian has adopted a more attacking style this season which has brought its reward with the points accumulated thus far. It will be interesting to see if he reverts to a more defensive mindset as the season progresses or maintains this early season style. You get the impression that he would accept a point from Sunday's game right now so his team selection will be telling as to his true intent.

United

With United's long-standing weakness in midfield, you would imagine that Ferguson's formation choice will involve any extra man to match up with the opponent's likely lineup. This can often lead to the front man becoming isolated but this should be less prevalent with the team playing at home where natural momentum should mean that support is quick to join in.

The manager arguably has the option to pick his first choice back five once more with the expected return of Vidic after injury and following the resting of Rio Ferdinand from this week's trip to Romania. Chris Smalling looks to be first choice at right back now after his recent injury lay off curtailed his impressive early season form. De Gea will get his first taste of the cauldron that is a Manchester derby after impressing in recent games following a difficult start. His confidence looks to be rising with each outing and he will be a key figure on Sunday with his famed ability with the ball at his feet and out of hand to get United on the attack.

My pick in the midfield is Carrick sitting deep with Anderson and Fletcher alongside slightly advanced looking to support the front men. It is a big game for the Brazilian whose early season promise has evaporated into some increasingly frustrating displays that echo previous campaigns. Much of the midfield creativity will be on his shoulders with the workmanlike Scotsman expected to play a pressing and harrying role. With Tom Cleverley expected to return very soon, Anderson will hope that they can rekindle their partnership rather than the ex Porto man being the one to make way. Carrick was excellent in midweek and once more covered more yards than any other player. He will have to be wary of the movement from the City wide players who tend to roam and have a habit of popping up in central areas.

Up front, it has to be Nani, Rooney and Young as the three players with most form in the early part of the season. Valencia's poor display on Tuesday all but rules him out as he looked bereft of confidence and lacklustre when it came to crossing. His confidence may be low after missing much of pre-season and it is hoped that this will return very shortly. For these reasons, Nani deserves to start as right wing in each game. It is unfair to shift our most creative outlet onto the other flank where he is frequently ineffectual. Ashley Young's early season promise has dipped somewhat recently but it is hoped that a bumper home crowd can inspire him to hit the heights once again. His defensive capabilities will be much needed to assist Evra at times while the pair will also need to find the time to double up on Richards when the game allows. Rooney will be restored to the league lineup after being omitted from the Anfield battle last weekend. He has a fine record against our local rivals and will look to emulate his iconic overhead kick from last season that I had the privilege to be right behind from high up in the North stand.

A slightly bolder selection would see a central midfielder drop out with either Welbeck or Hernández being asked to play as the main forward and Rooney dropping deep to supplement both the attack and midfield when required. It would be something similar to what was seen last weekend as he slipped into a much deeper role as United chased their vital equaliser. This would be a high risk strategy though could be used if we are once more chasing the game.

Score Prediction
This could prove to be a pivotal game in the destiny of the Premier League so I would envisage it being a cagey and tight affair. In my opinion, both managers may well accept a point with all things considered. However, with the remarkable home record they possess, I think United will nick this 2-1 with goals from Rooney and Fletcher. These three points will set the Reds up perfectly for the rest of the season with all their rivals having been played and coming through relatively unscathed.

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Who would you pick for the derby on Sunday? Would you go for a more standard 4-4-2? Please leave any comments below.

Follow @writtenoff_mufc

Otelul Galati vs United Champions League Preview

Introduction
Manchester United travel to Bucharest in the middle of a fixture maelstrom, this the second of seven fixtures in twenty days. Having drawn the first two group games and sitting wryly 3rd in the table, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will be looking for their first win in Europe this season and anything other than that will be felt like havoc. That being said, this encounter is the right match for United, less pressurized on the pitch than domestic football; a chance to get cobwebs shaken from heads and the continental passing game going once more.

United’s opponents on the night, Otelul Galati, made their champions league debut this season and fared reasonably well against tough oppositions like Benfica and Basel, albeit there’s nothing to show on the board. On Tuesday night, which is supposed to be the biggest night in club’s history, Romanian outfit will be eager to snatch their first point in Europe against an illustrious opposition in Manchester United. Having lost their first two games, it’s fair to say that, even the deep- rooted, dyed-in-the-wool Otelul supporters wouldn’t be expecting their team to be the knock-out stages.

Anyone expecting Otelul Galati to lie down and let United walk all over them may be in for a nasty surprise, though. As they often say, no easy games in Champions league and Ferguson’s been in football long enough to know that well.

StatZone by Rahul Singh
United began the legendary 1998-99 European campaign with two draws, but eventually ended up conquering Europe.

Otelul Galati will be playing an English club for the first time in their history, while United have played a Romanian club only once before - Dinamo Bucharest in 2004-05.

They are strong defensively, having conceded just 25 goals in 34 league games last season, and going unbeaten at home.

Last season, United did not concede a single goal in 540 minutes of away action en route to the final. So far this season already conceded 4 goals in 2 games.

The Opposition
Otelul Galati are making their first appearance in Champions league, having won the Romanian top division Liga title for the first time in their 46 years history. As their home ground doesn’t meet UEFA standards, they are playing their home matches in the National stadium in Bucharest. Like any other eastern European countries, a boisterous and hostile atmosphere will be welcoming United in the Romanian capital. That’s not to say Bucharest is an unknown, strange city to visit for United. To qualify for group stages of 2004-05 Champions league campaign, United visited the same stadium to face a stiff opposition in Dinamo Bucharest. An injury ravaged squad with Roy Keane and Silvestre as centre halves earned a hard fought win, before annihilating then Romanian champions 3-0 in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford. More about opposition; Otelul Galati currently sit 9th in the league with 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses; you know, not exactly how they would have liked their title defence to get underway.

Manager Dorinel Munteanu is an illustrious name in Romanian football history. A short trip back down the memory lane might be enough for every English fan to relive Munteanu’s cracking left-foot volley and harrumphing celebration in a match England eventually lost and made an early exit (shocker) at Euro 2000. 

Transformation of a bottom-half side to Romanian champions in just two years is a fine achievement by any standards and Munteanu deserves a large share of credit in Galati's turn of fortune. He prefers his side to play a defensively compact, aggressive and counter attacking football. If their first two games in Europe are anything to go by, Otelul Galati will be a difficult opposition to break down and have the discipline to play without the ball for long spells. Put simply, they make you work for it. But 'intensity without finesse' football could be very close to insignificant in Europe and Munteanu's team will be in need of a huge chunk of luck to manage anything out of this tie against English champions. The home side will be looking to Liviu Antal, Gabriel Paraschiv and Marius Pena to make a relevant impact in this big game.

United
Two points from two games and 3rd place in the table are fair reflections of how United have performed in Europe so far this season. Bountiful experience and relatively cozy opponents (compared to previous seasons) mean United remain favourites to top the group but self-conceit and complacency are something to be fearful of. As the stuffing up of historic proportions against Basel showed, odd moments of disconcerting sloppiness will not go unpunished in Europe and it is something the whole squad needs to work on. United have already conceded 4 goals this season- as many goals as they had to concede before going to Wembley a season before. From post match comments it was evident that both the manager and players were concerned with the sloppiness shown in the second half against FC Basel. United’s typical European away set up with a cautious and persistent approach will be enough to bring a huge improvement and see off this Romanian opposition. With all due respect to opponents, it is condescending to say this really is a winnable tie if United manage to get their basics right.

 
Unlike most cases, injury news didn't dominate pre-match but the manager has taken necessary precautions ahead of Manchester derby. Among others unavailable for this tie, Rio Ferdinand didn't travel to Romania as the boss decided to leave him at home. Tom Cleverley has to wait for his Champions league debut as he hasn't fully recovered from injury yet and hopefully, will be ready for Sunday. Other absentees are Rafael da Silva and Federico Macheda. 

Flooding the midfield and putting one upfront has been a theme when it comes to United's away set up in Europe, but expect an attacking line up with two players upfront in Romania. There has been a breakdown in the application of the fluid 4-2-2-2 adopted in the early season. The hard working aspect required of the whole team, not just the midfield, went horribly awry against Norwich. Perhaps that can be attributed to the tired legs in the midfield, Cleverley's injury, slump in form of a few players. Assuming the Manchester derby coming up on Sunday won't play a massive part in deciding the starting eleven, there's a good chance of seeing Rooney, Hernandez, Nani, Anderson and Carrick return to the pitch after getting benched at Anfield. Park ji Sung might get the nod ahead of Ashley Young in pursuit of a better protection to the midfield.

A shake up in the back-line is also expected. Vidic was deemed 'not ready' on Saturday as “Liverpool game is such an intense, stamina-draining game that you want everyone to be 100 per cent“. Unless this game has come too early for him, it's highly sensible to give him his first appearance since the opening day of the season at The Hawthorns. In that case, in-form Jonny Evans will be given a rest and Chris Smalling will be asked to play in his favoured position at centre-back to partner the Serb. After a long and tiring run of games, Phil Jones may start from the bench. On the back of an indifferent display against Norwich, it'll be nonsensical to start Valencia at right back when Fabio is fully fit after a slight knock he gathered during Brazil's friendly match at Mexico.

Scoreline Prediction: 0-3
United start as huge favorites for this tie and I can't envisage anything other than three soild points at the end of it. Otelul Galati will be intent to get the 'ragtag bunch of inherited nondescripts' label off their back and happy with a stern contest.

By Redsnout (Follow me on Twitter)

What are your thoughts ahead of the game? Please leave your team and score predictions below.

Javier Hernández: The gift that just keeps on giving

The amazing story of Javier Hernandez continues to amaze and shock in equal measure, the latest page of this particularly riveting novel involved a late equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield in front of the joyous (albeit depleted) section of United’s travelling support. The young Mexican’s star continues to rise.

Hernandez made the telling difference yet again on Saturday afternoon, not just with his all-important equaliser but in the way United adapted to suit his capabilities. A telling factor that shows how highly Hernandez’s ability are looked upon is that Ferguson opted to drop Rooney into centre midfield to accommodate Hernandez and Welbeck up front when he could have easily shifted Welbeck to a wide position and put Rooney up top.

Adopting this 4-4-1-1 formation allowed Hernandez to do what he does best play right on the shoulder of the last defender, suddenly for the first time in the game Liverpool’s central-defensive partnership of Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel suddenly looked concerned. Their previous ability to deal with the young and relatively inexperienced lone striker Danny Welbeck was a thing of the past as Welbeck could now drop off causing a lack of cohesion within their back four. Carragher and Skrtel were unwilling to go with Welbeck knowing the other will have been utterly outpaced should United put the ball into the subsequent gap for Hernandez to chase. It was no coincidence that United suddenly stepped it up a gear when Hernandez entered the fray, the Reds entered the game with a mind-set of stifling Liverpool, giving them little whilst quietening the crowd and hopefully nicking a goal in the process.

As it was all of the above worked apart from the ‘goal bit’,  in fact for most of the game United seemed to have forgotten the ‘attacking bit’ as surges forward were few and far between. In the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s opening goal Ferguson threw on Rooney and Nani which of cause made an instant change to proceedings however on a personal note it was the introduction of the sprightly Mexican which proved the significant interjection.

It has been said before and it will be said again but hallmarks with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continue to carry more and more credence. As good an all-round goal scorer the Norwegian was he was the archetypal ‘super-sub’, from listening to Ole in countless interviews over the year I got the impression that Solskjaer wasn’t overly keen with that tag but it should not be belittled. Being an impact substitute is an art in itself, being able to emerge on to field of play with minutes remaining whilst you are still trying to get up to speed with the other twenty-one players on the pitch. You have to adapt quickly to the pace of the game and then make a telling impact, not an easy role to thrive in. Many strikers have been given the ‘super-sub’ role including Carlos Tevez and in his first season Alan Smith however nobody has ever done it quite like Ole, until now. Solskjaer was a master of over analysing the game he was watching, thinking of how he would integrate into proceedings or take advantage of a certain weak point in the oppositions rank. Hernandez clearly has the same aptitude for attention to detail as the man revered as a legend throughout the United supporting world, indeed Hernandez has now surpassed Solskjaer in terms of impact from the bench as his goal against Liverpool was his ninth in twenty one substitutes appearances giving him a scoring record of 42.9% . Of course much like Solskjaer Hernandez also has much more in his locker than just being an impact player, he is equally as effective playing from the start.

In his fledgling United career some questioned whether or not the young Mexican could cut it over ninety minutes, would the physical aspect of the Premier League get the better of him? Herein lies another impressive aspect of Hernandez’s persona, that he is willing to put the hard yards in behind the scenes to bulk himself up and get better and better, he scored twenty goals last season and you would have to be a brave man to bet against him doing it again. It’s easy to forget that Hernandez only really became a regular starter as of March with Berbatov occupying the second striking position for the bulk of the campaign. However now that the Mexican has well and truly put Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen in the shade he has only Danny Welbeck to contest for the slot alongside Rooney.

His comparison to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have been present ever since the early stages of last season however recently Stoke manager Tony Pulis took this a step further in suggesting that Hernandez could even possess the legendary Denis Law, this takes things up another level and Chicharito does have a long way to go before achieving the dizzy heights achieved by the King of the Stretford End however he has started off his United career in the perfect vain. He has endeared himself to the Old Trafford faithful with his likeable personality and his insatiable appetite for victory, the way he bounded with sheer delight toward the United faithful after notching his second goal in two appearances at Anfield was enough to delight any Red.

Like any other position at the club comparisons are always made with previous players of by-gone eras, Valencia and Coppell, Vidic and Bruce and dare I say it Jones and Edwards. As I have already mentioned Chicharito has had his fair share of comparisons in his short time at the club, namely Solskjaer, a young Michael Owen and Denis Law. However as he gets better and better the calibre of comparison also increases in standing and talent but I ask you as forwards go who could be better than Denis Law, of course Hernandez has only been at United for just over a season and has much to do before firmly cementing these comparisons but his ability and desire to improve have ensured that the sky is the limit for Hernandez, if he really wants to get there!

By Nathan Thomas (Follow me on Twitter)

With thanks to @OSullivanMUFC for the Hernandez stats.

How does Hernández compare to Solskjaer in your opinion? Please leave your thoughts below?