Man United vs Liverpool Preview - including View from the Kop

With one of the biggest matches of the season coming up on Saturday at Old Trafford when United take on their old foes Liverpool, I had a chat with Liverpool fan Matt Stephens to get his view on progress of his team this season and his expectations for the match.

Liverpool currently lie seventh in the Premier League. Did you expect to be in this position or is it below expectation?

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. However, as bad as it sounds 4th was always the target for most realistic fans which is still very much achievable. What is disappointing is our lack of goals and how we have struggled at home. Seems we miss creativity and consistent finishing. 

What will be seen as a decent season for Liverpool? Would a cup win compensate for missing out on the top 4?

Frankly no. It will lessen the blow but 4th to me is the target. 

Briefly, what was your take on the Suarez/Evra affair?

Think it's almost impossible to deal with this briefly. But I think it's important to point out that Suarez was found to be guilty on the balance of probability. Its not beyond a reasonable doubt so it leaves room for any reasoned person to agree or disagree with the reports findings. I don't agree, not because I 100% believe Suarez or that I support Liverpool Football Club,  but on reading the report I came to my own conclusion that differed to those of the FA, and to those opinions of  some of your readers. 

Would you agree that the affair has been a PR disaster for the club?

Without a doubt. Whoever was in charge of Liverpool's PR needs to be sacked. However I will say that the club doesn't deserve all the slating in the press it received. Some press reporting has been a joke. Some of it has been deserved. 

Liverpool FC do not see Suarez as a racist. They do not agree with the findings of the panel thus they see themselves as backing their player against an incorrect charge. People need to realise this. I'm not saying they need to agree with it. 

What are your memories of Liverpool/United clashes over the years? Is it still viewed by fans as the biggest game of the season?

For me  it is THE biggest game in the year. Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea Man City, Spurs, although big games do not give me butterflies before kick off. I still get that nervous feeling!

I have many memories of Liverpool/United games over the years but the one that sticks in my mind most is January 1994. I was on a family holiday in Tenerife and remember thinking when United went 3 up that this was the worst holiday ever. Obviously things changed. 

Worst memory was the FA cup final. It was a terrible game. But then that's  probably because we lost!!!!

Dalglish's signings have, on the whole, been questionable. What is the view of Liverpool fans on this?

I've fallen out with some of my friends over this. I tend to give players my full backing for at least a season before I pass judgement. I like to remind my friends of my stance on Lucas while they slated him and now he has turned into a great player for us. 

Carroll: Dont think Andy will never be a £35m player. But then Torres won't be a £50m player. Andy has shown glimpses in the last 3 games of why we bought him. It's not his fault he cost £35m. If he gets a chance he will be very important for Liverpool but just like De Gea for United I don't know if he will get that chance.

Suarez: Simply put I rate him highly. Leaving all the controversy aside he is a quality player. Just wish he wasn't so wasteful with the ball.

Downing: I expected more to be honest. Last year before we signed him I trawled the villa forums and consensus for the most part was that he was a better player that Young. Sadly, I just think that he is lacking confidence to actually push on and beat the fullback. This might be because Enrique is so aggressive at getting forward and downing sees it as easier outlet to pass to him. 

Need to stress that we have the worst chance conversion rate in the league. Downing has created many goal scoring opportunities that haven't been put away. He has been somewhat unlucky in that regard. 

Enrique: Kenny's best signing. Great player. Just wish he didn't think the game was a 90 minute WWE slot.  Watch him when he next plays, every tackle is a wrestling match.

Henderson: I rate this lad a lot. Very intelligent with the ball. Runs all day (so would

Heskey I know). Another that has been laboured by the weight of his price tag it seems. Somewhat unfairly by the press in my opinion. 

Adam: On the fence here. Started superbly but always giving away free kicks. Can't tackle. Surprisingly high number of assists though. 

Bellamy: Awesome bit of business. Love the annoying wee shite. 

Coates: Haven't really been able to see him due to our defence playing so well, but looks promising from what I have watched of him. Think he was brought in to replace Carra with thought that Skrtel wasn't really in the picture but he (Skrtel) has been one of our best players this year.

Where do you see the game on Saturday being won and lost?

This is going to sound awfully simple but I think our problems in front of goal will be a major factor. For us to win we will need to score at least twice as I can't see us holding you out for 90 minutes.

If we sit back too much, the Old Trafford crowd will spur the team on more than what they did at Anfield (obviously) and as a result it will be harder to keep the granny banger and Co out.

What are your thoughts on United's season so far and who do you see as our dangermen ahead of the game?

Seems to me that everyone is slating your squad but I can't see why. With the injuries United have had this year and you are sitting in 2nd?!? However a club like United, it probably has been disappointing due to the FA Cup (yeooooo) and Champions league exits (yeoooo). 

It still has an excellent chance of being a very good season with you sitting where you are in the league.

Danger men : Nani (if he turns up) Rooney, Young, Hernandez. Old cliché but you can score from anywhere. The one player who has stood out for me lately though is Valencia. Hope he doesn't play on Saturday.

If you had to pick a side combined with Liverpool and United players, who would be in your first team?

451

                     Reina

Johnson   Skrtel        Agger         Enrique (evra was never going to get picked)

                          Lucas

               Gerrard       Scholes 

Valencia                                 Suarez 

                           Rooney

Disclaimer1:  I know. It's biased. I don't care. 

Disclaimer 2: I don't rate ferdinand. 

Disclaimer 3: I love Lucas. 

Seriously though, our defence has been awesome this year hence the selection. However Vidic would definitely be there if fit. 

Finally, what is your prediction for the outcome of the game?

I hope they have a minutes silence / applause for the Munich victims. This needs to be respected by all Liverpool fans. 

If you offered me a draw now I'd take it so with that in mind I'm going for 2-2. 

If Suarez starts, I'm predicting that he will be yellow carded and subbed. I also think he will score. 

A big thank you to Matt for taking the time to answer these questions. If you want a balanced and humourous Liverpool fan (who doesn't?!) to follow on Twitter then you could do a lot worse. He is always up for a debate and although he will fight his corner from a Liverpool point of view, he is not averse to criticising the club when appropriate.


My thoughts on the game:

As Matt says above, for both clubs fans this is still the biggest game of the season. There is no other match that gets the butterflies flowing than the visit of Liverpool to Old Trafford. This tends to bring out the pessimist in me and I start to have nightmares about Gerrard kissing the camera for the umpteenth time and of Bellamy skinning Rio for pace as he has done previously.

The manager's selection dilemmas come in the centre of midfield, out wide and up front. I see no reason to change the back five from last weekend with Rafael at right back being rewarded for his excellent recent form. Smalling and Jones are likely to be missing so Ferdinand and Evans should continue in the centre. Although Giggs started in midfield at Stamford Bridge, I think Scholes will get the nod tomorrow. There is talk of Cleverley being thrown straight back in after a three month lay off but this would be risky in the extreme given his injury record so I would have him warming the bench. Valencia will play right in the continuing absence of Nani with Young on the left edging out Giggs and Park. The former may well come on in the second half and attempt to weave the magic seen at Arsenal and Chelsea in recent weeks. Up front, the choice of Rooney's partner comes down to Welbeck or Hernández. The Englishman's recent form coupled with the Mexican's lack of quality outside the box swing the decision in Welbeck's favour for me but either way the movement and pace of these two will test the solidity of Agger and Skrtel.

For Liverpool, the main selection question is who to pick in forward areas where the likes of Bellamy, Kuyt, Suarez and Carroll are all vying for starting places. It is likely that Dalglish will go with just one up front and if so then Suarez must be favourite with Carroll left on the bench. Bellamy and Kuyt could play wide to help counter United's threat in that area. The atmosphere will be red hot if Suarez was to start but it would not surprise me to see the heat taken out of the situation by Dalglish picking Carroll and leaving the temperamental Uruguayan on the bench. The former Newcastle flop has been in better form in recent weeks and means that the away side can play a more direct style.

Overall, I think the game will be very tight and I could make a decent argument for any of the three possible results. I will go for United to edge it 2-1 but I do so with very little conviction. With our bench once again looking strong, it could perhaps be our well renowned game changers who have a big impact.


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Q & A with Martin Lipton of the Daily Mirror

With the New Year now upon us, I caught up with the Daily Mirror's Chief Football Writer Martin Lipton to discuss the title race, United's season so far, the transfer window, Suarez/Evra and much more.

Martin is a regular on Sky's Sunday Supplement

Written Offside: As we go into the New Year, how do you assess the title race?

Martin Lipton: The race is tighter than I expected it to be, after a month of surprising results, starting with City's defeat at Chelsea. Still only two possible winners in my mind, as I thought at the start of the season, with four more in the running for third and fourth. Like Eric Morecambe, I'm playing all the right notes. Just not necessarily in the right order! But think it will go down to the side who is most consistent when the heat is on. Squad depth and injuries will be key, too.

WO: The surprise package to a certain extent have been Spurs, how impressed have you been with their first half of the season and do you feel they can sustain a challenge?

ML: Come on, it's Tottenham! They have played superbly well and this is, without doubt, the best Spurs squad I have known. There is an argument that is you kept the players and just changed the manager, THFC with Fergie in charge would be favourites to win the title. I wouldn't go as far as that but think they are the third-best side. Whether they will finish third is another question altogether. The natural pessimist in me doubts that.

WO: How would you sum up Manchester United's first half of the season? Which players have impressed you and who would you have expected more of?

ML: Great start, ordinary middle, terrific end - until the final page. Too many poor displays which have been punished heavily and attitude towards Champions League group phase was flawed. United were outstanding in the initial weeks although the defensive lapses were there even in the matches, like Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, they won. Chelsea did not deserve to lose 3-1 and had Torres scored the sitter they might even have got a point. The sheer scale of the injury problems, though, makes any analysis of United hard because we haven't really seen the first team. Loss of Cleverley a definite blow but Vidic and Ferdinand problems, coupled with Fletcher illness, more severe.

WO: How do you feel the new signings (Jones, De Gea and Young) have settled in?

ML: Jones has been terrific, wherever he plays. He will be England and United captain before too long. But Young has faded after a bright start. he does seem somewhat injury prone, too. As for De Gea, he is making the mistakes a young keeper, thrown into a physical league, is always going to make. Got away with it early on but now being punished. Still agile and impressive as a shot-stopper but needs to learn when to come and when to stay.

WO: The transfer window has opened, do you see United strengthening and if so, in what areas?

ML: Of necessity they must buy. I would get in a centre-half, maybe Samba, even if it's a short-term fix. Think the play-maker they should have got in the summer, when I was convinced they would land Sneijder, is still required. And another midfielder too.

WO: Do you think it will be a quiet January window for most clubs or can you see some panic buying and if so, by who?

ML: January normally depends on one or two clubs getting busy. If that happens, with Chelsea splashing the cash for example, the knock-on effect is felt elsewhere. Chelsea have to decide whether to signal support for AVB - and allow him to start proper squad rebuilding, even though that would effectively kill their Champions League hopes. Liverpool may have to spend big to fill Suarez absence.

WO: How much of a shock was it to see the two Manchester clubs exit the Champions League and will it ultimately greatly assist one or the other in the title race?

ML: Not a shock with City, who were in a tough group including one of the three clubs who can realistically win the thing this season, although it was an embarrassment. But for United to go out of that group, with rubbish Romanians, so-so Swiss and pretty poor Portuguese, was a humiliation, as Fergie has conceded. Not good enough for United. If it will help either of them, it would be City, who can play a shadow side in the Europa League. United, especially if they go out of the FA Cup, will need to field stronger sides and I'm not sure the squad depth is sufficient.

WO: Based on what you have seen in the first half of the season, who would you pick as your Premier League top 4 (in order) and why?

1 Manchester City - best squad, strongest bench, burning desire - and the money to spend this month if needed

2 Manchester United - course and distance winners who will not give up. But injuries have hurt them and this may come to be seen, with benefit of hindsight, as another transition season

3 Chelsea - despite the internal problems and the manager's lack of experience. Torres is showing signs of emerging from his slumber and they are good at finding a rhythm in the second half of the season

4 Tottenham - should be third on quality. But they are Spurs. We all know what's going to happen!

WO: How much damage has the Suarez/Evra affair done to the reputation of Liverpool FC? 

ML: Personally feel Liverpool's conduct and behaviour from the start of the case was extraordinary and did nothing for the reputation of a great club. Some of the allegations hurled towards Evra were utterly reprehensible and unbefitting of a club of Liverpool's status. One wonders what John W Henry - remember a big financial supporter of Obama and the Democrats - thinks about the way his club has behaved. Supporting Suarez was understandable, although harder to justify given Comolli/Kuyt statements at the start of the inquiry. The tee-shirts were beyond parody. The attempts to denigrate the FA were - and you might not like this - akin to the accusations made by United and their fans at the time of Rio-gate in 2003. And equally wrong. As were the accusations that the panel were in Fergie's pocket, that it was wrong to release the verdict ahead of the reasons, that the case was delayed too long. Especially given it was Liverpool solicitor who caused the delay and LFC approved panel and agreed that result should be announced at end of hearing. Disgraceful.

WO: What are your hopes and expectations for 2012?

ML: Goal-line technology to be introduced, at last, paving the way for more technology at some stage in the future. Spurs to win the league (all right, that's not going to happen) and England to reach the semis at least in Euro 2012, led by a brilliant Rooney, with Jones, Wilshere, Young and Gerrard proving there are some top players in England.

A big thank you to Martin for taking time out from his busy schedule to answer my questions. Please follow him on Twitter if you are not doing so already.

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Liverpool vs United Big Match Preview

Introduction
Manchester United are back in Premier League action on Saturday lunchtime for an eagerly awaited clash with Liverpool at Anfield. After a blistering start to the season, successive draws against Stoke and Basle followed by a stuttering win against newly promoted Norwich have caused alarm amid some abject defensive displays.

United will hope to welcome back several of their walking wounded for the key clash at the weekend. Vidic, Cleverley and Smalling are all battling to be fit with the big Serb making his comeback in midweek for his national side. Although he completed a comfortable 90 minutes, a missed penalty and elimination from the European Championships next year will hopefully double his determination to make a comeback with United.

United go into the match on the back of a poor recent record at Anfield. Three successive defeats coupled with some lacklustre performances mean that a vast improvement is required if the three points are going to come back to Manchester.

StatZone by Rahul Singh

Rooney has had an incredible 32 attempts at goal this season, one every 18 minutes, getting 59% on target.

United have lost each of the last 4 games when Fletcher have not started against Liverpool & have won the last three against them with Fletcher in the midfield.

Liverpool have won four of their last six Premier League games against United overall and the last three in a row at Anfield.

Last 5 PL encounters between the two sides have seen four penalties.

Liverpool have scored 45 goals against United in the PL, 2nd best to Chelsea who have netted 51 against us.

Out of 11 games officiated by Andre Marriner, United have won 10 & lost 1 (against Liverpool in 2009, away)


The Opposition
Liverpool have made a decent start to the season with four wins, two defeats and a draw from the opening seven games to leave them fifth in the Premier League. After a heavy outlay on new signings since Lord Dalglish's return in January, the pressure is on for them to finish in the top four. Anything else will be deemed as failure by their American owners.

Shorn of talisman Gerrard who was injured for six months with a serious groin complaint, much of the burden in the early part of the season has been placed on Luis Suarez. Signings such as Henderson, Downing, Adam have added depth to their squad but whether it is enough to regain a Champions League spot come the end of the season remains to be seen.

Liverpool have proved vulnerable in defence where lack of pace is a real issue. Carragher and Skrtel are solid but can be rash in the tackle. Their long standing left back problem looks to have been solved by the arrival of Enriqué from Newcastle who has impressed in tandem with Downing down the flank. The much under-rated Kuyt has regained his spot on the right of midfield in recent weeks after bewilderingly missing out to Henderson in the early weeks of the season. The Dutchman works tirelessly for the team cause and is always liable to pop up with a vital goal as United have found to their cost.

With Gerrard seemingly fit to return, it would appear that he will take his place behind Suarez with Carroll dropping to the bench. This would allow the Englishman to drop back to assist in midfield when required in an area that may go a long way to deciding the outcome of the game. If Adam is picked alongside Lucas then it will be vital that he is pressed by his opponent as he has shown to be vulnerable in the past to such a tactic as given time and space, he can cause United problems with accurate passing.

The main danger, of course, will be Suarez who has settled well into life at Anfield since his arrival back in January. His skill, close control and quick feet have added a new dimension to a Liverpool side often bereft of creativity last season. He has also shown himself to be adept in winning fouls in dangerous areas and it will be vital that referee Marriner remains wary of this tendency in front of a partisan home crowd.

United 

I am writing this ahead of the manager's press conference on Friday so any injuries picked up after the international break will not be taken into account. If fit, the back five just about picks itself. Chris Smalling is said to be back in training but with no match practice, it would be doubtful that he would be risked. Hopefully, the return of Vidic and Ferdinand will solidify a frequently porous United centre of defence recently. As mentioned earlier, the Serb completed 90 minutes on Tuesday and as long as he incurs no ill effect then he will surely regain the armband. Rio Ferdinand is an interesting case. Apparently he was fit for the Norwich game but was left on the bench so he may possibly have dropped down the pecking order following some recent sub-standard displays. If he has been able to train for the last couple of weeks then he will surely come into contention for a starting berth alongside his old comrade. Jones and Evra seem well equipped to deal with Liverpool's wide threat.

The big decision for the manager is whether to go with the standard 4-4-1-1 formation or tighten things up with a more defensive 4-3-3. My pick is the latter as the United central area has been so open at times and some solidity is now required even if it is to the detriment of our attacking threat at times. With Cleverley short of match practice after recovering from his injury, I have gone for a midfield trio of Carrick at the base supported by Anderson and Fletcher. The latter two will be expected to combine a pressing game with the ability to break forward and support Rooney up front. If Cleverley was fully match fit then on current form he would be picked but a place on the bench looks the best he can hope for.

The front three of Nani, Rooney and Young offer a potent threat with pace, movement and the ability to switch positions. It is vital that Rooney does not get isolated as frustration can set in and he can lose focus. Nani will look to keep Enriqué quiet from an attacking point of view and will be assisted by the marauding Jones. On the other flank the combination of Young and Evra has looked potent at times but Kelly and Kuyt for Liverpool may well mean that this threat is nullified to some extent.

Welbeck and Hernández may have to be content with a role from the bench which could mean an exclusion for Berbatov as additional midfield and defensive cover will be needed. With the little Mexican taking part in a bruising encounter with Brazil in his homeland early on Wednesday morning (UK time), it is feasible that he is left out to recuperate for the vital Champions League fixture next week. Also fighting for a spot on the bench could be the likes of Evans, Giggs, Park and Valencia.

Scoreline Prediction
I can foresee this being an incredibly tight match with neither wanting to give an inch. I would expect it to be low scoring so will go for a 1-1 draw with the United goal coming from Vidic. This prediction while pessimistic would stop the rot of three successive defeats at Anfield and I can see both managers being happy with this outcome.

United will then begin to look ahead to the biggest game of the season so far as City visit Old Trafford next Sunday with a Champions League trip to Romania sandwiched in between. October is always a vital month but this one will go a long way towards shaping the season.

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What are your thoughts ahead of the game? Where will the game be won and lost?

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United vs Stoke Big Match Preview

Introduction
Manchester United are back in league action on Saturday when they make the short trip to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City. The Reds will be looking to continue their 100% league record having achieved the best ever start to a season under Sir Alex Ferguson with 21 goals scored and four conceded.

The Reds squad will be buoyed by a comfortable midweek victory over Leeds United in the Carling Cup where numerous squad players were given the game they needed to increase their match fitness. Tuesday's game also saw debuts for Fryers, Pogba and Cole who all performed admirably in a hostile atmosphere at Elland Road. Fryers in particular settled into a makeshift back four with ease alongside the experienced Michael Carrick as United cruised through the majority of the match.

Stoke were also in Carling Cup action on Tuesday as they hosted Spurs in a match that went to penalties with the home side prevailing 7-6. Whether this hinders their preparation in terms of Saturday's game remains to be seen but with a number of first team players involved, it cannot be positive that they played the full 120 minutes.

Javier Hernández looks set to miss the game despite returning to training this week after Ashley Cole's poor tackle on him last week. Danny Welbeck made a brief cameo at Elland Road after his hamstring injury and if he suffers no ill effects he can expect to be pushing for a starting berth. The likes of Vidic and Cleverley are expected to be missing for a couple more weeks.

Stat Zone by Rahul Singh

1. Rooney is the first player to Score 9 goals in the first 5 PL games of the season.
2. De Gea has the best saves to shots ratio, keeping out 88% of all shots on target faced. (via Opta)
3. Stoke have only lost 1 of their last 11 PL games at home.
4. United have won all six PL games against Stoke.
5. Chicharito scored 3 goals in the two appearances last season against Stoke.

The Opposition
Tony Pulis had a busy summer as Stoke manager with the added pressure of Europa League football to consider this season. For this reason, he has strengthened his squad with some astute acquisitions with proven Premier League quality at the heart of it. Palacios, Crouch and Woodgate have all arrived from Spurs, Upson from West Ham and Jerome from Birmingham will supplement the existing squad who got to Wembley last season for the FA Cup final as well as finishing comfortably in the league table.

The likes of Huth, Shawcross, Etherington, Pennant and Jones form the backbone of the side that has done so well to cement its position in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons. Although, their set piece delivery can be a potent weapon, they have sufficient quality to cause teams problems all over the pitch.

Currently they sit 5th with a record of two wins and two draws from the opening five games. Last time out they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at Sunderland that owed much to a draining Thursday fixture against Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League. Scoring goals seems to be a problem at the current time with just three so far but I would expect this to change rapidly as Crouch settles in and gets used to the play of his colleagues as well as  combining with the likes of Jones, Jerome and Walters up front.

United

Please note - The above team was selected ahead of the manager's press conference on Friday morning

With Chris Smalling expected to be absent following his calf injury, I would expect Rio Ferdinand to take his place and slot into the same back five as at Bolton. Phil Jones will move across to right back. If Smalling had been fit, the manager may have been tempted to play Jonny Evans at left back and thus select an all centre back defence to counter the long ball barrage expected at set pieces. Evra is no stranger to this style of football now although there is little doubt he will be targeted along with De Gea in goal.

After Anderson's indifferent performance against Chelsea last weekend and bearing in mind that Saturday could be a bit of a battle, I have chosen Fletcher to partner Carrick in central midfield. While I would have no problem with the Brazilian playing, I feel it is the type of game that could pass him by so I would hold him in reserve for our next game. The form of Nani and Young means that they should take their places in the wide positions with the likes of Park, Valencia and Giggs jostling for a spot on the bench.

The one remaining conundrum is the identity of Rooney's partner up front. With Hernández sidelined, it is a fight between Welbeck, Owen, Berbatov or an extra midfielder. My choice is the languid Bulgarian mainly due to his seniority in terms of pecking order to Owen and that Welbeck has only just returned to action after a hamstring injury and it would be a risk to subject him to another game again so soon. The extra midfielder (Anderson) is possible if the manager feels that he needs to react to the increasing space that we are conceding the opposition in the final third but this option would appear unlikely given the swashbuckling start to the season that has been made. Michael Owen's midweek brace were a timely reminder of his class in terms of finishing but I feel he is best served as an impact substitute coming off the bench when a goal is required.

Scoreline Prediction
Games at the Britannia against Stoke have tended to be tight affairs and I can see this being little different given all the facts laid out above. There is little doubt that the home team will bombard the box when possible and look to unsettle De Gea in the United goal. I feel, however, that our defence can cope and although there will undoubtedly be a few scary moments, I am backing United to prevail 2-0 with goals from Berbatov and Young.

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What a difference a De Gea makes...

By Diarmaid Hill

Manchester United’s start to the Premier League season has been widely acclaimed by journalists, pundits and fans alike. A vibrancy and enthusiasm generated by a new breed of youth has swept aside its challengers so far and led many to believe the Premier League is already Manchester bound with United and their ever-loudening neighbours scrapping for it. And yet, Manchester United’s start has come with an all too familiar footnote – the man between the sticks. David De Gea endured a tough start to life at United, his errors for Edin Dzeko’s goal in the Community Shield and Shane Long’s goal against West Brom brought him in for intense criticism from all corners, with some United fans immediately writing him off.  The T-word was used. That incredibly offensive and degrading title for any keeper… Taibi. 

However, apart from the minority who wrote him off, the United fans have since engaged in one of the more admirable qualities that we as a fanbase possess. The shields went up. No criticism, past that reasonable for his two errors, was allowed without severe sanction. Whilst this faith and support for our players is great, there are always those who take it too far. James Ducker of the Times had the temerity to make the remark “De Gea looks like a school-kid who has won a competition to keep goal for United” on Twitter. How dare he? The response was so brutal, he quit Twitter. It was a shame to see innocent remarks, meant in good humour, be misconstrued into something insulting towards De Gea.  It would appear as though Ducker was making a joke, albeit one that was poorly-worded, and even if he was insulting De Gea, surely one of the brilliant things about the beautiful game is that people can have opposing opinions? Whilst it was done in an extreme and idiotic way, the response showed how quick United fans can be to defend our own.

De Gea’s career has been an opportunistic one – based on seizing his chances when they came. In 2009, Athletico’s number one Sergio Asenjo went to the under-20 World Cup with Spain, leaving De Gea to deputise to new number 1 Roberto. Unfortunately for Roberto and very fortunately for De Gea, Roberto was injured within 30 minutes of a Champion’s League game against Porto and on came De Gea. Whilst De Gea conceded 2 in a 2-0 loss, the door was now open for him. In the next game, at home versus Zaragoza, De Gea conceded a penalty in what seemed like a nightmare full debut but then immediately redeemed himself, saving from Marko Babic. Athletico went on to win 2-1. De Gea continued until Asenjo returned from international duty and then his more experienced teammate took over. Not for long however, as after a few major errors from Asenjo and Quique Sanchez Flores’ arrival as manager, De Gea became Athletico’s number one, playing in the rest of the games that season, including the 2-1 win over Fulham in the Europa League final. 

At the end if the season, he was widely praised, with Spanish Football expert Sid Lowe acclaiming him as the best player to come out of Athletico’s academy since Fernando Torres. The 2010-2011 season was even better for the youngster, especially it’s beginning, a 2-0 win against Inter in the Super Cup final, with the Spaniard saving a Diego Milito penalty. He went on to play every La Liga game that season, including sensational performances against Barcelona and Valencia. He was so good, he prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to miss only his third match in 24 years (at that time) to watch him. At the end of the season, De Gea was again widely praised, with Lowe naming him as the best goalkeeper of the year (though he admitted that he chose DDG over Valdes because of De Gea not playing for one of the big two). It was after Gary Neville’s testimonial on the 24^thof May this year than Sir Alex announced a deal to sign the Spaniard had been agreed. This was denied by Athletico and De Gea’s advisor, though this was simply because De Gea was changing agents and didn’t want to sign before switching, thus avoiding paying a commission to his agent at the time. The deal was sealed after De Gea travelled to the under 21 European Championships with the Spanish teams. He excelled, making UEFA’s team of the tournament (I particularly remember a sensational save from Danny Sturridge in the first group game vs England). After the tournament, De Gea finally joined Manchester United on the 29^thJune (though it became apparent on the 27^th after a blunder with United trying to hide the identity of the player having his medical).

That’s the story of De Gea’s career before United. As far as replacing Van Der Sar goes, De Gea was arguably second choice behind Manuel Neuer but at the point where people realised Neuer was around (after the Champions League tie versus United, despite him already being a regular starter for Germany it was this game that pushed his case in many people’s eyes) he was already halfway to Bayern Munich. Also, for the record, Neuer has enjoyed an inauspicious start at Bayern, where he was already hated by the fans. However, De Gea has always been compared to Van Der Sar, even garnering the nickname “Van Der Gea”, mainly because of how good both are at distributing the ball, a necessary attribute for a keeper who hopes to secure a place not only in United’s team but also hopes to overthrow Diego Lopez, Pepe Reina, Victor Valdes and Iker Casillas, no mean feat, eh? 

There is no doubt that Manchester United have signed a real gem, one of the top 3 young keepers about, sharing that distinction with De Gea’s replacement Thibaut Courtois (on loan from Chelsea) and Arsenal’s outstanding Pole Wojciech Szczesny. It’s rare that a keeper becomes truly world class at a really young age, Gigi Buffon, Iker Casillas and Francesco Toldo being three notable exceptions, but all three of the aforementioned youngsters can become top keepers even at their young ages. Miguel Delaney wrote a fascinating article on this issue and pointed out that whilst few keepers can become world class early on, he uses the example of Victor Valdes as a keeper who wasn’t a great keeper straight away but with faith and a run in the first team, he has become one of the world’s finest. It is debateable whether such leeway will be granted to De Gea at United, with demanding fans and a brutal media ready to leap on any error he makes, however, under Sir Alex Ferguson he will be given every chance. Some even subscribe to the theory in some quarters than the recent media revelations that De Gea was to be dropped against Bolton came from the club in a move to show support for the Spaniard. Sir Alex’s reaction to questions about whether Anders Lindegaard would overthrow De Gea shows just how determined he is to support his big money signing. De Gea may be a flop at United but I seriously doubt it. His talent is not in question, the main problem being his mentality. However, Sid Lowe says his mental strength is a major attribute and when I asked Athletico Madrid fan blogger Gareth Nunn on the excellent Madrid Athleticos site about his thoughts on De Gea’s chances, he was confident. He emphasised that United’s new keeper was both very confident whilst remaining grounded, a seemingly recurring theme from anyone who speaks of him.

James Ducker’s phrase will long be remembered but it matters not whether “De Gea looks like a school-kid who has won a competition to keep goal for United”. What matters is whether he plays like it.

By Diarmaid Hill (Follow on Twitter)

United vs Chelsea Big Match Preview

Introduction
Manchester United return to league action on Sunday when they welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford looking to extend their 100% record. The Reds go into the game off the back of a midweek draw in Lisbon in the Champions League where the team was rotated for the first time this season. With 18 goals in their first four matches in the league, United will be full of confidence against a Chelsea side who have dropped just two points so far without being entirely convincing.

An opening day draw against Stoke has been followed by wins against West Brom, Norwich and Sunderland. Despite their lengthy pursuit of Luka Modric across the summer, new manager Andre Villas Boas had to contend himself with the creative midfield addition of Raul Meireles on transfer deadline day. Their most high profile signing was Juan Mata from Valencia who will add undoubted craft and guile to an ageing squad. Romelu Lukaku arrived from Anderlecht and will surely take the place of his hero Drogba at some stage in the next few years.

The Opposition
Villas Boas arrived from Porto in the summer with a reputation for being a keen student of the game following analysis roles under José Mourinho. A season of great success put the 33 year old to the top of many a chief executive's wishlist but it was Roman Abramovich who took the plunge and placed his faith in the charismatic Portuguese manager. Stability at Stamford Bridge is what is needed after a conveyor belt of bosses has seen the squad remain in tact but undoubtedly fail to improve to any great extent.

The biggest conundrum facing the Chelsea management is how to get the best out of Fernando Torres following his move from Liverpool in January. The £50m striker has scored just once for Chelsea since the move and has thus far looked a long way from the player that many were hailing as the premier striker in world football just a few years previously. The astute capture of compatriot Mata will no doubt assist in this quest but whether he can go onto regain his form is another matter entirely.

The failed pursuit of Modric was a blow to the Chelsea hierarchy as midfield invention has been a weakness at the club for a couple of seasons. While Meireles is a quality squad player, he does not possess the defence unlocking capability of the Croatian and it remains to be seen where he fits into the team when everyone is fit.

Neutral observers have been commenting on the ageing nature of the squad for a few seasons now yet they still remain competitive in each competition they take part in. Whether this turns out to be a season too far for the likes of Terry and Lampard remains to be seen but they will surely still be a major force once more this year.

Statzone compiled by Rahul Singh:

• The last three Premier League meetings between Chelsea and United all ended 2-1 as did the last meeting in the Champions League.
• If United beat Chelsea, it will be our 5th straight win & the best start in the League campaign since 1985.
• Chelsea have earned 22 points from 19 Premier League visits to Old Trafford, six points better than any other club.
• Chelsea are looking to avoid a fourth successive defeat against United in all competitions. United won four of our five meetings last season.
• The Blues have only kept one clean sheet in our last eight Premier League games - at Stoke on the opening day of the season.
• United are looking for an 18th successive Premier League win at Old Trafford
• The last occasion United dropped points at Old Trafford was in the 2-2 draw against West Brom on 16 October last year
• Since Chelsea beat us in April 2010 we have won 22 and drawn one of the home league games and are unbeaten there in 34 games in all competitions.
• Chelsea have won five times at Old Trafford in the Premier League era, more often than any other team
• United have averaged fewer points per game at home against Chelsea than against any other opponent (1.47)

Tactical Thoughts
The key to games between these two is often found out wide. United will look to Ashley Young to continue his fine form up against the defensively weak Boswinga while Nani will look to make a similar impact on Ashley Cole as Valencia made in the corresponding fixture last season. With Evra looking dangerous when he makes breaks into the opposition's half, the Reds will look to isolate Boswinga who will need assistance from Sturridge, a role that he has not shown he is capable of thus far.

The other main battle ground will be in central midfield where United will likely go in with a two man selection of Carrick and Anderson up against Chelsea's standard triumvirate of recent seasons. This has proved a successful tactic in the three most recent match ups between the teams (2 Champions League and 1 Premier League) as the Reds swift passing and stretching of the Chelsea team has ultimately led to success. If Mikel plays as the sitting midfielder then once again, I would expect Rooney to station himself in his area and deny him the time and space he is usually afforded. The Nigerian can be easily put off his game when placed under pressure as he lacks the necessary ball skills and awareness to cope.

The swift and fluid style that has epitomised the fast start United have made to the season could well turn out to be another crucial area. The likes of Terry, Alex and Ivanovic are all slow on the turn and the manager will look to Hernández to unsettle them at every opportunity as he looks to run in behind. The Chelsea back four will be unable to play the high line they are accustomed to doing against more pedestrian sides and this should create plenty of space in which the highly rated front four can work their magic.

From the away side's point of view, they will look to use the space that has been noticeable between the Reds defence and midfield in the early weeks of the season as a source for applying their own stamp on the game. Pressure on the opposition when in sight of goal has been lacking at times for a while now and this is an area that may well be punished very soon if it is not resolved. This was amply demonstrated in the Champions League Final against Barcelona and also in the pre-season friendly between the two in America.

United

In my opinion, there are two main areas of contention in the United line up for Sunday's game. Firstly in defence where Rio Ferdinand will surely slot back into the side after being left behind for the midweek trip to Lisbon. His partner though, is open to question. Smalling, Evans and Jones are the three under consideration and to be honest all of them would be acceptable to the vast majority of knowledgeable United fans. Phil Jones is my pick based purely on his wonderful start to life at United almost demanding a starting place. Chris Smalling would then slot in at right back with Jonny Evans dropping to the bench. It is entirely conceivable that Evans and Ferdinand will resume their partnership from the Bolton game last weekend with Jones at right back but I just get the feeling that Ferguson will want Jones in his customary role in the centre.

The other conundrum is the identity of Anderson's midfield partner. Michael Carrick would appear the favourite with Darren Fletcher a close second. However, the Scotsman is still feeling his way back to full fitness after his debilitating virus so I will go for Carrick to be the more defensive minded of the two. Arguments could be made for the selection of Giggs and Park after recent wonderful displays against this opposition but I see them best served on the bench ready to make an impression if the need arises.

For me the front four pick themselves. Although the return in midweek of Antonio Valencia was heartening and will add depth to the squad in the wide areas, it will be a few weeks before he achieves full match fitness.

The outside bet would be that the manager goes for a 4-5-1 formation to match up Chelsea in the central area of the pitch. While this is a possibility, I see no reason to disrupt the attacking force that we have seen in the opening weeks of the season devastate almost every defence. A more defensive formation sends out the wrong message rather than simply sending out our best available team and backing it to prevail.

Scoreline Prediction
For all the reasons listed above, I am very confident of victory in this match tomorrow. I feel that our high intensity and speed in the attacking third will prove too much for the likes of Terry and his colleagues to cope with. Although Chelsea will be a threat, I have faith in David De Gea and his team mates to snuff out any away team threat to see the Reds through to a comfortable 2-0 victory. On the scoresheet will be Young and Anderson.

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Do you agree with my predictions above? Would you go with Evans ahead of Jones in the centre of defence? Would you be happier with Fletcher alongside Anderson in the midfield? Please leave your comments below and I will respond to each one.

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United vs Benfica Champions League Preview

Introduction
Manchester United kick off their quest for a fourth Champions League crown with a tricky opening fixture against Benfica in the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. The squad will be in fine spirits after a wonderful start to the season has seen the Reds win every game thus far.

The beginning of the Champions League group phase sees the fixtures begin to come thick and fast and Sir Alex Ferguson will need all his experience to guide the squad through the busy schedule whilst maintaining the expected high levels of performance. In many ways, this is a good time for this fixture to arise as there are players that could do with a game but have been unable to force their way into the team due to the terrific results achieved thus far.

As ever the manager will look towards the magic figure of ten points which usually guarantees progression into the next round. Being able to reach this haul after four games allows the squad to be rotated for the final two matches at a busy time of the season.

The travelling squad left Manchester this morning without Rio Ferdinand who will be saved for this Sunday's clash against Chelsea. Other absentees were to be expected as Vidic, Rafael, Cleverley and Welbeck are currently on the injured list. It could be an important game for the likes of Fletcher and Valencia who need some match practice after returning from illness and injury respectively along with Carrick, Giggs, Berbatov and Park who have been relegated to the bench in the opening weeks of the season.

The Opposition
Jorge Jesus took over from Quique Sánchez Flores in June 2009 and had done well to cope with the loss of star players such as Di Maria, Luiz, Ramires and Coentrao and still remaining competitive in the Portuguese top division. March 2010 brought Jesus his first piece of silverware for the Lisbon club as they crushed rivals  Porto 3-0 to win the League Cup. They were crowned champions in May as Cardozo finished top scorer with 26 goals. Their Champions League campaign ended prematurely the next season as they finished third in their group and were eliminated from the Europa League at the semi final stage by Braga. A disappointing campaign was rounded off by finishing second to Porto in the league with their rivals finishing a massive 21 points ahead under the stewardship of Andre Villas Boas.

This season has started well as they sit second in the table with a record of three wins and a draw from the opening four fixtures. There is plenty of talent within the squad with the likes of Luisao, Garay and Capdevilla in defence, Gaitan, Witsel and Aimar in the midfield and the threat of Saviola and Cardozo up front. Although they are not to be feared they must be respected as it will be a tough proposition for United to leave Lisbon with all three points.

They reached the group stages of this year's competition by defeating FC Twente 5-2 on aggregate and warmed up for their game with United by beating Guimaraes 2-1 at the weekend. This game was notable for the fact that Benfica were awarded three first half penalties with two converted by Cardozo and the other hitting the bar and rebounding out to safety.


Dangerman - Óscar Cardozo:

• aged 28, wears the number seven shirt and is a Paraguay international
• Has scored 72 goals in 109 appearances for Benfica
• Was purchased from Newell's Old Boys in 2007 for a fee of €9.2 million
• Is a free kick specialist and is also the penalty taker for Benfica
• Has scored eight goals for Paraguay in 40 appearances
• Has a wonderful total career record of 173 goals in 264 games

United

This is a very difficult team to pick as the manager will surely have one eye on Sunday's clash at Old Trafford against Chelsea. With only five defenders making the trip to Lisbon, I feel it will be Fábio that misses out although you could quite easily make a case for him starting at right back in place of Smalling. It appears that both Evans and Evra have shaken off the knocks they picked up on Saturday. Lindegaard will most likely remain on the bench until next week's Carling Cup game at Elland Road.

Darren Fletcher completed both of Scotland's games last week so I think we may well see him in central midfield alongside the resurgent Anderson although you could quite easily argue that a three man midfield could be employed with either Carrick or Giggs joining these two. Ashley Young has had a frenetic start to his United career and I feel this is a perfect opportunity to give him a break. I would expect Park to be picked with the instructions to tuck in and help out in the centre when required. Nani should keep his place on the right in his homeland and will no doubt have to endure some abuse as he played for Benfica's rivals Sporting Lisbon. Although Valencia is now fit, I would think it is likely he will come on as a second half substitute to ease him back into the fray.

Rooney is playing so well currently that he almost demands selection despite reservations about his workload. He is the type of player that thrives on games so I would have no issue with him being selected with the promise of  a break next week. Although Hernández returned to the starting lineup against Bolton, this games provides an opportunity to give Berbatov a game in the less frenetic environment of the Champions League.

Scoreline prediction
I think this will prove to be a very tricky match for United as the home crowd will be vociferous in the early stages and the Reds may have to withstand a barrage of pressure. If they can come through this and then impose their style of football on the opposition then I can see no reason why United will not prevail by a score of 2-1 with goals from Anderson and Park. This is a slight change from my prediction made last night in the latest episode of our podcast when I went for a draw but optimism has overcome me this morning so I have amended by prediction!

You can listen to our preview of the Benfica match along with a review of Bolton by clicking the play button below:


Episode Eight- Can They Score- Man Utd Podcast by Can They Score Podcast

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What are your team and score predictions for the game on Wednesday, please leave them in the comments section below.

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United vs Bolton Post Match Post Mortem

Manchester United continued their relentless start to the Premier League season with a five goal victory over neighbours Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. Rio Ferdinand was restored to the starting line-up with Chris Smalling given a break after his international exploits. Phil Jones was moved to right back, further emphasising his versatility with Hernández selected up front in place of Welbeck who is expected back in training next week after his hamstring injury picked up against Arsenal.

The Reds were soon into their stride with some slick passing although a heavy and late challenge by Davies saw Cleverley leave the pitch with a suspected broken foot. Hernández opened the scoring after a further example of his devastating movement left Cahill in no man's land as he met Nani's cross with a deft finish at the near post. Rooney soon trebled United's advantage with a brace that owed much to the quality of Jones from right back. His first came as a result of an excellent cross while the second was a close range finish after a mazy dribble from the ex Blackburn man.

The second half  was a comfortable affair for the Reds as they exhibited further fluent football adding goals from their deadly front pair giving Rooney back-to-back hat tricks and the little Mexican another to his burgeoning United tally.

De Gea and the defence were rarely troubled as the Bolton bombardment failed to materialise as class prevailed over honest toil.

United now move onto a Champions League opener against Benfica in Lisbon on Wednesday before all eyes turn to Old Trafford next Sunday when rivals Chelsea visit the new football capital of England. Without doubt the manager will rotate his squad with the emphasis on protecting his young talent for the league so I would expect an experienced side to be picked in midweek with the likes of Lindegaard, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Park and Berbatov all likely to see some action. It would not surprise me to see Rooney and Young left at home bearing in mind their heavy workload in the early weeks of the season.

Post Match Debate:

Goal Analysis - Hernández

Javier Hernández returned to the goal trail with a brace against Bolton but it will be his opener that rightly gets spoken about the most. With any new player that has a wonderful debut season, the question of second season syndrome is mentioned but this was never going to be an affliction that affected our livewire striker. The reasons for this were amply demonstrated by the quality of his movement for his first goal. Gary Cahill is a defender of growing class for club and country but he experienced his own version of the Hokey Cokey as the little Mexican twisted him in and out in the build up to the goal. The camera shot from high up in the stand was a perfect example of why young strikers should look to emulate this skill. In reality, there was not much Cahill could have done to stop the goal unless he guessed correctly where Hernández was going to end up. He almost repeated the trick a short while before half time but was correctly adjudged offside. The quality of Nani's cross should also not be underestimated as it would have been easy to over hit or lay it back to the penalty spot for an onrushing support player.

Jones: Midfield Maestro?
Another majestic performance from our recent recruit from Blackburn in an unaccustomed position got me thinking post game about where he can best be utilised in the years to come. Although, he is earmarked to fill the role of centre back for the club, the more I see him, the more I feel it could be a waste of his supreme talent. For this reason, I feel he could emerge as a wonderful midfield maestro who can not only break up play but also supplement the attack with strong running and sound passing ability. In my mind, this sounds exactly the kind of player that United have been looking for over the last couple of years and with careful nurturing there is no reason why Jones cannot fill this void. It may take a few years before this comes to fruition as the youngster learns his trade in the back four but you get the feeling whatever challenge is placed in front of him, there is nothing to suggest that he cannot overcome any such obstacle.

The value of this to the club would be huge as this kind of player would command a large fee on the transfer market and the next few years gives the manager the chance to shape the role for the big youngster as he learns his trade.

De Gea Distribution
As mentioned earlier, De Gea had a relatively trouble free evening in the United goal despite morning rumours suggesting the manger was thinking of saving him from the Reebok experience. What stood out yesterday (not for the first time) was the quality of his distribution as back passes often resulted in him playing simple passes to available team mates rather than launching the ball upfield which would most likely end up back in the possession of the opposition with no target man to aim for. Quality with ball at the feet is now a pre-requisite for all United keepers and it could turn out that the young Spaniard will prove to be the best we have ever had in this department. Another notable moment was when he almost created a goal for Hernández with an accurate punt down field soon after the break. It demonstrates once more just how often a devastating attack can often begin from deep in a team's own half and ensures a defence can never rest easy.

Rooney - the big man is most definitely back!

The superlatives for the Croxteth born player are close to being used up in the early weeks of the season after another imperious display at the Reebok on Saturday. Quite simply, when Rooney plays well then so do both his club and country. He is the conductor and everything goes through him and when you add in such a significant goal threat then you have a potent threat that possibly only the likes of Messi and Ronaldo can match. The challenge for Rooney is perform to this level for a significant period of time (like his aforementioned contempories) to drive his team towards glory over the course of the season. What has also been noticeable this season is just how settled and content he appears. There has been little sign of the dissent or aggression that has often blighted his performances in recent years that it could be argued means he takes his eye of the ball. More than likely is that he has matured to a much higher level after all of his experiences in the last year or so and perhaps the added responsibility of fatherhood has poured some level of calm over this aspect of his character. While you would not want him to lose the fire in the belly, if he can keep it controlled then his focus remains on helping drive his team on rather than some presumed injustice. Whatever happens, it will be an exciting adventure watching Rooney continue his progress into the world class playmaker we all know he is capable of.

Other notable performances
Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans were solid at the back yesterday as the booking for Davies seemed to quell his aggression and Klasnic did not possess the threat that he so often can. Anderson continued his wonderful start to the season with another classy display at the heart of the midfield. His passing was controlled and incisive while he pressed and harried to good effect. This new found confidence also means that he is beginning to take charge of the central area and boss things to such an extent that he is making himself one of the first names on the teamsheet. Consistency is now the key for the talented Brazilian but he cannot have done more to change many minds among the United faithful. Michael Carrick took over the midfield duties from Cleverley after his early exit and settled comfortably into his usual role with little fuss and quiet efficiency as would be expected. Ashley Young has had a busy couple of weeks and was relatively quiet yesterday but even so he worked hard and was always available for his team mates. Hernández and Rooney resumed their partnership that so lit up the climax to the season last year and it appears that they will cause plenty of havoc to opposition defences in the years to come. They dovetailed perfectly again with the Mexican playing on the shoulder of the last defender while Rooney floated all round the pitch causing havoc wherever he popped up. If they can stay fit, then there is a high chance of over 50 goals resulting from this partnership over the course of the season but the one caveat to this is the extent of rotation that could ensue as the season progresses.

Player Ratings:
De Gea 6, Jones 8, Ferdinand 7, Evans 6, Evra 6, Nani 7, Cleverley 6, Anderson 8, Young 6, Rooney 9, Hernández 7. Subs: Carrick 6, Giggs 7, Smalling 6.

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What are your thoughts on Phil Jones? Could he be our next midfield kingpin or would you keep him in defence?

How impressed were you by Hernández's movement for the first goal?

What are your thoughts on how De Gea is settling into United life?

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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.

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