Redsnout's Ramble - United's resurgence, Scholes and Ajax

Still number 1 - Paul Scholes

By RedSnout

Here we are. The gentle waft of European football is just beginning to tanatlise the nostrils once again- naysayers say she's less fragrant and savoury than her prettier sister we usually go out with, but when you think of what happened on that bedeviled night in Basel, it's nothing less than what was deserved. Fair play though, as first night-outs go, a ravishing trip to Amsterdam is as grand as they come. More about it later.

Let's go a few weeks back in time. The air around the club, at the start of this year, had been grumpy with navel gazing and vein busting invective from the support section. Out of the Champions league and League cup, near-jeopardization of title chances with consecutive losses to Steve Kean's Blackburn and Alan Pardew's barcodes, rumours of Rooney exit thanks to shit-stirred, jaundiced journalism and underperforming/injured players. Add these to the ever growing frustration over manager's stubbornness to address the midfield issue which has been apparent for the last two years. The whispers in the corridor suggested a few arrivals, but they never echoed their way into manutd.com type confirmation. A set of worries was irascibly poured out of every sweaty orifice of the interweb.

At that moment, asking for a convincing performance and win at giddy neighbour's backyard seemed a bit too far-fetched, but that's exactly what was followed, and, in my opinion, could turn out to be a seminal point of the season. Record books may suggest United's 3-2 win over local rivals as a routine cup win that holds no pertinence as they went on to fall in the next hurdle at Anfield. But, in hindsight, it not only ended United's barren run of form and restored belief with in the squad, but also broke City's air of invincibility at home and slowed down that billion-dollar juggernaut. United are unbeaten in the league since then, a run which includes convincing away performances at Arsenal and Chelsea, routine home wins against Bolton, Stoke and those sniveling vermin from Merseyside. If United manage to gain 13 points or more from the next 5 league matches (Norwich, Spurs, Westbrom, Wolves and Fulham), they will be in pole position for the title race when April starts.

There's a fair number of reasons behind United's recent resurgence, but none, I feel, more prominent than a certain ginger bloke from Oldham. To be honest I was quite sceptical about Scholes's return, partly due to the glaring concerns over his fitness and the prospect of him drawing an expendable figure in the squad. Not to mention the slight aggravation over club's apparent settlement to resort to a retired player rather than investing in the future. But, as succinctly put forward in this piece  by the brilliant Zac Hann (ManUtd24), Scholes has been the vital catalyst in United's revival. You could argue, regardless of the result at the end of this season, this move has already eclipsed Henrik Larsson deal in 2007 when it comes to influence on and off the pitch. His direction was something United needed for a number of reasons, but mostly for right footballing ones. Most of his performances this month, by their sheer class and composure, provided tangible gratification for supporters. Long may it continue.

Well, I would be in dereliction of duty not to chow down on the tasty dish that is Ajax- United. This is normally a tie that could light any competition this continent can offer. It's surprising that, In spite of being the powerhouses of Europe for the last few decades, their last competitive meeting was way back in 1976 UEFA cup tie at Old Trafford, where United recorded a 2-1 win. It's difficult to imagine Sir Alex, despite his reiterations on this point, taking this competition as seriously as Docherty did that day. There's a coherent argument that the squad is too thin to challenge for two titles, and this competition is hardly lucrative for a club of United's stature. But actually it is no more a distraction than Champions league, something United have been accustomed to for 20 years. Europa also stages a low-pressure environment for players like Berbatov, Hernandez, Anderson, Park, Cleverley, Fabio, etc where they don't have to come and deliver straight away. We'll have to wait and see the squad-sheet against Ajax to gauge Sir Alex's plans for this competition, I think.

Ajax, unlike United, had a very commendable group stage campaign in Champions league, and should consider very unlucky with the way they went out of it. Need to be said though, their subsequent domestic performances have been quite shambolic but were largely overshadowed by the power struggle between Mr. consigliere Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal. Their win over 17th placed NAC Breda on Saturday was their first this year. Three losses and one draw prior to that this year had tarnished any chance of defending the Dutch title. If there was any good time to face Ajax, I think it's now. This is not to suggest it'll be a cakewalk for United. Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena is always a different proposition and they have the players to hurt a complacent opposition. Christian Eriksen, diminutive Danish player with nimble feet, could prove to be quite handy for United's defence if their midfielders leave space behind them. If Theo Janssen and Nicolai Boilesen are declared to be fit, their participation will lift the squad morale. Toby Alderweireld also has comeback from injury and will partner captain Jan Vertonghen to form an effective CB pairing. Injury to first team players like Gregory van der Wiel, Derk Boerrigter and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson makes Ajax's task on the night an enormous one though.

It’s not easy predicting United lineups when the team is in the form and injured players are coming back. Common sense would suggest that manager will rest a few first team players with the intention of keeping them fresh after a tough run of games. Tom Cleverley, who's been injured out for almost 4 months, could make his European debut today. Hernandez, Pogba and Park Ji-Sung are players who've done well when they came on, and deserve chances. 

My starting line-up will be De Gea- Jones, Smalling, Evans, Fabio- Young, Carrick, Cleverley, Park- Rooney, Hernandez. What's yours?

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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.

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.

Past, Present and Future - Viva Da Silva. Focus on our "Braziliant" duo

By Sushant Sharma

Sibling pairings in sport at the highest level are a rarity. Whenever they work, they present a great sight - the Williams sisters, the Waugh brothers and our very own Nevilles. The novelty of novelties, however, is a pair of identical twins. When United are at the top of their game, opponents start seeing two's and three's of every Red. Imagine that you're one such dazzled opponent, and you're now faced with two of the same person. You'd be extremely disoriented. Even referees are confounded by this sight sometimes, not even knowing which one to book! So when United brought the Da Silva's to Manchester, they knew they were doing an incredibly astute piece of business, working on breaking down the opposition on multiple levels.

For a pair of Brazilians with the exact same DNA, however, Rafael and Fabio da Silva have had contrasting careers so far at Manchester United. Brought in from Fluminese before they had even turned 18, they came with "Right" and "Married" labels attached to their ring fingers. Contrary to what many fans believe, however, the twins were not arbitrarily assigned wings. in fact, Fabio very much preferred the left wing, having turned in some imperious performances from that position in the U-17 World Cup for the Brazilian national team. Indeed, even when they were asked during an interview to pinpoint the better one, Rafael pointed out matter-of-factly, "I'm better on the right, he's better on the left."

Before coming to Manchester, these two versions of the same zygote had done everything together, whether it be playing for Fluminese in the Nike Youth Cup, getting picked up by then Academy manager Les Kershaw (who lovingly called them "whippets") or turning down a clandestine training session with le Professeur de l'Arse. Upon landing in Manchester, their paths began to diverge. The challenges they faced were no longer equivalent. On the one hand, there was Rafael, competing with Gary Neville (suffering a series of long term injuries), and knock-prone stand-ins Wes Brown and John O'Shea, while on the other hand, Fabio was tasked with the unenviable job of dislodging from the starting line-up one of the best left backs in the world in Patrice Evra.

Expected though it was, Rafael's involvement in the first team for the first time against Newcastle in August 08 still took everyone by surprise. This didn't have as much to do with his appearance itself as it did with the quality of his performances. He reinvigorated the part of United's pitch that had started to look barren and ultra-slow. Fabio, unfortunately, could not even challenge for a place in the team, as he was out at the time with a shoulder injury.

Rafael developed in leaps and bounds, showing great skill on the ball, and improvement in his defensive skills with every passing game. He was always willing to challenge for the ball, sometimes a bit overzealous, but almost always precise. His eagerness to prove himself and do his job was evident in the way he tracked back as soon as he lost the ball, often winning it back from the opposition immediately. With time, he developed a sense of positioning - he stopped overcommitting himself - and also, an extraordinary leap. At times last season, he looked like he was jumping to a level two times his height! His first goal for the club came against Arsenal at the Emirates and was an absolute scorcher, albeit only a stoppage time consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat. His erroneous decision-making, however, got him sent off in a very crucial match against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford, a decision that turned out to be the turning point in a quarter final tie that United looked set to win. Few would've imagined the effect that match would have on Rafael's next season.

The da Silvas of Petropolis had grown up playing in very different positions in the hills of the Serra dos Orgaos, playing for their amateur club, Boa Esperanca. Rafael was the striker, while Fabio screened his defence, playing as a defensive midfielder. Their career as full backs started with their induction into Fluminese, where their coach saw their potential to be successors of the great Brazilian full backs. Fabio's adaptation to his new role was much quicker, probably because he already knew most defensive drills well, and started showcasing his attacking flair. He grew ever more influential in his role, earning the captain's armband when they represented their country in the U17 World Cup in South Korea. Here, he top-scored for his team, too, pulling the strings from this unusual position for puppeteers on a football pitch. Presumably, when they arrived across the Atlantic, Fabio was the one expected to be the one to break into the team first. What everyone seemed to forget was that he had just married. When bad luck comes it comes in droves, apparently, and Fabio suffered a spate of minor injuries, and as is customary, almost always just before Evra's place in the team opened up. In among these injuries, he did manage to make his first appearance against Spurs in the FA cup. He became a regular in the Carling Cup squad, and was awarded with a start at Wembley in that semi final against Everton. This was the first time both played in the same team, but was surely the beginning of many more such outings to come. Last season, both played as wingers against Arsenal in the FA cup and combined brilliantly for a goal.

Rafael was no stranger to taking up a challenge, and relished every job he was given. He had the privilege of facing some of the very best in the world - Ronaldinho at the San Siro, Ribery, and even Cristiano Ronaldo (day in and day out in training). He stamped his authority in each of these encounters, unlucky to be sent off against Bayern for a cynical challenge on Ribery. He was also known as the toughest right back to face in training, a great compliment coming from the United attack. That sending-off left him distraught, but in return, he learned some valuable lessons. In 2010-11, Rafael returned a transformed footballer, very composed in defence, diligently doing his job, crushing Gareth Bale, Maicon-skinner. So good was he at his job, that Gary Neville's retirement mid-season didn't give the manager any problems. Rafael cemented his place on the right side of defence, and was considered as first-choice until he injured his knee at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League quarter final in April. As fate would have it, Fabio (finally) was available and challenging for a place in the first team, and seamlessly slotted in to fill the void. So good were his performances that he earned a place in the line-up against Barcelona in the Champions League final. He showed great composure whenever he played at right back, sometimes looking even better than Rafael. His refined attacking skills and the timing of his attacking runs were what separated him, even if only barely, from his younger twin.

Three games into the new season, as we look ahead at our new generation, the picture is incomplete without the Da Silvas. With Evra's form looking suspect and Smalling only a stop-gap at right back, the twins are very much a part of United's present as well as long-term future. Rafael, unfortunately, is out of the reckoning for another two months, having suffered a shoulder dislocation, but we could see Fabio in the mix very soon indeed. This season could see the less experienced of the two get a lot more game time (on the left as well as on the right), and establish himself as Evra's replacement as the Frenchman progresses into his thirties. It is unlikely that we will see both brothers in the team on a regular basis just yet, as the need for experience on the pitch alongside the youngsters will preclude their simultaneous selection. My belief is that if the class of '11, as they're fondly called, can keep up this level of performance and gain some valuable big-game experience, then following with his trend of trust in youth, Sir Alex could well give Fabio a prolonged stint in the first team (something he hasn't had yet) - an opportunity to assert his claim for a regular place in the team, for both club and country. What we tend to forget however, is that they have only just turned 21, and another decade of top level football beckons...

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What are your thoughts on the Da Silva twins and their future at United and with Brazil? Please leave any comments below.

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