Kagawa - how will Ferguson fit him into his tactical revolution?

Shinji Kagawa has flown into Manchester this morning to begin life as a Manchester United player. In light of this, James from Written Offside had a chat with Titus Chalk, a freelance journalist from Berlin who earlier this week had written this piece on Kagawa for United's official website.

Did United's interest in Kagawa surprise you?

A little - not because of any lack of quality on Kagawa's part, but purely because I don't think United stumbled in Europe or finished second in the Premier League because of a lack of a quality number 10 - that is after all Rooney's position. Rather other areas of the team look in serious need of investment, especially central midfield and left-back, if Evra has another iffy season.

What would you say are his three main attributes?

Lovely close control, fantastic movement and vision between the lines and wonderful passing ability. He is also a fantastically hard worker and defends brilliantly from the front.

Do you feel he will play in the hole for United or will Ferguson attempt to turn him into a midfielder?

I think this is really the huge question surrounding Kagawa's move - what does Sir Alex Ferguson have in mind tactically for United over the coming seasons and how does Kagawa fit into that?

I think there are two possible answers - firstly (and perhaps also why there were those rumours about Lewandowski coming as well), he might be wanting to make United a higher, harder pressing side, to beat Barcelona at their own game. Kagawa would fit that plan, Rooney, Valencia and Welbeck too - as they are all willing workers for the team. I think it would also explain why United have still made buying a defensive central midfielder not a priority: if you're defending higher up the pitch you might be able to get away with a Carrick or Anderson in the deep midfield role (Busquets at Barça is hardly a bruiser).

On the other hand (and we'll see soon enough if United do buy a central midfielder), perhaps Fergie does want to convert Shinji to a deeper role - there were some quotes from the player suggesting Ferguson had told him he wants to make him a playmaker - so he might pop up all the way back in a double pivot. I think that's a strange decision personally (although I don't want to second guess Fergie at this point!) - Kagawa probably has the passing ability for it but his finishing in and around the box is marvellous and it would be a shame to sacrifice that.

Where do you see Kagawa in five years? Will playing at United take him up a level?
Crikey, that's a long way ahead - I can't really answer that. I do think he is good enough to make a significant contribution at United though, if he is given the time and support to adapt to England and the Premier League. At Dortmund, they really went out of there way to make him feel comfortable and his translator was always on the team bus or bench at games and would even shout out Klopp's instructions to Shinji from the touchline. I spoke to him recently whilst negociations were still going on and at that point it wasn't clear whether he would also be moving to Manchester - it's hard to imagine Fergie letting someone have that same access (although the translator did accompany Shinji for his medical, so maybe he will be joining in some capacity). Shinji speaks no German and no English and it will be tough for him. I think he has the mental strength to succeed, and worked hard on his physical side too when moving to Europe - give him time and he could be a fantastic signing for United.

I read that you feel the Kagawa signing could lead to the introduction of a pressing game at United, do they have the personnel currently to carry this out?
See above - and also think back to Berba's agent's remarks about his player not fitting the game Fergie wanted to develop for United with much more movement. Maybe that's what he was talking about? Also, if the financial picture dictates that United will continue investing in younger players in their early 20s, why not? They have the energy to implement it, and working together in a collective pressing style could make up for their lack of experience or pedigree. It's worked wonders at Dortmund where the team is incredibly young, egoless, and have worked their balls off together to win trophies.

Who else from the Bundesliga could you see flourish in England and why?
There is such a wealth of young talent in the Bundesliga at the moment, it's hard to say - or rather, it's hard it's hard to say why they would move when they have such a great, supportive environment to develop in in Germany. I think that's why the German players who do move abroad aren't teenagers - rather players who are mature and ready to take a further leap in their development (eg Podolski moving to Arsenal - and Marco Reus staying put in Germany).

If I had to mention one player, I would say Sven Bender. His season was really ruined by injury, but if he can recapture his form and his starting place at Dortmund, he could quickly become a very coveted defensive midfielder. He has boundless energy, great positional sense and is a tough tackler. It's mindblowing sometimes to see much work he gets through in a game. A brilliant breaker who could slot very nicely into a side looking for a defensive partner in a central midfield two.

What areas of his game does he need to work on?
He could release the ball quicker now and then, but as mentioned in the Inside United piece, I think he's gone to the best possible club to learn that discipline. Fergie's track record at getting skilful dribblers to release the ball at the right time is rather good and I think Shinji will soak up anything the coaches at Carrington tell him.

How bigger a factor was Sir Alex in Kagawa's decision to join United?
I think pretty big - he obviously has immense respect for him and feels he can progress his game at the club. I think he also shares that winning mentality that Fergie looks for in his players (despite his deceptively playful smile and demeanour) - he has a steely, ambitious side and in that, will be a good fit for Ferguson's United.

And finally, the most important question. UK tabloids seem to think Kagawa's girlfriend is a porn star. Can you confirm or deny this rumour?!
I don't know anything about this I'm afraid, although I'm sure the red tops would love this to be true! He got the mickey taken out of him a little when he first arrived in Germany for pointing out in one of his first interviews that he had never seen so many tall, blonde women in his life as in Dortmund, so perhaps a slight ladies' man tag has stuck to him!

A huge thanks to Titus for taking the time to answer these questions. You can follow him on Twitter by clicking this link.

United's transfer policy: buying big or produce from within?

Fans look at a world class player and hope for game changing moments that can turn a loss into a draw or a draw into a win. Fans dream of that moment where a corner can be turned, and a club can rise to prominence.

One moment in particular stands out during the semi recent past, and that is the win against Juventus in the Champions League during the 98/99 season. Trailing 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate), Roy Keane muscled his way through the penalty area to head in a corner that set United on course for one of the greatest comebacks against arguably one of the best sides in world football at that time.

So where did Roy Keane come from? Was he a transfer based on ability, or a transfer based on talent? Talent is defined as a person possessing such aptitude or skill, whereas ability is defined as the talent that enables someone to achieve a great deal.

Roy Keane arrived at Manchester United as a great talent; a footballer who had to fulfil his talent in order to be considered a player of great ability. That is what United are about. United buy players based on what they could become (talent), rather than what they have become. Yes, United pay great sums for these talented players. The fees for Ronaldo (£13m) and Wayne Rooney (£30m) are a testament to that, but the underlying fact of the matter is that United mainly focus on the development of world stars, rather than the purchase of them.

Those game changing moments, or club defining moments that we live for, have come from players who United have developed into stars of modern football. Moments such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dramatic winner against Bayern Munich, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal in the champions league final, Steve Bruce’s injury time winner vs Sheffield Wednesday and Paul Scholes’ wonder strike against Barcelona.

As a United fan, I take no greater pleasure than seeing a youngster breaking into the first team, either through the reserves or by way of working hard after being brought in during a transfer window. It gives us that warm feeling to know that they are one of our own and that we, as a club, have been a part in creating a player that the world can relish watching.

One of those players is Cristiano Ronaldo. A player once called a “one trick pony” rose to the top of the world in front of our eyes. Even though I may not like the way he left, I still take great pride in knowing that he truly became the player he is because of Manchester United.

So is this overwhelming cry for a world class player merited? Do United need a player of such calibre that would command such a high fee; who could possibly never reach the heights he reached at his previous employer?

On the odd occasion that United have purchased a world star, things haven’t quite worked out. Players such as Dimitar Berbatov and Seba Veron moved to United for huge transfer fees and with great expectations that were never truly met. These were players of class that could grace any team in the world, yet they could not find their feet at United.

With the current pursuit of Luka Modric seeming to be a never ending story, can we see him being a player who would suit United? Can he be the player who we cry out for, or is he just another Trojan horse?

United cannot afford another gamble on a world class player, as the depth of our financial disability restricts our transfer movements. Some have made jokes that we could offer magic beans in return for Modric. It’s a light hearted joke, but as funny as it is, it’s the sad truth with United’s financial problems.

Also, can United find a world class player that suits their style of play? Veron was asked to play an unfamiliar role for United. As seen, he never truly adapted and was subsequently sold to Chelsea. It’s not about buying a player, more about buying someone who can easily buy into the United way of football.

This shows the risk involved in trying to acquire a star. They have the ability to play in their designated area of expertise, but will find it tough to adjust to any new style of play, as we’ve seen with Dimitar Berbatov. Berbatov was unbelievable at Tottenham, but when asked to play at a higher tempo, he looked as if he was a deer gazing into the headlights of an oncoming truck. Add in the pressure of a huge transfer fee, over the top wages, and the fickle nature of fans, and you have a recipe for disaster.

So we need to look at the facts. United have a record as a production line, in terms of producing youth, and have also found it tough to integrate high profile signings into the first team. Do we go with the road less travelled, or do we go with what we know, and what has served the club well over its history?  

I for one would love another young player to come through the system and be another beacon of light in the current Manchester United team. The question is whether or not we have the patience to allow a player to develop, or are we going for the quick fix that could backfire?

 By: Natanael Pillay (Follow me on Twitter)

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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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Blue moon rises but hardly the Damned United

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Diarmaid Hill (Follow me on Twitter)

Manchester United vs Manchester City Big Match Preview

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

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

StatZone by Rahul Singh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

United

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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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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History repeating? Could Man United win their first ten games?

Manchester United's perfect start to the new season with five wins out of five has brought back memories of the class of 1985/86 under the guidance of Ron Atkinson who opened the season with ten straight wins without the distraction of a European campaign. The tragic scenes at Heysel meant that beating Everton in the 1985 FA Cup final did not lead onto a fight for the Cup Winners Cup.

Wind the clock back 26 years and I was merely an excitable nine year old whose sole method of keeping up to date with the latest scores was via Radio 2 on a Saturday afternoon and the dulcet tones of Peter Jones and Bryon Butler. This was then supplemented by Final Score on Grandstand where the famous vidiprinter made an appearance with either Bob Wilson or Des Lynam navigating their way round the day's games. Of course, this was the time before real football began (according to Sky and the advent of the Premier League!) and there was no Soccer Saturday or late live game to round off the afternoon. In fact, there was no live football at all in 1985 as contract talks had broken down over plans for a deal worth £19 million across a four year period. When you think of the multi-billion pound deals now being signed world-wide by the Premier League, this emphasises the huge shift in demand for our national sport. This television blackout meant that United's historic start to the season went completely under the radar in terms of coverage on the box and when a deal finally was secured, just six matches were shown live until the end of the season! Fast forward to 2011/12 and Sky will show that number across a couple of weekends! If you would like to read more about the 1985 TV blackout, please click here for an excellent article from the Independent.

Having secured the FA Cup after Big Norman's curling effort at Wembley soared past Neville Southall, hopes were high as Big Ron looked forward to the new season and the holy grail of a first league championship for 19 years. The United squad had quality throughout with the likes of Robson, Whiteside, McGrath and Strachan and an emerging talent in Mark Hughes whose electric form would tail off once details of a move to Barcelona in the following summer emerged.

The details of those opening ten matches are shown below:

Graphic courtesy of Wikipedia

Big Ron Atkinson

Confidence grew from the opening day defeat of Villa at Old Trafford as a record of 27 goals scored and just three conceded meant that the United faithful were starting to believe that their long wait for league success since 1967 was coming to an end. However, the following match against Luton ended in a disappointing draw and the season began to unravel. The next ten games saw just four wins and although United remained top of the league until early February, the momentum was lost and the promise of such success slipped away. The final 32 games brought just 12 victories as the team limped across the line in 4th spot. The title was won by bitter rivals Liverpool who triumphed for the 16th time in their history with this one under player-manager Kenny Dalglish. How times change as United are now looking toward their 20th this season and Liverpool have only won two more league titles and none for the last 20 years. The failed quest for the league championship ultimately led to the sacking of Ron Atkinson and the appointment of Alex Ferguson in November 1986 and the rest, as they say, is history!

The challenge facing the present side is undoubtedly greater than that of their predecessors 26 years ago. The added burden of European football, greater squad depth of their rivals, frequent international breaks among other things mean that if the current crop ascertain ten straight victories it will be a fine achievement. I would also suggest that the ten fixtures faced by United at the start of this season is their toughest to date in the Premier League era. After overcoming the likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, they will face Liverpool (A), Manchester City (H) and Everton (A) in their 8th, 9th and 10th fixtures. If they come unscathed through these, then it will be difficult to see past United for a record 20th title unless widespread complacency rears its head. As this is something that does not even feature in the vocabulary of the management team at Old Trafford, one would expect a relentless march towards the finishing line.

There have been enough signs in these opening five league fixtures to suggest that despite the free flowing football they have displayed that they will come unstuck at some point along the way towards that magic ten victory mark. A moment of luck from the opposition is all it takes for the achievement to be consigned to history yet you get the feeling that such a setback will not derail this current squad to quite the same extent that it did to the talented players who graced the Old Trafford turf 26 years ago.

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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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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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United 8 (EIGHT) Arsenal 2 - Post Match Post Mortem

Picture courtesy of @thedevilstweets

Manchester United stamped their mark of class all over the Premier League on Sunday with a sensational 8-2 victory over "rivals" Arsenal at Old Trafford.Once again, Sir Alex Ferguson entrusted his faith in his youth players as the same side (averaging just 23) took to the field after their encouraging victory over Spurs less than a week before.

Although Arsenal were ravaged by injuries and suspension, United were without many first choice regulars also and Patrice Evra's statement last year that it was "men against babies" has never felt so apt. First half goals from Welbeck, Young and a Rooney free kick put the Gunners to the sword with just a solitary Walcott strike their only crumb of comfort. Their inept first half display was neatly summed up by Van Persie's penalty when United were only a goal up. Weak and lacking in confidence or assurance, De Gea was able to plunge to his right to push away his effort much to the delight of his team mates and the Old Trafford faithful.

The final thirty minutes resembled something akin to humiliation for Arsenal as their defensive ineptitude hit new heights as wave upon wave of home side attacks were met by precious little opposition. To be fair, United's goals were of the highest order in terms of finishing but the sheer lack of fight among many of the Gunners experienced nucleus was shocking to witness. A second Rooney free kick was followed by a team goal of amazing quality finished by a cheeky Nani chip, Park got number six before a penalty brought Rooney his hat trick. The icing on the cake was added by Ashley Young in stoppage time with a wonderful curling effort when cutting in with his right foot. A Van Persie strike was barely all that Arsenal could muster as the Reds ran riot and in all honesty it could have been much worse as numerous opportunities were spurned during the game.

Post match debate

Goals Analysis
Danny Welbeck's opener - a microcosm of the game was displayed in United's first goal. With 8 players plus the keeper goal side, there really should not have been too much to worry the Arsenal rearguard as emphasised by the picture below. All the attackers look well marshalled and the threat looks something that can be contained. However, all it takes is a clip into the box from Anderson (admittedly a sublime one, similar to what Scholes was capable of) to cause havoc as Djourou is left flailing as he allows the ball to bounce and Welbeck, ever alert, steals in to nod the ball past Szczesny. Rule number one in the defenders manual states that letting the ball bounce when it is possible to meet it on the full is a recipe for disaster and so it transpired.

A simple lob over the defence leaves Arsenal flailing despite being comfortably positioned at this point in time.

Goal no 5 - I have picked out this one due to the bizarre nature of its inception and then the dazzlingly incisive break that ultimately leads to Nani finishing with ease. Rooney, in his own half, attempts a back pass that runs out of play for an Arsenal corner. The ball breaks to Evans deep in the United box who, rather than hoofing the ball up the pitch, tries to play his way out of danger. Eventually, it comes to Ashley Young who spreads the play wonderfully to the onrushing Smalling down the right with centre back Phil Jones in tandem outside him. The ball is laid inside to Rooney on the edge of the Arsenal box and here is where the Gunners rearguard lose the plot.

As the picture below shows, the three away team players are all attracted to the inherent threat of Rooney but completely neglect the obligation for at least one of them (probably Djourou in the centre) to hold their ground. This creates the space for the through ball to Nani while the defensive calamity is further exacerbated by the last man trying a ludicrous offside attempt.

Note how the Arsenal players are drawn to the ball to leave the space in behind.

All it takes is a simple pass that bypasses them all to leave Nani free to clip the ball beyond the helpless Szczesny in goal. Not one Arsenal defender is in his own box as the Portuguese player receives the ball. Suicidal defending by anyone's standards.

Just a simple pass, takes all the defenders out of the game leaving Nani with an easy finish.

Freedom of movement
A feature of United's electric start to the season has been the fluidity of the front four who have combined wonderfully to cause havoc in the opposition half in each game. At the heart of it is the pace at which they break and it is clearly very difficult to stop when in full flow. I particularly like the link up play between Young and Rooney who appear to be on the same wavelength ever since they discovered each-other at international level. At times the formation can resemble a 4-2-4 as the Reds attack from all angles and with Anderson and Cleverley supplementing the forwards with their skill and craft, it is looking a potent weapon. All of this comes in the knowledge that we are still to see Hernández at his best and with the likes of Berbatov, Valencia, Owen, Giggs and Park barely seen as yet. Unfortunately, the hamstring injury to Welbeck means that a change will have to be made and Hernández looks the likely beneficiary as his speed of thought and movement should see him seamlessly slot into place alongside Rooney.

Strength in depth
Although the scoreline demonstrated the gulf that exists between the two sides, a glance at the respective benches tells a similar story. Both teams were without numerous first choice players but United were still able to field such quality in reserve that if the game needed changing then the personnel were there and ready. Contrast this with a look at the opposition bench and you found it made up of mainly youth players, which even left some Gunners fans scratching their heads at their identity or quality. In addition, United had the following not even involved yesterday - Vidic, Rafael, Carrick, Macheda, Diouf, Valencia, Fletcher.

We saw last season how matches can turn on the introduction of a substitute and it is clear that with so many games, having a deep and talented squad is a must. With a glut of impressive youngsters in the reserve and academy sides just waiting for their chance also, the future of United looks very bright indeed.

Areas of concern
While it may sound churlish to criticise the team after such a wonderful team performance, you know that the manager will do exactly that. I was particularly concerned with the continuing inconsistency of Evra at left back who continues to frustrate with some poor decision making at times. There is little doubt that he is an excellent attacking threat down the left who has built up a lovely understanding with Young in the short space of time they have been together but at times yesterday, he was found wanting from a defensive point of view. It is also very noticeable that when he loses possession or finds himself out of position that he does not always try his best to get back to his post leaving others to cover. He has been a worry for a while now and whether it is complacency or simply being out of form, his lapses should not be tolerated for too much longer without a spell out of the team.

While both Anderson and Cleverley have been magical in tandem at the heart of the United midfield in the early stages of the season, it has been very noticeable that sizeable gaps are appearing at times that better teams than the ones we have faced will exploit. It is for this reason that I can, unfortunately, see a change coming where either Carrick or Fletcher is employed as a sentry in front of the back four to screen this area for danger which will allow either of the aforementioned creative players to supplement the attacking areas of the side.

Other notable performances
Not for the first time this season watching United, fans could marvel at the confidence, composure and footballing ability of Smalling and Jones in the Reds back four. Both are fearless competitors, good on the ball and not afraid to bring the ball out of defence when required. Evans, although he had the odd sticky moment, was solid once more while De Gea made some vital saves although will be disappointed with the Walcott effort before half time. The dive to his left to keep out a sharp Van Persie drive ably demonstrated his shot stopping capabilities as a strong wrist was used to ensure the comfortable lead was maintained.

Cleverley and Anderson were once more exciting and adventurous in the centre of midfield and thoroughly outshone their counterparts. The Englishman looks overdue a goal to me as he carries such a threat with decent shooting ability and clever one touch passing on the edge of the opponents box often finds him close to a strike at goal. Young and Rooney were mesmeric at times and Arsenal had no answer while Nani lived up to my pre-match description of being frustrating yet still incisive at times. One hopes that the two week international break to in Welbeck's favour as he looks to recover from his hamstring injury. A second goal in two games to go with his blossoming confidence augurs well for a season when he will look to establish himself as vital cog in the United machine.

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

United's next fixture is away at Bolton on September 10th as an international break now kicks in. The Reds will be keen to quickly recapture the momentum on their visit to the Reebok stadium as rivals City have made an equally impressive start to the campaign. As for Arsenal, it will be fascinating to see what transpires over the next few days for them. The last few days of the transfer window must see some movement from them if they are not to fall further behind their rivals in the race for the top four but you also have to worry for their fragile mental state after being humiliated by United.

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