Blue moon rises but hardly the Damned United

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Diarmaid Hill (Follow me on Twitter)

Aldershot vs Manchester United Post Match Post Mortem

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

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

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

Post Match Analysis

Goals – Easy as 1,2,3

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

Picture courtesy of The Guardian

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

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

Dimitar Berbatov – He’s still here

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

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

Morrison and Pogba – Is the future now?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subs: Pogba 7, Morrison 7, Keane 5

By Mick Higgins (Follow me on Twitter)

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

Otelul Galati vs United Champions League Preview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Redsnout (Follow me on Twitter)

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

Javier Hernández: The gift that just keeps on giving

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Nathan Thomas (Follow me on Twitter)

With thanks to @OSullivanMUFC for the Hernandez stats.

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

Danny Welbeck: Local boy in the photograph

"There's no mistake, I smell that smell, it's that time of year again, the clocks go back......."

As we approach the time of year when the clocks go back, I never expected Danny Welbeck to be the the flavour of the month with the Manchester United fans.  At the start of the season I'd have had him down as United's 5th choice striker, behind Rooney, Hernandez, Berbatov and Owen.  So far this season he's played himself into at least 3rd choice, if not an automatic starting role.  Hernandez's season is yet to really get going, having been dogged by niggling injuries, and it's fair to say that Welbeck has been the more impressive of the two.  I'm sure Danny doesn't like to see his team-mates suffering, however he's grasped the opportunity with both hands.

In the 5 league games Welbeck has featured in, he's scored 3 goals, and he's also bagged 2 in the Champions League, in just 1 appearance.  However, it's more than just the goals that has impressed.  Welbeck's overall gameplay has been something of a revelation.  His pace, power ,movement, and excellent link up play have gone far beyond the level I'd expected.  Last summer he left us a boy, for a season on loan at Sunderland, however he's now returned, a man, as he himself has alluded to in recent interviews.  He couldn't cut a more different figure than the skinny teenager who rifled in against Stoke, from 30 yards, on his Premier League debut. You can watch his debut strike below:




It seemed at the time that this would see Welbeck's United career kick into gear, but it didn't quite turn out like that.  Obviously nobody expected him to be a starter, with the likes of Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez and Ronaldo for competition, but I thought we'd at least see him given plenty of opportunities.  As it turned out Welbeck featured only twice more in the league that season, failing to add to his goal tally on either occasion.  The following season followed a similar pattern, with 5 Premier League appearances and 0 goals.  The blame for the poor goalscoring form can not be laid solely at the feet of Welbeck, however, as he was often used out of position, usually on the left wing, where he never truly looked comfortable.  Infamously, Welbeck played in the 1-0 home defeat to Besiktas in December '09, coming in for a lot of criticism for his performance on the night - he was far from alone in giving a poor display, though,as a 4 year unbeaten home record came to an end.

Perhaps sensing that United fans were losing faith in the local boy, Sir Alex decided to send him on loan to Preston North End, at the time managed by his son, Darren.  The hope would surely have been that Welbeck would gain some much needed first team experience in a competitive environment, however things did not go according to plan.  Welbeck managed 2 goals in 8 appearances before a knee injury flared up and the loan had to be cut short.  Welbeck was recalled in March, in order to have surgery on the problem, which brought a disappointing campaign to an end.

August 2010 saw a move to Steve Bruce's Sunderland, on a season long loan, in what could possibly have been described as a make or break move for the player.  If this didn't work out, you'd think that he'd have been unlikely to come back to Manchester United for any other reason than to be placed on the transfer list.  Thankfully things didn't pan out that way.  A modest return of 6 goals in 28 appearances doesn't tell the true story of Welbeck's time at Sunderland, where he was often a key player in the side.  Some vital goals were scored along the way, including the winner in a home game against Bolton and a goal in the 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge - which will only have endeared him to the Old Trafford faithful, as well as Sir Alex.  Welbeck's form prompted talk of an England call up, which duly came in an international friendly against Ghana, in March.  Once again, though, the season ended on a disappointing note, as an injury in April forced a return to his parent club, for treatment.

Having watched Welbeck regularly when he played for Sunderland, I was both surprised and impressed.  He had a new-found presence, a directness and, seemingly, a belief in himself which, at times, had been missing when playing for United.  This was undoubtedly the result of being a key component, as opposed to a bit-part player, and also due to getting more games in his natural position.  I remember commenting that although Macheda played his way into our hearts with that goal against Villa, Welbeck had considerably more to his game.  When it was announced at the start of this season that there would be no loan spell for any of the young lads, I was excited to see what they could bring to the team.  So far Welbeck has surpassed all my expectations.

It's been a long time since Manchester United have had a convincing home-grown centre forward.  In my opinion Mark Hughes was the last one.  It seems like Danny Welbeck could be the man to finally end that drought.  Given how things have went so far this season, if we're to play 2 up front at Anfield, personally I think Welbeck should get the nod ahead of Hernandez, due to his superior all round game play.  If we're to avoid being overrun, as has happened the past couple of seasons at Anfield, I think it's imperative not to surrender possession cheaply, and I think Danny will do a better job of retaining it than Chich.  Of course I don't pick the team, so we'll leave that down to the genius from Govan.  

Let's hope that in many years to come, the last lines of the wonderful Stereophonics song ring true; "all the friends lay down the flowers, sit on the banks and drink for hours, talk of the days they saw him last, the local boy in the photograph."

By Tim Ferguson (Follow me on Twitter)

What are your thoughts on the progress of Danny Welbeck? Would you start him against Liverpool?

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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United vs Chelsea Post Match Post Mortem

Manchester United continued their 100% start to the season with a less than convincing victory over an impressive Chelsea side.  Both sides served up the game of the season thus far in a match that will be remembered for a horror miss from Fernando Torres rather than the sublime attacking football that was on show.  A game, which was also littered with mistakes, was settled by goals from Smalling, Nani and Rooney but in truth the scoreline could have been anything had both sides taken the gilt edged chances that were created.

United went in to the game, once again, without Rio Ferdinand. The 32 year old missed out due to another niggling calf injury that must place further doubts over his long term future at the club. There was a time when fans would have been worried at his absence but the emergence of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling this season has laid rest to those fears. The former again deputised admirably at the centre of defence alongside Jonny Evans with Smalling slotting in at right back. The other selection headache Sir Alex had ahead of the game was who to partner with Anderson in central midfield. Fletcher got the nod and he was a welcome returnee to the side.

Chelsea started the game brightly but United took the lead through Chris Smalling after he converted a delicious Ashley Young free kick with a simple header.  The Blues should have at least been level the time Nani doubled the lead with a quite breath taking strike.  First Ramires missed an open goal on the stretch and then Torres screwed wide after being gifted the ball by Anderson.  Wayne Rooney seemingly put the game beyond Chelsea before half time when he tapped in following a surging run from Phil Jones.  However, Chelsea hit back immediately after the restart when Torres showed class is permanent with a sublime chipped finish over De Gea’s left shoulder.

United held on to their 3-1 advantage to go two points clear at the top of the table after Manchester City dropped points at Craven Cottage earlier in the day.  Next up for the Reds is Leeds in the third round of the Carling Cup before making the short trip down the M6 to face Stoke.

Post Match Debate

Goal analysis: Offside?

United took a 2-0 lead thanks, in part, to two offside calls that went their way.  Firstly, Chris Smalling strayed ahead of the last Chelsea defender before getting on the end of Young’s sublime cross.  It was fractional but he was offside.  It was a tough call for the linesman to make with so many bodies on the edge of the 18 yard box.  Chelsea will feel aggrieved but they should also look at their slack defending.  Lampard was the man charged with marking Smalling but he looked lost when a little bit of movement allowed the 21 year old to escape his attentions and have a free header.  Even if Smalling had let it go, Evans, who was onside, was lurking behind to slot home.  It was terribly slack marking from Chelsea who were duly punished for not picking up their men and having such a high line from the free kick.

The second goal from Nani was an equally tight decision for the linesman to make.  The Portuguese winger was making his way back from an offside position when Evans sent a raking cross field pass over to the right wing.  When Nani collected the ball he was 5 yards onside making it appear like he was never offside.  It was only when the replays were shown that it came to light he was, like Smalling, fractionally offside when the ball was played.  However, like the first goal Chelsea must look at their own poor defending. As Nani brought the ball forward, Mata hung a leg out as a token gesture for a tackle.  When he skipped past that challenge, no Blue shirt came to close him down quick enough and he unleashed a ferocious strike in to the top corner.

Chelsea contributed to their own downfall but will feel hard done by as both goals were offside. However, United will feel these decisions go some way to making up for the decisions they have been on the wrong side off in recent years against the Blues.

Nani – Man of the Match

Luis Nani turned in his best performance of the season, as many around him turned in their weakest, and deservedly claimed the man of the match award.  He was exceptional from start to finish and Ashley Cole must have been glad when Phil Dowd blew for full time. He teased, tormented and dominated the England left back in a way few others can claim to have done.  He jinked past Cole time and again, sucking him in with close control and skill on the ball before bursting away with explosive pace.  In one particularly pleasing incident in the second half, he nutmegged Cole who was left sitting on the ground as Nani sped away up the right wing.  It was great play from a player who was full of confidence following his stunning first half goal.

He has always had to contend with the Ronaldo comparisons and questions of him living in his shadow.  The following stat was wheeled out after the game and has been repeated to death but it is nonetheless fascinating. In his first 100 Premier League games, Ronaldo scored 19 goals and had 12 assists. Yesterday was Nani’s 100^thPremier League game and he has also scored 19 goals but has 21 more assists.  Yes Nani is older than what Cristiano was but it is still great to see the contribution he has made to the team when so many people have doubted him.  He’s had a quiet start to the season but announced his arrival yesterday.  Now he has to kick on and produce more performances like that.

Rooney and Torres: Slips and misses

Wayne Rooney will thank Fernando Torres for taking the spotlight off him after the Spaniards horror miss late in the game.  Prior to the Chelsea forwards sitter, Rooney had done his best John Terry impression by slipping as he struck the penalty awarded after Bosingwa was adjudged to have fouled Nani in the box.  If that wasn’t bad enough, he then fluffed his lines when ten yards from goal and scuffed a shot on to the post with only Cech to beat.  It was two awful moments for the Premier Leagues top scorer who was debuting his new Nike boots.  Maybe you should have stuck with the ones that had served you so well in the opening 4 league games, eh Wayne?

Nevertheless, Rooney’s blushes were saved by one of the most remarkable misses you are ever likely to see.  As Torres rounded De Gea and faced an empty goal, every United fan feared the remaining seven minutes.  It was already tense but with the scoreline at 3-2 and less than 10 minutes to go, it was going to be excruciating.  Those fears were to be allayed when Torres proceeded to screw the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.  Forget Ronnie Rosenthal, this miss was worse.  It will be played over and over and over again.  It will be in every bloopers DVD and video reel in the world.  It’s a miss he’ll want to forget but one he will never be allowed to forget.

Cole on Hernandez: Penalty? Red Card?

The other main talking point from the game, aside from Torres’ shocking miss, is the reckless challenge from Ashley Cole on Javier Hernandez.  As the ball rebounded off the post from Rooney’s scuffed effort, Hernandez struck a shot from a tight angle before crumpling in a heap screaming in pain.  Cole had obviously caught the little Mexican as he lunged in to block the shot.  The replays showed the challenge was lot more dangerous than on first viewing.  Phil Dowd was called over by his linesman who had spotted the incident and presumably instructed Dowd the challenge merited a booking but not a penalty as the ball was already out of play.

Cole was lucky to escape with just a booking, it was a red card challenge but I think he genuinely went to block the ball and didn’t intend to hurt Hernandez.  It was a lunge and it was high but it’s a natural challenge when you are diving in to block a shot.  It does not excuse the challenge but I don’t think he should be vilified for it.  Hernandez will be lucky to escape without serious injury but it was a good sign he was able to walk down the tunnel. We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed he is only out for weeks rather than months.

Player Ratings:

De Gea 7, Smalling 7, Jones 7, Evans 7, Evra 6, Nani 9, Anderson 6, Fletcher 7, Young 6, Rooney 6, Hernandez 6.  Subs: Valencia 7, Carrick 6, Berbatov 6.

By Mick Higgins (Follow Mick on Twitter)

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United vs Leeds Carling Cup Preview

Introduction

Manchester United resumes its fierce rivalry with Leeds United on Tuesday night in an eagerly anticipated Carling Cup third round clash.  With Leeds decline in recent years, these clashes are no longer common occurrences on the calendar and so fans, and players alike, will relish the chance to lock horns again.  The Reds will be looking to avenge a 1-0 loss they suffered at the hands of their bitter rivals in an FA Cup third round tie in January 2010.  A hostile atmosphere will await at Elland Road with Leeds fans sure to remind Ferguson and his men of that famous win.

United will go in to the game in high spirits and full of confidence after having their best ever start to a season under Sir Alex Ferguson.  Five wins on the bounce in the Premier League and a credible draw away at Benfica in the Champions League has seen the Reds impress all observers with their attacking intent and fluid play.  It would be easy to be complacent ahead tomorrow night after this start but after suffering that humiliation 20 months ago, Ferguson will want to make sure there is no repeat this time. 

The Opposition

Simon Grayson will hope to continue his Leeds revival with another famous win over the Reds.  After gaining promotion in 2009/2010 from League One, he narrowly missed out on guiding Leeds to the Championship play offs last season; falling short by only three points.  Grayson has continued to evolve his side to take them back to the top tier of English football and that is why the Leeds squad to face United will contain only 3 starters from the FA Cup game in 2010.

The hero of that day, Jermaine Beckford, moved on to Everton before winding up at Leicester this season.  He has been replaced by Ross McCormack who will hope to emulate Beckford and continue his current goal scoring form on Tuesday night.  The young Scot could be partnered up front by last season’s top scorer Luciano Becchio.  The Argentine hitman recently returned from a 5 month layoff by scoring in his first appearance of the season against Crystal Palace then setting up McCormack for the winner at the weekend in his second appearance.  These telling contributions could see him get his first start of the season ahead of Andy Keogh and Mikael Forssell.

Leeds will look to outfight United once again and that could see the deployment of midfield “hard man” Michael Brown in the centre of the park.  I use the term hard man loosely as some may refer to him as nothing more than a thug.  He became a hate figure with United fans after a horrendous tackle on Ryan Giggs in 2006. However, this is a game he will relish and his battling qualities are exactly what Leeds will need if they are to get a result.

Stat Zone by Rahul Singh (Follow Rahul on Twitter)

• Manchester Utd & Leeds have met 106 times in their long history. Manchester United have 45 wins, Leeds have 26 wins & 35 matches ending level.
• Leeds and Manchester United have met four times in the League Cup, with United coming out victorious on all four occasions & scoring nine goals.
• Man Utd & Leeds have not met in this competition since 2003 when David Bellion, Diego Forlan and Eric Djemba-Djemba won the game for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

• The two sides last met in January 2010 when Leeds surprised United with a 1-0 victory in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford
• Elland Road is a happy hunting ground for Manchester United. We have won 5 out of their last 10 visits to Leeds.
• Leeds  have only won twice in the fixture against United at Elland Road in the last 15 years.
• This season Leeds at home have won three out of four games.

United

The League Cup has always been a breeding ground for United’s youngsters and this year Sir Alex has once again highlighted some up and coming Reds that could feature in this seasons competition.  Paul Pogba, Will and Michael Keane, Zeki Fryers, Larnell Cole and Jesse Lingard were all mentioned as possible United debutants this year but that was before the draw was made.  When Leeds came out the hat, I’m sure that plan was revised and Tuesday’s game may prove too important an occasion to blood the young lads.

Nevertheless, the squad will need to be rotated.  The game comes 48 hours after a tough encounter with Chelsea and I’m sure Sir Alex will have one eye on an equally difficult game away at Stoke on Saturday afternoon.  That is why it is unlikely players like Rooney, Nani, Young and Anderson will feature tomorrow.  

Even without such important players, United will be able to field an experienced and strong side with the likes of Valencia, Park, Owen and Berbatov vying for a place in the starting line up.

The one area where United may have to field some youngsters is in defence.  There is somewhat of a defensive crisis on our hands at the minute with Vidic and Rafael still out, Rio struggling with a calf injury and Smalling coming off at the weekend with a groin injury.  We are left with only four fit first team defenders although Rio may make it back in to the squad as he had trained before the Chelsea game, just not enough to be considered.  Michael Keane and Zeki Fryers could come in to the reckoning for at least a place on the bench. Reece Brown may also fancy his chances after starring at the under-20 World Cup for England in the summer.  Nonetheless, I’d be surprised if any of them started and I’d expect Sir Alex to go with his four first team defenders.

The one player all United fans will want to see in action is Paul Pogba.  Quotes emerging from Sir Alex today say he intends to play him but that does not mean he intends to start him.  I refuse to get giddy at the thought of him starting as I still feel he’ll have to settle for a place on the bench.  I do hope I am wrong though.  Experience and guile will be needed in the centre of the pitch to combat a possible midfield triumvirate from Leeds especially when one of those three could be the aforementioned Michael Brown.  I’d expect more game time to be given to Carrick and Giggs.  Both have started one game so far this season and have only played 184 minutes and 160 minutes respectively.  Tomorrow night’s game provides the perfect opportunity for them to get more minutes under their belts.

Without question, the starting XI for this game has been the hardest to predict so far this season.  I believe the formation will be a straightforward 4-4-2 although we could go 4-5-1 if Pogba starts to offer him a little more protection.

Predicted bench: Amos, M.Keane, Ferdinand, Fryers, Pogba, Macheda, Diouf

Scoreline Prediction

Like the team, the scoreline is equally tough to predict.  I’ll be happy to get out of the game with a victory and no injuries but if we do blood a few youngsters and manage a draw I will be equally as pleased.  Being positive I’ll go with a 2-0 victory for the Reds.

By Mick Higgins (Follow Mick on Twitter)

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

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United vs Benfica Champions League Preview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Dangerman - Óscar Cardozo:

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

United

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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