Safeguarding the future – Ferguson’s legacy?

By Mick Higgins

29^th May 1968 – A date with eternal significance for every Manchester United fan.  The date when a journey, one which had started ten years prior in the wreckage of Munich, ended in glorious victory at a packed Wembley stadium.  Manchester United were Champions of Europe.  A dream, some may even say an impossible dream given the circumstances, had been achieved.  Matt Busby had built a team with a fantastic mix of experience and youthful exuberance.  A team with the genius of George Best, the goal scoring prowess of Bobby Charlton and the steel of Nobby Stiles.  A team with an average age of 25. A team which could, and maybe should, have dominated football both domestically and on a European level. 

It didn’t. 

The 29^th May 1968 was the end of a fantastic journey but it was also the end in many other ways.  The creator of this team departed the year after the European triumph, handing over the mantle to Wilf McGuiness, safe in the knowledge a team with solid foundations was being passed on.  After briefly returning for the second half of the 1970/71 season after McGuiness was sacked, Busby finally left a Utd side that still included more than half the European Cup squad; a squad of winners, a squad with the blend of youth and experience (the average age was under 25), a squad with the fundamentals to succeed, right?  Wrong.  Manchester United finished 8^th, 18^th then 21^stin the three seasons after Busby fully relinquished the managerial reigns.  The latter league position resulted in the unthinkable for a club which had won the European Cup only 6 years previously - relegation.  The loss of experienced stalwarts like Charlton, Crerand, Stiles and Best proved tough to compensate for but without the architect of our rise from the ashes in Sir Matt, United weren’t the same team.  Leaving behind a good, strong squad wasn’t enough.  Sir Matt Busby proved almost irreplaceable. 

Passing the baton? Sir Matt welcomes Alex Ferguson

I say almost because on November 6^th 1986, Manchester United finally replaced the irreplaceable. Although not knowing it at the time, in Alex Ferguson the club had appointed a man who would take United back to the summit of English and world football.  The similarities between Alex Ferguson and Matt Busby are there for all to see.  Born and raised in Scotland, to working class parents, they were exposed to hard labour at an early age.  They sought escape from this work through football and they made their professional debuts as teenagers but both had relatively unsuccessful playing careers.  As managers they succeeded and at Manchester United they excelled; combining to make United the most successful club in English football.  Both men had an emphasis on developing youth, a trait that has become an inherent quality of the club.  Their teams played with flair, skill and a determination to ensure the crowd who came to watch Manchester United left entertained if not always happy with the result. 

Now, as we approach 25 years since Sir Alex was appointed, the time is nearing when once again we’ll have to say farewell to one of, if not, the greatest manager ever.  It is when this happens that every Manchester United fan is hoping the similarities between Sir Matt and Sir Alex come to an end.  Everyone will hope the club does not face the same situation it faced 40 years ago when Sir Matt stepped aside.  One believes there is cause for optimism and that this will not be the case.  When Sir Alex leaves he will leave at the top.  Like Sir Matt, he will leave a team of winners and a team with the foundations to succeed.  Unlike 40 years ago, this will be enough to see United continue to thrive and here’s why:

Manchester United will likely start season 2011/2012 with a registered squad, in line with Premier League rules, of 22 players (NB. This excludes Gibson and Kuszczak who are likely departures and any potential new signings i.e. Sneijder).  The average age of this squad will be 26.5 years.  Although if you include the other 5 players who do not have to be registered but will play a significant part throughout the season then the average age drops to just above 25 years.  Very rarely this season, if at all, will a United starting XI have an average age even close to 30.  Compare that to a year or two ago when it would not have been unusual to see the starting XI averaging 30 years.  The squad is in a very healthy position presently and is being set up to be just as healthy for the future.

The young guns showed their class at Wembley

With that said, having a squad brimming with youth is hardly an oddity for Manchester United.  As stated previously, emphasis on youth is a strong characteristic of the club.  However, it is no coincidence that as Ferguson’s reign nears the end; there is a greater prominence towards lowering the average age of the squad by signing young players and promoting from within.  It would be naive to suggest this is the only reason – debt being another massive factor – but it is clear Sir Alex is building a young squad which will have the required experience to succeed once he is gone.

Since David Gill made the statement in the summer of 2009 that Manchester United would no longer be signing players aged 26 and over for big fees, United have not only not signed players for big money that are 26 or over, they have only signed one player at all in that age bracket – Anders Lindegaard. The average age of the players signed is just below 22 years.  Of course the policy had been developing since the Glazers arrived with the likes of Nani, Anderson, Carrick, Vidic and Evra all under 26 when they arrived but there has definitely been a shift towards looking ahead, looking to the future, a future without Sir Alex.

As well as signing players to compete for a first team place there has been a greater focus on identifying the best young talents from around the world with the intent of bringing them to the United academy.  Paul Pogba, Davide Petrucci, Gyliano Van Velzen, Marnick Vermijl, Michele Fornasier and Alberto Massacci to name but a few have been brought to United in recent years from clubs around Europe.  This is another indication that the club is looking ahead, looking to develop the best young talent from around the world to ensure they have the best chance of making it at Manchester United.  It’s not just talent from distant shores though; there is also the home grown talent of Ravel Morrison, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Tom Thorpe to be excited about.

After a lull in the talent that was emanating from the United academy, there is a belief this more concentrated focus will reap its rewards in the not too distant future.  Already this squad of players are being bred as winners having won the FA Youth Cup in style last season.  They played with the skill, flair and never say die attitude that have become characteristics of Manchester United teams past and present.  Now they must kick on and prove they are the next generation of United stars.  Of course not all of them will make it but there is genuine belief within the club that a number of them have a very good chance.

When these players are ready to come in to the first team picture they will join a squad that is already very youthful but one which won’t lack experience.   By signing young players just now, under Sir Alex Ferguson’s tutelage they will become experienced and seasoned professionals by the time they are in their mid-20s.  That means when Sir Alex does leave, he will leave behind a squad capable of staying together for a number of years without the need for a drastic overhaul.  We already have a core group of players in their early 20s who could easily spend more than a decade at the club.

David De Gea will be ably backed up by Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos for many years. In Smalling, Evans and Jones we have three of the best young centre backs in the world, flanked by two of the best young full backs in the world - the Da Silva twins.  In Anderson and Cleverley  we have two central midfielders who have the potential to form an excellent partnership.  Hernandez, Welbeck and Macheda offer an array of attacking options and will only get better with maturity.  All these players are 23 and under (except Lindegaard).  They will be complimented by older heads such as Rooney, Fletcher, Nani, Young and Valencia who are all in their mid 20s.  These players will become the bedrock of United in the way Giggs, Scholes and Neville did.  They will provide the old heads needed when it comes to “squeaky bum time”. 

United's future in safe hands? The 2011 Youth Cup winners

That exciting squad of players will then (hopefully) be topped up by the likes of Tom Thorpe, Reece Brown and Marnick Vermijl in defence; Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and Ryan Tunnicliffe in midfield and Will Keane, John Cofie and Josh King in attack.  Of course it may be a tad optimistic to think all these players will graduate from the academy but they have the potential.  This is what the work being put in at the academy hopes to achieve; a plethora of talented academy graduates bursting in to the United first team just like “Fergie’s Fledglings” did.  The last act of Ferguson’s managerial master class may be to oversee the development of these players and then leave Manchester United in a very healthy position.  His successor will inherit a squad brimming with experienced 20 something’s with sprinklings of youthful gems.  He will also inherit another youth/reserve team full of exciting potential.  Without getting too ahead of ourselves, names such as Jack Barmby, Jack Rudge, Mats Daehli, Luke Hendrie and Tom Lawrence are already ones to look out for.

So when the day comes for Sir Alex Ferguson to move aside he will leave Manchester United in the best possible state he can.  He’ll be as close to irreplaceable as you can get but the legacy he leaves will be enough to see us through the hard times we’ll inevitably face after his departure.  We’ll survive and then we’ll thrive because as we tip our hat to Sir Alex for one last time we’ll watch him ride off in to the sunrise rather than the sunset.  

Mick is a lifelong United fan from north of the border who was lucky enough to be born in to the Fergie era.  He cried in '99 and didn't watch the penalties in '08. He was a staunch defender of Darren Fletcher when everyone doubted him (it's a Scottish thing) and has unrequited love for Eric Cantona.  Away from United, he is a law graduate hoping to be the next Mitch McDeere.

Many thanks to Mick for this debut article on Written Offside. Hopefully this is the first of many of such quality.

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United vs West Brom Post Match Post Mortem

Manchester United kicked off their Premier League campaign with a hard fought victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthornes.

Picture courtesy of the Telegraph

A lively opening saw the Reds take the lead in the 13th minute when Rooney, after some wonderful combination play with Ashley Young, fired home with his left foot. The expected goal glut did not materialise as the home side defended stoically and gradually as the half wore on, they managed to gain a foothold in the game. The equaliser, from the boot of debutant Shane Long, came as something of a surprise as there appeared little danger as Long's tame effort made its way towards goal. Unfortunately, De Gea failed to get his body in the way and the ball ended up in the back of the net.

West Brom were arguably the better side in the second half as they looked to capitalise on the young Spaniard's dip in confidence. To his credit, he stood firm and Young worked his way down to the byline before having his cross cruelly deflected twice beyond the helpless Foster in the home goal.

The vital three points did come at a cost for the Reds though as both Vidic and Ferdinand limped off to add to the defensive woes already exacerbated by Rafael's shoulder injury that is likely to see him sidelined for up to 10 weeks.

Post-match debate:

1) Rooney goal analysis - This was beautifully crafted by the scorer whose link up play with new signing Young is proof of an understanding built up whilst on international duty together.

Rooney comes deep to accept the pass with the defender close by. Young is poised to move.

The above screen shot shows how Rooney has dropped deep to accept the pass. Young, on the nearside, is already anticipating Rooney's intention and is attempting to keep himself onside. Note from the picture above how the defender has tracked  the Englishman but has left a big gap behind which could be exploited.

Note the gap between the defender and Rooney just a few seconds later

Once Rooney had flicked the ball into Young's path, the defender rushed back to cover the space left behind, leaving Rooney relatively free on the edge of the box. The pass from Young was a touch behind him, but he managed to adjust his feet before firing past Foster with his left foot.

The most notable part of the goal for me was that it was struck with his left foot. I am convinced that if the same chance had presented itself last season, Rooney would not have had the confidence to use his weaker foot. However, in a training video released while on tour in the summer, both Rooney and Giggs were shown practicing volleys and cross shots with their weaker foots. This is further proof that if you work hard in training that it will pay off eventually in matches and also that you are never too old to learn or improve.

Young's winner was notable for the fact that he picked up the ball and looked to cross with his right foot as he had primarily through the game. What threw the defender in front of him was the sudden switch to going on his left side and left him clear to get to the byline before being rewarded for his ingenuity and endeavour. I have mentioned in previous posts about how he will become much more dangerous offensive weapon when he learns to trust his left foot and so it has proved.

2) De Gea fever - Another mistake by the young Spaniard drew inevitable yet overwhelmingly excessive vitriol from the media following yesterday's game. And all this after United secured three points! Imagine what it would be like if they had lost? United fans with short memories would also do well to remember the great Schmiechel's struggles in his early appearances as pointed out by the manager following the game yesterday. De Gea should draw strength from the fact that following both mistakes made, he has gone on to not concede in the second half which points to strength of mind in some respects. If you look back on the goal he conceded, it is noticeable that he is a touch too close to his near post and when the shot comes in across him towards the far post, it is out of his reach.

My own view is that he is learning very quickly about the physical nature of the Premier League and is understandably nervous as he embarks upon his United career. Confidence will come from regular games and as his grasp of the language improves. His wiry frame is also proving something of a concern as although the great Van der Sar was of a similar build, Edwin had a few inches in height with which to use that the young Spaniard does not.

I have little doubt that he will emerge a stronger keeper for all of these episodes and it was encouraging to see so many of his team mates rally round him at both half and full time. With the backing of the other members of the squad, De Gea will one day look back at this current predicament with a wry smile, safe in the knowledge that it was an essential part of his induction into the finer points of English football

3) Why we still need a defensive midfielder - or to be more precise, why we need Darren Fletcher back to full fitness as soon as possible. Although both Anderson and Tom Cleverley had solid games yesterday, neither is particularly defensive in their play and this did lead to plenty of space with which the home side could have used better during the course of the game. Without a holding midfielder, we could get exposed against better opposition and although Carrick can fill this role to an extent, I prefer him to play with his head up and looking for an incisive pass and not be more concerned with defensive duties. Fletcher has the ability to sit in front of the back four whilst still supporting the attack when necessary. One hopes that his illness woes are behind up as United lack his energy and combative displays in the middle of the park.

4) Little threat to opposing goal - not for the first time in recent seasons, it was noticeable that although we played some exciting football at times, the threat on the opposition goal was limited for long periods. This is further emphasised by the stats from the game that show we only had five shots on target to West Brom's eight. I am not sure as to the full reasons behind this occurrence and it could be forgiven by remembering that it is the first game of the season. However, it will be important as the season progresses that we look to put teams under pressure with more of an end product rather than the move breaking down before a strike at goal is achieved.

5) Other notable displays - Chris Smalling at right back was once again impressive from both an attacking and defensive point of view. While Nani and Welbeck worked hard, they were unable to replicate their form of the previous weekend which placed the emphasis on Rooney and Young to create. After the premature exit of defensive rocks Vidic and Ferdinand, I thought both Evans and Jones integrated incredibly well into a youthful back five and demonstrated once again that they can thrive when the pressure is on. Fabio at left back in the absence of Evra was fairly solid throughout and it was worth noting that he was the furthest player forward when Young's cross was deflected into the goal for the winner.

Player Ratings

De Gea 5, Smalling 7, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 6, Fabio 6, Nani 6, Cleverley 7, Anderson 7, Young 8, Rooney 8, Welbeck 6.
Subs: Jones 7, Evans 7, Berbatov 6

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United vs West Brom Big Match Preview

Introduction
Manchester United kick off their quest for a 20th league championship with a tricky away fixture against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthornes on Sunday. The Reds will be buoyed by their thrilling Wembley comeback in the Community Shield last weekend against bitter rivals Man City. Sir Alex Ferguson will also be grateful for the cancellation of the England match in midweek as multiple members of his squad would have been involved risking injury ahead of the new season.

As it is, Javier Hernández is definitely out as he recovers from concussion sustained in the later stages of the US tour, Carrick and Evra are also doubts with minor knocks but will be expected to feature. Newspaper reports on Saturday morning suggested that Rafael has suffered a dislocated shoulder but at the time of writing this is yet to be substantiated.

In the corresponding fixture last season, United went home with the points after a hard fought 2-1 victory thanks to a late winner from Hernández after being second best for much of the game. Fans will remember this game as much for the lacklustre display by Gary Neville as for the three points gained. The run around given to the former England international by Graham Dorrans convinced the right back that his illustrious career was rapidly coming to an end.

The Opposition
Roy Hodgson leads the Baggies into the first full season under his stewardship after successfully steering the side clear of the relegation zone following his appointment. After an ill fated 191 days in charge at Anfield, the experienced manager took on the reins at The Hawthornes from Roberto Di Matteo and achieved an excellent end to the season points haul of 20 from the 12 games that remained. Their finishing place of 11th was the stuff of dreams for the board at West Brom who acted decisively when the club's future in the Premier League looked bleak.

During the close season, Hodgson has brought in Gera, Foster, Long, McAuley and Fulop to supplement the talented squad at his disposal which has convinced many that this season will see the club consolidate their position. The one glaring area of weakness last season was in the defence where their record of 71 conceded was beaten only by relegated Blackpool. They will hope that the addition of ex United keeper Foster along with the tough tackling McAuley will go some way to address this deficiency.

Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie were the team's standout players last season. The Northern Irishman with the cultured left foot managed 11 assists last term while the Nigerian settled into English football well after a difficult spell in Russia. The home fans will be hoping that Shane Long (bought from Reading) will dovetail well with Odemwingie as creativity from the likes of Dorrans, Brunt and Morrison should see plenty of chances come their way.

United

The manager suggested in his pre-match press conference that last weekend's second half display when he brought on Cleverley, Jones and Evans to supplement Welbeck had given him much food for thought in terms of team selection for Sunday.

Although heavily criticised in certain quarters after a shaky display against City, the boss confirmed that he will stick with De Gea in goal. This is a sensible and considered move by an experienced manager as it would serve no purpose to lessen the young Spaniard's confidence in such an early stage of his United career. The back four is likely to be the same as at Wembley with Chris Smalling given another chance to impress at right back where he mixed sound defence with plenty of enterprise further up field.

Although Cleverley was hugely impressive last weekend, I think the manager will stick with Carrick and Anderson in the centre of midfield (if fit) as they are tried and trusted and the U21 international can bide his time on the bench before making an impact if required in the second half. Nani and Ashley Young pick themselves after exciting performances against City. I would expect to see much inter-changing of positions by these two as both are capable of playing on either flank.

The one change I foresee in the front six is the inclusion of Berbatov ahead of Welbeck. I feel that the youngster got a taste for the big match atmosphere last weekend and will continue his education on Sunday with a watching brief from the bench. It remains to be seen how the languid Bulgarian fits into the exciting fluid system that developed in the second half last week as in the past, the speed of a break has tended to slow down somewhat when he gets involved. Wayne Rooney will look to continue his excellent start and I would expect he will be given licence to roam once again in order to set up play.

There will be plenty of competition for a slot on the bench this season as the squad looks well covered in most departments. This will be further boosted by the expected return of Fletcher and Valencia along with Hernández very soon.

Prediction
With confidence high, I would expect United to comfortably collect the three points on Sunday. The crowd will be vociferous early on but once the initial fervour has been quelled, the Reds superior quality should shine through. I will go for a 0-2 scoreline with goals from Young and Vidic.

Three points will be a must as we enter a tricky run of games against many of our main rivals. United are traditionally slow starters so it will be vital to hit the ground running to lay the foundations for another successful season.

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The Scouting Report - Title Rivals

By Magnus Nordman

Introduction

Without making any predictions of possible winners and runners up, I wanted to give an overview of teams that I think will be challengers for the title during the 2011-2012 season. I therefore decided to take a look at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City and try to give a short overview of their 2010-2011 season.

Arsenal

Looking back at Arsenal's previous season noticeable are probably the victories at The Emirates against Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea. While on the other hand, significant lows were drawing against Newcastle at St. James Park after being up 4-0 and the Carling Cup Final loss against Birmingham City. Finishing fourth in the table with 67 points is something that the Gunners will look to improve upon.

Arsene Wenger has so far bought players like Alex Chamberlain, Gervinho, Carl Jenkinson and youth team players Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral Harper from Barcelona. On the other side of the squad Gael Clichy and Jay Emmanul-Thomas have been sold, while Kyle Bartley, Denilson and Wellington have all gone out on loan.

Looking at player performances from last season one notices the striking difference in the contribution of the Arsenal goalkeepers compared to those of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. Of the total 38 games that Arsenal played in the Premier League Szczesny started 15, Fabianski 14, Almunia 8 and Lehman 1.

Arsenal used a total of 21 players in their starting lineup with Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna with the most starts. Jack Wilshere took a big step forward and was rewarded with 31 starts. On the other side of the graph noticeable were the low number of games started by players like Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Kieran Gibbs, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela.

Arsenal's record of goals scored when winning or losing gives clear indications of them often doing so  by a one goal margin.  On the other hand, they also won 5 games with either a two or a three goal margin.

Of all the goals that they scored, most of them were hit in the following time zones, 0-15min, 46-60min and between the 76-90min. They conceded most goals just before half time and the final whistle.

Chelsea

With change of manager comes new ideas and new life. Andres Villas-Boas steps into the role of manager at Chelsea and will most certainly have his team firing on all cylinders by the first week of the season. After finishing the 2010-2011 on 71 points, nine behind United, Chelsea haven't so far made acquisitions that their fans will be impressed by.

Chelsea have so far only bought the Spanish teenager Oriol Romeu, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and agreed a deal for Romelu Lukaku with Michael Mancienne and Yuri Zhrikov leaving the squad still looks very capable of making a run for the Premier League title. Among others Jeffrey Bruma has gone out on loan to gain valuable playing experience.

Of Chelsea's three goalkeepers only Peter Cech managed starts in the Premier League, with Henrique Hilario and Ross Turnbull not starting a single game. Of the outfield players (not surprisingly) Ashley Cole started all 38 games. Chelsea also used a total of 21 players from start with (apart from Cole) Malouda, Terry, Ivanovic, Essien, Drogba, Mikel, Anelka and Lampard being the players with most starts. Players like Zhirkov and Yossi Benayoun must be really disappointed with their contribution. 

Chelsea won a total of 6 games by a one goal margin and 10 with a two goal margin, which is twice the amount Arsenal managed. Of the eight games that they lost, six of them were by one goal.

Liverpool

Liverpool's last season was really a tale of two stories. First there was the departure of Rafael Benitez and then there were the appointments of Roy Hodgson and later Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool managed to finish in top half of the table with the 58 points will most definitely look forward to the coming season with great promise. Dalglish has made a couple of additions to his squad during the summer by acquiring Charlie Adam, Alexander Doni, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. To clear space he sold Milan Jovanovic, Paul Konchesky and Nikola Saric. 

Similar to Chelsea's Peter Cech, Pepe Reina started all of Liverpool's games in the Premier League. Regarding their outfield players, Martin Skrtel was the one player that managed to start all 38 games. He was then followed by Dirk Kuyt, Lucas, Meireles, Glen Johnson and Maxi Rodriguez. In a injury plagued season, Steven Gerrard only managed 20 starts. I would assume that players like Christian Poulsen, David Ngog and Joe Cole will have spent the summer trying to figure out how to force their way into the managers starting eleven.

Liverpool won most of their games with margins of 1-3 goals, while losing games by 1-2 goals margin. Liverpool quite evenly managed to score throughout the games, with the 16-30min being the least productive period. Of all goals conceded, most happened just before and after half time and also between the 76-90min.

Manchester City

Manchester City will be seen as one of the teams making a push for the title this year. After Roberto Mancini's side made great progression during the 2010-2011 season they have now added a couple of players to their squad. Players bought are Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic, while the manager regarded Jerome Boateng, Javier Garrido, Shay Given, Jo and Michael Johnson as surplus to requirements. On a side note Patrick Vieira decided to call time on his playing career.

Not surprisingly Joe Hart started every single game for Manchester City in the Premier League. Vincent Kompany was the outfield player making most starts with 37, tightly followed by Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Nigel de Jong. Players like Jo, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Adam Johnson could be found at the other end of the table, making a less than the average amount of starts.

Manchester City won a total of 10 games by a one goal margin, 5 with a two goal margin and just the 4 with a three goal margin. Of the total amount of nine games that they lost, most were tightly contested affairs, hence six one goal margin losses. Roberto Mancini's team scored most of their goals during the 0-15min-, 16-30-, and the 61-75 minute periods. A total of eleven goals were conceded during the last fifteen minutes of their games, describing them as a team drawing back in front of their own penalty area and not being able to withstand the pressure. In other cases this could be a result of City marching forward to the very last minute in certain games.

What do you think of the teams mentioned above? Are they worthy contenders for the title?

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Preview & Predictions for the 2011/12 season

As the new season comes into view, I thought I would share some of my thoughts and predictions. There will also be the opportunity to send me your predictions which I will look back on once the season finishes in May to see how many got things correct or spectacularly wrong!

My Predictions:

Top 6 this season:
1) United
2) City
3) Chelsea
4) Arsenal
5) Spurs
6) Liverpool

Looking at the squads for the various teams, this is how I think the league will finish. United look strong in all departments and are well stocked in terms of quality and experience. The defence looks very solid with the youngest three able to deputise at full back when the need arises. As we all know, midfield needs attention and it looks like an attacking player may well arrive but I would like to see a defensive one too but clearly Ferguson thinks we are okay. Up front, it is difficult to see how Macheda and Diouf will get too many games if they remain at the club. In Europe, at the highest level, I feel we may fall a bit short even with the addition of a certain Dutchman. I would fully expect us to reach the semi finals at least.

City will be a threat but I feel they may struggle with Champions League commitments in the middle of the busy Premier League campaign. You also get the feeling that the squad could implode at any minute and that team spirit is not the highest. If Tevez leaves then it will be a big problem replacing his goals as expecting the same of new signing Aguero is a big ask.

Chelsea may struggle a little this season as age could catch up with them and they still seem no nearer to solving the Torres/Drogba situation. If, however, they manage to sign Modric (unlikely) then he will make a big difference to their pedestrian midfield. With Essien out for a while, keeping Lampard and Terry fit will be crucial. I would expect a good season from Daniel Sturridge who has been impressive in pre-season.

Arsenal look a squad in disarray at the moment with the uncertainty over the futures of Fabregas and Nasri. It may be for the best if they both depart and then use the money wisely on replacements. Defence looks a big weakness with no new signings as we stand but I would expect Ramsey and Wilshere to prosper if Fabregas departs. Keeping Van Persie fit and firing will also be important.

Spurs have a decent squad on paper and may surprise a few people without the distraction of Champions League football. Bale, Modric, Van der Vaart and Sandro are all top quality players and if Redknapp can bring in one or two new additions between now and September (especially up front) then they could be a real force. I would not be surprised to see Friedel take over in goal from the inconsistent Gomes while keeping Dawson and Gallas fit will be crucial.

Liverpool have spent a lot of money since January, mainly on English talent but I feel those predicting them for a top 4 finish are a touch over optimistic. They look slow in defence and lack depth in attack where Carroll's injury record may be a concern. Midfield looks over stocked in some respects and it could lead to some exits ahead of the transfer window closing in September. Gerrard and Carragher will once again be important but both look increasingly susceptible to injuries as their careers go on.

Three teams to be relegated:
Blackburn, Wigan and Swansea

Champions League Winners:
Real Madrid

Champions League Runners Up:
Barcelona

I just have a gut feeling that however good Barcelona are that they are not unbeatable and Real, under Mourinho may just edge past them in the final. If Barca start the season with both Fabregas and Sanchez then they look even stronger but fitting them all in and keeping them happy could be a problem. Of course, greater squad depth could mean that they are able to rest the likes of Xavi, Messi and Iniesta from time to time which could benefit them when it comes to the climax of the season. On paper, Real look an exciting attacking force with Ronaldo, Ozil, Benzema, Di Maria, Kaka, Higuain amongst others and with the possibility of Neymar joining in January they will continue to notch a multitude of goals but can they keep it tight at the back against the better teams?

FA Cup Winners:
Spurs

Carling Cup Winners:
United

Top Scorer in the Premier League:
Robin Van Persie

Best Signings:
N'Zogbia (Villa), Eagles (Bolton), Obertan (Newcastle), Woodgate (Stoke), O'Shea (Sunderland)

Worst Signings:
Adam, Henderson (both Liverpool)

United Player of the Season:
Rooney with Smalling 2nd and Nani 3rd

United Rant has a similar predictions post up at the moment as well so apologies to them as copying their idea was not my intention.

Now it is your turn to let me know your predictions for the new season. Fill out the boxes and click the submit button at the bottom. I will re-visit this post in May to see how accurate or otherwise we all were!



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Community Shield Post Match Post Mortem

"Never write United off". This is the mantra that we have all come to rely on as Manchester United fans. So many times in the club's rich and colourful history a situation has looked irretrievable before a resurgence of energy and an abundance of skill has seen the team rise, Lazarus like, back into the ascendency. And so it played out yesterday. After an enterprising first 30 minutes in which United looked threatening in attack while resolute and secure in defence, City struck twice in the lead up to the interval.

Whilst the wonderful David Silva's free kick was ideally floated into a dangerous area, Lescott was allowed to rise due to mistakes by both Vidic and Ferdinand (in front and behind) who combined to allow the Englishman an almost free run at the ball which he duly flicked past the helpless De Gea. While it would be harsh to criticise the young Spaniard for the first goal, he was slow to react for Dzeko's 30 yard strike moments before the break. He appeared to be adjusting his feet as the shot was fired towards goal but Vidic was equally culpable as, not for the first time in recent matches, an opponent was allowed a free opportunity to fire at goal.

The doom mongerers were out in force on Twitter at the break as the usual suspects (and some new ones) felt the full force of their uninformed bile. Misguided hearts sank still further when news filtered through that our experienced spine was to be replaced by youngsters deemed lacking in the necessary quality with which to turn the game around. Vidic, Ferdinand and Carrick were all replaced in a pre-planned move by the boss in order to expose the incoming trio of Evans, Jones and Cleverley to a game of high intensity.

What transpired over the next 45 minutes will gladden the hearts of those who feel youth is the way forward for United at the current time. With an average age of just 22 (Ashley Young being the "daddy" at 26), the turnaround was both instant and mesmeric. Smalling guided Young's teasing free kick past Hart and you could sense the surge of confidence and belief running through their veins. Before long, the Reds were level with a goal that will live long in the memory for its sheer beauty with the key quality of teamwork at the centre. It was reminiscent of the game "boxes" that can be seen in training and before matches where players work in a tight area and where one touch is the the order of the day. Nani, Welbeck, Rooney and Cleverley were all involved as they threaded an intricate route through the static City backline before Nani coolly chipped past Hart to send United fans and players into delirium.

The coup de grâce was applied in stoppage by the effervescent Nani who chased a hopeful punt from the back before robbing the usually reliable Kompany on his way towards goal. As the Portuguese flyer approached the box, he assessed the situation expertly by rounding the despairing Hart before slotting home on his way to the adulation of the welcoming United faithful. 

While the argument stands that the Community Shield is nothing more than a glorified friendly, it certainly puts a marker down for United's opponents to make a note of. For a team to wrestle the Premier League title from their grasp is going to take a monumental effort on their behalf bearing in mind the strength of squad that Sir Alex Ferguson has at his disposal to negotiate through the busy campaign ahead.

Talking Points from the match

The vibrancy of youth
It is often pointed out that youngsters have a habit of being fearless and so it proved yesterday. With the experienced trio of Vidic, Ferdinand and Carrick replaced at half time, few would have predicted the complete reversal of fortunes from the travails of the first period. Almost instantly, the shackles were off and subconsciously, our vibrant youth realised they had nothing to lose as they began the seemingly impossible task of over turning a two goal deficit against a City defence that pride themselves on clean sheets.

At the heart of all that was good about United in the second half was the centre midfield partnership of Anderson and Cleverley. As Ferguson acknowledged in his post match interview, these pair look ill equipped to deal with the hustle and bustle of the Premier League "but their ability does so we are happy with that". Pass and move (or even a version of Barcelona's famed tiki-taka) was at the forefront of the ethos these two exuded yesterday and to be frank, City's midfield looked ponderous in comparison. This in turn ignited the front four of Young, Welbeck, Rooney and Nani as they fluidly swapped positions and interchanged to perfection leaving the blue defence chasing shadows. Whilst the experienced members of the squad have a huge role to play this season, this was an exciting glimpse to the future for United fans who already cite the next generation of Pogba, Morrison and Tunnicliffe as further examples of players that can shine in the years to come.

Picture courtesy of the Telegraph

United goalkeeper - a poisoned chalice?
If David De Gea did not know the true extent of what it means to be the Manchester United custodian between the posts then he surely does now. With the responsibility comes intense scrutiny and often harsh, unjustified criticism. As mentioned earlier, he will be disappointed that he was caught flat footed for the City second goal yesterday and it was not long before statistics were dragged out to show he conceded 11 goals from outside the box in La Liga last season. Whether this is a weakness remains to be seen but it is unduly harsh to be overly critical of a 20 year debutant in what is effectively a friendly game as a precursor to the new season. This mistake aside, I thought he looked assured and made some good stops in the second period whilst impressing with his accurate and rapid delivery to set the team on the attack. He will be fully aware that he has massive gloves to fill and if allowed to settle, I have no doubts that he will be a commanding presence for United for many years to come.

Chris Smalling - a staggering rise to the top
For someone who was only relatively recently plying his trade in non league with Maidstone, Chris Smalling's ascent to the United first team is truly remarkable. He impressed everyone last season with his composure and confidence in the centre of defence and he has now added another string to his bow by slotting in at right back with similar ease and no little skill. Adept with the ball at his feet, Smalling showed yesterday why the manager has not chosen to strengthen in the full back department. He was a constant threat as an attacking force complimenting the skills of Nani whilst being well positioned from a defensive point of view when the need arose. His height also adds to the Reds defensive ability at set pieces but is also a useful weapon when at the other end of the pitch. His neat, cushioned finish had all the hallmarks of a seasoned penalty box predator when it would have been easy to blast over and it set United on the first rung of the ladder towards salvation at such a vital time.

Nani - Genius but unpredictable in equal measures!
It is fair to say that Nani can often split opinions amongst United fans who love his skill, speed and drive but also feel he can exasperate with a lack of a final ball or one trick too many. What we saw yesterday was much more of the same. At times, he undid a lot of solid approach work with a sloppy pass or the mis-reading of a team mate's run but still the threat was always there and opponents have to be on their guard with him on the pitch. He played a massive part in the equaliser by both starting and finishing it but also was alive to the fact that Kompany may make a mistake late on to seal the win. His ability when one-on-one with the keeper cannot be doubted as when faced with the barrier to goal, he assessed all options (including the chip) before having the presence of mind to waltz round Hart before calmly dispatching the winning strike. His assist and goal record was outstanding last season and although he failed to notch a goal after his fine run and shot in the derby back in February, he has returned from his summer break looking sharp and ready for the long season ahead.

Picture courtesy of the Independent

Other player thoughts
Ashley Young -  made a solid start to his United career but I wish he would learn to trust his left foot a little more as it would give both him and the team another dimension down that flank. With confidence and stability, it could well come very soon.
Jonny Evans - was impressive alongside Jones in the second half and showed a keenness to bring the ball out of defence at times
Danny Welbeck - worked really hard in the first half and got his reward in the second. Has clearly benefited from his loan spell and looks likely to have a fine season
Phil Jones - has slotted into the squad almost seamlessly and looks every inch a potential United and England captain of the future. Will get plenty of games at full back this season which will further his development still further.

Player Ratings
De Gea 6, Smalling 8, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 6, Evra 6, Nani 8, Anderson 8, Carrick 6, Young 7, Rooney 7, Welbeck 7. Subs - Jones 7, Evans 7, Cleverley 8, Rafael 6, Berbatov 6

Please leave your player ratings and comments below.

All eyes will now be on the start to the Premier League campaign with a visit to the Hawthornes next Sunday to take on West Brom. Hopefully, players away with their national sides will return fit and well as the opening fixtures look tough but a safe passage through them would see United well on their way towards a 20th league championship.

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United vs City Community Shield Preview

It is a new season on Written Offside and I am delighted to be back with my first preview of the campaign. This season I will be giving my readers the chance to predict the result of each game. Please see the end of this post for more details. I hope you enjoy the blog this season and as ever, I welcome your comments either via the website or via twitter.

Introduction
Manchester United end their pre-season build-up with the traditional curtain raiser to the season, the Community Shield at Wembley. This year's match is given extra spice by being against Manchester City who beat United in the FA Cup semi-final en route to their first piece of silverware for 35 years.

The Reds go into the game with a near perfect pre-season record following their US tour and a relatively clean bill of health. Only Javier Hernández looks to be definitely sidelined now that Valencia and Fletcher are back in training and Carrick's Achilles strain is not thought to be serious.The new signings have all bedded in well, getting plenty of minutes on the pitch and impressing all observers that they will be key components in the squad for the upcoming campaign. Phil Jones has played at either centre back or right back and looked composed and comfortable on the ball while sharp in the tackle when required. Ashley Young has primarily been stationed on the left wing and shown plenty of threat when cutting in, to either cross or shoot with his right foot. David De Gea will take time to adjust, not only to the physical nature of the English game but he has the language barrier to overcome. Everything he has shown thus far has been impressive but there will be bigger tests to come.

The Opposition

City have had a "quieter" pre-season than normal this year with the addition of Savic, Clichy and latterly Aguero to their squad but it leaves them with the headache of what to do with certain players that do not fit into Mancini's long term plans. Coupled with their high wages, moving on the likes of Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa Cruz and Bridge among others has proved a tough task for the Italian as he looks to trim his expensively assembled squad.

Without doubt, City will be a major threat this season although with the advent of Financial Fair Play, their aggressive transfer policy will have to be curbed from now on. Their solidity from last season with the likes of Hart, Kompany, De Jong and Yaya Touré has been augmented by the flair and imagination of Aguero and this coupled with the guile and movement of David Silva makes City look a potent force on paper. However, with Champions League qualification comes questions that have not had to be asked before. Such as whether they can cope with the regular, high intensity fixtures whilst testing Mancini's squad rotation skills to the limit. It will also be interesting to see how their squad harmony develops over the course of such a busy season as it does not take much to upset the loose cannons that exist within their playing staff.

No mention of City would be complete without a word about the footballing mercenary that is Carlitos Tevez. It is looking increasingly likely that the Argentinian will have to return to Manchester and its two restaurants for another period of time. His presence can only serve to destabilise the club still further which must be a worry to the hierarchy already on tenterhooks with the continuing antics of Mario Ballotelli.

United 

I have decided, somewhat reluctantly, to go for a 4-5-1 formation for tomorrow's game. The rationale for such a decision is based almost entirely on the predicted absence of Carrick and Fletcher in midfield which leaves the squad looking woefully short of players who can cover from a defensive point of view in that department. I have therefore plumped for a "safety in numbers" selection as going into the game weak in this vital area would be close to footballing suicide in my opinion. What is for certain is that Ferguson will have no intention of rolling over for the "noisy neighbours" and thus allow them any kind of psychological advantage, however minute.

I would expect De Gea to be given the unenviable task of replacing the great Edwin Van der Sar in goal for United this season and it is a perfect opportunity to give him a chance to feel a fraction of the pressure that comes with being the first choice custodian for the Reds. Although Anders Lindegaard has been mightily impressive in pre-season, the large outlay that United presented to Athletico Madrid for the young Spaniard indicates he will be given every opportunity to cement his place as he settles into the most intense scrutiny felt since the departure of Peter Schmeichel in 1999.

I have chosen Fábio and Evra as my full backs for no other reason than they ended last season as the men in possession. Rafael will no doubt be pressing his claims strongly and will be given plenty of opportunities as the season progresses. Despite competition from the array of young talent, the club now possesses, I would expect Ferdinand and Vidic to resume their solid centre back partnership. Jones, Smalling and Evans will get plenty of game time in their preferred position in the middle but in addition they are able to cover the full back area and thus further their education in the art of the defender.

As mentioned, I have selected a tight three man central midfield with Anderson, Giggs and Cleverley trusted to secure this vital area of the pitch. The latter has been prevalent in recent matches as the youngster looks to secure his place in the United squad. So far, Cleverley has done all that can be asked of him in terms of performance but it will be a big step up in class tomorrow and could well prove to be an accurate barometer as to his chances of competing with more physical opponents. After successfully competing his first pre-season, it will be an interesting campaign for Anderson as he looks to convince the United faithful that he can add the required consistency to his undoubted talent. Recent appearances have suggested that a goal threat could be a welcome addition to his armoury as he looks to support the front men with well timed runs from the centre.

The front three I have chosen are Park, Rooney and Nani but this will be very flexible. The South Korean will no doubt be instructed to assist where necessary in the centre as was demonstrated in the latter stages of last season to such good effect. Nani has done well in the build-up matches and was outstanding against Barcelona last Saturday. He will be tasked with causing trouble for debutant Clichy on City's left, a battle he will be confident of winning bearing in mind the history between the two whilst the Frenchman was at the Emirates. Although Rooney prefers the free role behind a main striker, needs must and he will be assigned the job of unsettling the excellent Kompany and his partner Lescott. If United go behind, it would be no surprise to see either Berbatov or Welbeck thrown on, allowing the Englishman to return to his role as conductor in chief. Welbeck in particular will be disappointed if he has to be content with a place on the bench after an excellent pre-season that has seen him exude confidence and look like a player that has clearly benefited from his time away at Sunderland. He has returned to his local club hungry and with the desire to succeed and coupled with his undoubted skill and strength, it could be a huge breakthrough season for the Englishman.

After being seen taking a full part in the open training session on Saturday morning, Darren Fletcher may have an outside chance of making the bench as he will need some games before he is ready to slot back into the centre of United's midfield. Also likely to have to be content with a place on the bench are Owen, Young, Smalling and Jones amongst others as the true depth of the playing staff is clearly demonstrated.

Score Prediction
All things considered, I will go for a 2-1 victory for United with Nani opening the scoring and then Rooney adding the winner after a Dzeko leveller. I think it will be a tight game with plenty of tackles being made due to no quarter being asked or given by these two teams.

Your Prediction
Now it is your chance to predict the scoreline and scorers by filling out the form below. If anyone gets the correct score and scorers they will get a shout-out on Twitter. Press submit to send your predictions to me:



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