Top of the table clash

With a boring draw in the midweek UCL tie Manchester United have left it all to do in a daunting away clash against a Wolfsburg team who have rediscovered their mojo. Their morale too will be dented after such a dismal display. However dwelling on such a defeat could prove costly as the Red Devils are back in action this week against Leicester City in a top of the table cash. Win here and Manchester United move to the top of the table, Lose and they leave themselves vulnerable to dropping spots to Manchester City and Arsenal. Yes, it’s that tight because after all this isn’t a league like the Bundesliga (which has been a 1 team show for the last 4 years). At the same stage last week our opponents Leicester City were in 20th and last spot and today they are right on top. It shows that not a single team can be taken lightly in this league and rightfully so. In order to not take a revenue hit Manchester United need to win almost every game to successful in their quest for Champions League Qualification(a top 4 finish, could be top 3 due to poor performances by the English teams in Europe over the past 3-4 seasons).

Looking at Leicester City one would say that they are just enjoying an extended fast start to the season. However let’s assume they are among the top for this season at least. Louis Van Gaal would be a fool to underestimate this team (trailing Manchester United 3-1 last year the scripted a fabulous turnaround and ended 3-5) who have in their ranks Riyad Mahrez(the highest point earner in FPL) and league top scorer Jamie Vardy who if he finds the back of the net will set a new Premier League record of most consecutive games scored in. He is currently tied with former Manchester United Dutch star Ruud Van Nistelrooy at 10 games(the Dutchman’s 10 game streak came across 2 separate season) These 2 players are sort of carrying Leicester City.

Leicester have been vulnerable at the back and have followed the ploy adopted by Manchester United in Sir Alex’s final season in charge and that is to outscore the opposition despite leaking goals. Encouraging signs? I certainly hope so. Our defence is compact and we haven’t conceded a goal in open play since the 1-1 away draw at Moscow (incidentally the goal came of a penalty rebound). It has been almost 921 minutes since Alexis Sanchez scored a goal against United in open play. In Vardy the United back line (hopefully back 4) faces it’s most potent threat in Jamie Vardy. Hopefully their defence should give us hope as mot of our wns this season in all competitions have been with a one goal margin. Anthony Martial  is due to score, hopefully this is the game he does so.

With Ander Herrera and Phil Jones ruled out this is the team I would go with.

De Gea, Young/Mcnair, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Schniderlin, Carrick, Mata, Lingard, Rooney, Martial

Subs: Romero, Tuanzebe, Darmian, Schweinsteiger, Memphis, Perera, Fellaini 

Young over Darmian because he is a natural attacker and Van Gaal would be tempted to exploit their defensive frailities, Mata over Memphis as he was rested midweek and Carrick starts as Schweinsteiger has started the last 2 games

My prediction is a 2-1 win to Manchester United and Vardy clinching the Premier League scoring record.

-Reubyn RF

UCL GW 5 preview

With United second in the premier league and facing a top of the table clash this weekend against surprise package Leicester City would they risk playing a full strength squad against PSV at home tonight. In my opinion they should as a win would guarantee qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League. For a team that was desperate for  UCL return they should capitalise on their final home game and attempt to take maximum points.

The weekend saw United eke out a 2-1 win over Premier League new boys Watford. Id say they were lucky to win thanks to Troy Deeney putting the ball through his own net. There were chances that could have been taken but the finishing was not clinical. Memphis who returned to the starting 11 after 7 games was a revelation.(expect him to feature more)

Their opponents PSV Eindhoven had won at PSV on match day 1 which saw Luke Shaw suffer a horrific potential season ending double leg break(a scan will be taken on Friday to assess his recovery). Just that result means that Manchester United shouldn’t take their opponents lightly.

With Injuries causing United to switch to that oh so hated 3 at the back tactic they looked so unconvincing in defence (although the goal was due to a penalty)PSV and Watford are completely different teams. Their eyes will widen with glee if they realise they are up against 3 entre backs and wing backs. I’m making a line-up prediction assuming that Van Gaal will play 4 at the back.

Predicted line-up :be De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Schniderlin, Rooney, Mata, Memphis, Martial

Substitutions: Romero, Jones, Young, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Lingard, Fellaini

Prediction: a tight draw mostly 2-2 with United having to win at Wolfsburg to qualify.

Matchday 12 Review

Manchester United 2-0 West Bromwich Albion

SLOW!!! SLOW!!! BORING!! BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER IF IT RESULTS IN A WIN ?

When the game has just ended one criticises the lacklustre display throughout the game, but when we look back on this win in December no one will remember how the 3 points were earned, but only remember the fact that Manchester United beat West Bromwich Albion.

The win enabled Manchester United (24 points) to close the gap on the top 2(Manchester City and Arsenal both 26 points)both who played out draws on dropped points and keep pace with guess who? The premier league highflyers Leicester City (25 points).

The match saw Jesse Lingard score his first EPL goal (also United’s first goal from outside the box all season) and also the debut of Cameron Brothwick Jackson who came on as a substitute for Marcos Rojo. The debutant looked calm and assured at the back and could see a lot of game time for his rookie season as he is now the second choice left back at the club due to Luke Shaw’s long term injury.

Anthony Martial was the one player who as usual when he had the ball made spectators sit up and take notice. His brilliant run in second half stoppage time saw him get fouled in the box and earn the penalty that killed the game.

Despite Jesse Lingard showing impressive form off late reports have stated that LVG wants speedy wingers and his current wing duo (Mata and Lingard aren’t speedy). Does this mean that Mata won’t get any game tie soon as Rooney is not droppable.

Was Bastian Schweinstieger a good buy? Yes he provides experience and can win the ball in midfield but he hasn’t provided that goal threat from corners that fell just outside the box that he did at Bayern. Time will tell.

Now it’s off for the International break (us friends called it the injury break last time).Hopefully it won’t be the same this time around as most of the teams are playing friendlies.

Next up on 21^st November vs Watford(A)

Gameweek 12 preview: West Bromwich Albion

4^th place 21 points, 4 points of the top. The place on the table doesn’t tell people the true story of the lack of attacking football by Manchester United over the last 3 games. As per stats united have the lowest shots on target by any team in the top flight. You need to score goals in order to win matches which is practically what united did in the 2012/13 season where they conceded and scored in abundance however that seems to have dried up completely since the arrival of LVG. Even though the goal drought which began in minute 63 against Everton(and lasted for games against Manchester city, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough ) ended in the midweek UEFA Champions League tie against CSKA Moscow there is still a major concern at the theatre of dreams regarding a lack of threat in front of goal.

The new sensation Anthony Martial is still  a teenager and may not be able to play 90 minutes week in and week out in the physically demanding English top flight (LVG was right to sub him off in the mid week, the stadium was filled with boos following that move). Rooney’s first touch seems to be a pass to the opposition defenders(he has just 2 goals in the premier league this season). James Wilson seems to be a domestic cup player(with the premature league cup exit, and now more domestic cup competition till January one should expect Wilson to feature more prominently). Manchester United are now (I’m sure you all have read this umpteen times elsewhere) a team more focused on keeping the ball and boring the audience and the opponents into submission.

This Saturdays opponents West Brom should prove to be relatively easy but we can be sure former players Jonny Evans, Anders Lindegaard and  Darren Fletcher will have informed their new employers about every possible detail to thwart their old club’s attempt to  maintain position in the top 4

With Right back Matteo Darmian suspended and Antonio Valencia injured expect left winger Ashley Young to start the game at right back. October’s player of the month Chris Smalling has made one the 2 centre back positions his own and the other slot will most likely see Phil Jones.

If Morgan Schniderlin isn’t fit expect Michael Carrick to start the game along with teenager Andreas Perera, as starting with the pairing of Carrick and Bastian Schweinstieger could prove costly in the EPL(the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal).

Predicted lineup : De Gea, Young, Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Carrick, Perera, Lingard, Rooney, Depay, Martial

Subs: Romero, Blind, Schweinstieger, Fellaini ,Mata, Herrera, Wilson

(Case for Depay as he doesn’t have international duty having being omitted from the Netherlands squad)

Predicted scoreline: 2-1 win to Manchester United