Author: Doron
As August comes to a close, there’s much to report from beyond the first team. Both the Reserves and the Academy have played two league fixtures and more players have left the club on loan. We’ve also been lucky enough to have a chat to last year’s Reserve captain (until Christmas), Magnus Eikrem, about United, how and why he left, and what the future may hold for Molde’s number 7.
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United thundered home to a 8-2 win versus a bewildered Arsenal side this afternoon at Old Trafford as Fergie’s men continued their (atypical) fantastic early season form. If somebody had predicted that United would score 11 with only 2 in reply against the two North London sides in the opening two home fixtures, you would quite easily have thought them crazy. Ferguson has talked up his young side (averaging 23.1 years today) since early on in the pre-season tour of the US, and so it was no surprise that he chose to select the same 11 that performed so admirably versus Spurs last week, something he has not done in the league since the consecutive selections for Bolton and then Liverpool early last season. Fergie has always been one to select according to form, and with fitness levels getting back to optimum, he saw no reason to change a winning formula here.
Despite dominating from start to finish however it is worth noting that Arsenal have lost two of their strongest assets in Fabregas and Nasri, and were without the highly influential youngster Jack Wilshere – as well as Vermalen, Diaby, Song, Gibbs and Sagna (Jenkinson looked timid and unprepared, and perhaps should have been withdrawn long before his red card for a second bookable offence). In fact it is nigh on impossible to read too much into the emphatic win given the lack of cohesion in the Arsenal side, and thus system at present. United were at their rampant best, and exploited Arsenal’s every weakness, but tougher times lie ahead for the Champions. Here we discuss some of the key talking points from the game.
Author: Doron
Two big clubs of the Premier League era with contrasting amounts of optimism and morale right now meet at Old Trafford tomorrow. Old foes who are now friends are at the helm and whilst Keane and Vieira may no longer dictate just how dirty this fixture will be, it remains one of the most anticipated games of the season.
United vs. Arsenal is rarely dull and given the ongoings both on and off the pitch in the past week at both clubs, this game should be as enthralling.
Author: Stretford_End
Manchester United opened their home account with a 3-0 victory over North London side Tottenham Hotspur, which worked out to be United’s seventeenth victory over Spurs at Old Trafford in the Premier League (out of twenty clashes). The first half was quite an even affair, with limited chances for either side. United failed to grab hold of the midfield battle, against a more physical duo in Livermore and Kranjcar, although Anderson and Cleverley showed their class in the second half, zipping the ball around and breaking forward to support Welbeck and Rooney, who were higher up the pitch second half. Welbeck, Jones and Anderson shined in a 3-0 win against a side who, due to the riots in London, were forced to postpone their opening fixture against Everton, and did lack match fitness towards the end. Here we discuss the talking points of an impressive youthful performance from United.
Author: Bricki
After what was another stirring ‘El Classico’ in the Camp Nou last week we are reflecting now not on a superb game of football, instead the headlines are about the mass brawl and touchline troubles that ended the game.
For two such extremely talented teams to resort to violence and intimidation after producing two fantastic encounters is sad. The fact that Real Madrid have now had 6 players sent off in 6 games against Barcelona coupled with Mourinho being dismissed and mass brawls on the pitch and touchline, does not suggest a manager fully in control of the situation he has created.
Long have we heard the rumours that Mourinhos next job is taking on what many people feel will be the hardest task of all, following in the steps of Sir Alex Ferguson.
After his antics of recent months in Spain however is he the right man for the job and can he manage with the principles of how United fans expect their teams to play?
Author: Doron
Fortress Old Trafford. Not since the 3rd April 2010 have United lost a league home game – winning 20 and drawing 1 in that time. Monday night’s game against Tottenham Hotspur marks the start of the new league season at home and United will be keen to extend that unbeaten home record to a 22nd game.
United started the defence of their title last weekend with a hard-fought win at West Brom whilst Spurs were forced to postpone their game against Everton due to the riots that had taken place in London.
Author: Herzogs Child
The names of United’s gaggle of purported stars roll easily off the tongue. Their entry into the lexicon of supporter’s chatter speaks as much of a desperation to improve our current set up as it does their already established talents. You’ll know of them by now, I’m sure: bomber Tunnicliffe, or Ryan, as his actual name goes; the beastly Paul Pogba, often wrongly tagged as a young Patrick Vieira; and the gem with the fading twinkle, a certain Mr. Ravel Morrison. Similarly, you’ll also know precisely why their names are being mooted with such eagerness: because, despite last year’s title triumph, and some shrewd summer spending, we’re slack.
Author: Bricki
The difficult second album followed by the ‘concept’ album, every band/singer seems to go through this process. Promoted clubs tend to suffer from ‘second season’ syndrome, notable examples are Hull, Sunderland and West Brom.
So it is that players seem to have the same problems when establishing themselves in a squad. One player who has just been through his difficult ‘second season’ is Jonny Evans. Whilst not officially his second season, it has been the inevitable ‘dip’ that players have once they burst onto the scene.
As the club looks to invest in youth and create the next generation of team what can we expect from Jonny Evans?
Author: Stretford_End
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Author: - Stretford_End
With all the focus from the national press on the performances of new United keeper David De Gea, it may be worthwhile noting the development and versatility of Chris Smalling following a very impressive debut season. Smalling was key in getting United back in the game, when 2-0 down against Manchester City two Sundays ago. His anticipation to get on the end of an Ashley Young freekick shows that his reading of the game in front of goal is just as effective as his defensive play when intercepting a ball. With injuries to Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, Smalling is eying a centre half role in the next couple of weeks, however – he may find himself bombing up and down the right flank a little more this season.
