United v Watford – A preview

In the last two games Watford have managed to collect three valuable premiership points as well as beat West Ham in the FA Cup. A trip to Old Trafford is arguably not the fixture they need, particularly as it means they can’t play Ben Foster – who will be returning to Old Trafford in the summer. However, I believe it is just the fixture that United need. The three points are there to be collected and I believe the hunger is there to take them.

In terms of team news, the only main issue is the knee injury to Saha. This should see Rooney start alongside Larsson, and see Solskjaer back on the bench. I would like to see us rest Giggs and instead play Ronaldo and Park. Park may have failed to convert chances against Villa, but he put in a decent performance and deserves to start.

I suspect Watford to play a high defensive line and I expect them to attack, leaving space for United to exploit. If United play Rooney and Ronaldo we should see United win by some margin. I get the feeling Larsson may well be licking his lips in anticipation.....

Probable Team: Van der Saar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Park, Rooney, Larsson.

Subs from: Kuszczak; Heinze; Brown; O’Shea; Fletcher; Richardson; Fangzhou; Smith; Silvestre; Giggs; Solskjaer

Injured: Saha

Player to watch: Rooney

Prediction: 4-0

Man United 2 v Portsmouth 1 – A review

A good victory over a stubborn Portsmouth team means the week at least ended on a positive. In particular, we witnessed another wonderful goal from Wayne Rooney. The look on David James’s face said it all. There really was nothing anyone could do, except look and admire.

Kuszczak seemed determined to make an impression. The challenge of Gary O’Neil was actually very good. To flick out his hand and push the ball away was impressive. He also caught the ball cleanly and commandingly on crosses and distributed well. He was unlucky not to keep a clean-sheet when having moved to cover the shot he was caught out as the ball took an unkind deflection. 2007/08 could see an interesting contest between him and Foster – if Fergie decides to keep both men at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer and Larsson failed to impress as a partnership, largely due to the impressive Sol Campbell and partly due to them playing similar roles. Larsson looked sharper with the introduction of Rooney and was so unlucky to have his wonderfully volleyed goal wrongly ruled out for being offside. For me, Rooney and Larsson look the best option, given Saha is still carrying a knock.

Giggs put in a tremendous effort and got his reward from providing the assist for United’s opener with a good run to the by-line and cut back for sub Rooney to gladly finish unmarked from 4 yards.

There was another very impressive performance from Evra down the left. If this form continues and if Bale arrives in the summer, Heinze must either look to play in the centre or consider options away from the club. That is no comment on Heinze but a compliment to Evra.

Park needs to turn energy into goals to really add value but his overall performance for the team is still significant. Vidic was once again an aerial threat from set pieces – and only failed to get on the score sheet because of a wrong decision from the officials. The ball was over the line but you can’t blame the referee when we only found out the goal should have stood when we had seen it from two different camera shots in slow motion.

Player ratings:
Kuszczak, 6; Neville 6; Ferdinand 6; Vidic 7; Evra 7; Park 6; Carrick 6; Scholes 6; Giggs 7; Solskjaer 5; Larsson 6.

Man of the match: Rooney

Arsenal v United: A review

The defeat to Arsenal is disappointing but nothing more, unless United allow it to be. I expect United to react positively to only their third defeat of the season by firstly, beating Portsmouth in the FA Cup and then by taking the 3 points against Watford at Old Trafford. One concern that once again raised its head on Sunday was United’s willingness to replace big players in games if they are tiring.

The reason for this comment is partly a reaction to Wenger’s alleged instruction to his team that United tire during the course of a game. And to those fans wishing to dismiss this idea immediately as nonsense, I would ask you to ignore where the message came from and think about it for a moment. Perhaps look back to the United v Chelsea game this season, a game which saw United really attack Chelsea early on and then, in the last 20 minutes, saw key players begin to tire, as they did against Arsenal on Sunday.

Utilising substitutes is part of the game. On Sunday, I believe United should have replaced Giggs with Park. I also believe Fletcher should have replaced Scholes, with an instruction to get stuck into the best player on the pitch on Sunday, namely, Fabregas. Bringing on Heinze was not a bad decision as such, but to do so at the expense of Ronaldo - who was capable of hitting Arsenal on the break – was curious. It was perhaps too trusting for United to rely on those players they tend always to rely on. I say too trusting because you need energy as well as experience to ensure you impact on a game for 90 minutes, particularly when facing a team as young and as attack minded as Arsenal. When I saw United backing off, I began to get concerned. However, if it had not been for two good finishes, we would all be singing United’s praises, so I accept the line is a thin one. And the best time to judge is at the end of the season.

Therefore this article is certainly not a comment on Fergie – it never would be - but instead seeks to explore the question that surrounds the reasons for United not trusting in substitutes such as Park and Fletcher during these pressurised moments.

United are famous for making changes late on (think Solskjaer) when needing to get back into a game but we are less remembered for making the right changes to close a game out. It was right for Scholes and Giggs to start the game – of course it was - but was it sensible for them to play the whole 90 minutes when younger players could have been used to chase down the ball and opposition? We will of course never know, but changes to the midfield may have helped to take some pressure off the defence. I believe Fergie finds it too hard to not rely on the same players - a loyalty which has brought more success than problems but knows that come the summer his hand will be forced. United need to reinforce by bringing in players that are good enough to take some of the responsibility off Scholes, Giggs and Neville. That is the reason for United's dogged pursuit of Hargreaves. It may be the reason for United's previous interest in Franck Ribery and could be why Bardsley has been sent on loan to Aston Villa till the summer. Only Fergie knows. Till then we will continue to see Scholes, Giggs and Neville used in the same way, as Fletcher and Park - as good as they are - are not yet big game players.

Therefore, I think Fergie will settle for the odd result, as experienced on Sunday. I also think he knows United are capable of winning the title this season and accepts that the experience, craft and will to win that Scholes, Giggs, Neville etc bring to the team outweigh the downsides associated with these player’s ages. And right here, right now, he is right to. As United's best chance of winning the Premiership, since 2002/03, is now. And despite Sunday's defeat and despite what some people may think, United are still very well placed to win the Premiership this season.

So we can thank Liverpool for beating Chelsea and we must thank Fergie for ensuring that United remain six points clear. And we owe Arsenal and Wenger a response too, but lets do that in May.

Arsenal v United – A preview

There is only one Premiership team that I look at and think: this team is capable of playing better football than United. That team is Arsenal. For that reason, this fixture is always – since Wenger started managing Arsenal - an interesting and exciting match-up. Gone are the days when Arsenal's attitude to defending was mocked in Monty Python sketches.

Make no mistake about it Arsenal are back to playing their best football and look –worryingly enough – like they are about to go on a run this season. A run, I believe, they will continue into next season and result in them winning the Premiership title. I also feel that Wenger’s approach to bringing in, and trusting in, young players needs to be matched at Old Trafford. Put simply, United need more Ronaldos, more Rooneys. United need the best young players coming to Old Trafford - players such as Ribery, Richards, Babel, Huntelaar, Gourcoff, Navas, Dos Santos and Gago to name just a few.

When Wenger singed Cesc Fabregas most other people did not know – and I include myself – what a gem he had found. Interestingly, Cesc has said spoken of his admiration for Paul Scholes, describing his as player ‘you want to emulate’. But if you were to ask any of the 70,000 + of the United faithful about Cesc you will hear nothing but high praise. And in the voices of those supporters - if we are being honest – you will hear more than a hint of jealousy. To see these two players go toe to toe is a football feast that any fan should cherish.

In my opinion, this Sunday will see one of Manchester United’s best ever central midfield players go up against one of Arsenal’s most creative central midfield players ever – and that at the age of 19. But don’t let the attention of just one young player control all your thoughts, as United certainly have two of their own. Both Rooney and Ronaldo have more than enough ability to create a victory that would see Arsenal lose for the first time at the Emirates. But while Sky’s cameras will likely zoom in on this pair I sense the key to a United victory lies in the performance of the midfield pairing. Lets be clear, United must play Carrick and Scholes in the middle and not use O’Shea as they did at OT. Possession of the ball will provide for the forwards but also take the pressure of our defenders. This is also an important game for Giggs. He will be up against a quick full back and will need to be as smart on the ball as he was once fast. He will need to cross when in a good position and must look to cut inside to change the angle of running and open up more opportunities for the strikers. Otherwise, the energy of Park must be considered. In defence, Ferdinand and Vidic must remain central and must not get pulled out of position by Henry or Adebayor and exposed for pace. This may mean a less adventurous role for Neville and Evra. And may mean a start for Heinze, but I doubt it.

The gap may be 15 points in the table but in my view you can’t put a piece of paper between these sides in terms of ability and talent. Both are more than capable of winning, and with Arsenal at home they must be considered favourites. After all, Henry is looking sharp and we know what that can mean. But talking of forwards, United possess a player whose sheer presence will remind Arsenal of losing the Champions League final – and I expect, if the game is tight, Fergie will use that player in an effort to ensure United have the Lars-t laugh.

Probable team: Van der Saar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Saha.

Subs from: Kuszczak, Brown, Heinze, Silvestre, Smith, Richardson, Fangzhou, Solskjaer, Larsson, O’Shea, Fletcher

Prediction: 2-1 to Arsenal that will see a disappointing end to a good month for United