Friday, November 21, 2008

Villa to end United's lingering title hopes?

United travel to Villa Park this weekend for a Premier League fixture that usually produces lots of goals, it's also been a happy hunting ground for the Champions over the last few years. However, going off what happened at Anfield and the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, United fans have every reason to be concerned at the prospect of losing this game, because like Liverpool, Aston Villa are due a victory over the Reds'.

Prior to this season, United have been unlucky no to win at the Emirates on their previous visits to Arsenal and if we are honest Reds' fans were fairly confident of putting that right this season, but it didn't happen as the Champions were turned over just as they were at Anfield.

There is always a danger that the players' and fans' can become over-confident and you wonder if that will be the case again this weekend, hopefully Fergie will have his players' fired-up for what is likely to be a very entertaining game.

Last weekend, Aston Villa pulled off a great win away at Arsenal and so they will be really up for the visit of United on Saturday evening. Villa stars' Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young will be full of confidence after starring for England against Germany in midweek so the United back four will have to be at their collective best.

As far as the United team news is concerned, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are according to reports 'injury doubts', but I expect them both to play. One player who won't be taking part in any action over the coming weeks is Wes Brown who is to have ankle surgery which is likely to keep him out for lengthy period.

Even worse news for the fans' and manager alike is that Dimitar Berbatov misses this weekend's trip to Villa Park after sustaining an injury while playing for Bulgaria. The Reds' record signing could also miss next weekend's Manchester derby.

Wayne Rooney has missed the Reds' last two games due to suffering with a 'minor chest' infection, at least that is the official line coming out of Old Trafford, but I have my doubts about the validity of this claim.

My own view is that Rooney has been given time off following a dramatic loss of form. Fergie benched the former Everton star earlier in the season and he came back all the hungrier after his axeing, as he went on an amazing goal-scoring spree for both club and country.

If selected, Rooney will hopefully respond to his absence with a welcome return to form alongside Carlos Tevez, both stars' have a point to prove to the manager, or so it would seem.

Villa vs United preview

2 comments:

  1. Marca have published that Tevez to Madrid for 2009-10 is a 'done deal'? Have you heard anything on this?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Uday, I haven't heard that it's a done deal, but nothing would surprise me. I'd also not be surprised if Marca have made up another pack of lies, like they often do...

    ReplyDelete

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