| Match made in Heaven! #RVP20. |
Robin Van Persie will be the happiest man in the World today. The prospect of wearing his first ever Premier League winners medal will motivate him tremendously. Even more so, the fact that a 'Guard of Honour' will be in place at the Emirates on Sunday the 28th if tonight's game is won will propel the Dutchman further. After a 10-match scoreless streak, the PFA Player of the year nominee has scored in his last two games and will be looking to make it three when Villa come calling. His former teammate at International level, Ron Vlaar will be armed with the responsibility of keeping him quiet. Something, only a few defenders can boast of achieving. Wayne Rooney has been under a bit of pressure of late. He will be hoping to make up for the lost time against a side he has scored lots of goals against in his previous encounters with them. The Englishman is still pinned on 196 goals for his beloved red devils. Four more and he joins the prestigious 200 goal club which houses the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. With 5 games remaining this season and Sir Alex demanding maximum points in all of them, you wouldn't put it past him to score some braces or one in each. Shinji Kagawa displayed some of his exceptional skills the other night at Upton Park and will want to impress his manager and teammates even more, on a night where he might collect a League Championship medal. Lighting up this occasion in Japanese style will not be a bad idea afterall.
Manchester City inexplicably collapsed at the Lane after taking a one goal lead early on the match. The Introduction of Tom Huddlestone, Lewis Holtby and Jermaine Defoe turned the tide in the home side's favour and in seven second half minutes, the lilywhites kept their Champions League qualifying hopes well alive with a comeback not seen in a long time. First, it was Dempsey, then Defoe ended a 12-match, four month goal drought with a curling finish. Bale added gloss to the scoreline with a fine chip over Joe Hart after good work from Huddlestone. This ensured that Manchester United can become Champions of England for the 20th time if they manage to beat Aston Villa tonight. It will not be a jolly good ride by any stretch, because the Villains need to at least earn a point to put some more daylight between themselves and Wigan especially. Only a miracle in the mould of the ones Jesus Christ performed in the bible will make either QPR or Reading beat the drop. Its all doom and gloom for both bottom clubs.
Aston Villa possess one of the most dangerous attackers in the EPL. Twenty-two year old Christian Benteke was rightly rewarded for his performances this term with a Young PFA player of the year nomination. The Belgian's arrival from Genk hasn't exactly gone well on a collective front, but on a personal level, he has done incredibly well all round. 15 Premier League goals for a side struggling to keep its Elite status is a jaw dropping statistic. One that will astonish and attract the adulation of even the greatest critics. After scoring 19 goals in 37 appearances for his Jupiler League side, he was purchased by Villa for 7 Million Pounds and since then, he hasn't looked back. The hope of survival lies squarely on his Congolese shoulders. If his performances are anything to go by, he is capable of doing what is wanted of him. Gabby Agbonlahor has scored a winning goal for Villa before at Old Trafford and that was the last time Manchester United failed to score at home in four years and 65 matches after. The pacy attacker has proven himself an able ally of Benteke and Andreas Weimann this season. Charles N;zogbia has been off and on for his clubside this campaign, but can be relied upon to inflict harm on opponents. Manchester United know all about him from his previous spell with Newcastle. All the players at Aston Villa have to stand up and be counted if they have any intention of beating the drop. What better way to start than putting up a fight at a ground where success has been scarce for them from time immemorial.
PROBABLE LINEUPS-
MANCHESTER UNITED-
DDG, Rafa, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Nani, Kagawa, Rooney, RVP
Michael Carrick has finally been rewarded after a long time by the Professional Footballers Association for a sterling season in midfield for the soon to be crowned English Champions. He is one of the six nominees for the Player of the year award voted by fellow professionals and which will be handed out on the very day United travel to Arsenal (28th April 2013). He has barely missed a game this season. His 917 forward passes is more than anyone has managed, including Xavi, Inan, Alonso, Modric, Montolivo, Pirlo, and other midfielder you can think. Any other PLAYER. He deserves every good thing that is coming his way. Long overdue. Tom Cleverley has barely featured for the last two or three games. He should start tonight. Luis Nani can be given a starting berth too. The defensive partnership of Rio and Vidic will continue. No alterations in that regard. Ashley Young will not feature against his former club as he has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
ASTON VILLA-
Guzman, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bennnett, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Bowery, BENTEKE
Gabby Agbonlahor missed last weekend's draw against Fulham....however, he's back to training and should start. Christian Benteke will continue in attack of course and Ron Vlaar will lead out a relatively young team for mission impossible versus a Manchester United team that want to clinch the League at all costs and fast too.
Ohireime P Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
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