MANCHESTER UNITED- REAL SOCIEDAD
PREVIEW…TIME FOR REDEMPTION FOR BOTH SIDES. PRIDE AT STAKE
David Moyes seems to have run out of
ideas. In actual fact, majority of Manchester United fans are perplexed by what
they are witnessing this season. The red army lie in a distant 8th
position in the League- 8 hefty points behind early front runners, Arsenal and
what’s more painful is that the managers substitutions have been borderline
idiotic and clueless. The new man at the helm lacks the tactical know how to
change a game as recent results have shown. If not for Adnan Januzaj, maybe
relegation would have been the case with eight matches already played.
On Saturday, with United leading 1-0
and aiming to put the game beyond the reach of Le Sheriff’s Saints, Moyes pulled
off one of the most shocking decisions the OT faithful have ever witnessed-
Taking out the tired and under performing Wayne Rooney for Smalling, when Kagawa
and Chicharito were waiting to be called upon. The puzzling part of the whole
bewildering drama is that neither Wazza nor RVP performed well and he couldn’t
muster the courage to take out one or both of them. It was terrible. Now any
team coming to the Theatre is confident of at least leaving with a point. A far
cry from the Fergie days. Although the great man experienced some difficulties
in his first five years as manager of the 13-time EPL Champions.
The Champions League has represented
a brief relief from the blunders of domestic action. Tonight, Carlos Vela’s
Real Sociedad visit Manchester with the hope that they can spring yet another
surprise. Very likely that they can. It was another Basque side that destroyed
the red devils in the Europa League last year. Marcelo Bielsa’s Bilbao came,
saw and ruthlessly demolished SAF’s men with what Moyes has called one of the
most outstanding away performances he has ever seen. Iker Muniain, Ander
Herrera and company tore their hosts a new one and went on to complete the
demolition job at San Mames.
But things are a bit different now.
That was the Europa League and the opponents were high on confidence. Today’s
match up pitches two struggling teams against each other with one’s fortunes
slightly better than the other’s. Manchester United might have demons to bury
in the League, but in Europe, they jointly sit atop their group alongside
Mircea Lucescu’s Shakhtar on four points from two games played. Victory today
for them might spell the end of any hopes the Anoeta side have of progressing
from the group.
Since putting Lyon to the sword in
the playoffs, Sociedad have fallen apart, only claiming one victory at the
Mestalla. Shakhtar dismantled them in game one and Leverkusen saw off their
resistance last time out in Germany. Coming to Old Trafford now might be the
best thing for them as they can capitalize on the poor form of their opponents
tonight.
Sir Alex Ferguson chose to launch his
book on the eve of a very important match for a team he managed for 27 years,
revealing some very astonishing details of his reign which has not gone down
well with some of his soldiers. It seems the great Scot can have everything his
way. The timing is not perfect, but what has happened has indeed happened.
Focus is key for members of the current squad, including the beleaguered Wayne
Rooney who expected to be lambasted by his former boss. He might charge him for
libel. Who knows? Patrice Evra has also been in the news all week after he
tongue lashed Les Blues Legends, Bixente Lizarazu and Luis Fernandez for
constant criticisms of him. He went further to drop the bombshell that he is
bidding farewell to his beloved club of the last seven years, at the end of the
season. Good luck Monsieur
PROBABLE LINEUPS-
MANCHESTER UNITED-
DDG, Rafael, Jones, Evans, Evra,
Carrick, Fellaini, TonyV, Kagawa/Januzaj, Rooney, RVP
REAL SOCIEDAD-
Bravo, C.Martinez, Gonzalez, I.Martinez,
De la Bella, M.Pardo, Bergara, Prieto, Griezmann, Vela, Seferovic
For Manchester United, it is likely
that Adnan Januzaj will play a part once again, After his jaw dropping displays
in recent weeks, the club had no other option but to include him in the
Champions League squad after previous omitting his name for what they termed as
tactical reasons. All bullshit. Antonio Valencia should find a place in the
Starting eleven after impressing in the first two games. Roo and Robin should
partner in attack once again and the imposing Fellaini who has done nothing
since his arrival, is set to fill one of the central midfield spots. Of course
we know one name is ever present in United’s midfield. Rio and Vidic are major
doubts for the game. Cleverley and Welbeck have a chance to feature.
The Basque club haven’t fared since
dismantling Lyon in the qualification round and new manager, Jagoba Arrasate
who was Montanier’s assistant last season, has found his predecessor’s boots
too big to fill. A morale boosting win at the Mestalla should restore the
confidence within the set-up. More pleasing for the Spanish club is the return
to fitness of Captain, Xabi Prieto. Frenchman, Antoine Griezmann has opined
that they are not in Manchester for sightseeing and Carlos Vela who credits RVP
for his growth and development, has become a key player for the club. His goals
last season played a huge part in qualification for this elite competition. They
are without Esteban Granero (long term knee injury) and ILLARRA has since gone
to Real Madrid.
Ohireime P Eboreime
Twittter-ohiskaka1990
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