Red Rants |
- United midfielder faces lengthy spell on the sidelines
- Moyes hails United’s new leader
- Hull vs Manchester United: Can the Reds move closer to the top four?
| United midfielder faces lengthy spell on the sidelines Posted: 23 Dec 2013 03:47 AM PST
United’s deadline day signing has so far failed to impress in his first season at Old Trafford, playing in only eight Premier League games for United, only four of which were starts.
Fellaini, who last featured for United three weeks ago against Everton, had been playing with a protective cast after David Moyes lost Michael Carrick to injury but with Tom Cleverley and Phil Jones looking increasingly settled as midfield duo and Carrick edging closer to returning to action, he was given the green light to have surgery on his wrist to repair tendon damage. The treatment rules the Belgian out for the whole of January with chances of him being fit for the end of February, when United face Olympiacos in the round of 16 of the Champions League, looking rather slim. |
| Moyes hails United’s new leader Posted: 23 Dec 2013 01:16 AM PST
Rooney’s form has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in form since last summer, when the 28-year-old was on the verge of leaving the club, but Moyes’ decision to keep the former Everton striker even at a time when many fans would have been happy to see the back of him has been vindicated with Rooney displaying the sort of performances that he was used to deliver until 18 months ago.
Initially a doubt for Saturday’s game, Rooney produced a splendid performance, causing no end of troubles for West Ham’s defence and earning his manager’s praise. “Wayne played great,” said the United manager after Saturday’s 3-1 win over West Ham. “He dropped in and he took the ball. He passed the ball from a little bit deeper at times but also made a contribution in the goals. It was very good.” Moyes described Rooney as a more mature player, one to whom leadership comes natural these days. “Do you know what I see more than anything in Wayne? I see leadership. I see somebody who wants to take responsibility for the team. I see somebody who cares for how he plays and how the team plays. More than anything, that is what I see from Wayne. “Maybe if he is not quite at the top of his form I will need him to drop in at times and he has no problem doing any of the jobs. He is getting to an age now where he realises he is not a boy any more. He is one of the senior men in the team. He is actually on the verge of being one of the great legends at this club,” explained Moyes. “Because of that I think he is saying, ‘I have got to take responsibility for results and for performances and make sure the players are doing it on the pitch.’ The players are responding.” “In the dressing room now Wayne is one of those who is beginning to call the shots.” The United manager also praised the performances of Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones, who have benefited from the absences of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand to establish themselves as regulars in the starting XI. “Chris and Jones and Jonny, they have stepped up,” said Moyes. “I have given them opportunities and they need to keep showing me what they can do. It is not a change yet [from seniors to the young players] because I have used Vida and Rio at times. “But I just think we have good young centre-halves and young centre-halves tend to get better with age. We need to try and get them the games to develop them, because when it is the old ones’ time to move on then we need to have players who are ready and committed to take their place. “Jonny Evans has played well. I said to him I don’t think he started the season well. But he has grown into it and is playing very well. We will keep changing them around because we have five good centre-halves. We will use them at different times. That is what has been done here before and I will continue to do it.” |
| Hull vs Manchester United: Can the Reds move closer to the top four? Posted: 22 Dec 2013 11:58 PM PST
After beating West Ham 3-1 in their last outing, David Moyes' men will be looking to string together a run of victories over the next couple of weeks to close the gap between them and the Premier League summit. As www.completebetting.com indicates, bookmakers have refused to completely rule out a Man Utd title push although even a Champions League push looks difficult with 4 teams genuinely fighting for the title and potentially out of United’s reach. It is a former Manchester United stalwart that will be in the opposition dugout though, as Steve Bruce looks to build on a good first six months back in the top flight for his side. At almost half way through the season, Hull are on track to reach the 40-point target that will more than likely keep them in the division. Ahead of the game the hosts sit in 12th place in the Premier League with 20 points, but have only won one of their last seven games. This solitary win was a 3-1 home victory over Liverpool, which should act as sufficient warning for United not to underestimate the newly promoted side. United are in eighth place ahead of the game, but will feel that a couple more victories can move them back within striking distance of the top of the table. Moyes will be without key striker Robin van Persie once more for this clash, with Danny Welbeck set to deputise again. The England international has scored three goals in his last two outings and will look to continue his strong partnership with Wayne Rooney in the visitors' attack. Other injury concerns for the visitors include Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini and Nani, with the centre of the park an area where Moyes will need to get his selection correct against the industrious Jake Livermore and creative Tom Huddlestone. With a trip to Norwich and home games against Tottenham, Swansea and Cardiff on the horizon, there is no reason that the champions cannot put a strong run of form together, and will be looking for their fellow title rivals to take points from one another over the festive period. Despite Hull being at home, United enter the game as favourites at odds of 3/5, with the hosts on the outside at 21/4 to cause an upset. The draw is 3/1. United have won all four of the meetings between the sides in the modern era, with the last encounter in January 2010 ending in a 4-0 win to the Red Devils. |
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