Red Rants |
| United’s defence looks to the future Posted: 28 Dec 2013 12:00 AM PST
While the comeback was undoubtedly pleasing, United’s diabolical defending would have raised concerns with Moyes, particularly as Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling look to establish themselves as the first choice partnership at centre-back. Up until yesterday, United’s defensive shape had improved with a set back four, one in which the figures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are no longer as prominent as they have been for the last seven seasons, throughout which they formed one of the best centre-back partnership in the Premier League and, arguably, in Europe. Injuries and age had begun to catch up with Vidic and Ferdinand over the last two campaigns, but while in previous seasons Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were always considered to be the replacements of how extended their run in the team might have been, in the first season under David Moyes the two veterans are being gradually phased out. Both of them remain, of course, crucial elements of the team – on the pitch as much as in the dressing room – but their involvement has been fairly limited this season with Vidic playing 11 times in the Premier League this season, while Ferdinand has started a mere seven league matches. Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling have started one and four games less than Vidic respectively, but both have impressed when picked, with Evans showing all the composure and experience of a veteran centre-back, despite being just 25, while Smalling’s three display in the middle of the back four proved the 24-year-old is much more at ease at centre-back than when deployed as right-back – a position he’s occupied eight times in all competitions this season. While Phil Jones has been impressive as defensive midfielder, the former Blackburn man has looked extremely accomplished when deployed at centre-back – United have kept two clean sheets over the five games Jones played in the middle of the back four – which gives David Moyes a selection dilemma, but one the United manager must be happy to have. Furthermore, were United to finally invest in one or two top class midfielders, Jones could soon be deemed surplus to requirement in the engine room, thus making Moyes’ choice for his centre-back pairing even more difficult, particularly considering that, much like Vidic and Ferdinand, United’s younger defenders seem to complement each other brilliantly. |
| United look to finish 2013 on a high Posted: 27 Dec 2013 07:40 AM PST
Trips to Norfolk have been largely forgetful events in recent seasons, with United losing two of their last three at Carrow Road and, more worryingly, failing to get on the scoresheet in both of their defeats.
Things look rosier this season, with United mustering their first Fergiesque comeback of the Moyes’ era while Norwich managed to achieve the remarkable feat of not only losing at home to Fulham but they also allowed Scott Parker to get on the scoresheet and now hover just three points above the relegation zone. Despite splashing almost £13m on strikers, Norwich’s front-men have been largely disappointing this season but were United to defend as diabolically as they did in the first 12 minutes against Hull, then Gary Hooper and Johan Elmander could soon be made to look like a combination of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Raul. United’s back-four looked desperately shaky at Hull and with Rafael out injured and Antonio Valencia suspended, David Moyes could either opt to switch Chris Smalling to right-back, thus deploying either Nemanja Vidic or Rio Ferdinand alongside Jonny Evans or, albeit a less likely option, give Fabio a rare start in the team. The midfield cover remains excruciatingly short, for having welcomed back Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick, United have lost Phil Jones to a knee injury which, theoretically at least, could open the door for a Carrick-Giggs partnership in the middle of the park, bearing in mind that Tom Cleverley and Fletcher played only 48 hours ago. With Van Persie still nursing his injury, the front two pick themselves. Wayne Rooney has turned from villain into talisman and his strike at Hull was as good as any we’ve seen from the man with the worst agent in the world – or one of the best, depending on which side of the fence you sit – while Welbeck’s recent run of goals looks to have filled him with confidence, something Moyes will want to make the most of. Ashley Young’s confidence has also sharply risen in recent weeks – almost as sharply as the majority of his overhit crosses fly harmlessly over the box – and with Nani and Valencia out, Young is a shoe in for a starting spot, particularly given that we still do not know whether Shinji Kagawa survived his Christmas dinner. The boy who comes from Belgium and whose name is Adnan – the Januzaj chant was the real Christmas number 1 as far as Reds were concerned – could also start and expect the locals to express their disappointment as soon as Januzaj wins a foul. United are still eight points behind Arsenal, a far from an ideal position at this time of the year, but a run of five consecutive wins in all competition is not to be scorned at, particularly considering that the league leaders travel to Newcastle on Sunday, while the Champions of Christmas could drop points again, when they face Chelsea. With Spurs at home on New Year’s Day and four days until the January transfer window, a win tomorrow would be crucial in more ways than one. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Red Rants To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Written by TBMU Admin
We are Manchester United Fan located around the World which provides user friendly, effective and easy to browse info regarding our Team. Each support/info is free. Support us by clicking the ads located in this site. Thanks
Posts
0 comments :
Post a Comment