View Poll Results: Whats your prediction for Man U vs Aston Villa
Voters: 7. You may not vote on this poll
Discussion Point: Will Man U secure the 3 points and their leading postion?
#1
04-04-2009, 04:57 PM
Discussion Point: Will Man U secure the 3 points and their leading postion?
with all leading teams wining their games today, Man u is pressured to secure nothing less than a win tommorrow, do you think Man u has regained their form after the international Break ?
Source
Matt Monaghan
Premier League Preview: Manchester United – Aston Villa
After being on the receiving end of one of the most remarkable results in World Cup qualifying history, Carlos Tevez has no time to wallow in misery if he doesn’t want the sense of doom to spread to his club side.
The pugnacious Argentine will lead the United attacking line after the 2-0 defeat against Fulham left Dimitar Berbatov sidelined with injury and Wayne Rooney exploding in a rage that led to a suspension.
Carlitos hasn’t been at his best this year, as the Berbatov's arrival has often left him in the shadows on the Old Trafford stage.
Left to ruminate on the bench, the former Boca Juniors man has struggled for form. Indeed, after an impressive goal return last season, he has flopped this time around and hasn’t struck in the Premier League since the 5-0 rout against West Bromwich Albion two months ago.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be desperate for this dry spell to end if his team are to regain control of a title procession that has come off the rails, somewhat.
The shock 4-1 loss to Liverpool began this spell and the difficult memories of that day must be banished if the Red Devil’s quintuple dream isn’t going to turn sour.
Thankfully for the Scotsman, the opponents on Sunday are one of a few clubs in even worse form than his charges.
Aston Villa’s push for the Champions League crumbled in March, and Ferguson will be desperate for the Midlanders to acquiesce to another defeat on Sunday.
Onus On O’Neill
In times of crisis, great leaders come to the fore. Never has this been more applicable to Aston Villa.
Martin O’Neill’s side started last month in the Champions League places, with Arsenal seven points behind. Fast forward to today and the Midlanders lie outside the hallowed qualifying zone for Europe’s top club competition.
Villa’s fall from grace has been swift, with the team reaching their nadir in the 5-0 thumping they received against Liverpool the last time they were on Premier League duty.
The fabled managerial skills that O’Neill honed at Leicester City and Celtic must come to the fore right away if the dream of breaking into the Big Four isn’t to turn into a living nightmare.
Emile Heskey’s hamstring twinge could hand the Ulsterman a fortunate opportunity to get the Villains machine back on track.
Before the England man’s arrival, the Claret and Blues had prospered with the searing pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was utilised on his own up front.
Too many chefs have spoilt the broth for the Lions, and since Heskey joined the Birmingham born speedster in attack, the results have fallen away.
O’Neill’s keen footballing intellect wouldn’t have failed to notice that Manchester United’s impervious defence fell to bits when Fernando Torres’ speed stretched them to breaking point.
If the Ulsterman unleashes Agbonlahor to wreak havoc on the Red Devils’ shaky backline, his side could get the result they desperately require to launch themselves back into the top four.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
21st March vs. Fulham (A) lost 2-0 (PREM)
14th March vs. Liverpool (H) lost 4-1 (PREM)
11th March vs. Internazionale (H) won 2-0 (CHAMP LG)
7th March vs. Fulham (A) won 4-0 (FA CUP)
4th March vs. Newcastle United (A) won 2-1 (PREM)
Aston Villa:
22nd March vs. Liverpool (A) lost 5-0 (PREM)
15th March vs. Tottenham Hotspur (H) lost 2-1 (PREM)
4th March vs. Manchester City (A) lost 2-0 (PREM)
1st March vs. Stoke City (H) drew 2-2 (PREM)
26th February vs. CSKA Moscow (A) lost 2-0 (UEFA CUP)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
Sir Alex Ferguson is without suspended trio Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes for the visit of the Villains.
Injuries to Dimitar Berbatov (foot) and Anderson (thigh) have added to his woes, whilst Owen Hargreaves (knee) is back in Manchester for the next stage of his rehabilitation.
Wes Brown (foot) and Rafael (foot) are expected to return next week.
Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Van der Sar, O'Shea (Tevez 70), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Giggs, Berbatov (Rooney 46).
Subs Not Used: Foster, Neville, Anderson, Carrick, Fabio.
Squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Possebon, Carrick, Park, Giggs, Tevez, Welbeck.
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar, Evra, Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Giggs, Tevez.
Aston Villa:
Emile Heskey (hamstring) has been declared fit for the trip to the North West after his withdrawal from the England squad through injury last week. The return of Steve Sidwell also boosts the Villa ranks.
Club captain Martin Laursen (knee) almost made the squad for this game, whilst Wilfred Bouma (knee) isn’t expected to start.
Last starting XI (vs. Liverpool): Friedel, Reo-Coker (Guzan 64), Cuellar, Davies, Luke Young, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Heskey (Agbonlahor 58), Carew (Gardner 88).
Subs Not Used: Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Shorey.
Squad: Friedel, Guzan, Reo-Coker, L. Young, Knight, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Bouma, Milner, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Sidwell, Salifou, A. Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Delfouneso, Heskey.
Possible starting XI: Friedel, Reo-Coker, L. Young, Cuellar, Davies, Petrov, Barry, Sidwell, Milner, A. Young, Agbonlahor.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United:
A great deal rests on the small shoulders of Carlos Tevez. The Argentine is United’s only available experienced striker, with Dimitar Berbatov injured and Wayne Rooney suspended. After travelling around the world on international duty, Carlitos will need to call on his famous energy reserves to maintain the Mancunians slim advantage in the title race.
Aston Villa:
The rescinding of the red card that Brad Friedel picked up against Liverpool added another regrettable chapter to Sir Alex Ferguson’s painful last few weeks. The giant American shot stopper has been an impassable opponent for the Reds over the years. A repeat performance could hand Friedel’s former Anfield team mates a further Premier League title boost.
PREDICTION
It’s not been easy for both teams in the last few weeks. Aston Villa have dropped out of the Champions League places, whilst Manchester United have ceded ground to bitter rivals Liverpool in the race for the Premier League crown.
Home advantage should count in this game, as the Red Devils strike against the Merseysiders’ momentum.
Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa
After being on the receiving end of one of the most remarkable results in World Cup qualifying history, Carlos Tevez has no time to wallow in misery if he doesn’t want the sense of doom to spread to his club side.
The pugnacious Argentine will lead the United attacking line after the 2-0 defeat against Fulham left Dimitar Berbatov sidelined with injury and Wayne Rooney exploding in a rage that led to a suspension.
Carlitos hasn’t been at his best this year, as the Berbatov's arrival has often left him in the shadows on the Old Trafford stage.
Left to ruminate on the bench, the former Boca Juniors man has struggled for form. Indeed, after an impressive goal return last season, he has flopped this time around and hasn’t struck in the Premier League since the 5-0 rout against West Bromwich Albion two months ago.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be desperate for this dry spell to end if his team are to regain control of a title procession that has come off the rails, somewhat.
The shock 4-1 loss to Liverpool began this spell and the difficult memories of that day must be banished if the Red Devil’s quintuple dream isn’t going to turn sour.
Thankfully for the Scotsman, the opponents on Sunday are one of a few clubs in even worse form than his charges.
Aston Villa’s push for the Champions League crumbled in March, and Ferguson will be desperate for the Midlanders to acquiesce to another defeat on Sunday.
Onus On O’Neill
In times of crisis, great leaders come to the fore. Never has this been more applicable to Aston Villa.
Martin O’Neill’s side started last month in the Champions League places, with Arsenal seven points behind. Fast forward to today and the Midlanders lie outside the hallowed qualifying zone for Europe’s top club competition.
Villa’s fall from grace has been swift, with the team reaching their nadir in the 5-0 thumping they received against Liverpool the last time they were on Premier League duty.
The fabled managerial skills that O’Neill honed at Leicester City and Celtic must come to the fore right away if the dream of breaking into the Big Four isn’t to turn into a living nightmare.
Emile Heskey’s hamstring twinge could hand the Ulsterman a fortunate opportunity to get the Villains machine back on track.
Before the England man’s arrival, the Claret and Blues had prospered with the searing pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was utilised on his own up front.
Too many chefs have spoilt the broth for the Lions, and since Heskey joined the Birmingham born speedster in attack, the results have fallen away.
O’Neill’s keen footballing intellect wouldn’t have failed to notice that Manchester United’s impervious defence fell to bits when Fernando Torres’ speed stretched them to breaking point.
If the Ulsterman unleashes Agbonlahor to wreak havoc on the Red Devils’ shaky backline, his side could get the result they desperately require to launch themselves back into the top four.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
21st March vs. Fulham (A) lost 2-0 (PREM)
14th March vs. Liverpool (H) lost 4-1 (PREM)
11th March vs. Internazionale (H) won 2-0 (CHAMP LG)
7th March vs. Fulham (A) won 4-0 (FA CUP)
4th March vs. Newcastle United (A) won 2-1 (PREM)
Aston Villa:
22nd March vs. Liverpool (A) lost 5-0 (PREM)
15th March vs. Tottenham Hotspur (H) lost 2-1 (PREM)
4th March vs. Manchester City (A) lost 2-0 (PREM)
1st March vs. Stoke City (H) drew 2-2 (PREM)
26th February vs. CSKA Moscow (A) lost 2-0 (UEFA CUP)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
Sir Alex Ferguson is without suspended trio Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes for the visit of the Villains.
Injuries to Dimitar Berbatov (foot) and Anderson (thigh) have added to his woes, whilst Owen Hargreaves (knee) is back in Manchester for the next stage of his rehabilitation.
Wes Brown (foot) and Rafael (foot) are expected to return next week.
Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Van der Sar, O'Shea (Tevez 70), Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Park, Giggs, Berbatov (Rooney 46).
Subs Not Used: Foster, Neville, Anderson, Carrick, Fabio.
Squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Possebon, Carrick, Park, Giggs, Tevez, Welbeck.
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar, Evra, Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani, Giggs, Tevez.
Aston Villa:
Emile Heskey (hamstring) has been declared fit for the trip to the North West after his withdrawal from the England squad through injury last week. The return of Steve Sidwell also boosts the Villa ranks.
Club captain Martin Laursen (knee) almost made the squad for this game, whilst Wilfred Bouma (knee) isn’t expected to start.
Last starting XI (vs. Liverpool): Friedel, Reo-Coker (Guzan 64), Cuellar, Davies, Luke Young, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Heskey (Agbonlahor 58), Carew (Gardner 88).
Subs Not Used: Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Shorey.
Squad: Friedel, Guzan, Reo-Coker, L. Young, Knight, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Bouma, Milner, Gardner, Petrov, Barry, Sidwell, Salifou, A. Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Delfouneso, Heskey.
Possible starting XI: Friedel, Reo-Coker, L. Young, Cuellar, Davies, Petrov, Barry, Sidwell, Milner, A. Young, Agbonlahor.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United:
A great deal rests on the small shoulders of Carlos Tevez. The Argentine is United’s only available experienced striker, with Dimitar Berbatov injured and Wayne Rooney suspended. After travelling around the world on international duty, Carlitos will need to call on his famous energy reserves to maintain the Mancunians slim advantage in the title race.
Aston Villa:
The rescinding of the red card that Brad Friedel picked up against Liverpool added another regrettable chapter to Sir Alex Ferguson’s painful last few weeks. The giant American shot stopper has been an impassable opponent for the Reds over the years. A repeat performance could hand Friedel’s former Anfield team mates a further Premier League title boost.
PREDICTION
It’s not been easy for both teams in the last few weeks. Aston Villa have dropped out of the Champions League places, whilst Manchester United have ceded ground to bitter rivals Liverpool in the race for the Premier League crown.
Home advantage should count in this game, as the Red Devils strike against the Merseysiders’ momentum.
Manchester United 2-0 Aston Villa
Matt Monaghan
#5
04-05-2009, 07:47 AM
With Berba injured, Rooney Unavailable (because of the red card last match), and Tevez just back from Bolivia (A long tiring flight, not to mention the elevation of Bolivia and its affect on a player's body)...Also considering that Aston Villa were just spanked by Liverpool on their last game, Aston Villa will fancy the 3 points today!
