Oct 20
Aston Villa vs Man United: Preview
Finally, we return to some real football. The two week break has looked like two months, and I just can’t wait for the action to resume. Prior to the break, we seemed to be getting back in our stride as we brushed Wigan aside in a breathtaking second half display. However, it remains to be seen if we’ve managed to retain any of the momentum that we built over that game.
So will it be another scrappy game where we just get by with a 1-0 win? Or would it be a frustrating draw or, worse, a loss?
Our record at Villa Park has been quite good. But that would count for little today. Simply put, Martin O’Neill’s Villa can be quite a handful at their home ground. They have been among the better sides of this season, most importantly, they beat Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea 2-0. O’Neill’s side have a good midfield as well as a very creative attack. So now, especially after the break, the game would prove our sternest test — a win here would send our confidence levels high. Anything less would require us to regroup and start over again; a luxury ill-afforded to sides with aspirations of winning titles, these days.
While Owen Hargreaves has been talking about his injury worries coming to an end it is highly doubtful that he’ll be back. Scholes and Fletcher should be in the centre of the midfield as Carrick is still recovering. It must be said, at this point, that the battle will be won in the midfield. Both Barry and Reo-Coker have been doing very well, and if we manage to neutralize them, then we should have the upper hand. With their creative attackers of Young, Moore and Agbonlahor, there is enough firepower in Villa to give our defence some headaches.
I wouldn’t take this game lightly but since Aston Villa are playing at home, trust this game to be open. Other than that, Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney, Giggs, Vidic, Rio, Evra, Brown should all be back. More importantly, EVDS returns from his toe injury.
Prediction: 2-1 to United. Although, something tells me that this would be a 1-1 draw.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Aston Villa v Manchester United: Preview/Match thread
- Aston Villa 0-2 Manchester United: Ronaldo and Rooney complete a late win
- Manchester United v Aston Villa Preview – Tougher than it looks
- PFA Players Shortlist: Where’s Anderson, Rooney and Rio
- Aston Villa vs Manchester United: Preview
Tags: Game Preview
October 20th, 2007 at 11:43
united to win 3-1.tactics?pliz fergie bench giggs.villa is an athletic side and we need freshness not experience.rooney,pliz be a striker.all the workrate in the world can not make up for lack of goals.scholes,i beg…,no pliz do some foward movement or at least passes.otherwise we are on fire and tevez must fgeel at home now that he has his brother close.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:08
i say anderson nd scholes or anderson and fletcher, either way anderson needs 2 play.
October 20th, 2007 at 12:31
R.I.P Michael Maidens
October 20th, 2007 at 14:20
I don’t think that Anderson will start, he’ll probably come on as a sub. I’m going with Scholes and O’Shea in midfield.
October 20th, 2007 at 15:23
boo, that would make a boring start,i think simpson/pique should start ahead of brown
October 20th, 2007 at 17:00
United to win by a slim margin. Fletcher and Scholes in the midfield and Ronaldo & Nani on the wings. EVDS should start.
October 20th, 2007 at 17:05
come on united we need a win
and good look lads the real pride of england
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
October 20th, 2007 at 17:26
ronaldo on the bench? glad to see anderson in there
October 20th, 2007 at 17:29
ONE NIL DOWN, WHERE THE FUCK IS RONALDO
October 20th, 2007 at 17:41
the boys injured suposedly. i swear im begginin to hate ryan giggs man….hes fukin done- worries
me to think what hel be like in 2009! wes brown is fukin useless at right back too. Seems like were
doin things the wrong way round half the time- why would rooney flick the ball up for giggs to
volley towards goal?!! makes no sence
October 20th, 2007 at 17:51
reckon we might be in for a bit of a rough ride against villa…has everybody forgotten what they did to chelsea?? the lad agbonlahor needs to be called up quickly to the senior national side as he’s quality
October 20th, 2007 at 17:52
YAAAAAASSSS! well done lads
October 20th, 2007 at 17:52
ROOOOOOOONNEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYY, nani assist again, this guy is unreal when it comes to assits , rooney 5 in 5 for club and country, he is hitting form
October 20th, 2007 at 18:00
WAYNE ROONEY WAYNE ROONEY WAYNE ROONEY WAYNE ROONEY again
October 20th, 2007 at 18:03
ROOOOOOOONEY yea
October 20th, 2007 at 18:03
RRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOO 3-1, united are unstoppable at the moment, wish half time wasnt coming up, pique dangerous header, rio just nicked it in
October 20th, 2007 at 18:04
3-1 2 tha champions and ronaldo aint even playing lol, rooney is on top form.
October 20th, 2007 at 18:42
reo and carson off wow, penalty, rooney or anderson to take hopefully
EDIT- rooney taking penalty,,,,,,,,,,,,,,SAVED WTF
October 20th, 2007 at 18:53
goal by giggs 4-1
October 20th, 2007 at 18:57
anderson is playing deeper than fletcher…..avoiding every touch he can….sitting at the half way line…some one please explain…..
October 20th, 2007 at 19:02
ranty red, according to the commentators, anderson is having a great game, better than his wigan one, pretty contrating to what you are saying,
October 20th, 2007 at 19:40
nah, i watched the game, he didnt try to run past players he just passed like scholes. ranty red eh, couldnt come up with something orginal could ya?
October 20th, 2007 at 19:50
Brilliant game manutd are back to our fluent best.pique was comfortable.i thought anderson could have done a little more but we played with pace and power and whoever said the tevez ,rooney partnership couldnt work.eat your words!tevez missed a couple of sitters but overall great performance.manutd are back!
October 20th, 2007 at 20:01
@dan un-official liaison
wat originality do u want to see? just that i felt andersons game was like that..and i still think it was…
October 20th, 2007 at 20:06
he’s talking bout your name dude
October 20th, 2007 at 20:08
k then…cant think of new ones..asa i carry this one frm way bak
October 20th, 2007 at 20:47
fair enough hahaha
damn. . . 508 completed passes from united today. . 508 freaking passes (to be fair that stat is surely single handedly padded by scholes constant short stabs)
October 20th, 2007 at 20:59
today’s result ws great….. but i couldnt help but notice the result the under 18’s produced…. 7-0!! welbeck scored 4! one fr the future surely….
October 21st, 2007 at 1:46
Hi does anyone know a reliable site where I can watch match highlights?
October 21st, 2007 at 7:09
best thing today was the bravish decision to start Anderson; sometimes pressure of winning matches limits experimentation and sice Anderson deserved it, it was gr8 to see him being given a start. After bursting of the Poo bubble and Chelsea’s internal strife, I have a sneaky feeling that Arsenal will slip up very soon, they have been talking about goals from midfield but they dont look such a goal threat without Van Persie.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:14
arsenal will slip soon(hopefully in their game in hand).
you know, for some strange reason, i thought that we wouldnt of let in a goal until our 15th match. also i was suprised at no simpson.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:05
Not surprised really since if Simpson played, either Brown would be benched for him which I dont think would have been done, would be unfair to him; or Brown would have moved to centre , in which case Pique would have been benched. Since right now, Pique needs to be played more and Simpson can wait and be on bench, hence the omission of Simpson. Anyways when Neville returns and Vida is injured, then it remains to see who will start in the centre ..
October 21st, 2007 at 10:21
who ever said that rooney and tevez couldn’t play together lol
October 22nd, 2007 at 15:38
Never mind Rooney’s goals, I think Tevez played brilliantly!
October 22nd, 2007 at 15:40
Again!