Aug 28
Manchester United vs West Ham United: Preview
Letting a lead slip twice, missing a penalty and conceding an 89th minute equaliser all resulted in Manchester United throwing away ‘silly points’ against Fulham, but Sir Alex Ferguson will be in no mood for niceties as West Ham visit Old Trafford on Saturday in a match at would seem the perfect antidote to a disappointing visit to London last weekend.
After an encouraging start to the season question marks are already being asked of United’s title credentials given the form of rivals Chelsea, whose goal difference already reads +12, but Nemanja Vidic is confident United can learn from the Fulham result, stating,
“It’s hard to take. I think we would have been happy with the result – if not the performance – if we had won, but there are definitely some points to take from the game. The goal we lost at the end was a shame and we probably need to improve at set-pieces.”
The visit of the Hammers may prove to be an excellent opportunity for some of the fringe players to make their case for inclusion in the first team, though we can be sure Edwin van der Sar will be between the stick come kick off.
The back four in front of him will probably remain consistent, but Chris Smalling is pushing Jonny Evans for a chance to prove his worth. Rio Ferdinand is still out with a knee injury but is nearing a comeback, and Gary Neville started for the reserves in midweek against Manchester City, so he will be back in contention soon as well.
Much has been made of Paul Scholes’ recent form, but the midfielder may be given a breather as either Ryan Giggs or Michael Carrick step into the midfield. Nani and Antonio Valencia will no doubt occupy the wing berths as United have a perfect opportunity to increase their goal difference.
Anderson, despite playing for the reserves is still short of fitness after only returning to training this week, but Owen Hargreaves remains out.
Wayne Rooney is available after his stomach bug and will be hoping to stop his goal drought, he has failed to score for club or country in 13 matches in addition, he has provided just one assist in United’s last nine league matches. He will likely be partnered by Dimitar Berbatov or Javier Hernandez in attack.
West Ham boss Avram Grant is expecting a tough match, “You know that it will not be an easy fixture, especially for us who are trying to get everything more organised and are only at the beginning of a process. It’s not an easy game, but I don’t think Manchester United will have an easy life tomorrow.”
Though Scott Parker, who will be making his 250th career league start, is “dreading” the match.
Matthew Upson may be fit to return following the facial injury he suffered after being kicked in the face during the match with Bolton.
Winston Reid could also return to the side along with Robert Green and Kieron Dyer who were rested for Tuesday’s Carling Cup win over Oxford United. Tal Ben Haim and Manuel da Costa may also be in contention for Saturday’s game following short spells on the treatment table.
Thomas Hitzlsperger is out with a thigh injury, he joins Jack Collison and Zavon Hines who are both on the long-term injured list.
The Hammers are without an away win in the league since the first day of last season when they beat Wolves 2-0, a run of 19 matches.
Last season Ferguson’s men did the double over the Hammers winning 4-0 at Upton Park in December and then a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in February. United have also won their last five matches against West Ham and have scored 14 goals in those games to the Hammers’ one.
Prediction: 3-0 United
Probable Line Up: van der Sar, O’Shea, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani; Berbatov, Rooney
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Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Any news on Brown? He could put in a better shift than either Evans or O’Shea after their performances in the last match. I certainly hope we are starting with Nani! I am going for a 4-0 United win and Rooney to end his goal drought!
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I think our hard work at scoring goals, missing more opportunities than we take – it will be 2 goals for us. Whether they score or not will depend who we play in defense and whether there is an improvement when opposition crowd our box, and high balls keep coming in at our defenders! Also whether our MF protect our defense by keeping possession of the ball
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i really hope that we are making our gd look good today but as you rightly pointed out craig it will hardly be a two goal win at the max.
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Rooney will not score today. This is Manchester United, everything is supposed to be poetic justice or written, and what’s written is for Rooney to end his goal drought at Goodison Park the next game.
Still expecting a win today, I hope Nani gets a goal, the lil’ fella deserves one! 
Come on United!
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You can watch this game using free live streams, I recommend this page – no ads, great streams (English commentary). You can follow them on facebook so you will now when they have streams. It’s Polish Manchester United blog.
I really hope that we will win today
United We Stand!
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I have a feeling Rooney will play well today whether he scores or not
.
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Avram Grant is mouthing off that he knows how to beat United, and his team could spring a shock. He was probably watching the Fulham game, and thinks United are easy meat at the back! I do think we are fast losing our fear factor where the lesser teams are concerned – what do you all think about this?
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@Craig Mc: We have lost our fear factor already mate… that was done and dusted last year.
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Looking forward to seeing this one today. West Ham should be brushed aside and would be looking for a good performance and some help on that goal deifference to catch up with the Rushkis a bit. Need either Wazzer or Berba to get a couple and really get their season kicked off. Going with a 3-1 prediction myself.
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Mame Diouf has 4 goals in 2 games…. I guess our youth is not all that crappy…
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Mame Diouf scored for Blackburn!!!!!! Bringing his season total to four goals.
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Haha OPT beat me to it. Well I think the problem is the way we play means that only elite forwards like Rooney and Ronaldo seem to be able to score goals for us. Out and out strikers just do not get the right service at Old Trafford to really excel. Diouf is old school and will do best in a side with an old fashioned 4-4-2 like Blackburn, so it is a great fit and I hope he does well for them .
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I say we’ll have a high-scoring victory today… Berba to score if he starts. Rooney can’t go forever without a goal. I really hope the wingers can get some quality crosses in today. It’s been missing as of late and has perhaps contributed to Wayne’s lack of goals.
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We send the wrong player on Loan.We should have kept him and better would have sent Berba instead.
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@TurkishRED: Are you kidding me
. The wingers especially Nani have got their crosses in – but the poor finishing of our forwards have not been able to capitalise. Don’t blame the wingers, they do their job – take a closer look at the strike force!
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@Craig Mc: I haven’t seen many good crosses, the blasts and floaters outnumber the quality crosses recently. Of course, if Berba does get one, he’ll miss 8 times out of 10.
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And the countdown to Berba bashing begins…
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Carling Cup 3rd round: Scunthorpe vs. United
This game should allow our youngsters, including Bebe and Cleverly, to show of their best.
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@AndyCR7: Hey, I was talking about headers… Of course his shooting’s been better recently but when was the last time you remember him scoring a header? (I’ve always liked him as a player, and always will.)
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Rooney hasn’t scored at Old Trafford since the weekend after my birthday!!
Damn that’s a long time!
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Nanis penalty > Lampards penalty
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@EduardoDaVinci4: It’s really hard to believe that he hasn’t tasted that joy of scoring at OT for 5 full months. I’m fasting now for the 18th day of Ramadan, but I could not for instance imagine going several months at a time without lunch. I hope Roo doesn’t get used to it.
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@TurkishRED: I’ve got a lot of friends who are fasting right now, and they tell me it’s hard. Even if it’s school, they have to wake up at 4 in the morning to eat something, then wait until 9 in the evening. It’s really tough, especially for them who play football. You get tired fast and lose focus easily, but it’s a vital thing to do. So go on mate!
Oh, and yeah. Rooney needs a goal fast, I think it must be like 5 months without getting laid. Hope he gets a goal soon, he needs to sort it out. Still love the lad!
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@AndyCR7:
He is going to have 6 chances and score 1 goal
Joke aside, I would love to see Rafael and Nani start this one to add some speed and creativity to the wings. Rooney WILL score IF he starts.
2-0 United
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Dreaming, but not dearing to hope, of a Chelsea draw!
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@EduardoDaVinci4:
It’s going to be 6-0 before we know it!
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@Lars: When that penalty was awarded I was fearing the worst… Possibly double figures
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here we go….
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Chelsea haven’t conceded a goal in the Premier League since Bale fucked Terry and Cech to rip the net at White Hart Lane…
Love Bale, Hate Chelsea
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@EduardoDaVinci4: Luckily here in chilly Arizona, I get to break the fast at 7…
Oh and Chelsea gets another team with no defense to speak of. 6-0 should be the tip of the iceberg with all of the deflections, rebounds, own goals, and penalties.
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Wigan lead!
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Huddlerstone is better than Carrick
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Edwin van der Sar; John O’Shea, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra; Nani, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs; Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney
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Fucking hell our squad is boring..rafael cant start against west ham?
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@Taehr: Curly one on the bench
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Why is oshea starting? This is my main problem with fergies youth policy… He won’t play them week in and week out.
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@EduardoDaVinci4: Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo’Sheaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!
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VDS
Slow-Slow-Slow-Fast
Fast-Slow-Slow-Slow
Slow-Fast
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Theres no youth policy…cleverley,rafael,fabio,gibson all of them still cant get decent game time.Its just pathetic…We will win this game but seeing oshea giggs and scholes again for another week is just tiring.Id rather watch bebe play
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@Taehr: I don’t mind Scholes. He has class and is a beautiful player.
Giggs is slow and O’Shea is ANTI-Football.
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For fucksake Fergie, play Nani and Valencia ta the same god damn time. We’re at home to West Ham, not away to Barcelona. I’m sick to death of his defensiveness.
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And what the hell is OShea doing anywhere near our starting 11? We’re not Sunderland.
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can we get oshey off now he is being targeted and for good reason he is shaky
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John O’Shea is a fucking nightmare.
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What if all RedRanters collect money and sign O’Shea from United… that way he definitely won’t start
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Absolutely no movement or clue in the last third of the pitch.
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Evans, Giggs, and O’Shea are battling it out for worst player of United.
Evans makes Vidic shite
O’Shea makes Nani/Valencia shite
Giggs makes Evra shite
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I can’t tell which is worst, O’Shea or my FSC video quality
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Oh yeah!!! I know why we suck. I am not wearing my lucky Utd shirt.
*Changing*
OK, we should be better now.
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fletch is missing and roon is coming into mid to do mop up work
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