Where: Villa Park, Birmingham, England.
When: Saturday, November 10th, 2012.
Time: 17.30 GMT.
Referee: K.Friend.
It is a clash between two teams that are rich in history but figures, facts and form tells us that there is a major gap between the class these two are currently in. While Manchester UTD have been raking in goals and are currently at the top of the table in almost five different categories in the Premier League (Player with the most goals, top of the table, player with most assists & what not), Aston Villa are a team that have been lingering at the bottom of the table just above the relegation zone on 17th place.
This is a fixture that UTD are bound to win to strengthen their hold of the top spot given they have the bottom 10 teams to play in the current month. While Villa would gladly accept a draw from the game, the fact that getting a draw against a formidable UTD side would definitely give them a huge confidence in moving ahead but at the same time, a tall order.
Manchester UTD
Manager: Sir Alex Fergusson.
Most teams would fear crossing the path of the Red Devils, given the fact that they have been supreme going forward in attack with their new Diamond formation and the manager’s resources at his disposal to rotate the player’s positions while in the match. Last week’s match against Arsenal once again proved the power of their strike force. This diamond has given a lot of headache for most of the teams because most teams find it difficult to defend against such a formation. But a concern for Sir Alex and the UTD fans has been the leakage of goals at the back. While many would suggest that they have their captain out with an injury & two more defenders out for a prolonged period, a team like UTD need to stop conceding early goals. But the return of Smalling over the Champions league clash is a sign of good omens on UTD and one would hope that things could only get better at the back. No wonder they have scored more with this attack force, but conceded the most as well, an area where Aston Villa could try and attack.
Current Form:
In all competitions (last 10 matches): WWLWWWWWLW
In EPL (last 6 matches): WWWWLW
Team News:
The man to look out for is known to everyone, the “Flying Dutchman” RVP who just cannot stop scoring. But having forced to be played in the mid week champions league clash, I predict the Man of the Month of October for Manchester UTD who has 6 goals to his name this season already with the limited number of chances, the little pea “Chicarito” Javier Hernandez to start along with Wayne Rooney. RVP cpuld be on the bench.
At the back, Evans has been tremendous in defending but the defender was pulled out suspecting a niggling injury. But the return of Smalling at the back just at the right time must be a breather for the Red Devils. At the goal, Lindegaard looks set to start given that he is available fit after an injury lay off for two weeks. Nani will be out injured for the next 10 days due to a tight hamstring.
Formation: Preferred has been 4-2-3-1 but UTD surprised by using a 4-4-2 formation against Arsenal.
Aston Villa
Manager: Paul Lambert
It has been some seasons to forget for the Villa Park fans especially after the departure of the former coach Martin O’Neil who had achieved a top 8 finish just two seasons back. And their worries seem set to continue this season as well given they have a promising but a new man at the helm in Paul Lambert who was brilliant with Norwich last season, results would take time. Having scored only 8 times in the 10 matches in the league & with just two players in Bent & Bentecke having more than one goal to their names this season, it could well prove to be another match where they might have a lot of problems going forwards.
They have been no good at the back as well leaking away 14 goals, but they could take forward the confidence from their first away victory last week at Sunderland for a long time and aim to create a huge upset against the league leaders. History tells us that Villa have a poor record against UTD having just won once over their last 10 meetings against UTD. Overall, Aston Villa need to improve in all parts of the field to pose any challenge to the Red Devils, especially trying to attack with Ciaran Clark who is a real threat with his headers from set pieces.
Current Form:
In all competitions (last 10 matches): WWDLLDWLWD
In EPL (last 6 matches): WDLLDL
Team News:
Gabriel Agbonlahor, Christian Bentecke & Darren Bent are the men to watch going forward especially with Agbonlahor being the critical part of the forward, working hard all throughout the last few matches. Lambert is faced with injury issues to Bent, who was heard saying,
“Is it serious? I don’t know yet. He will get treatment on it during the week and we will see. I know it was serious last year when Darren hurt the ankle,” said Lambert
Apart from Bent they do not have any other players injured, which means they would have their full squad at their disposal. Bradley Guzan will be having a difficult time containing the UTD strike force, but if Clark & team along with their Midfield can cut out UTD’s wing supplies, it would help Villa achieve some result against the League leaders. But anything more than a draw looks highly impossible
Prediction
Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester United
While tomorrow’s match would once again be tough for Villa, all that they could aim to achieve is a draw against a UTD side that has rightly hit the form with their own set of injured players making comebacks. A victory for UTD would give them a strong hold at the top of the table and they are set to do so having lost just twice in the last 10 games in all competitions. I predict a 3-1 victory for the Red Devils.