As I’ve frequently said, I detest breaks in the season caused by internationals.
While I know they’re necessary, the friendlies really wind me up, as they extend a break that could be shortened. The breaks just kill the impetus in the season, for me.
Enough of my moaning though and at least we’re back to the really important stuff, as in a quite daunting game at Old Trafford.
Or at least it should be a daunting game, as Utd have some pretty formidable form in 2015.
The win at Anfield won’t have done them any harm either and they’ll be chomping at the bit, no doubt.
So why then, do I have a sneaky feeling that we might get something from this game?
The truth is I don’t know, but I had a conversation with a Manc fan about a week ago and he asked my thoughts. I said I had a bit of a feeling and he immediately offered me the draw and the win for a £10 bet.
Although I’m not a betting man, I took him up on the bet, again because of the sneaky feeling, but more because of the draw. It can’t be a bad bet can it?
The truth is though, even though we have had a surge in optimism after Sherwood’s arrival, my bet isn’t logical. Utd are on a roll and we aren’t.
And now, having had second thoughts, I wish I hadn’t taken the bet. Because I invariably lose.
Still, I’ve been really encouraged, because I’ve been looking around the various sites and it seems I’m not the only one who has a bit of a feeling. It seems there are plenty of Villa fans who think we might at least get a point.
And admittedly, we definitely have the pace to worry anyone on the day, if our game clicks.
Team news then and quite frankly, I’m seeing contradictory things.
Ron Vlaar has trained fully, so will possibly start.
Sendoros and Cole returned to training, so may be available.
Okore? I’ve seen reports he’s out and reports that he’s fit.
Cissokho and Baker are definitely out and Cleverley is ineligible.
It seems Utd have RVP definitely out (good news), But Rooney is fine and Falcao is looking likely to start. Smalling is also out after going off for England.
Jonny Evans is suspended and Luke Shaw hasn’t trained all week.
What’s it going to be then?
My head says Utd will just have too much for us.
But my heart says it’s a funny old game and you never know.
Hence I’ll go for 1-1.
Because of that tenner I’ve got riding on it.
And just because I know a few of you like a vote;
Comments
84 responses to “Man Utd – Villa Preview; Could we get something?”
Who’s playing seems really vague, sorry.
Sorry badger no chance tomorrow even a draw would be a minor miracle. We have only beaten them once in the last 20 years Ffs. We need to play a weakened team tomor and put everything into beating qpr on tue which is a winnable game for us.
Which means eventually we’ll have to beat them, in my book.
No, it may not be tomorrow, but we will some time.
True but wins v utd are rare for us. Before the prem our head to heads with them were more even its disgusting we VE not beaten them at villa park since 1995
Oh, I don’t believe Sherwood will play a weakened team either.
And rightly so, as you should play every game to win, imo.
True but sometimes you cut cloth accordingly. Out the two games qpr is our best chance so why risk everything for a game that is unwinnable for us
Initially I was in the ‘we can get something’ corner but as time passes it’s hard to keep up that view. But, in the positive vein that I’ve committed to – Villa to get a point which would be massive.
We need to get at least 2 goals for a point today remember they will get at least one penalty as always
Poll is very interesting as it’s split equally three ways – bit like the general election really – no one has a clue 🙂
Off topic see that Wenger got manager of the month – thank heaven. Don’t need that curse on TS!
I’m going for a VILLA win think we’ll Nick it.
Villa win 1-0.
If we beat utd today I will run round Aston in nothing but my girlfriend underwear! I know I’m on safe ground
2-0 United, with cart horse Vlaar gifting them a penalty.
I am gagging to know how far Oohah will get before someone asks him, “Are you wearing that for a bet?” Sadly I agree his chances of a brief period of notoriety in B6 are Zip.
I spent decades following Villa away and only ever saw Villa win once 2-1 at Old Trafford. We usually look beaten before we step on the pitch, and if we are still in the game the ref gives some flukey decision the Reds’ way. I would really like to see Villa give United a hiding there one day, Today isn’t going to be the day I fear, United must have two defenders better than Smalling and Jones, and you say both those clowns are out. Slim chance gone then.
Agree oll. Btw still no gil no idea why. At vlaar is on bench and not playing thankfully
MAN UTD: De Gea, Jones, Rojo, Mata, Rooney, Carrick, Blind, Young, Herrera, Valencia, Fellaini. Subs: Rafael, Di Maria, Falcao, Januzaj, Valdes, McNair, Pereira.
VILLA: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Lowton, Delph, Sanchez, N’Zogbia, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs: Given, Vlaar, Bacuna, Cole, Gil, Baker, Grealish.
Well uhm, seems he’s going all for it with this line-up. Okore’s fit, Baker and Vlaar fit enough to be on the bench is good news. No Sinclair which is even better. Harsh on dropping Bacuna, I’d drop Hutton but that’s about it. As I’d also start Gil but know Sherwood never will.
Can’t believe gil not playing.
Really? He wouldn’t start him against lesser teams, why would he start against United?
He should have started imo most creative player we have by a mile
He is but United are going to control the game, need harder workers against them. Though not sure that’s N’Zogbia but he’s been pretty decent to keep his spot.
That would have been a soft pen if the ref had given it.
Maybe the refs a villan??
Scores not going well SHITE
Bloody commentator still rattling on about it and saying it should have been a pen and a red, but even in the slo-mos it looks soft to me.
Far too lenient this ref, definite a yellow for Valencia.
And that late foul on Okore.
Could work in our favour this ref.
Ref’s hardly been biased at all lol.
Won’t be long before he gives them a pen
Ooha stop tempting fate FFS
Makes a change
I think hull are fucked this season tough run in.
Can’t believe a few Villa fans tried lambasting me on the official villa’s facebook page for claiming Bacuna should start over Hutton. Hutton’s horrible at defending.
Bacuna is better at attacking but not defending. Qpr winning 2.0 ffs
QPR will get the odd win, it’s okay.
Bacuna’s a much better RB, he actually gets a foot in, he doesn’t leave 10 feet of space for a cross and when he jumps, he jumps into crosses, not away. Hutton’s awful.
Andrew, Hutton’s had Fellaini in his pocket, no mean feat.
Man U score. Bastard.
You mean that one time where he had the ball and Fellaini just took it off him and they almost scored? Or that one time Fellaini didn’t jump and it went behind him and Hutton got a clearance away?
Fair enough but dosn’t matter who plays today we could play with 15 men and they would still beat us. They need to not risk injury now tue is all that matters. We never beat utd even when we had a decent team so today is as per usual.
Bacuna would actually look to shut players down which could’ve prevented the goal. Hutton was standing in the 18 ball watching and hoping Sanchez could handle 3 players at once.
Not that N’Zogbia’s provided any cover and has been completely useless.
1.0 utd typical and qpr winning 3.0
SHITE
At least I don’t have to round Aston with girlfriends underwear on. No surprise always going to lose today just need to keep score down though as GD could be crucial
Sod that. 2-1 Villa. OohAh to get arrested for indecent exposure!!! 🙂
Bloody hell Ooah, you talk like we’ve lost already!
Yes, they’ve been way stronger than us, but if we can get one of those through balls right we can score.
Ooha you ain’t out the woods just yet fully agree bum bum we’ll do em.UTV
We’re fucked with qpr wining and we got to play them next were going down we won’t stay up losing to swan’s was a massive game to lose qpr will beat us at home we been down for a while now wba games were just papering over the cracks sherwood changed nothing
How can he put Weimann in over Gil or Grealish on the left wing?!! Just a waste of a shirt him playing out there.
Also, has Lowton got slower? I think my nan could get a better time over 50 yards! Not a premier league footballer Im afraid.
Its gonna take some half time team talk to turn this around…!
Basically sherwood is shit I’m afraid.
Can’t see the game just checked the scores, why can’t we see the half out letting goals in late on could be the death of us. Back in the shit again. Come on villa
This isn’t N’Zogbia’s type of game, hence I’d have put Bacuna on for him.
Looks like it’ll be Bacuna on for Hutton, so it’d be Gil for N’zog for me.