Season 2011/2012 – Match 13

MANCHESTER UNITED (A)

Date: Sunday 27th November 2011
Venue: Old Trafford
Kick-Off: 2am (AEST), 1:30am (SA), 1am (QLD), 11pm (WA)
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Australian TV: Live on Foxsports 1

Last 5 Form:

Match Stats:
All time: Man United 75 wins, Draws 36, Newcastle 39 wins

Odds:
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Man Utd $1.40, Draw $4.50, Newcastle $8.50

Did You Know?
The famous Man United went to Rome to see the Pope and he told them to FUCK OFF!

Team News:
Newcastle Utd – Sylvain Marveaux has joined Mike Williamson on the long-term injury list after having a successful groin operation in midweek. Gabriel Obertan is now fit and should be available to start, while Cheick Tiote still remains a doubt despite returning to training this week.

Man Utd - Midfielder Anderson has been ruled out until February with a knee injury and Michael Owen is also injured with a thigh injury, while Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley remain highly doubtful. However, Wayne Rooney is set to return after missing the Champions League draw with Benfica.

Match Preview
After losing their undefeated record in Manchester last weekend Newcastle United again travel to Manchester to take on the United half of the city at Old Trafford tonight.

Newcastle have a awful record away at Man United with our last victory coming way back in February 1972 when we beat the Red Devils 2-0 curtsey of a goals from John Tudor and Stuart Barrowclough. I was still over 2 years away from being born and my parents had only been married about 6 months when we last won.

During the Premier League years our record at Old Trafford makes for bleak reading, 6 draws and 11 defeats with only 9 goals scored doesn’t fill anybody with much confidence.

I guess every run has to come to an end though, like we witnessed last weekend, so how can this current Newcastle United team do what many a great team has failed to do in the past?

The one thing this team seems to have an advantage over previous teams is its defensive capability and its ability of the midfield to protect its back four. Even without Cheick Tiote our midfield has proved to be a powerful unit going forward and back. In addition, the fact that we created 5 very good chances at City last week has to give manager Alan Pardew hope that with the same type of performance this week and a bit more luck, then 3 points is not a fantasy.

When I said on Thursday night at the Football Trivia Quiz that I think it’s time to drop Ryan Taylor for Davide Santon I got some surprised looks. Now I appreciate some find this a harsh decision given how well R.Taylor has played so far this season, but you have to remember he was only placed at left-back as an emergency and it was never going to a permanent role.

In my Man City match preview last week I did say about R.Taylor that “you do feel he is one game away from being caught out defensively” and sadly that statement came true at the Eithad last Saturday. Davide Santon has patiently waited in the wings and got himself accustomed to life on Tyneside, so personally I think now is the time to start the Italian at left-back. Whether that means we move to R.Taylor to right-back and actually drop Danny Simpson is another possibility, at this stage I don’t see Pardew doing that, but if Simpson’s contract talks continue to stall then this may be his preferred option.

Personally I’m likening what I’m seeing from Sammy Ameobi, he plays with confidence and seems to hold no fear despite his age. Therefore, the return to fitness of Gabriel Obertan poses another selection dilemma for Pardew, does he bring the Frenchman straight back into the side? I think he will because Obertan gives us that important away ingredient, which is pace, and there is always that chance the former Man United player will come back to haunt Sir Alex with a goal.

Other selection issues will mainly be focused on Cheick Tiote. If Tiote is 100% fit then his selection will be a huge bonus, but the form of Danny Guthrie means Tiote’s none inclusion wouldn’t be the huge deal breaker it once seemed.

Hatem Ben Arfa’s performance last week was very encouraging to see. The Frenchman will still be finding his feet after his horrendous injury, but fitness didn’t seem to be an issue last week, so I’m hoping Pardew again starts Ben Arfa and isn’t tempted to recall Leon Best. I have a feeling in my water that this could be the stage where Ben Arfa really could announce to us all that he is back.

My Starting XI:
Tim Krul
Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon
Gabriel Obertan, Danny Guthrie, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez
Hatem Ben Arfa
Demba Ba

It is 17 league matches since our last win against Man Utd, a 4-3 victory at St James’ Park in September 2001, so is tonight the night we break the hoodoo? Let’s hope so.

HOWAY THE LADS!

Andrew McTernan – Row ‘S’ Army