Previewing United’s Games In August

I thought it would be good at the start of every month to give my predictions on the games that Manchester United will have over the season. Here’s how I can see our games in August panning out.

If you disagree or have anything to add to my predictions, as ever feel free to voice your opinion on the comments box below.

7th August – Community Shield: Manchester City @ Wembley

Make no mistake about it this game will have no bearing on the season at all. But it does matter and it will be a hard-fought game.  Yes it is only for the Community Shield and it is another warm-up for the long season ahead, but the players will want to win this one especially as they know the fans will not enjoy losing to City.

On the face of it, I can’t see this game being a high-scoring one. Both sides are good defensively and just as it was in the FA Cup semi-final last year and our victory at Old Trafford; it’s likely that a moment of lack of concentration or brilliance will settle this one.

All the attention tomorow will be on Sergio Aquero but the danger man for City is Yaya Toure. If we can keep him quiet, we should edge this one. It’ll be close but I think United will win 1-0 with Rooney or Berbatov getting the goal. 

14th August – Premier League: West Brom @ The Hawthorns

Without being unfair on West Brom, this one would normally look a nice easy fixture first up and perhaps it will be a routine United win. However under Roy Hodgson, the Baggies look a sterner team to break down and with tricky individuals like Chris Brunt and Peter Odemwingie have the ability to cause some surprises this season.

Certainly last season we were slightly fortunate to come away from this fixture with a win so it’s probably a good fixture to get out of the way at the start of the season, rather than in a tricky spell in the Winter where on a wet damp pitch the conditions can often make for a bad game.

Ben Foster may make a couple of good saves early on, but we should have enough quality to break down the Baggies and we’re probably ease the game to win 2-0.

22nd August – Premier League: Spurs @ Old Trafford

Make no mistake about this, Spurs will want to lay down a marker against us early on in the season and prove to their doubters that they do have enough quality to fight for the Champions League places this season.

We have a good record against Spurs at home and there’s been some pretty exciting games between the clubs in the last couple of years. There was Nani’s goal that secured us our first win of the 07/08 season which was followed by our stunning second half come back the following year to win 5-2 and then of course last year’s controversial game which Nani sealed for us with his ‘unusual’ strike.

Harry Redknapp would love nothing more than to get a point against us early on in the season, but I can only see us winning this one. Spurs may start well but an early goal would settle us down well and if Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart are kept quiet we should not have too much to worry about. United to win 3-0.

28th August – Premier League: Arsenal @ Old Trafford

Our final game in August see’s us take on Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in what no doubt really qualifies as a real Super Sunday game for Sky Sports. The Gooners have had a depressing off-season and there’s a feeling that the coming season could well be Wenger’s final one in charge.

Even with the rumours about Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leaving the club still continuing with a week to go until the season’s start, this will still be a tough game for us and we will have to be very wary of Robin van Persie who after the new year last season was probably the most consistent forward in the country.

As ever in these big games, alot depends on the first goal but if United go into the game with the same intensity and concentration that they did going into the same fixture last season, then I can see us winning 2-1.

By @ADennehey87