Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
Manchester Untied tomorrow host newly promoted side Norwich City at Old Trafford, in what will be their first non-televised live match of the season as United will rarely have a 3pm kick-off on a Saturday in the Premier League.
United have started the season well and despite dropping their first point of the season at Stoke City last weekend, look a side capable of scoring 3-4 goals per game due to the energy and quality of their attacking-play, which few defences it seems will be able to stop this season. Paul Lambert’s Norwich have started the season playing an attacking brand of their own and have scored 7 goals in their opening six league games this season, conceding only 3 more goals more than United interestingly enough.
The Scot, a Champions League winner with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, joined Norwich from their local rivals Colchester United at the start of the 2008/09 season, days after inflicting an embarrassing 7-1 defeat against the Canaries at Carrow Road. Lambert has since won back-to-back promotions and will no doubt be looking forward to taking on his fellow countryman Sir Alex Ferguson this weekend in Norwich’s first trip to Old Trafford since August 2004.
Norwich have started the season well and it’s good for their fans that they have been able to pick up back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since the 2004/05 season, as for any promoted team it does help if they can start the season well and not lagging at the bottom of the division. Mind you Lambert will have taken note of what happened to Ian Holloway’s Blackpool last season when through all their good attacking play, they struggled defensively and ended up getting relegated on the final-day of an eventful season.
United will want to put in a dominant display this weekend and make sure that they travel to Anfield after the International break on the back of a win. Whilst they were unfortunate not to win a penalty early on and in the later stages of their 1-1 draw at the Britannia last weekend, defensively they were carless in mid-week against Basel, being lucky to get a draw thanks to a late headed equaliser from Ashley Young.
So what can we expect from tomorrow’s game. What will be the key battles on the pitch?
Rio Ferdinand v Grant Holt
It would be fair to say that Rio Ferdinand’s had a difficult week. Against both Stoke and Basel he looked shaky and needs a good performance to convince his critics that he will still be a key player for both United and England past this current season.
Grant Holt is an old-fashioned forward who has waited a long time to finally play in the Premier League. He will probably not be a prolific forward at this level, but what he makes up for in quality, he will make up for in commitment and work-ethic. Already, this season he’s ruffled up a few defenders and impressed at Chelsea scoring in Norwich’s 3-1 defeat in August.
Anderson v Bradley Johnson
One of the stories of United’s blistering start to the season has undoubtedly been the form of Brazilian midfielder Anderson. Not only does he look more confident and sharper than ever before but his play is more successful as well and United have looked a far stronger team.
Bradley Johnson has impressed at Old Trafford before starring for Leeds in their shocking win against United two seasons ago. The former Non-League player is hungry to prove himself in the top-flight and show that he’s a more mature player now than he was a couple of seasons ago when his attitude came under question. He will not be scared to go and win the ball.
Wayne Rooney v Leon Barnett
Centre-half Leon Barnett impressed in the Canaries 2-1 win over Sunderland on Monday night, opening the scoring before dealing well at the back to break up attacks. Going to Old Trafford will be arguably the former West Brom and Luton defender’s biggest test as a professional.
Wayne Rooney has got the better of world-class defenders before so he should have enough have enough in his locker to be able to deal with Barnett. Saying that though he has been absent from United’s last two fixtures with a hamstring injury so may be abit rusty at the beginning of the game, so the defender might have a chance to settle early on and get used to his pace.
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In terms of a prediction for the game tomorrow, as I stated earlier on in a predictions article, I believe that this isn’t going to a difficult match for United to get a win from. Norwich will want to make life tough at the start of the game and will probably play 4-5-1 to force United’s midfield to work even harder to create chances for the front two.
The game may pan out in a similar style to how Norwich’s defeat at Stamford Bridge panned out where despite Chelsea scoring early on, the Canaries made life tough and it was only late on that the hosts were able to take full advantage and win the game. United are a better team than Chelsea and if their attacking-minded players hit top-form then a 3-0 win is a certainty.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
