Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
I thought it would be good at the start of each 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 October panning out.
Before that though, here’s a quick look at how I got on last month with my predictions, as you’re see there I got one 100% prediction there, as I correctly predicted United to draw 1-1 against Benfica.
So who do United play this month, let’s have a look:
1st October – Premier League: Norwich City @ Old Trafford
United’s first game of the month see’s us host promoted side Norwich at Old Trafford. This will be a game that United will be expected to win and win heavily, after all we’ve been scoring plenty of goals this year and Norwich defensively will be there for the taking.
Paul Lambert’s side have started life back in the Premier League well enough and currently sit 9th in the table having only lost 2 of their opening 6 games so far in the league this season. The Canaries will certainly be looking forward to this game as will their fans who relish the occasion.
We have seen that Norwich are certainly going to want to survive in the division this year playing good attacking football. It may come back to haunt them just like it did for Blackpool sadly last season, but there’s no doubt the Canaries are winning neutrals over this season.
Interestingly this is the first time the two sides have met since April 2005 when a Dean Ashton-inspired Canaries (who at the time were bottom in the league) deservedly took the three points as United put in a lacklustre display. That won’t happen this weekend as United will win 3-0.
15th October – Premier League: Liverpool @ Anfield
What a game for United to have after the International break, a trip to Anfield where they haven’t taken a point (and a victory) since 2007 when Carlos Tevez’s (he did once play for us y’know) scrappy first-half strike was the difference between the two sides.
Our three visits to Anfield have not ended well with United deservedly on each of those occasions losing the game. Last year’s defeat was an embarrassing one as Luis Suarez ran our make-shift defence led by Wes Brown ragged and we were lucky to lose only 3-1.
On that day United aside from Nani didn’t have too much energy in midfield and struggled. This season though United’s attacking style has worked wonders and with a rejuvenated Anderson and recent signing Ashley Young thriving we can go to Anfield in confident mood.
Kenny Dalglish to his credit has brought the ‘good times’ back to Anfield and there’s no doubt that it will be a tough game for us (when isn’t it?) at Anfield but with Wayne Rooney looking sharp you can see United scoring in this one. This one has a 1-1 draw written all over it, which isn’t a bad result.
18th October – Champions League: Otelul Galati @ Stadionul Național
Three days after Anfield, United travel to Romania to face the team no-one outside of Eastern Europe (and that might be pushing it) had heard of up until a couple of days before the Champions League group-stage draw, when it appeared they too were in the draw.
Not alot really is known about Galati other than the fact they won the Romanian league last season and that their manager is Dorinel Munteanu, who famously scored a crucial equaliser against England in Euro 2000 in a game that Romania would go onto win 3-2.
In their first two group games, Galati have done ok and put in a good showing against Basel in Switzerland losing 2-1 thanks to a late Alexander Frei penalty after Marius Pena had bagged an equaliser. They lost their second game at home to Benfica 1-0 and again put in a good showing.
Whilst no United fan will think that the game in Bucharest’s national stadium (which is the home for the Europa League 2012 final) will be a walk in the park, Galati will fight for their lives in this one and will want to make United work hard. It may not be pretty but United will win 2-0.
23rd October – Premier League: Manchester City @ Old Trafford
Regardless of both sides being in Champions League action before the first Manchester Derby of the season, there’s no way both sides will not be mentally ready for this game, which will probably be decided by a moment of magic or a sloppy defensive error.
City have started the season well and Roberto Mancini has certainly got them playing an attacking brand of football that in all honesty was no there last season. With the weight of winning a trophy of his shoulders, he appears a much more confident manager this year.
His team also look more confident this year and certainly have improved with the signing of Sergio Aguero who certainly has taken to life in the Premier League brilliantly. Mind you, when Mancini had to flog out the best part of £38m to get him, you’d expect him to score goals.
This will be a game that Sir Alex Ferguson will not need to inspire United’s players to get motivated for and with the fans behind them at a ‘pumped-up’ Old Trafford, they will be out to embarrass the Noisy Neighbours once again. United I feel may just nick it 2-1.
25th October – Carling Cup: Aldershot Town @ Recreation Ground
Aldershot have worked their socks off to reach the fourth round of the Carling Cup for the first time in their history and nobody within the game would have not been begrudged them drawing United at home, in what will no doubt be a massive pay-day for the Hampshire side.
It’s been a long journey for Aldershot fans since the original Football League club folded in March 1992. The ‘new’ club began life in the 1992-93 season (the same year that United would go onto lift the inaugural Premier League title) in the Istmaian League Division Three.
Fast forward 19 years and four promotions later and the Shots are now entering their fourth season back as a League club. They are managed by former Wimbledon and Bolton star Dean Holdsworth who after spells in Non-League football is hungry for a long career in the game.
Incredibly this will only the second time United have met Aldershot and it’s rather ironic that the previous meeting between the sides came in the League Cup, way back in 1970 which a strong United team led by Sir Matt Busby won 3-1. I expect that score-line to be repeated again with Michael Owen scoring one.
29th October – Premier League: Everton @ Old Trafford
United end the month with a difficult-looking fixture at home to Everton, who despite not winning at Old Trafford in the league since the inaugural Premier League season, when they inflicted a punishing 3-0 defeat in United’s first home fixture in the new division.
Times of course have changed since then and whilst Untied under Sir Alex Ferguson have become to be the dominant force that they are today, Everton have struggled sadly only winning one trophy – the FA Cup in 1995 at our expense – during that time.
In David Moyes they have arguably one of the best well-respected managers in the game and there’s no doubt that if the Scot had had the money that Sir Alex has had to spend, then Everton would have been consistently challenging for major honours. Make no mistake about that.
Despite the loss of Mikel Arteta on transfer deadline-day to Arsenal, Everton still have a good squad to choose from and with former reds, Tim Howard, Phil Neville and Louis Saha in attendance may well make life tough for us again. United may just nick this 1-0.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
